Carlsbad CERT

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About CERT

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a nationally supported, locally implemented initiative that teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazards that may affect their communities. Since 1993, CERT trains the public in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue. The ability for CERT volunteers to perform these activities frees up professional responders to focus their efforts on more complex, essential, and critical tasks.

Purpose of CERT

Carlsbad CERT serves a vital role in the emergency preparedness and public safety of our community. Per Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines and local best practices, the stated purpose of Carlsbad CERT is:

To educate volunteers about preparing themselves for hazards that may affect their communities.
To provide training in basic disaster response skills, e.g. fire safety.
To provide a meaningful opportunity for Carlsbad residents to serve their neighborhoods, city and region.

Carlsbad CERT

Given the region’s persistent threat from wildfire, and the potential risks from earthquake, pandemic flu or other natural or man-made disasters, the Carlsbad Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer program plays a vital role in the City of Carlsbad’s goal to advance emergency preparedness. When large-scale incidents occur, CERT members may provide neighbor-helping-neighbor assistance before the arrival of Carlsbad first responders.

Since its inception in 2008, approximately 300 CERT volunteers have completed training. Carlsbad CERT volunteers are trained in basic first aid, light search and rescue and small fire suppression, and are closely associated with Carlsbad’s Fire Department. CERT volunteer activities are directed by the city’s Assistant Director of Emergency Services. They play a large role in community safety and emergency preparedness awareness and public outreach. Carlsbad CERT’s purpose is to assist the Carlsbad community and residents in emergency preparedness and response. CERT volunteers may not self-deploy, or activate without proper approval.

If you are interested in joining CERT, please fill out a application. The program is primarily intended for Carlsbad residents.

Events

Carlsbad CERT members participate in a variety of events and trainings throughout the year. These events include community outreach, skill development, and exercises and drills to prepare for emergencies.

Past events include:

City facilities evacuation exercise
Carlsbad EOC Wildland fire exercise
Scripps Memorial Encinitas exercise
Palomar Airport exercise
CERT Training support
BERI Emergency Planning Workshop, Tri-City Hospital
County-wide CERT exercise, Julian
Community Business Preparedness Workshop
City of Carlsbad Health Fair
Chamber of Commerce Business Expo
Carlsbad Marathon
Public Safety Open House
Carlsbad Village Street Fair
Fire Department Badge Ceremony
Boys and Girls Club Emergency Plan Development
San Diego County CERT Council
CERT Train-the-Trainer
State-wide earthquake exercise
San Diego County care and shelter drill
CERT Before-the-Threat-Wildland Fire Community Outreach
Great California Shakeout

Sustainment Training:

Ham Radio Technician class
Ham Radio Operations class
San Diego Chapter American Red Cross shelter training
San Diego County care and shelter training
Carlsbad Unified School District search and rescue training
DOT Emergency Response guidebook training
National Incident Management/Incident Command System Training
Weather Spotter training
CPR/First Aid training

Organization

Carlsbad CERT is organized according the the NIMS / ICS structure. This is the same organizational structure used by fire and police departments on any major incident. All CERT team members receive the same training and are cross-trained to fill the various jobs required by each section within the ICS organization. Administratively, CERT members are assigned to their preferred section or to that section that best matches their skill set.

The ICS organization comprises five major functional areas.

Coordination

The Coordination Section develops incident objectives, reviews the CERT incident response plan, ensures that every CERT member is working in a safe environment and provides information via the Incident Commander/EOC PIO to the public and media on CERT activities.

Specialized Coordination Section positions may be filled to assist the CERT Coordinator during an incident. These positions might include the Public Information Officer (PIO), Safety Officer (SO), and the Liaison Officer (LNO).

Administration

Administration Section is primarily responsible for ensuring proper daily documentation of personnel time and activity. The admin section also works closely with other sections to ensure proper documentation of resource usage. The administrative section plans for staffing future shifts and personnel rotations.

Planning

Planning is responsible for collecting, evaluating and disseminating information pertaining to the incident. This section maintains information on the current and forecasted situation, as well as the status of resources assigned to the incident. Planning prepares the CERT Incident Action Plan, develops incident maps and keeps other team members informed of the progress of the incident and response activities.

Operations

Operations is responsible for managing tasks and operations at the incident site until the arrival of professional first responders.

Logistics

Logistics is responsible for all support requirements needed to facilitate effective and efficient incident management, including ordering resources from off-incident locations. It also coordinates facilities, transportation, supplies, equipment, fuel, food services, communications and information technology support.

Training

cert training CERT members are trained in basic emergency response skills which are used to assist themselves, their families, and neighbors when a major disaster strikes and professional first responders have not yet arrived.

CERT training covers basic life and property-saving skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not immediately available.

Trained CERT volunteers can assist neighbors extinguish small appliance fires, secure natural gas to damaged homes, perform light search and rescue, and render basic medical aid. Trained volunteers also offer an important potential workforce to service organizations in non-hazardous functions such as community outreach and shelter support.

The CERT Academy covers:

Class sessions are held at the City of Carlsbad Safety Center located at 2560 Orion Way.

Join Carlsbad CERT