Printable Instructions for Emergency Ribbons

Earthquake Checklist After The Shaking Stops

Check Your Home

If you are in bed and wearing your night clothes, pull your 72 second kit (jeans, shirt, sweatshirt, socks, boots or shoes,  leather gloves, flashlight or headlamp) out from under the bed and get dressed quickly  

On your way out of the house, notice damage severity to your home    
 Locate family members or roommates and pets as soon as possible, go outside to your meeting area hopefully aftershocks are over 
 Check on:
Water heater     
 Broken pipes    
 Electrical panel  
 Check the foundation of your home for cracks, inspect the chimney  
 Take photos of damage

Place the Emergency Ribbon that applies to your situation out for your Block captain to report     

If you are a Block Captain, and your family, home and pets are secure. Report your Block's Emergency Ribbon status.  Report that information to the Precinct Comms.   Get your pack, helmet, vest and gloves.   Report to your Precinct (Neighborhood) Staging area for dispatch or to volunteer to be on one of your neighborhood emergency teams

What is CERT?

WHAT IS CERT?

Copyright 2013 Debbie Mackintosh www.chgetready

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was developed and implemented by the city of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985.  They recognized that citizens would very likely be on their own during the early stages of a catastrophic disaster.  Accordingly, LAFD decided that some basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills would improve the ability of citizens to survive until responders or other assistance could arrive.  The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California.  Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet immediate emergency needs.  As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens in the CERT concept.  As of 1993, more than 8,000 people and 225 teams had been trained.

The training program LAFD initiated proved to be so beneficial that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) felt the concept and the program should be made available to communities nationwide.  The Emergency Management Institute (EMI), in cooperation with the LAFD, has expanded the CERT Materials to make them applicable to all hazards.  The goal of the training continues to be preparing people to help people.  Seeing the value of CERT, FEMA is committed to supporting the training of local CERT teams across the nation.  These teams too can assist with saving lives and protecting property in the event of a major disaster.

Those who benefit from the training should thank the LAFD for their vision and initiative in developing CERT, and for their willingness to support FEMA’s effort to share this program with communities across the nation.

If available, emergency services workers are the best trained and equipped to handle emergencies and you should use them. However, following a catastrophic disaster, you and the community may be on your own for a period of time because of the size of the area affected, lost communications, and un-passable roads.

CERT training is designed to prepare you to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster.  Because Emergency services workers will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by receiving the training to help save lives and protect property. This training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available.  You will want to help.  With training and practice and as a team, you will be able to do the greatest good for the greatest number after a disaster, while protecting yourself from becoming a victim.  

  Contact your Local Fire Dept for training and more information.

Salt Lake Area

CERT Training http://www.unifiedfire.org/services/registration/default.asp?e=6&t=66093.18

Sandy CERT/First Aid/CPR Training

Herman CERT Drill

Welcome: What this website is all about

GET PREPARED

Have you ever wondered what would happen in your neighborhood if there was a large catastrophic event?
How would you respond?    Who would respond?    What would you check in your own home?
Who can you help?  Is anyone coming to help you?
Are they able to get there and how will you let them know you need help? 
What preparations have you made? Can they be added to?
Do you have tools and equipment in your own garage or storage shed to assist in rescuing your family or your neighbor?  What do you have?  Make a note of it.
How do you prepare for something on a large or small scale?
What can you learn from others who have had those experiences?
How well do you know your neighbors?  Can you work with others successfully?
Do you have the skills of following someone who is more qualified?
Do you have the skills of leading and organizing others?
Do you have supplies and equipment in your own home that will allow you to be safe, have shelter, light, warmth,  food and water in case the municipal water and utilities go down?
What about communication, do you have access to a land line telephone, walkie talkies, HAM Radio and training, do you have a plan?
What if you had to leave quickly, do you have supplies in your car that will allow you to do that?  What if a vehicle is not an option?
What if you were away from home, do you have access to a grab n go bag at work or in your car that will sustain you for a time as you find your way home?
Is your neighborhood prepared to work together as a team?
Do you have emergency first aid and rescue supplies?
This is what we have found works..............

Be responsible for yourself first,  your family next and then you will be in a position to assist others.

Prepare as though 911 is not coming to help you for a long time.
Since you may be on your own for a bit,  gather your supplies by giving up a months worth of going to the movies to begin purchasing supplies for a 72 hour kit for each person in your home to put in your home, your car or work or all of those places.
Stock your pantry for at least 30 days worth of extra food and hygiene supplies for you and your family.  Then continue to build to 3 months worth and eventually 1 year.
Become familiar with the removal of waste.
Become familiar with using your water storage.
Take the CERT Training, First Aid and CPR Training.
HAM Radio interest? Go for it.
We will answer all these questions and more, join us and empower yourself and your neighborhood.

                YOU CAN DO CHALLENGING THINGS!  WE BELIEVE IN YOU!

SAY "I CAN DO CHALLENGING  THINGS",  "I AM RESPONSIBLE AND RESILIENT"

                WELCOME, LET'S ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND GO TO WORK!

Copyright CHGetReady

CERT Trailer

Why Do You Need a CERT Trailer?

A CERT Trailer is also known as a Neighborhood Cache

CERT Trailer                          CHGetReady

It is a place for your neighborhood to gather and store Emergency Supplies that you will use in the event of an emergency.

Because you know, in the event of a large disaster.......911 does not have the capacity to respond to the individual.  They will be going to schools and other places where large numbers of people are housed or gathered.
Emergency Responders are limited in number and so you will be on your own.

You may not see them for up to 5 days.  Therefore, the neighborhood must prepare themselves, have emergency rescue equipment and supplies, a plan to rescue and care for themselves.

Block Party                CHGetReady

Some Neighborhoods are preparing by holding neighborhood  block parties where everyone donates money for the food being served, and also bringing pot luck.

Most of the donations collected will go towards purchasing and filling their CERT Trailer. They will fill it with supplies like Medical Equipment, bandages, backboards, splints, blankets.  Lots of First Aid Supplies, a couple of porta potties, hygiene kits, paper products, garbage bags, disinfectant etc.


Also, rescue supplies like shovels, ropes, pics sledge hammers, ladders, hand tools, flashlights and Command Post Equipment and Supplies, like folding tables and chairs, overhead lighting, maybe a generator and extension cords.

Some Neighborhood's even choose to include helicopter landing lights and solar chargers.

Begin by educating your neighborhood why you are motivated to create your CERT Trailer.  When people understand it will be for them, they usually choose to be a part of the effort.

The Precinct Leader may lead this effort.  Consider having a neighborhood party where you get to know one another.  Start the process, let them see it grow as you purchase your trailer first. Then begin to fill it.

Ask for donations of used, clean sheets and towels. We had a Rip Roll and Bag Night where we gathered together in a back yard,  summertime on the clean beautiful green grass.  Putting chairs in large circles where we could visit as we measured, ripped, rolled and bagged clean, donated sheets and pillowcases into 4 and 5 inch wide bandages.  We later sanitized and re-bagged them. We also sewed two large towels together to use as blankets.

It won't take long to fill your trailer as you work together to make it happen.  Invite everyone in your neighborhood to participate.  Friendships created will be the foundation of your success and survival.

 CLICK BELOW FOR A PRINTABLE CERT TRAILER LIST

CERT Trailer Supplies List

Can You Sleep While The Wind Blows???

             I love this story, it puts things in perspective

             Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.,  He constantly advertised 
               for hired hands.  Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. 
               As they dreaded the awful storms that raged wreaking havoc on buildings and crops.

             As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job,  he received a steady stream of refusals.

              Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “Are you a good 
               farm hand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” 
               answered the man.

              Although puzzled by his answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.  The man 
                worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk.  The farmer felt satisfied  
                with the man’s work.

             One night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.  Jumping out of bed, the farmer 
               grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters.  He shook 
               the man and yelled,  “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!”

            The man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir.  I told you, I can sleep when the 
              wind blows.”

              Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot.  Instead, he 
              hurried outside to prepare for the storm.

            To his amazement, he discovered all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins.  
              The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred.  
              The shutters were tightly secured.  Everything was tied down.  Nothing could blow away.

            The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also 
              sleep while the wind blew.

            Natural disasters are happening all around us.  Earthquakes,(Wells, Nevada)  floods,  
              hurricanes,  fires, loss of employment, illness, accidents.  We cannot deny we are 
              experiencing some interesting and turbulent times.

            We have been admonished to prepare our home and family for unforeseen by our 
              state, city, and religious leaders.  It is a voice of warning to all of us. 

            As we accept responsibility for our family and loved ones by making preparations to 
              take care of ourselves by storing food, water, fuel, warm clothing and extra clothing, 
              shelter, and some form of communication so that if something were to happen tonight 
              or tomorrow, we would not panic.  We put systems in place that work.

            It is not any one event that we are preparing for, but a way of life we create that will 
              give us peace of mind,  conscience, and heart.   We will be able to handle whatever
              comes our way.

            In preparing, we learn that sometimes we need to give up something that we want now

              for something that could save our lives and those we love later.  We learn the principle of
              personal sacrifice.

            Giving up a movie, dinner out,  television programs could mean extra food on our shelves, 
              water stored, a tent,  all our preparation supplies over time.  It really does add up.

            As we practice going without heat, electricity and discover alternative ways to cook and 
              heat our homes for short periods of time, we gain skills.   Gathering our families around 
              us to learn valuable skills together.  We create valuable and different family time.

            Your neighborhood Precinct team has been working diligently to develop emergency 
              plans for your neighborhood.

            Be sure to gather water containers and fill them up,  make a sanitation kit, and 
               laundry kit, store seeds for a back yard garden and plant them,  Grab 'n Go Kits, 
               72 second kit, car kit, office kit, school kits for your children,  purchase a water filtration 
               system so you can clean the water you have stored and have it safe for drinking,  
               store food,  and know how to prepare it, save some money and learn to live within
               your means.

           Get prepared for the many situations that may come your way, like loss of a job or family  
              member, power outages,  natural disaster etc.

           We hope you will take advantage of every opportunity to prepare.

           Get to know your neighborhood Precinct Team, including the Precinct Leader,  Comms,  
               your  Block Captain, CERTS. 

            Maybe you will want to be part of the Precinct Team in your neighborhood, maybe your
              will want to start one.
    
            You will find great helps to get you started both at home and for your neighborhood.  Take
               a look at this website.  We hope you find the support you are seeking.

   

           We are all in this together.   Your preparations are valuable just like the farmer valued 
               the hired hands preparation, he also learned great lessons on personal preparedness.

           When you choose to be part of the solution, you shift yourself from being part of the 
               problem.  You now can help others rather than needing to be helped.

                                             NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE!!

                                         Can You Sleep When The Wind Blows?????

         CHGetReady.com