As of today we have completed the training to teach the FEMA CERT training course. My next move is to go talk to my county EMA director and see how we can help each other. If you haven't taken the CERT class it is a good thing to know.
What exactly was contained in the course? Anything that CAP would benefit from?
Quote from: commando1 on January 02, 2011, 08:37:39 PM
What exactly was contained in the course? Anything that CAP would benefit from?
It is on the 101 card...Actually there is a fair bit in the regular CERT course that benefits us. Mainly triage training. A lot of the SAR skills are interchangeable. It is also just good things to know because you can help out your community outside of CAP. It also helps with a preparedness mindset that is good for life in general. If you want to learn more about the course visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/ The courses are free to attend.
Visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/CERT
Also, for some perspective, check out the state directory. Everyone else seems to be getting the message, except CAP.....If your Wing doesn't have an official DR program, but just uses Ground Team Members as DR resources....this is no longer acceptable.
On the website, under Training I think, is a short Introduction you can take, and will get issued a certificate. You can also take the IS-317 course, with takes about 2-3 hours (and at least here in NC, is a required prerequisite, along with IS-100, and IS-700), and will also issue an IS-317 completion certificate.
If it well worth your while to take the course.
North Carolina Wing is working to develop CERT as an official DR program. In fact, I'm meeting with our state CERT Program Coordinator from Emergency Management Tuesday for what will probably be many discussions. There are many issues to sort through before CAP can really do much with it, but the potential is there, and just waiting to be exploited.
Here is the photo gallery for NC Wings initial Train-the-Trainer course in 08: http://picasaweb.google.com/112887707707406415523/CERTCommunityEmergencyResponseTeamTrainingNCWing1113JUL200802#
(http://picasaweb.google.com/112887707707406415523/CERTCommunityEmergencyResponseTeamTrainingNCWing1113JUL200802#)
If your ES folks are still throwing ELTs in stupid places and having teams DF them and then calling that 'training'.......something is broken, and bad.
Cheers,
Quote from: davidsinn on December 29, 2010, 10:38:07 PM
As of today we have completed the training to teach the FEMA CERT training course. My next move is to go talk to my county EMA director and see how we can help each other. If you haven't taken the CERT class it is a good thing to know.
Congrats, and Good Luck :clap:
Cheers,
Quote from: LTC Don on January 02, 2011, 10:30:16 PM
.If your Wing doesn't have an official DR program, but just uses Ground Team Members as DR resources....this is no longer acceptable.
Citation please. To my knowledge national has not offered any guidance or regulation as to what exactly they want CAP members who are CERT-qualified to do and no requirement that they be used instead of GT members or anyone who just has a 101 card for that matter in a disaster relief scenario.
Quote from: RiverAux on January 02, 2011, 10:35:13 PM
Quote from: LTC Don on January 02, 2011, 10:30:16 PM
.If your Wing doesn't have an official DR program, but just uses Ground Team Members as DR resources....this is no longer acceptable.
Citation please. To my knowledge national has not offered any guidance or regulation as to what exactly they want CAP members who are CERT-qualified to do and no requirement that they be used instead of GT members or anyone who just has a 101 card for that matter in a disaster relief scenario.
Plus the fact that CERT is self launching and does not require any advanced paperwork. By the time CAP is activated the local CERTs are preparing to demobilize because they have been on scene since the incident happened. That needs fixed before we CAP will be a viable DR asset.
Well, for small scale "disasters" that are wrapped up in 2 hours, you're probably right that CAP might not get there in time. But, those usually aren't the sorts of things that CAP gets involved in anyway. But, it doesn't take very long at all to get CAP activated if you've laid the groundwork for it.
Quote from: RiverAux on January 02, 2011, 10:50:12 PM
Well, for small scale "disasters" that are wrapped up in 2 hours, you're probably right that CAP might not get there in time. But, those usually aren't the sorts of things that CAP gets involved in anyway. But, it doesn't take very long at all to get CAP activated if you've laid the groundwork for it.
Even if you get the word to go within two hours it still takes time(and lots of paperwork) to pull it all together. CERT is designed to "just do it."
Well, originally CERT was "just do it" as neighbors helping neighbors, but that isn't how most local agencies are using the folks in the CERT program today. I think they realized that it was not worth their time to train people like that and just send them back into the world and most seem to be using them as grunts in emergency situations under the control of local officials.
Quote from: davidsinn on January 02, 2011, 10:42:04 PMPlus the fact that CERT is self launching and does not require any advanced paperwork.
This, I would be very concerned about, and is one of the major issues I'm going to be dealing with.
As a CAP response, no member can start out on a response without an authorizing mission number from a government entity who will be providing some type of insurance coverage and reimbursement. Whether or not this will work as a 'corporate mission' is debatable, but since this falls firmly under Emergency Services, I'm thinking not.
There are basically two levels of operation I'm looking at:
1. Whereby CAP, at the request of a governing authority, responds to a community that does not have any CERT resources, and that which available public safety are unable to respond for the time being.
2. Whereby CAP, at the request of a governing authority, responds to a community that has CERT resources, but that are overwhelmed by the scope of the event, and that which available public safety are unable to respond for the time being.
3. Other, currently unrecognized scenarios but which the basics still apply, authorization by a governing authority with insurance and reimbursement coverage.
Cheers,
Quote from: RiverAux on January 02, 2011, 11:23:42 PM
Well, originally CERT was "just do it" as neighbors helping neighbors, but that isn't how most local agencies are using the folks in the CERT program today. I think they realized that it was not worth their time to train people like that and just send them back into the world and most seem to be using them as grunts in emergency situations under the control of local officials.
Pretty much. I heard a story about CERTs being used as "victims" during an active shooter training day. They "saved" lives by using their training and triage-ing and treating fellow victims before the medics were allowed into the building.