New Digital Communications Recommendations to Help Americans Prepare in Advance of an Emergency

New Digital Communications Recommendations to Help Americans Prepare in Advance of an Emergency: WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2011 - Recent weather events such as Hurricane Irene, the earthquake on the East Coast and other natural disasters highlight the need for Americans to prepare for emergencies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, the Ad Council and Google Crisis Response are collaborating to launch a new preparedness web resource, Get Tech Ready, on behalf of the Ready campaign.



Released just before the start of National Preparedness Month, this new resource educates individuals and families about how using modern-day technology can help them prepare, adapt and recover from disruptions brought on by emergencies or disasters.



A recent American Red Cross survey showed that the internet, including online news sites and social media platforms, is the third most popular way for Americans to gather emergency information and let their loved ones know they are safe.



"As technology becomes more a part of our daily lives, people are turning to it during emergencies as well. We need to utilize these tools, to the best of our abilities, to engage and inform the public, because no matter how much federal, state and local officials do, we will only be successful if the public is brought in as part of the team," FEMA Administrator, W. Craig Fugate.



"During Hurricane Irene, we saw people using new technologies in many ways, whether it was thousands of people downloading our new shelter finder App or others using our Safe and Well site and social media to let their friends and family know they are OK, " said Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "People now have more varied resources available at their fingertips that they can use before, during and after emergencies."



Get Tech Ready provides Americans with tips on how to use technological resources before, during and after a crisis to communicate with loved ones and manage your financial affairs. Preparedness tips on the website include:

• Learn how to send updates via text and internet from your mobile phone to your contacts and social channels in case voice communications are not available;

• Store your important documents such as personal and financial records in the cloud or on a secure and remote area or flash or jump drive that you can keep readily available so they can be accessed from anywhere; and

• Create an Emergency Information Document using the Ready.gov Family Emergency Plan template in Google Docs or by downloading the Ready Family Emergency Plan to record your emergency plans.



"Get Tech Ready is a resource that will truly help people in the US and around the world understand how they can use widely available technology to prepare for potential crises," said Nigel Snoud, Product Manager, Google Crisis Response. "We're thrilled to be working with FEMA, the American Red Cross, and the Ad Council on this public service project."



"We are delighted to collaborate with FEMA, Google and the American Red Cross to expand our Ready messages through this new web site to educate more Americans about the vital need to get prepared in advance of an potential emergency," said Peggy Conlon, president & CEO of the Ad Council. "The web site will provide access to critical resources to Americans addressing the importance of using technology as part of their individual and family preparedness plans."



Launched in 2003, National Preparedness Month is designed to encourage Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies throughout the year. The Ready campaign was also launched in 2003 by FEMA in partnership with the Ad Council. Since its launch, media outlets have donated more than $900 million in advertising time and space for the PSAs. The new PSAs will air in advertising time that will be entirely donated by the media.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

AMERICAN RED CROSS

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit http://www.redcross.org/ or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

The Indiana State Fair Incident

The Indiana State Fair Incident: Thanks Mary for bringing this to my attention! This article was taken from an Emergency Management blog. GO CERT!!I don't know if these were Indiana CERT members that this article talks about as civilian responders, but it sure sounds like it.



The Indiana State Fair Incident

August 15, 2011





This past Saturday night, an outdoor stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair, killing five and injuring approximately 50 spectators. The stage had been setup for a Sugarland concert and there had been severe weather passing through the area with very strong winds that subsequently resulted in a catastrophic failure of the stage and canopy. Even though this incident is still being investigated, there are several important lessons learned that emergency management professionals can immediately recognize and apply.



Simply stated -- this incident highlights the very fine line that we, as a society, walk between normal days and normal accidents. Charles Perrow describes “normal accidents” as the unexpected interaction between component failures in a system. In this incident, the interaction between the environment (severe weather) and technology lead to a very unexpected event -- a Black Swan Event, if you will.



As I watched and listened the events unfold via social media and public safety radio communications, there were several lessons learned that were readily apparent but here are the three most important for us to remember:



•The first responders were civilian bystanders and they did an amazing job. These people took immediate action, helped the injured, rendered first aid, and reported valuable information into “the cloud”. Each and every one of them should be commended for their selfless actions in a dangerous and chaotic scene. As emergency planners, we must recognize the importance of civilian responders in large scale disasters -- support them!•Social media played an unbelievable role sharing information. From across the country and sitting behind my computer screen, I had pictures and videos of the incident before the news media reported anything. I knew what collapsed and where, I had approximate numbers of people killed and injured, and where they were transported. I knew approximately many patients went to each hospital, which hospitals were on divert, and which hospitals were still accepting patients -- all via social media! If you have not embraced social media for emergency management use, you are only hurting yourself. Social media is an amazing resource when used appropriately and provides near real-time information on dynamic incidents -- use it!

•We cannot become complacent and fatigued when it comes to the planning process. I am not saying, however, that this occurred here but this incident should act as a reminder that we must be prepared for worst-case scenarios through exercising, collaborative planning processes, dynamic, bi-directional information sharing (both vertically and horizontally), and excellent preparedness capabilities. Like it or not, as emergency services we are all on the same team -- act like it.

Unfortunately, incidents like this happen and will continue to happen despite our best efforts to limit their occurrence and consequences. Bottom line -- thank civilian responders but give them the training and resources they need to stay prepared, embrace social media as the resource we know it is and use it, and stay open-minded when planning for the consequences of vulnerabilities and risks.



Then check this link out:

http://plcert.typepad.com/cert/2011/08/indiana-state-fair-stage-collapse.html

USAR Drill

I just got this in, the USAR is conducting a drill and we are being asked to participate.  This is a wonderful opportunity, because it emulates a potential real situation, where CERT would be the first to arrive, set up ICS, perform light rescue, triage, wound care, all of our skills, then we do the handoff to elements of USAR as they arrive on scene.  CERT will do this for the first few hours of the drill, then after the handoff most of the participating CERT will act as victims for the USAR at least part time during the rest of the drill.  CERT will probably not spend the whole time in the victim rolls, it appears that there will be some opportunity to shadow the drill proctors and observe the ICS operation.  Assignments will be on an as-needed basis, so you don't really know what you will be doing during the drill.  All in all this looks like it might be a good opportunity to observe the USAR in action and show them what we can do.  And, it is good for a CE.

Please download and read the agenda carefully:

http://www.sitetuneups.biz/CERT/CERT_Agenda_for_USAR_Exercise.pdf

Note that this is a LONG exercise, 7am-6pm,  and there will be some physical challenges, as well as possibly long periods of waiting.  Also, it is NOT a refresher, you will be expected to know the things you are supposed to know, so take another look at that manual.  If there are parts of CERT  operations you really don't like to participate in, this is not your drill.  I don't know if there will be a lunch break, or many other comforts (a lot like the real thing).  This is on a Thursday, August 11.  Location is Chula Vista Fire Station 4/Training facility.

ALL OF COUNTY CERT CAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS DRILL.  Sign up early for this if you want to go:

https://apps.sandiego.gov/ereg/cert/register.php?id=391

-Steve

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Wound Care Kit

Wound Care Supplies—This of you with a largely empty CERT bag might be interested in this.  Kelly Witt, North City Team Leader, has assembled a Go-Bag Wound care kit comprised of the following:

40 -- squares of gauze, 4"x4"

3 -- rolls gauze

1 -- hand sanitizer, 2oz

1 -- roll paper tape (medical tape), 1" x 10yds

5 -- disposable face masks (flat style)

2 -- N95 particulate masks

10 -- pairs of nitrile gloves (** please indicate M or L size)

1 -- triangle bandage (arm sling)

10 -- alcohol wipes

1 -- pair of "Mr. Sock"! (tube socks with toes cut off)

Price will be around $15, including tax and shipping.  We won't know the exact amount until we get the orders in and Kelly makes the buy.  If you want this stuff (it is NOT required, but a good idea) this is your chance to put a quality kit in your bag without having to assemble it yourself like I did.  Please express your interest to your Team Leader, along with the size glove you will need.  Orders must be in by Friday, 29 July.

CERT - START - RPM (Part 2).mpeg

CERT - START - RPM (Part 2).mpeg: "

	CERT - START - RPM (Part 2).mpeg	From: nischwartz Views: 3452 0 ratings
	Time: 09:26	More in Education

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QuickTips for July – Important Information Needed After A Disaster

QuickTips for July – Important Information Needed After A Disaster: "

Think of what information you will need to carry on after a disaster. Much, but not all, of our important information today is stored in our computers. Copies of this information should be kept in a safe place such as a safe deposit box, at a relative’s house, outside the house with other disaster supplies or in a go-bag. Thumb drives could be very useful to store this information. If you are not computer capable, make do with copy machines.

Here is a list of items to get you started:

• Wills, insurance policies (home and autos), mortgage papers, deeds, Passports, driver licenses and credit cards (both sides), social security and medicare cards


• Birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates


• Bank and Brokerage account numbers and institution names


• Important phone numbers and addresses


• Health policy numbers and immunization records

You will also need information to file claims with FEMA and insurance companies. The sooner you can file, the sooner you will receive funds to begin rebuilding. This advice can save you MAJOR time and money.

To help support your claims you should have:

• Photos of every room, every closet, cupboard, drawer and cabinet as well as the exterior of the house and autos. These are the “before” photos so you can prove damage.

While you are gathering all of these “official” items, you might also want to store a copy of all of those digital family photos to protect family memories.

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First Aid Shopping

First Aid Shopping: "

Just in time for Skills Day training, I was in REI yesterday and saw these two items on the rack. They are probably the items that we get the most questions on regarding where to buy them.

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2011 CERT Invitational (Burbank, CA)

2011 CERT Invitational (Burbank, CA): "The Burbank Fire Department cordially welcomes your team to compete in the 2011 CERT Invitational.

This September 17, ten teams will execute high-intensity skills challenges based on the Citizen Corps CERT curricula. In this second-annual event, a mix of municipal and industry teams will compete to achieve the highest cumulative score over six distinctive stations:

Fire Suppression
Victim Triage and Casualty Collection Area
Search and Rescue Operations
Cribbing and Victim Extrication
Disaster Medical Operationshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
CERT comprehensive written exam


Each station is designed for six team members. Overall team size may range between a minimum of six (6) and a maximum of ten (10). All competing teams are required to provide an additional person that will be assigned to the overall event to assist with competition administration and logistics. All competing members are required to provide their own Personal Protective Equipment, though all operational materials will be furnished at each station.

General registration is now open and is handled online through the Eventbrite service:
2011invitational.eventbrite.com

Registration will remain open until all positions are filled. There is an entry fee of $50.00 for CERT teams from a city or county agency; $100.00 for business/industry ERT teams.

Ticket categories on registration page:

Municipal CERT Team
Business/Industry Team


Teams may pay by credit card or check. There is a nominal service fee charged by the registration website for credit card transactions. If your organization chooses to pay by check, when registering please click 'show other payment options' under the 'order now' button and a new button 'pay offline' will appear. Click this option. Teams that withdraw before July 31, 2011 will be given a refund.

Additional information and regulations can be found at:
BurbankFireCorps.org/CERT_Invitational

We'll see you in September!


Erik Day
2011 CERT Invitational Coordinator

competition@burbankfirecorps.org
http://www.burbankfirecorps.org/CERT_Invitational/
www.ci.burbank.ca.us

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Red Cross Backpacks @ Costco

Red Cross Backpacks @ Costco: "

Here’s a great gift idea for those that keep meaning to get prepared that never quite get around to it. One for the car, one at work, one at home.

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Emergency Water Storage

Emergency Water Storage: "

Here is an ingenious way to store a large amount of drinking water in your home during emergencies. http://www.waterbob.com/ A relative in Hawaii just used one this morning to store water prior to the tsunami evacuations. These can also be found on eBay for $21 each (not including shipping)

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CERT National Newsletter Q1 2011

Dear CERT Community,

The CERT National Program Office is pleased to bring you the first 2011 quarterly "CERT National Newsletter."  This is an exciting edition and features an informative story on Haiti CERT’s response to the devastating earthquake a year ago.  Also, be sure to read the stories on promoting CERT in your community, a rodeo in Guam that refreshes disaster readiness skills, and how a “disability” is a special skill in disguise.  Click on the following link to read and download the newsletter: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/newsletter.shtm

We hope you enjoy this newsletter. If you know of others who would be interested in receiving CERT National newsletters or CERT updates, please have them subscribe at the following website:  http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/subscribe.shtm

Thank you.

Sincerely,

CERT National Program Office
Community Preparedness Division
Federal Emergency Management Agency

A Gift Idea For CERT Teams

A Gift Idea For CERT Teams: "

Check out the CERT VAULT (Vehicle Attached Utility Load Transporter) available on Amazon. Is it cool? Definitely! Is it useful? Of course! Is it expensive? You bet!

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