IslandWalk CERT Orientation

September 2019

www.iwcert.org

WHAT WE WILL DISCUSS

What is CERT

Incident Command System (ICS)

What is IslandWalk CERT

What Do We Do

What is Disaster Preparedness

Mobilization and Deployment

2-Way Radio Communications

What is CERT

Community Emergency Response Team

A FEMA nationwide program started in 1993

A neighbor helping neighbor approach

Do the most good, for the greatest number, as quickly as possible

Active when first responders CAN NOT respond immediately following a disaster.

First 72 is on You!

Volunteer Liability Protections

“Good Samaritan” laws

Volunteer Protection Act of 1997

Relevant State statutes

FS § 768.1355, Florida Volunteer Protection Act

ALWAYS act within the scope of your training

We are all volunteers – NO “DUTY” to respond

ALWAYS THINK SAFETY: me, team & victims

FEMA, CERT Basic Training

21 hours of classroom

4 hour disaster drill

NOT required

STRONGLY encouraged

Limited duties without completing this training

Course Content

Fire safety

Disaster medical operations

Light search and rescue

CERT organization

Disaster psychology

CERT and terrorism

Online Training Resource

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI)

You will need a Student Identification or SID http://training.fema.gov/Apply/

We recommend you take the following course IS-317: Introduction to Community Emergency Response

Teams

https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=is-317

6 to 8 hours self-paced online instruction

A certificate of completion is provided by EMI

What is ICS

Incident Command System

Nationwide standard used by all emergency services to facilitate coordination of effort

What is IslandWalk CERT

An organized group of residents who have volunteered to come out after a disaster and to help their neighbors recover.

Trained and supported by the North Port Fire Dept.

Coordinates closely with our HOA

We believe in SAFETY first and foremost!

We take care of ourselves and our families FIRST, BEFORE we go out to help the community

How We areOrganized in IW

Community Divided into Zones

How We Communicate

Website: http://iwcert.org

Messaging Service: http://texcom.com Newsletter: monthly by email

Be sure we have your correct email address Whitelist “Command Team<admin@iwcert.org”

Family Radio Service (FRS) 2-way radio

Bi-Monthly Team Meetings - 2nd

Tues/Even Months

What Do We Do

Our mission is to:

Promote disaster preparedness in the community

Perform damage assessments after a storm

Conduct light search and rescue operations

Render life-saving first aid, help community to recover

Communicate with the City and County EOCs if necessary

We also do fund raising to purchase needed supplies and equipment

VIDEO

SHOW “CERT IN ACTION” VIDEO

What is Disaster Preparedness

Knowing the hazards that may affect our community and how to mitigate them

Sharing this information with our family, friends, and neighbors so they too may be better prepared

We “know” the contents of the county “Disaster Planning Guide” forwards and backwards

We “know” about NOAA weather alert radios

We “know” about the city “Code Red” system

Things We “Know”

Sarasota County FIPS: 12115

Mobilization and Deployment

We have a plan, READ IT!

http://www.iwcert.org/documents-and-forms

Mobilization and Deployment

Be prepared! Have a plan. Execute your plan.

Check in with your Zone Leader

Check your email, voice mail, and text messages

Log in to TexComand check yourmessages there. Besure to “acknowledge”messages!

Mobilization and Deployment

Hurricane “WATCH” - 48 hours prior

Personal and family preparations

Check with your neighbors, are they aware & prepared

Hurricane “WARNING” - 36 hours prior

Zone Leader gives last minute instructions and identifies rally point(s) for team(s).

HUNKER DOWN FOR THE STORM!

Report to rally point when safe to do so or when directed by your Zone Leader

2-Way Radio Communications

We have a plan, READ IT!

We use simple, inexpensive, over the counter FRS radios for communications. All team members are asked to purchase a radio for their use:

Midland GXT1000VP4 (package of 2 for $70 at Amazon)

Motorola T600 Talkabout (package of 2 for $78 at Amazon)

Zone 1 – Channel 1. Zone 3 – Channel 3. etc.

Anatomy of a Radio

How to Hold Your 2-Way Radio

Speak across the microphone Not too close to mouth and not too far away Keep antenna vertical Improving reception

Elevation

Moving around

Avoid obstacles

Now, Let’s Practice a Little

Its a “party line” everyone can hear and only 1 person at a time can talk! SO listen before talking!

Making a call

Acknowledging a call

Transmitting a message

Acknowledging receipt of message

Terminating a call