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Emergency Services Volunteers

Neighborhood CERT Formation

Meeting: 3/11/12

Preparing Our Community

Working Together

Presented by:Kenneth Dueker, J.D.

Director of Emergency ServicesRev. 3/4/2012 K. Dueker

If you missed the Feb. 4 presentation or you have questions about the new Emergency Services Volunteers (ESV) structure or the Block Preparedness Coordinator Program, please go to:

http://www.paneighborhoods.org/ep

Also posted there is a link to the ESV calendar, which includes these events:

3/24, 1-3pm: Neighborhood Drill: NPCs/BPCs & NH CERT

4/14: 10am-1pm: BPC 3-Hour Certification Class [NH CERTs encouraged to attend]

4/21: 10am-1pm: Incident Command System for NPCs and NH CERT GLs

4/26: 7-9pm: Quarterly NPC mtg. [NH CERT GLs encouraged to attend]

3What OES Needs Volunteers to Do

• Self-Care: Prepare the population to be resilient (best done before the disaster). Promote neighbors-helping-neighbors and community-building (information sharing, social). Provide neighborhoods with their own, local resources.

• Eyes and Ears: Incident reporting & Damage Assessment. We need data in the EOC via communications technology and skilled volunteers.

• Additional Essential Functions: Security (Neighborhood Watch), Search & Rescue, Medical Triage, Fire Suppression, Mass Care (Shelters, Human Services), assisting certain City departments with field and fixed-location assignments.

There are roles for volunteers in all phases of emergency management …

Emergency Services Volunteers (Unified Command)(M)EOC

Neighborhood CERTs

Report to NPC (Neighborhood Responders)

Citywide CERTsField & Specialized Teams

Neighborhood Prep. Coordinators

IC/POC for each neighborhood

Block Prep. Coordinators

Report to NPC (Eyes & Ears): Key Roles:

Damage Assessment; Neighborhood Watch

Field CERTsResponse Pool

Shelter GroupSupport CSD, Red Cross

Citywide ARES/RACESComms (Ham Radio)

Citywide RADOSupport Field CERTs, NPCs

MACSSanta Clara Co. Mutual Aid

Net Control Unit(M)EOC, ESV DOC

Public Works & Flood/Storm GroupSpecial Training; Assist PW

LogisticsCubberley D-4; Trailers; Supplies

Team Leader (TL)Structure

Medical GroupSet up triage sites; PODs

ESV DOCVol. Division Op. Center

Example: You can be a ham operator and part of a NH team, rather than ARES/RACES. We want you to let OES know your

preference.

Action Item: Identify your Primary Team Affiliation.

Today is to kick-off NH Teams (meet your NPC). If you are interested in Citywide CERT or ARES/RACES, please e-mail ccc@cityofpaloalto.org

Today’s meeting.

Group LeaderField Supervisor

Each Neighborhood

Emergency Services Volunteer

5New Emergency Services Volunteer ID Card (NIMS Typing, Credentialing)

Sidney

ESPINOSAExpires: 12/18/2014

Issued by and property of the City of Palo Alto: 650-617-3197

Classifications/Certifications: ARES/RACES/ACS (Comms) CERT Block Prep. Coordinator (BPC, NPC) Public Works; Flood/Storm Traffic Control Disaster Service Worker (DSW) Background Check

If found, please return to Palo Alto OES: 275 Forest Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301

Obverse Shelter, Human Svcs. Medical EOC Authorized Animal Services Logistics Neighborhood Watch Bldg. Assessment Drive City Vehicles

This may change if 1) we go to a regional (North County) card and 2) when CA Disaster Corps eventually goes online: http://www.californiavolunteers.org/disastercorps/

New CERT Field Teams• Medical (MRC): Establish triage

sites; PODs

• Shelter & Human Services: Work with Community Services Dept. & Red Cross

• Public Works & Flood/Storm:• Deployable City-Wide• Assists Public Works• Special Training

• We will also look at other specialized teams/roles.

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“Districts” are replaced with the above. Former “District IC” is now Logistics. Logistics will support Field Teams and Neighborhood CERTs w/ Trailer Team and new decentralized supplies (neighborhood caches, arks, etc.). Cubberley D-4 = Logistics Center.

Trailers = Logistics Hubs

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Restructuring Concept: Neighborhood-Centric Structure

Clarify Roles and Functions

Neighborhood Preparedness Coordinators (NPC): Neighborhood Command Post; comms with EOC via MURS (or ham)

Block Preparedness Coordinators (BPC): Damage Assessment; Security (Neighborhood Watch); FRS radio to NPC

Neighborhood CERT: Local responder

teams (stay local): Muster in neighborhood (can be released); FRS radio to NPC

This is a best practice adopted by Mountain View & many other jurisdictions: http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/city_hall/fire/programs_n_services/cert_neighbohood_groups.asp

NH CERT Chain of Command

Neighborhood Preparedness Coordinator= NH IC

Block Preparedness Coordinators

Palo Alto City(Mobile) Emergency Operations Center ((M)EOC)

Neighborhood CERTs

Group Leader (GL)

On-Scene Public Safety Official

NH CERTs follow NPC direction in “peace time role” of preparation & mitigation.

Communications Links

CERT Field Teams

Neighborhood Preparedness Coordinator

Block Preparedness Coordinators

Palo Alto City(Mobile) Emergency Operations Center ((M)EOC)

ARES/RACES Ham Radio

MURS Radio

FRS/GMRS Radio

Neighborhood CERTs

FRS/GMRS Radio

ESV DOC (if not established, NPCs, etc. go direct to EOC)

Group Leader (GL)

NH CERT Activation Procedures 10

There will be a new ESV Policy Manual … For now, here’s the plan:

Alert (or “Heads Up”)

From your NPC:Monitor your NH FRS Channel or follow NPC’s instructions.

From the City (AlertSCC): Follow instructions.

Other sources (EAS, etc.): Follow instructions; contact your NPC.

Activation (incl. self-notifying events)

Check in with NPC on FRS or in person. If you cannot reach NPC, contact your GL.

• Before deploying: Make sure your home and family, etc. are safe.

• Don/bring appropriate gear (see next slide).

If you cannot reach GL or NPC, find closest BPC and/or NH CERT. EOC may send ham or other ESV to your NH, if no NPC.

Mobilization (Muster)

NH CERT works in teams of at least 3. If you have >3, advise NPC and either team up with a BPC or await another assignment.

Assign a Group Leader (GL) who will 1) operate the FRS radio and 2) serve as the NH CERT field supervisor. One group call sign.

Do not exceed the scope of your CERT training and your personal skills and abilities.

• Chain of Command: NPC is NH CERT IC. NH CERT GL is field supervisor (personnel accountability). ESVs must obey orders of OES and on scene police or fire officials.

• Demobilization: Be sure to “check out” of the net. NPCs/GLs may do After Action Report for OES.

• All ESVs should monitor KZSU 90.1 FM. Hams also monitor 147.540 MHz, PL 100.

NH caches pending – trailers stay put.

Back PackClothing & shoes, ponchoVest & ID badge, whistleGoggles; eye glassesFRS radio, extra batteriesNOAA radioFlashlightGlovesSmall First Aid kitDuct tapeGas / Water shut off toolPens & Sharpie markersDust & hygiene masks____________________

WaterFood / food barsMedicine for yourselfClipboard

NPC/BPC rosterYour street mapResident names & contact

info (BPCs)Disaster Assessment formsRadio channels for all

neighborhoodsNote paper

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NH CERT & BPC Equipment (Grab & Go Bag)

Neighbors will want to help.

They can do so at “grass roots” level – see Good Samaritan laws.

The EOC may request some of them report and be “sworn in” as DSWs.

Lots of roles where formal registration not needed, such as assisting the NPC or GL as a radio operator, scribe, etc.

Convergent Volunteers a.k.a. Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers

• All NPCs, BPCs & NH CERT members operate as Good Samaritans.

• If you are deployed outside your neighborhood (CERT, ARES/RACES), you need to be a DSW (or sworn in as an SUV, essentially). Also, a police officer can direct you, but that is a separate law (posse).

Break Out Session: Meet your NPCs