A CERT IN EVERY COUNTY!
Samantha Royster
NC CERT Program Manager
NC Emergency Management
Ann Keyes, Director
Washington County CERT
Emergency Management
What is CERT?
• Community Emergency Response Teams started by Los Angeles
Fire Department in 1985 when they realized they could easily
be overwhelmed in a large-scale emergency/ disaster.
• Recognized need for citizens to be trained in how to help
themselves.
• Adopted by FEMA and expanded to national program.
• Currently more than 2,200 teams in 50 states, 3 territories and
6 foreign countries.
What is CERT?
• Following a major disaster, first responders will not be able to
meet the demand of survivors immediately.
• People will have to rely on each other to meet immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining needs.
Apex CERT, Wake County
CERT is:
A network of neighborhood and workplace teams who are
trained by emergency service professionals who call on them
during local disaster situations. CERT members are also a
volunteer resource for non-emergency preparedness projects.
Bladen County CERT
Washington County CERT
Apex CERT, Wake County
CERT is:
Community members partnering together to provide positive
reinforcement of emergency planning and safety
roles.
CERT is not:
Training citizens to act as firefighters, police officers or
paramedics, but as assistants to those professionals.
Carolina Trace CERT, Lee County
CERTs do:
• Conduct initial size-up of their
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homes/workplaces following a
disaster
Reduce immediate danger by
turning off utilities, suppressing
small fires, evacuating affected
areas
Triage and treat life-threatening
injuries
Collect damage information for
authorities
Establish and maintain
communication with emergency
personnel
• Report hazardous situations to
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appropriate authorities
Continuously gain more
knowledge through further
training
Step up for their
neighborhood/campus/
community when needed
Educate the public about
disaster preparedness
Install smoke detectors
Volunteer for Emergency
Management
Give talks to the community
about preparedness
CERTs do NOT:
• Enter structures that are unsafe
• Attempt to fight fires that are
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too large to control with an
extinguisher
Perform medical treatments
beyond their scope of training
Take the place of 911
Perform hazardous materials
clean-up
Perform beyond their level of
training
Activate or deploy unless called
for according to their procedures
Cary CERT, Wake County
CERT Basic Training
21 hours of classroom and hands-on training culminating in a
full-scale exercise.
Cary CERT, Wake County
Unit 1 – Disaster Preparedness
• Identify roles and
responsibilities for individuals,
community leaders,
government officials
• Describe types of hazards that
affect community, people,
health, infrastructure
• Undertake personal and
organizational preparedness
actions
Unit 2 – Fire Safety & Utility Controls
• The role of CERT in fire safety
• Identify and reduce potential
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Washington County CERT
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fire and utility risks
Describe CERT sizeup
Explain basic safety
precautions
Identify hazardous materials
Extinguish small fires
Shut off utilities
Unit 3 – Disaster Medical Operations, Part I
• Identify the “three killers”
• Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding,
treating for shock
• Conduct triage under simulated disaster conditions
Carolina Trace CERT, Lee County
Unit 4 – Disaster Medical Operations, Part II
• Take appropriate sanitation
measures to help protect
public health
• Perform head-to-toe
assessments
• Establish a treatment area
• Apply splints/bandages
Edenton CERT, Chowan County
Pasquotank-Camden CERTs
Unit 5 – Light Search-and-Rescue Operations
• Identify sizeup requirements
Edenton CERT, Chowan County
for potential search-andrescue operations
• Describe the most common
techniques for searching,
both interior and exterior
• Use of safe techniques for
debris removal and victim
extrication
• Describe ways to protect
rescuers during operations
Unit 6 – CERT Organization
• Describe the CERT structure
• Identify how CERTs interrelate with the Incident Command
System
• Explain documentation requirements
Fairfield Harbour CERT, Craven County
Unit 7 – Disaster Psychology
• Describe the disaster and
post-disaster emotional
environment for victims and
rescuers
• Describe the steps that
rescuers can take to relieve
their own stress and that of
disaster survivors
Fairfield Harbour CERT, Craven County
Unit 8 – Terrorism and CERT
• Define terrorism
• Identify potential targets in
Washington County CERT
the community
• Identify the eight signs of
terrorism
• Identify CERT operating
procedures for a terrorist
incident
• Describe the actions to take
following a suspected
terrorist incident
Graduation Day
Why we need CERT
If just half of the NC population of 9.7 million people had CERT training, think of
how it would help the fraction of the population who are professional responders!
Washington County CERT members
- participate in BIG SWEEP/LITTER SWEEP and Safety Awareness programs
- participate in drills and exercises, i.e.
EBOLA training, Active shooter, Hazardous Materials,
Web EOC training, hurricane/tornado/severe weather
- participate in National Night Out to provide safety materials
- participate in Firefighter’s competition day
- train in Incident Command (ICS 100, 200, 700, 800, 300, 400)
- volunteer in EOC during actual events
- serve alongside coordinators at PODS, CRDP, and assist Red Cross
- have monthly training meetings
Litter Sweep
Ebola Awareness
Litter Sweep
Dust Devil Exercise
Emergency Preparedness Day
Roper Peanut
Festival
Questions about starting a CERT?
Contact
NC CERT Program Manager
Samantha Royster
919.825.2288
Samantha.Royster@ncdps.gov