I just attended a class run by the local police department called Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). The materials are prepared and sponsored by FEMA. Your local fire department may have something similar.
SUMMARY:
The course covered the basics of disaster management. There were chapters on disaster response organization and management, basic medical triage, disaster psychology, hazards types, and structural identification, and basic actions for disaster area volunteers. The classes were taught by police, nurses, engineers, and long-time diasaster area volunteers. Most attendees were retired.
The course is actually a basic training to get people on a local emergency response team e-mail list, to respond for local disasters. Folks would be doing neighborhood inspections, emergency triage, records keeping, etc. It didn't matter if someone had a physical disability-- they say that whatever skill you have can be used in a disaster. One instructor hated dealing with disaster victims and is good at IT. They always put him in the IT section of the emergency operations center.
WHAT I LEARNED
The nurse had some good info about basic first aid and how to mark victims for triage for medical professionals. The warnings about searching buildings for survivors and what to avoid were good. The major thing I got out of the course was how to ask the right questions in case there is a disaster in my neighborhood. For example, although I live in a blue-collar neighborhood, there are apartments about a block away that appear to be section 8 housing. I am now making plans with neighbors for a defense perimeter on our block in case of disaster. It is amazing to see how many people are unprepared. It is likely that just because I am prepared and thinking about these questions, that I would be a neighborhood leader in a disaster until things got under control.
After a class like this, you'll often begin sizing up neighbors and their reliability in a disaster. For example the guy across the street with a "U.S. Marine Corps Retired" bumpter sticker and a 2nd amendment sign in the front yard will be key in disaster response. The neighbor next door with two young children who says, "My wife won't let me have a gun" will be a drain on resources.
Another good part was the simulated disaster exercise concluding the class. Every single group made mistakes that would have gotten a team member hurt or killed in real life.
BENEFITS
In my city, you can ask to be put on the CERT contact list. In event of a disaster, these people might be asked to volunteer. As CERT is headed by the local police department, you now have a contact with emergency-oriented peace officers. The cadre for this group is experienced FEMA volunteers. One instructor has worked about 50 disasters over the last 10 years. You'll also meet up with like-minded people.
I am also going to be signing up for two live courses offered once a year in my area called ICS-300 and ICS-400 and afterward volunteer to be a unit instructor. In my city, all police sergeants are required to complete ICS-300 and all police lieutenants are required to complete ICS-400. Dr. North has written about being tied into the local community with people in the know. This is a good way. And 300 and 400 courses often have a very difficult time finding instructors.
CERT classes often have a very difficult time finding volunteer instructors. It is easy to volunteer, learn a particular unit of the book, and become a leader in this community locally. They can always use a volunteer fireman to teach the fire hazard unit or an EMT to teach the basic first aid unit.
FEMA
FEMA writes many of the emergency management materials. Some are very good. Many of the materials are geared toward emergency management organization. How does a group organize to manage disaster relief? The Incident Command System, National Response Framework, and National Incident Management System provide common organization and terminology so that many types of offices like police, fire, EMS, politicians, and the like, over different jurisdictions can work together.
The instructors have all volunteered or worked as contractors for FEMA in disasters. They were very good at what they did. My impression is that FEMA bureaucrats, especially at higher levels, are inept, but the local volunteers are worth it.
Also keep this in mind-- FEMA is in essence a welfare agency-- there to pass out federal funding and goodies to people in a disaster. FEMA's mission is only a part of overall disaster response. This may be why the FEMA response in Katrina was so messed up. Also know that FEMA cannot be involved unless and until the local politicians in an affected area call on the governor who calls on the federal government or the president declares a disaster emergency.
HISTORY
A last tidbid here-- what is now called Emergency Management used to be called Civil Defense.
CONCLUSION
I would highly recommend this short course for anyone else. You'll begin asking the right questions and get tied in with like-minded folks. If a diaster hits your neighborhood, you'll be much better prepared.
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