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This weeks’ CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) session, taught by CERT Training Coordinator Jim Nee, concentrated on Incident Command Procedures and piggybacked on last weeks’ Light Search and Rescue course. The main aspect of proper incident command is very simply communications.

Marco Island CERT members currently train on communications utilizing simple multi-channel radio handsets that the members themselves supply. This allows us to deploy teams that have radio capabilities to maintain a constant connection with the incident command staff; for status reports, changes in deployment, requests for additional resources and to clear from an incident once it is completed.

Jim’s many experienced years, serving with distinction and valor in the Pittsburg Airport Authority Fire Department, yielded a wealth of knowledge to all of us about how to initiate a “call-out” of CERT members; response, identification of the task, assignment of personnel to specific tasks, setting up mobile communication between teams and command staff then taking action to complete the emergency response.

Emergency on-scene management in a disaster situation is needed to maintain the safety of disaster workers, provide clear leadership and organizational structure by developing a chain of command and roles that are known by all members, and to constantly improve the effectiveness of the rescuer effort by assimilating information collected and communicated to chain-of-command leaders. This information is prioritized based on rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number of affected people according to the team’s capabilities and training.

In past Marco “call-outs”, the team was instrumental in assisting fire and police personnel in searching for two lost children (2 separate incidents) and one missing senior citizen. The children were both located however unfortunately the senior citizen was located deceased in a canal not far from home. In this case, rescuers were able to recover the individual, and to help the family with closure of the sad event. By utilizing, the CERT members in these search incidents the MIPD and MIFD were able to rapidly expand their resources to saturate the area and cover a large search pattern in a short amount of time.

CERT's organizational framework is flexible so that it can expand or contract depending on the on-going assessment priorities determined by the Incident Command, and the people and resources available. Jim explained that the system he teaches is the national command protocol NIMS - National Incident Management System. As certified and trained CERT members, we will be able to respond to any emergency from North Naples to Southern California, and be prepared to assist in any emergency.

Next weeks’ class; Medical Trauma and Disaster Triage.