Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT)
A presentation to Willow Meadows
by a CERT Volunteer
DISCLAIMER
This communication is prepared by a CERT
volunteer.
While every attempt has been made to provide
timely and accurate information:
In the event that any of this information conflicts in
any way with information on the CERT website,
or other governmental information provided by,
for or about CERT, that governmental
information should provide guidance, and this
presentation is in error.
Who is This Volunteer?
MBA Finance/Derivates Rice University
 CFTC (Commodities & Futures Trading
Commission), DoE (Dept. of Energy),
FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission)
 National Asset Protection
 CERT Training: 2004, 2011
 IS22, ICS100, ART

What is CERT?
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“The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Program educates people about disaster preparedness
for hazards that may impact their area and trains them
in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light
search and rescue, team organization, and disaster
medical operations. Using the training learned in the
classroom and during exercises, CERT members can
assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following
an event when professional responders are not
immediately available to help. CERT members also are
encouraged to support emergency response agencies by
taking a more active role in emergency preparedness
projects in their community.” 1
http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/
1: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/
Harris County CERT
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Community Emergency Response Team
243 Teams of volunteers in Harris County, TX
Provide assistance prior to 1st responders
Assist in emergency response
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Astrodome during Katrina
Help during IKE
Train communities in disaster assistance
Provide helpful civic service (smoke alarm
installation etc.)
http://www.harriscountycitizencorps.com/
Willow Meadows CERT
Started 2004
 Still Going – small but strong 
 Looking for other CERT trained volunteers
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http://www.facebook.com/CERTWillowMeadowsHoustonTX
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Public Service Reminders
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Changing Batteries
Checking Fireplaces
Amber Alerts
HAZARD CATEGORIZATION
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NATURAL HAZARDS
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TECHNOLOGICAL HAZARDS
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Weather (rain, flood, hurricanes, tornadoes)
Environmental (earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes)
HAZMAT
Household Chemicals
Nuclear Power Plant
TERRORISM
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Explosions
Biological Threats
Chemical Threats
Nuclear Blasts
RDDs, IEDs
Computer Terrorism (CERT)
THIRA
(Threat Hazard Identification Risk Analysis)
RISK =
Probability x Vulnerability x Consequence Severity
Example: Nuclear Power Plant Risks

RISK = (low probability) x (vulnerability based on distance) x (high severity)
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You cannot necessarily stop a disaster, but you can mitigate
effects by planning
 Time/Warning
 Preparedness
 Priorities
VULNERABILITY
WM EXPOSURE VULNERABILITY
2000
1500
1000
500
0
...
EN
SI
T
Y
Min
LU
E
D
PR
O
PE
RT
Y
VA
RT
Y
PR
O
PE
PO
PU
LA
T
IO
N
Min
Max
PROBABILITY: WEATHER
WM THIRA: WEATHER RELATED HAZARDS
TORNADOES F3-F5
THREAT VULNERABILITY
5
TORNADOES F1-F5
HURRICANES
4
FLOODS
FEMA 1% FLOOD RISK ZONES
3
TORNADO RISK ZONE
COASTAL EROSION
2
OTHER STORMS
OUTDOOR FIRES
1
EXTREME HEAT
TROPICAL STORMS
0
DROUGHT
THREAT TYPE
EXTREME COLD
BEST WEATHER MITIGATIONS FOR
WM
Get educated. Take a CERT course or go to
ready.gov
Make your 72 hour kit
Make your plans – write them down
Decide: Stay or Go?
Act!
PROBABILITY NON-WEATHER
WM THIRA: NON-WEATHER RELATED HAZARDS
5
THREAT SEVERITY
4
HAZMAT
3
2
SUBSIDENCE
1
EARTHQUAKES
0
THREAT TYPE
WM Hazmat: Infrastructure
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Railroad Transportation (LKE: 2009)
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LOOP 610 (LKE THS: NOV 2011)
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Chemical/Petrochemical
City of Bellaire Public Works
Southwest Waste Water Treatment Plant
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Nuclear
Chemical/Petrochemical
Water Treatment Chemicals (Chlorines, Chloramines etc.)
Biohazard (Bacteria/Sewage)
Petrochemical Storage Tanks
Transmission Lines
BEST MITIGATIONS FOR NON WEATHER
WM HAZARDS & HAZMAT
Get educated. Take a CERT course or go to
ready.gov
Make your 72 hour kit
Make your plans – write them down
Shelter in Place or Evacuate?
Upwind, Upstream, Uphill
Act!
TERRORISM
“the term 'terrorism' means premeditated, politically motivated violence
perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or
clandestine agents”
-22 U.S.C. section 2656f(d)
Top U.S. Cities:
New York, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Chicago, IL
Washington D.C.
Houston, TX1
1: May 3, 2011: Federal Authorities say Houston ranks high on the list of potential terror targets.
KHOU 11 News http://www.khou.com/home/121138609.html
GANG RELATED CRIME
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Responsible for 48% of violent crimes
Drug/Human Trafficking, Prostitution
In some Texas juris. at least 90% crime
Juvenile gangs responsible for a “majority of crime” in
…Texas
Increase in sophistication & “white collar” crime
• US Gangs (Crips, Bloods, etc.)
• Foreign Gangs (Haitian, E. African, Somalia)
• Hybrid Gangs (Juggalos, e.g.)
• Prison Gangs (Pistoleros, Barrios, etc.)
• Street Gangs (Chulos, Zetas etc.)
BEST MITIGATIONS FOR CRIME
CAR:
Park your car in your garage
VIN windows/tires etc.
HIDE YOUR VALUABLES
H.E.A.T.
Lock the car
HOUSE:
Use the vacation watch program
Know your neighbors – look out for
the unusual
Consider an alarm system
Lock your doors
Check your shrubbery, lighting &
access
Get educated. Read the WMCC Bulletin. Call 911 in an
emergency.
YOU:
Be aware of your surroundings
Report unusual behavior to
security@willowmeadows.org
Host a Security Committee
Meeting – or go to one!
PETS:
Collars and Tags.
Collars and Tags.
Microchips
Pet Rescue Decals
MITIGATION 101
PREPARE & TRAIN:
1) Get a 72 hour kit
2) Make a Family Plan
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Stay Informed
3)
•
4)
5)
Include Family, Pets
Allow for Disabilities
In and OUT of State Contact
News, FB, NOAA Radio
Train with CERT
Volunteer in WM – know your neighbors!
Next Nearby CERT Classes
Southwest 74 CERT will be offering CERT Training at the
Bayland Community Center,
6400 Bissonnett,
Houston, TX 77074.
Classes will be held on
April 3 & April 10, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.,
April 14 – May 19, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
To register contact Ray Field at ray@sw74.org or Misty Gunn at
misty.gunn@oem.hctx.net or 281-436-8169.
If there is enough interest in WM, we can have a CERT class here.
WM Projects with WMCCSC
Project One: WM Security Committee Registry
• Ensure that WM Patrol has access to your
information (private not for publication)
Project Two: 211 Registry
• WM has a number of residents with special
needs. Although it is highly recommended that
everyone prepare for 72 hours alone in the
event of an emergency, those with special needs
may have additional concerns.
• 211 residents are often those hardest hit by such
emergencies, and least able to cope
• 211 Registry sharing with HPD
Questions?
or later at:
holly_davies@sbcglobal.net