Drills and Exercise PlanningFor

CERT Programs

Presented By

Raquel VernolaArea E Regional CERT Program

Norwalk CERT / ACERT

Where to Start…..

Identify the expectations of your program:

How do you plan to utilize your CERT program members?

-Train and Release

-Train, Retain, and Deploy

What do your CERT members believe their role is in an emergency?

What’s Key?Develop drills and exercises

based on the expectations of your agencynot the desires of the CERT members.

Next Steps….. TRAIN AND RELEASE

Develop a Drill and Exercise Schedule that supports the goals and objectives of your Train and Release program.

Establish drills and exercises based on the 8 basic CERT modules and training specific to your jurisdictions expectations of your community members.

Example Schedule:

Quarterly Refreshers – Select most common skill modules that often need more hands on training. Conduct 3-3.5 hour skill refreshers utilizing “Training Objectives.” Days / times that work best have been Wednesday or Thursday evening 630p-930p.

The common goal of Train and Release programs is to provide tools and skills to community members as a way to

enhance their individual emergency preparedness while working to strengthen the community’s overall disaster resilience.

Establish a manageable and consistent training schedule

Quarterly Refreshers – Select most common skill modules that often need more hands on training. Conduct 3-3.5 hour skill refreshers utilizing “Training Objectives.” Days / times that work best have been Wednesday or Thursday evening 630p-930p. (*90-100 participants)

Example Skill Modules for Quarterly Refreshers:

Search – Module Unit 5Consider establishing the training objective to support enhancing the skills needed for safe search. Such as: high / low hazards; traditional hazards in residences; special considerations related to children; etc.

Disaster Medical Part 1 – Module Unit 3Establish training objective that adds to the Rescue portion of Unit 5 with focus on triage and establishing medical treatment areas (Unit 4).

Disaster Medical Part 2 – Module Unit 4Establish training objective that addresses medical treatment areas and disaster medical care concerns.

Training Schedule TRAIN AND RELEASE

CERT Organization – Module Unit 6 The FEMA curriculum in Module 6 can be overwhelming for train and release CERT members. (Exclusive to Norwalk CERT and Area E Regional CERT is Unit 6.5 – CERT at Home.)

Disaster Psychology – Module Unit 7Partner with the American Red Cross for their Disaster Psychology First Aid training. This brings a different and well practiced component for CERTmembers to consider and learn. *Design an exercise with emphasis onDisaster Psychology.

ANNUAL ALL SKILLS EXERCISE – Modules Units 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6Design and conduct an all skills exercise. There is not a one size fits all exercise. All Skills Exercises can be done by stages / rotations; single facility-all in one; CERT Rodeo Competition; etc… Design exercise scenarios to address your community’s risks and hazards.

Training Schedule TRAIN AND RELEASE

Next Steps….. TRAIN , RETAIN, AND DEPLOY

Develop a Drill and Exercise Schedule that supports the objectives and goals of your Train, Retain, and Deployable team.

Establish drills and exercises based on the expectation of performance and training specific to your jurisdiction’s expectations of your response team.

Example Schedule:

Monthly or Quarterly Training / Refreshers – Identify the skills that will be used by team members and then develop training specific to those skills. Develop Drills and Exercises to support the application of the skills.

The common goal of Train, Retain, and Deploy programs is todevelop a team of community members TRAINED to support the needs

and operations of the sponsoring agency with the intent toenhance this City’s / Agency’s response capability

by supplementing personnel resources.

Skills Training TRAIN, RETAIN, AND DEPLOY

Example of Tasks to be performed by a Response Team:

- EOC or Field Incident Command Support Functions

- Canteen and First Responder Rehabilitation

-Low Traffic – Traffic Control and Traffic Redirection

-Monitored Crime Scene Assistance / Missing Persons Search

-Monitored Evacuation Assistance

-Victim Support Services (Evacuation Centers / Shelters / Assistance Centers)

-Public Education (Conduct or support program presentations / training)

-Training Mentors for basic train and release CERT members

Additional Training:

-Incident Command System / ICS Position Training

-Communications – basic and advance radio and written communications

-Dispatch / Activation Procedures

-Personal Safety Training (Self Defense / Verbal Judo)

-Crowd Control

-Overview of Field Tactical Operations

-Shelter Operations / Management / Child Friendly Spaces

-Public Information / Rumor Control

-SEMS (CA Standardized Emergency Management System) / NIMS (National Incident Management System) IS100, IS200, IS700, IS800 and for team leaders IS300 and IS400.

Skills Training TRAIN, RETAIN, AND DEPLOY

Drills / Exercises TRAIN, RETAIN, AND DEPLOY

Drills should be scheduled following initial training, as well as, periodically to keep the skills fresh and current. Train, Retain, and Deploy members should also be included in the general Train and Release Skill Refreshers and Annual Exercise.

INCLUSION: Response Team members should be included in all levels of training and activities for basic train and release members.

-Training Mentors-Victim Role Players-Exercise Monitors

INFUSE the Response Team members into the all skills exercise by creating a scenario to have them function in their trained capacity, such as managing the ICP for the exercise or managing communications during the exercise or……

What do you need? DRILLS / EXERCISES

Don’t reinvent!!Refreshers, drills, and exercise templates are readily available at no cost.

What do you need? DRILLS / EXERCISES

Do you need training curriculum?If conducting a basic CERT skill module refresher, you do not need new training curriculum. Rather, use the training curriculum already developed and what was previously delivered in your basic class. Enhance the basic curriculum by expanding on areas that tend to cause confusion and / or are not necessarily addressed in the original module, but are important to consider.

Do you need an Instructor?Does the instructor need to be a CERT Instructor?If conducting a basic CERT skill module refresher and you are an Instructor, then you will not need an additional Instructor. For refreshers, a CERT Instructor is not required, however it is best to utilize an Instructor that is familiar with the skill being taught as well as knowledge of the CERT program objectives. Skill Refreshers are a great place and opportunity to have your Response Team members gain experience as Training Mentors.

If this is a new skill, look to request assistance of subject matter experts related to the new skill, such as Police Officers / Traffic Officers, Red Cross, ER Nurses, Paramedics, etc.

Where will you conduct the training?

For some skills, you may be able to use any traditional multi-purpose room. However, other skills may need to be conducted outdoors or the skill drill may benefit by conducting it in a new environment or simulated environment such as a residence or business.

What materials do you need to support the training?If conducting a basic CERT skill module refresher, follow the same suggested / required materials as noted in basic CERT curriculum. If you are using enhanced considerations, add materials to support the newly introduced concerns.

If a new skill, seek direction and recommendations from the incoming Instructor and / or research best practices.

Are there any costs? What do I have in-house?Most will likely have all the materials needed for basic CERT skill refreshers, however the costs typically occur related to staff time and simulation props.

What do you need? DRILLS / EXERCISES

Shopping in-house DRILLS / EXERCISES

Be Creative!!Great use of the imagination

can result in some of the best simulated scenarios.

Search: High Hazards such as wires – you can use string, disconnected wires, or paper streamers. Moving boxes to simulate AC units or toy boxes. Partner with your facility maintenance – ask for old ceiling tiles.

Disaster Medical: Demonstrate use of magazines, bats, blankets, towels instead of using backboards, splints, litters. Shop in your office for what you would use for bandages if traditional bandages were unavailable. Now incorporate those materials.

Moulage Make-up: What do you have already? Look online to learn how to create fake skin (schkin), fake blood, and other prosthetics. Shop after halloween for discounted make-up. Quick and simple: use colored hair spray.

Most training items can be obtained through creativity. So remove any apprehension and start shopping in-house.

Re-Use / Reallocate / Repurpose!!

Ask your Partners DRILLS / EXERCISES

Partnerships can offer great training opportunities.

Training Locations: Look to your agencies resources. Do you have a multi-purpose room, auditorium, meeting facility that you can use at no cost? This type of room accommodates most training. However, for skills such as fire safety, you may need an outdoor location as well.

If your agency does not have a place to use, what about your local schools, churches, clubs (Rotary, Elks, VFW etc), and even businesses. If you use an outside partner, why not encourage them to participate as well. It’s a great way to educate and recruit folks into your CERT program.

For train, retain, and deploy programs, partnering with a mobile home park can be valuable when conducting drills for evacuations, knock notices, and more.

Don’t have a budget?: Consider soliciting donations by partnering with businesses and / or outside agencies / programs. Invite the Red Cross along to support distribution of refreshments. The Red Cross can use the event as a training opportunity for their volunteers as well.

Developing your Drills / Exercises

Take advantage of the online resources available to assist you in developing your drills and exercises. Ask your fellow CERT Program Managers and Instructors. What works for them?

HSEEP Format: https://www.llis.dhs.gov/hseep Free exercising training templates. Standard format.

General Tips:-Build a training team.

-Fellow CERT Instructors / Program Managers-Utilize your experienced CERT members-Invite Subject Matter Experts to the table to discuss skills beyond basic CERT.

-Don’t Rush. Give yourself enough time to plan and work through any bugs.

-Invite colleagues to observe and provide feedback.

Best way to improve your program is to welcome constructive feedback.

Benefits of conducting Drills / Exercises

The benefits of conducting drills and exercises for Train and Release programs are:

- Provides additional opportunity for general community members to gain confidence in applying the skills they learned in the initial basic CERT training.

- Confidence empowers a general community member to commit to personal preparedness resulting in one less community member to have to worry about during major emergencies and disasters. And if fortunate enough, this community member may become the force needed to engage and organize a neighborhood.

Benefits of conducting Drills / Exercises

The benefits of conducting drills and exercises for Train, Retain, and Deploy programs are:

- Enhances the skills of the volunteer disaster response team.

- Familiarizes the response team with the expectations of their duties; agency policies and procedures; working with each other and with integrating or supplementing professional emergency services.

-Assists in retaining members. Active members seek activity. If you are not active, they will find somewhere where they can be.

- Creates confidence in the response teams capabilities. This is important when seeking support both financial and administratively.

Benefits of working with partners…

The benefits of conducting drills and exercises with partners:

- Lightens the work load

- Familiarizes your partners with the type of CERT program you have.

- Partners can share resources, experience, and perspective.

- Combine programs to create a regional approach….. It does work!!

Contact Information…..

Area E Regional CERT ProgramSupporting 25 Cities

www.areaEcert.org

Raquel VernolaEmergency Services Manager Disaster Management Area CoordinatorNorwalk Office of Emergency Management Area E Disaster Management

rvernola@norwalkca.gov www.areaEdma.org (562) 929-5743 (562) 902-2368