CERT Responder Magazine_Vol 4 issue 2

2020 NATIONAL CERT CONFERENCE UPDATE

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the 2020 National CERT Conference scheduled for 7/13-7/18, 2020 in Springfield, Missouri has been rescheduled to 7/12 – 7/17, 2021. Due to the current state and impact of COVID 19 Pandemic we felt it necessary to align with current guidance and recommendations of the CDC. While this decision does not come easily, the health and safety of our CERT family is our top priority.

Registrations

All registered attendees, and their registration will carry over to July 12 - 17 2021 conference at no cost. Should you desire or have a need to request a refund please reach out to cert@christiancountymo.gov. Please understand that a conference price increase may occur prior to the 2021 date and could impact you should you re-register. Please be patient with us in this process and we appreciate your commitment.

Donations

If you would like to consider converting your registration to a full or partial donation to help CERT costs spent on conference planning and expenses, please contact us at cert@christiancountymogov

Hotel Reservations

Please contact the OASIS Hotel directly to cancel or adjust your hotel reservations dates at 1-888-532-4338.

http://2020nationalcertconference.com/

Mission:

CERT Responder Magazine is dedicated to providing CERT and first responders with information and tools to assist communities in times of crisis, as well as offering a platform for responders to share their stories.

Staff

PUBLISHERS:

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: C. Ryan Akers, Dietrich Biemiller, Robert Freeman, Teresa Greenhalgh

EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Fran Sherman

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING: Bob Abrams

OFFICE MANAGER: Chris Wahoski

Letter from CERT Responder Magazine

Dear CERT Responder,

We hope you are all doing well during these unprecedented times.

As you are aware, due to all that is going on in the world, we will be offering the magazine digitally only for the time being.

As many of your teams are not operating due to social distancing, it has been extremely difficult to get stories from you and your teams.

CERT Responder was founded to be a place to share stories about you and your teams and discuss what you are doing to serve your community.

Due to the lack of these stories, we thought it might be a good time to revisit some of the stories and articles from past issues.

We hope you find this helpful and we look forward to hearing from you and your team for future issues.

Stay safe and remember, we’re with you.

“Serving

those who serve their communities” CERT Responder Magazine

Hamden, Ct. CERT Members

and COVID-19

As the Hamden, Ct. CERT Members prepared for the two busiest seasons of logistical support for community events, we found ourselves in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, where every social gathering or community event has been canceled or postponed for the foreseeable future! Earth Day Celebrations, Concerts, July Fireworks Celebrations and other events will now probably be a thing of the past! We also had to postpone the remainder of our Hamden CERT Basic Training Class #17 as we were ready to enter our 3rd week of training! We hope to regroup during the summer or at our next regularly scheduled class in September.

B ROBERT FREEMAN, HAMDEN CERT COORDINATOR

As an Emergency Response Team, besides our 1st Responder Rehabilitation Services and assisting displaced families, a large part of our preparations and training is for mass care, sheltering and points of distribution (POD’s). As we enter our third month of quarantine/ sheltering in place and social distancing, many individuals have been impacted by sickness, job loss, business closings, layoffs, and home-schooling situations that were never planned for. Food supplies have been minimized because of increased purchases, limited supplies, and financial income situations that have been stressed. Because of these trying conditions, we were contacted by Adam Sendroff, our Hamden Community Services Director and Hamden Public Schools Family Engagement Coordinator, Hector Velazquez about setting up a food distribution for families in need. With the assistance of Mayor Curt Leng, the Connecticut Food Bank, Superintendent of Schools Jody Goeler, and Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Gary Merwede, we went forward in planning our 1st food distribution on March 23rd. Under some difficult weather conditions that started with snow, to sleet and

later to rain for the rest of that day, we were able to distribute food to over 250 families at the Dunbar Hill Elementary School with the assistance of the Hamden Board of Education, Hamden Police and other volunteers.

As the impact of the COVID-19 continued to increase by the hour, our local community was in need of increased support, so another food distribution was planned for April 8th, with a set up day for packaging items on April 7th. With the help of the Connecticut Food Bank, Hamden Police, Christ Bread of Life Parish, The Connecticut National Guard and other volunteers, we were able to support close to 400 families with food to sustain them for the next few weeks. Twenty-two (22) of our Hamden CERT Members Volunteered over 187 Service Hours over those 3 days of preparation and distribution of needed items for close to 700 families! We also have just completed our 3rd distribution on April 27th with 18 of our members helping another 350 families with a variety of food products. Our Team Members have been able to volunteer over 280 service hours to our community over the last 6 weeks! With

the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, our primary mission will now be Logistical Support for Food POD’s and to support the Elderly Food Distribution Deliveries, making weekly deliveries of food items to residents who are not able to leave their homes! I am sure that once we have an approved vaccine ready, CERT Programs throughout the country will be busy helping out with logistical support for their communities!

It has been an honor for our Team Members to be able to assist and reassure our community during these very difficult times. We stand ready for any further needs during this disaster that is affecting all of us and we make sure to tell all of our patrons that: “We will all get through this together!” For more information about our program, see our website at www.hamdencert.com. Our CERT Program also has pages on Facebook and Twitter.

“Please continue to: Obey all advisories, Be Prepared, Be Safe and Be Smart! To all of Our CERT Brother & Sisters across our nation, thank you for your service and remember; CERT makes a Difference by having: Trained People helping People!” CERT

CASTING A WIDER “NET”

Pilot Program to assist vulnerable residents

BY TERESA GREENHALGH

On January 08, 2020 the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services launched a Pilot Program to assist vulnerable residents, in rural communities, with developing their Disaster Plan. The Pilot Program known as the “Neighborhood Evacuation Team (NET) Program” developed by the County, will pair a NET trained Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member with a “Neighbor.” The San Diego County Fire Authority CERT – Southern Division Program was selected to pilot the NET Program for the first six months.

and steps to take to remain safe while going out in the community. Prior to being assigned a neighbor, the CERT members must also complete watching eight Access and Functional Needs Training videos for First Responders on the ReadySanDiego.org website and pass a Live Scan background check.

The goal of the NET Program is to utilize CERT members to assist vulnerable residents, those with access and functional needs, take action by completing their personal Disaster Preparedness Plans. That action includes being ready to evacuate upon an “Early Evacuation Warning,” or sooner if their neighbor does not feel safe during an emergency. CERT members will not be evacuating residents, rather their role will be to assist their neighbors in completing their personal Disaster Preparedness Plans, specifically created for people who may need assistance and their caregivers.

The focus will be on evacuation planning and identifying several points of contact for evacuation assistance during an emergency. The plan includes calling 9-1-1 during an early evacuation warning if all points of contact are not available, and informing authorities of specific assistance needs, for example the resident is bed-ridden or has a large electric wheel chair. The NET CERT member will also help their neighbor register for AlertSanDiego, the County’s regional Alert and Warning System. The process of completing a Disaster Preparedness Plan may take a few visits, and the NET CERT member will follow up with quarterly check-ins with their neighbor. Quarterly check-ins may consist of a personal visit or a phone call to update contact information, confirm continued residency and participation in the NET Program.

The CERT Program Manager will be responsible for pairing up their NET trained CERT member with the residents in their community that have requested assistance. NET training for the CERT Program members includes: an in-person training session about the NET Program, Program Goals and Objectives, how to complete the Disaster Preparedness Plan,

Partner Agencies, such as the Autism Society, the Blind Center, and San Diego Gas & Electric (to name just a few) will promote the NET Program directly to their clients with access and functional needs, including medical baseline customers, preserving their confidentiality. Qualifying residents wanting to participate will be responsible for registering for the NET Program through the County’s ReadySanDiego.org website or by calling a designated phone number.

The SDCFA CERT – So. Division members are honored to be piloting such an important and innovative Program for their 20+ hard to reach rural communities. The Pilot NET Program is greatly expanding the role of CERT in San Diego, California while also providing an avenue for our most vulnerable neighbors to be supported. The SDCFA CERT – So. Division members are taking on this Mission Task with great care and compassion . . .Yes, CERT is casting a wider NET!

To learn more about the NET Program please visit the ReadySanDiego.org website, or the SDCFA CERT – So. Division Program website at: http://sdcfacert-sdiv.com.

RESIDENTS WITH ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS

DEFINITION: FROM CA ASSEMBLY BILL 2311:

For purposes of the NET Program, the “access and functional needs population” consists of individuals who have developmental or intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, chronic conditions, injuries, limited English proficiency or who are non-English speaking, older adults, children, people living in institutionalized settings, or those who are low income, homeless, or transportation disadvantaged, including, but not limited to, those who are dependent on public transit or those who are pregnant. ! CERT

why KNOT?

PART 12 IN OUR

• handling cargo

TIMBER HITCH

The TIMBER HITCH is a knot used to attach a single length of rope to a cylindrical object. Secure while tension is maintained, it is easily untied even after heavy loading.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wrap the rope around the support

2. Pass the working end around the standing part

3. Pull it to the left from below the loop formed

4. Turn it around two more times

5. Pull both ends tightly to secure

• towing a log or spar on water or land

• used by arborists to attach ropes to branches, tree trunks, and logs

• to attach the strings of guitars and ukeleles to their bridges 1 2 3 4 5

EXTREME SITUATIONS Preparing Teens and Others for

BY MARK ROSENBLUM, MID AMERICA TEEN CERT DIRECTOR

Teen and adult CERT training teaches people that during the first few hours or days following a disaster, essential services may not be available. It also teaches that people must be ready to act on their own for at least two weeks

But what happens when you are asked to prepare for extended periods, such as with the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) outbreak, in which people are asked to be ready for the possibility to shelter-in-place for an extended amount of time.

Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility, right? Preparedness is not just for government agencies, but all segments of society, including businesses, service providers and civic/volunteer groups, as well as every individual citizen.

Mid America TEEN CERT teaches students about this very situation and as the program’s director, I feel confident that most of my graduates are taking this situation seriously and taking precautions, but are not panicked. I hope and pray that they are not falling for the ‘doomsday messages’ from media sources, but are obtaining their information from a reliable source such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

So why are people rushing out to buy toilet paper, face masks, disinfectant and hand sanitizer? The answer is simple — it makes them feel that at least they are doing something. Part of what is driving the feelings of anxiety is a lack of information about the virus.

Another reason for the panic is the constant barrage of broadcast and social media referring to number of new cases and number of deaths happening around the country. Again, get the most current information from a reliable source. Follow the Coronavirus guidelines for America to slow the spread of the virus. 1) If you feel sick, stay home. 2) If your children are sick, keep them at home. 3) If someone in your home has tested positive for COVID-19, keep the entire household at

home. 4) If you are an older person, stay home and away from other people. 5) If you are a person with an underlying or serious health condition, stay home and away from other people. This may include conditions that impair your lungs, heart, or immune system.

As a general reminder, there are certain symptoms of the Coronavirus that people should be aware of; these symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure, based on the incubation period. Reported cases of the illness have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptom include fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. Some of the emergency warning signs that you may have the virus include trouble breathing, a persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or inability to arouse, and or bluish lips or face. If you are experiencing any of these, seek medical attention immediately. People should be aware that this list is not all inclusive. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes appear to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from the illness.

The primary reason that the United States is experiencing increasing numbers of Coronavirus cases is two-fold — first is that people are not following the soft order to stay home to slow the spread of the virus. Many are still going out to grocery stores, to work, and generally behaving as though everything is normal. Second is that America has more reporting, and more (and more sophisticated) tests than any other country. From the beginning, the belief has been that the numbers of cases around the world is much greater than what

has been reported. The important fact is that the number of people recovering from the illness is steadily increasing daily. A self-quarantine seems extreme when you’re not sick, but it really is for the greater good for yourself, those around you and your community.

This is a serious situation, and the world as we know it has been changed forever. Social distancing is the newest buzzword and the simple message is proper hygiene. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow, and throw any used tissues in the trash. Take steps to protect yourself: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people (at least six feet apart), and especially with anyone who is sick. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick. Keep a distance between yourself and other people if the virus is spreading in your community. Consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

While it is understood that many people are frightened and unsure, adults should be aware that their frantic behaviors and expressions of uncertainty weigh heavy on America’s youth. Crisis situations such as this outbreak, as well as with other emergencies and disasters, can leave children and teens feeling depressed, confused, frightened and insecure.

Even though their responses can be quite varied, it is important to not only recognize these reactions, but also help children cope with their emotions and stress. Listen to your kids and ask them about their feelings and validate their concerns. Limit media exposure (including social media) and be available to talk with your children to answer questions. Spend time with your kids and help them understand that they are safe by talking, playing, and doing other family activities with them. It is also important to keep to your normal routine as much as possible to help your children feel a continued sense of structure, making them feel more relaxed.

It cannot be stressed enough the importance of taking a class in planning and preparedness for emergencies and disasters. When we don’t understand something, it leaves us feeling like we don’t know everything we need to know to protect ourselves, which equates to feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability. Training helps to alleviate panic and uncertainty, and gives students a sense of empowerment and knowledge. CERT

MYPI NATIONAL:

ENGAGING, EQUIPPING, AND EMPOWERING TODAY’S TEENS

C. RYAN AKERS, PH.D.

While disasters impact all segments of the population, they do not affect everyone equally. Youth across the country are adversely affected and the impacts can be severe and long-standing. Given that approximately one quarter of the U.S. population is under the age of 18, it would seem critical that preparedness educators and advocates design programs that both educate and motivate this age group with regards to enhancing individual, family, and community preparedness for disasters. The problem is that despite these trends and gaps, there is little national focus on teenagers when it comes to involvement in disaster preparedness education. Even smaller is the number of truly engaging and comprehensive disaster preparedness education programs targeting this age group across the country. Innovative and engaging youth preparedness programs provide opportunities for enhancing individual, family, and community preparedness, while integrating opportunities for advancement of leadership skills, hazard awareness, civic responsibility, empowerment, communication, problem solving and decision-making skills among other characteristics. Comprehensive youth preparedness education programs similar to MyPI, the youth preparedness model created in Mississippi in 2013 and expanded nationally in 2016, are needed and can set a new standard for youth preparedness outreach throughout the United States.

THE CLARION CALL FOR INNOVATIONAND ENGAGEMENT IN YOUTH PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMMING

For a variety of unfortunate reasons, children and youth are a remarkably overlooked population group when it comes to engagement in emergency preparedness education (Ronan and Johnston, 2001). This runs counterproductive to effective individual, family, and community preparedness and resilience.

According to FEMA (2010), “Both researchers and practitioners have traditionally overlooked children’s needs and experiences in a disaster, along with their role in disaster preparedness education and training. Scholars and professionals have also failed to explore further the importance of youth disaster education programs and their particular impact and effectiveness on shaping children’s perceptions of what to do in a disaster event” (p. 1). There are plentiful opportunities for future research based on engagement and participation in youth preparedness programs as this is a relatively unstudied area (Anderson, 2005). In an era seemingly defined by an increasing number of natural disasters and emergency scenarios and capitalized by the sheer strength and destruction of many of these events, society must absolutely provide plentiful opportunities to directly engage children and youth in sustained preparedness discussions and

activities. Unfortunately, such programs are rare and not consistently offered across the country despite policy and mandates that suggest otherwise (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2012; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2011).

In today’s society, most preparedness education and outreach is developed for and delivered to adults with increasing numbers of programs designed for people with special needs, senior citizens, and animals (National Commission on Children and Disasters, 2009; Ronan and Johnston, 2003). However, youth are categorized as vulnerable and are more prone to loss, suffering, and death in a disaster (Wisner et al, 2004).

According to Penrose and Tataki (2006), approximately 66.5 million children were affected each year by natural disasters at the end of the 20th century, and with “children typically representing 50-60% of those affected by disaster”, there is an enormous disparity in youth preparedness offerings for youth, especially teenagers (Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, and U.S. Department of Education, 2015).

The national preparedness statistics are alarming enough, especially in the face of the number of disasters that our country has seen over the last two decades. Nearly 50% of American adults do not have the resources and plans in place in the event of emergency. Additionally, nearly 50% do not have

emergency supply kits or even adequate first aid kits, not to mention copies of critical personal documents that would be necessary in the event of a disaster (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2014). Coupled with the realization that there are approximately 74 million children under the age of 18 in the United State (roughly 25% of the entire population), these statistics paint a stark picture and beg the question of why more preparedness education and outreach programs are not developed and administered specifically for youth (National Commission on Children and Disasters, 2009). Households where youth bring preparedness information and materials home are 75% more likely to have enhanced individual and family preparedness (Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, and U.S. Department of Education, 2015). The gaps in national preparedness and in youth preparedness programs are noted and the statistics speak for themselves. We must involve, engage, and empower our youth and we do that through innovative programming.

Admittedly, there are some exemplary youth preparedness programs scattered throughout the country, including Teen CERT programs. However, outside of FEMA’s Teen CERT program, there is no widely-supported, nationally-focused, standardized disaster preparedness education for teens. But is Teen CERT enough? Does it realize its potential and position itself to support positive youth development characteristics, leadership, civic responsibility, and self-esteem? Does Teen CERT provide a focus on teen-friendly activities and engaging opportunities for community service? To be clear, there are three basic tenets that apply to today’s youth and individu-

al, family, and community preparedness. First, empowered youth can assist in preparedness efforts by engaging their families, friends, and their communities in disaster preparedness. Next, youth are empowered by a comprehension of risks and knowing how to protect themselves and others. Finally, today’s prepared youth population is tomorrow’s prepared adult population (Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, and U.S. Department of Education, 2015). Does Teen CERT maximize growth and learning potential for each participant? While some programs may, there are areas that are ripe for improvement. Our youth are not idle bystanders in the midst of a disaster. They have the capacity to prepare and respond. They have the capacity to teach and deliver critical messages. And they have energy and creativity that can prove beneficial in preparing for disasters (Peek, 2008).

Moreover, outside of Teen CERT, there are many state-level preparedness camps for youth and short-term information-based programs. But do they provide the depth and rigor to thoroughly engage our youth in preparedness endeavors and to become leaders in this regard within their families, their neighborhoods, and their communities? The Boy Scouts of America offer emergency preparedness badges and Girl Scouts can incorporate some degree of emergency preparedness into their top tier “Gold Award”. However, even if they do, these programs’ scope of reach leave out a large majority of the youth population and some of the most vulnerable. Youth preparedness programs must engage this targeted population with age appropriate endeavors and offer opportunities for teens to involve themselves in their own preparedness and

that of their families and friends by delivering critical messages, building kits, developing communication plans, etc. (Ronan et al., 2008; Wisner, 2006). MyPI (My Preparedness Initiative), developed through a strategic partnership between the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, was specifically designed and implemented to deliver on all these points.

MYPI’S SUSTAINED AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO YOUTH PREPAREDNESS

MyPI is a flexible 5 to 16-week, three-component educational outreach program in which teens complete the DHS/ FEMA-certified CERT curriculum, or Component A, including all modules dedicated to disaster preparedness, fire safety and utility control, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, CERT organization, disaster psychology, and terrorism and CERT along with all specific hazard annexes. According to Dave Nichols, the Lead CERT Instructor for MyPI National and Mississippi Citizen Corps State Program Manager, “It’s important to understand that in MyPI, we teach the same content to our teens that we do adults. We value our students and the manner with which they can comprehend the regular CERT curriculum and apply their skills. They want to learn, and we want to provide them with applicable knowledge and skillsets. We find that any watered-down approach to CERT for teens dismisses their abilities and devalues them to a degree.”

MyPI is delivered in local counties by a team of local MyPI instructors, subject matter experts, and guest speakers. Each official MyPI county cohort instructor completes an extensive

3-day training program that details all aspects of administering a MyPI program and delivering the content.

Component B of MyPI is an extensive Add-On catalog that features a wide variety of content that “adds on” to the CERT curriculum, making the program unique and more than just a CERT program. This component features opportunities for CPR and AED certification; a technology track includes awareness levels programs focusing on HAM radio, NOAA weather radio, smoke alarm maintenance and installation, and social media and smart phone app use in emergencies; and a career track that focuses on careers in law enforcement, fire services, emergency management, and emergency medical services. MyPI also offers additional focus on extreme weather events and school safety. Finally, a disaster simulation is integrated into the latter portion of the program. Operating on the premise that MyPI is also training the next generation of first responders, the program considers these add on elements as essential to building future of emergency managers and first responders.

Component C of MyPI, the leadership and community service capstone project, known as PREP+6, is a defining piece to the overall MyPI puzzle. PREP+6 is the portion of the program that enables the broad base of the population to be reached. To graduate from MyPI, every student must complete the previously mentioned CERT training, the Add-On Catalog, and the PREP+6 service project. Over the course of the designated cohort timeframe, every student works with their own household to either develop from scratch or further enhance an emergency supply kit and family communication plan. In

addition to their own household, the students also identify six additional households (usually extended family members, neighbors, etc.) and facilitate the same process with them. At the conclusion of the program, each MyPI student has directly impacted and enhanced the individual and family preparedness of seven households, creating a cumulative impact on community preparedness and youth leadership characteristics.

PROGRAM ACCOLADES, EXPOSURE, AND EXPANSION

MyPI Mississippi, the forerunner to MyPI National, was recognized as the 2014 Outstanding Youth Preparedness national award winner by FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division. That year, the program director was named to the White House Champions of Change panel and invited to discuss MyPI and youth preparedness during National Preparedness month. In 2015, the program was recognized as an official Affirmer of the National Strategy for Youth Preparedness Education. The national award and the Affirmer recognition gave MyPI unprecedented access to students in schools. In Mississippi, the program grew exponentially as it began to be delivered in Law and Public Safety classes, Allied Health Sciences classes, and Vo-Tech programs across Mississippi. The combination of MyPI Mississippi’s delivery and award along with the exposure and networking created an opportunity to expand the program nationally to explore if the program’s unique approach could be successful elsewhere. In 2016, based on the impact and success seen in Mississippi, the MSU Extension Service was awarded a federal grant to develop, administer, and evaluate MyPI National.

Today, MyPI National has expanded three times and has a national footprint of 29 states and 3 territories to go along with four national awards, including the 2017 FEMA ICPD award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness (for MyPI National), the 2018 National CERT Award for Whole Community Preparedness, and 2019 National Association of Extension 4-H Agents’ Citizenry in 4-H Youth Development national award (MyPI Georgia). In 2019, based on expanded international interest, MyPI created a consulting branch known as MyPI International. Current plans are to expand MyPI through a Phase IV Expansion that would bring its

national programmatic footprint to 42 states and 4 territories. Future plans for the curriculum include a stronger focus on pandemic preparedness related to COVID, an uncontrolled bleeding module, and an introduction to the use of GIS in emergencies.

CRITICAL PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAM ADVOCACY

Faced with declining financial resources, agencies focused on emergency preparedness must forge strategic partnerships that maximize impact on individual, family, and community preparedness. Land-grant universities and their Extension services are prime agents for change and can provide resources, networks, and outreach, dramatically impacting community preparedness, by engaging, equipping, and empowering a largely underutilized target group --- youth. Developing sustainable and successful youth preparedness programs is made possible only with a clear and consistent vision that can be agreed upon by like-minded agencies working together and with access to provide innovative practices and outreach to youth and families. A unique place to begin those relationships can be found within the Extension Service of a state’s land-grant university. While MyPI is not exclusive to 4-H, within Extension, state 4-H programs are likely to share similar visions that impact youth and families through leadership and preparedness, and will be prone to provide access to both instructors and the students necessary for consistent positive impact. According to Keri Hobbs, Extension 4-H Specialist for the University of Georgia and MyPI Georgia Program Manager, “MyPI is an easy partner for Georgia 4-H because the MyPI model includes all the components of the National 4-H ‘Essential Elements of Youth Development’ - belonging, independence, mastery, and generosity. Through MyPI cohorts, youth gain a sense of belonging to a team as they learn together about emergency preparedness, while also growing as leaders, a focus of Georgia 4-H.” Hobbs added, “Ultimately, our youth display both their mastery of the content and their generosity through their community service project, PREP+6. MyPI and Georgia 4-H are a natural fit, with similar missions of developing contributing citizens.”

Additional state-level partnerships with Citizen Corps, CERT, school officials, etc. are not only beneficial but para-

mount. Comprehensive youth preparedness programs of any variety are only as strong as the partnerships developed with state-wide agencies involved in preparedness. Forging a partnership with the statewide CERT and/or Citizen Corps program is essential in growing a credible youth program. Even if unable to provide any resources, state CERT and Citizen Corps programs’ advocacy can impact the long-term sustainability of any youth preparedness program. State emergency management and Homeland Security agencies, volunteer networks like VOAD and church affiliated groups, departments of education, and civic organizations like Rotary, Exchange Club, Kiwanis, and Lions Club, are examples of potential partners and advocacy groups. Partnerships with schools, school districts, and/or departments of education can enable access to students during classes or access to classrooms and training sites after school hours. Delivering successful programs is enhanced when delivered during school hours and blocks in school classrooms. MyPI has maintained steady expansion and increased partnerships by fostering relationships with both state CERT programs and school systems.

In summary, engaging and innovative youth preparedness programs can produce citizens that become empowered to safeguard themselves, their families, and their communities across the lifespan. Youth can and do make a positive difference; so too do innovative programs. Through MyPI evaluation metrics, administrators know that participation and completion of the requirements for MyPI instill an enhanced sense of empowerment and civic responsibility along with improved self-esteem, communication, and decision-making. Additionally, the data suggests that there is increased family communication and family cohesion when a student’s family participates in these programs. Finally, participation leads to increased understanding of emergency preparedness and response as well as enhanced levels of individual, family, and community preparedness levels. The time has come for state and federal government stakeholders and education officials alike to recognize the critical need for and boundless potential of a more prepared citizenry, and to direct more funding and resources towards comprehensive and sustained youth preparedness education. For more information about MyPI National or contact information, visit http://mypinational.extension.

msstate.edu and/or follow the program’s Facebook page by searching “My PI National”. CERT

REFERENCES

Anderson, W. A. (2005). Bringing children into focus on the social science disaster research agenda. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 23(3), 159–175.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2014). Preparedness in America: Research insights to increase individual, organizational, and community action. Retrieved April 23, 2017 at https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1409000888026-1e8abc820153a6c8cde24ce42c16e857/20140825_Preparedness_in_America_August_2014_Update_508.pdf

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2012). Crisis Response and Disaster Resilience 2030: Forging Strategic Action in an Age of Uncertainty - Progress Report Highlighting the 2010-2011 Insights of the Strategic Foresight Initiative. Retrieved April 9, 2017 from https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1816-25045-5167/sfi_report_13.jan.2012_final.docx.pdf

Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2010). Bringing youth preparedness education to the forefront: A literature review and recommendations. Retrieved April 2, 2017 from https://www.fema.gov/ media-library-data/20130726-1859-25045-7593/get_informed_23_page_pdf_ citizen_prep_review_issue_6.pdf

Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, & U.S. Department of Education. (2015). National strategy for youth preparedness education: Empowering, educating and building resilience. Retrieved March 16, 2017 from https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1428456985820-064c52816fe0bcfd2286acafa62e8ad7/NationalStrategyFinal.pdf

National Commission on Children and Disasters. (2009). Interim Report. Washington, DC. Retrieved March 15, 2017 from http://www.childrenanddisasters.acf. hhs.gov/.

Peek, L. (2008). Children and disasters: Understanding vulnerability, developing capacities, and promoting resilience - An introduction. Children, Youth and Environments, 18(1), 1–29.

Penrose, A., & Takaki, M. (2006). Children’s rights in emergencies and disasters. The Lancet, 367, 698–699.

Ronan, K. R., Crellin, K., Johnston, D. M., Finnis, K., Paton, D., & Becker, J. (2008). Promoting child and family resilience to disasters: Effects, interventions, and prevention effectiveness. Children, Youth and Environments, 18(1), 332–353.

Ronan, K. R., & Johnston, D. (2003). Hazards education for youth: A quasi-experimental investigation. Risk Analysis, 23(5), 1009–1020.

Ronan, K. R., & Johnston, D. (2001). Hazards education in schools: Current findings, future directions. Proceedings of the APEC Workshop on Dissemination of Disaster Mitigation Technologies for Humanistic Concerns (Phase I: Earthquake Disaster). Taipei, Taiwan: National Science and Technology Program for Hazards Mitigation (National Taiwan University), June 18–21.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2011). Presidential policy directive 8 (PPD-8): National preparedness. Retrieved March 3, 2017 from http://www.dhs. gov/presidential-policy-directive-8-national-preparedness.

Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., & Davis, I. (2004). At risk: Natural hazards, people’s vulnerability, and disasters. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge.

Wisner, B. (2006). Let our children teach us! A review of the role of education and knowledge in disaster risk reduction. A report by the ISDR System Thematic Cluster/ Platform on Knowledge and Education. Bangalore, India: Books for Change.

MASS CASUALTYusing

STARTTRIAGE

BY CHRIS WAHOSKI

Amass casualty incident (MCI) is any incident, which exhausts the resources available to first responders, i.e. the patients greatly outnumber the ambulances and fire apparatus that are available to handle the calls received. This type of situation is usually due to a large number of injuries or casualties. Examples could be terroristic activity, natural hurricanes, and flooding, just to name a few.

In such situations, hospitals may have a surplus of patients already being evaluated. Then, when a disaster happens, more patients come to the ER for evaluation, creating further chaos for the ER staff. This requires emergency room managers to request additional resources from the hospital floors in order to continue to provide high quality patient care. This happened in Joplin, MO when the hospital was destroyed, and required extra help to set-up of temporary medical tents. Disasters wreak havoc on emotions; families are looking for loved ones, and are going to call 911 for rescues, even after an evacuation order was in place. Whether you are a CERT team member, first responder, police officer or EMS, stress will be at its peak!

While responders attempt to help others, some will still be angry about the delayed response. People need to understand everyone is running at full capacity. Tasks like handing out blankets, water or just keeping track of names on a clipboard are just as important, and everyone can get involved, no matter their age. More CERT members are needed to join these teams. There will always be times of crisis, and that’s why training to become a CERT member in your area is crucial.

First and foremost, everyone’s safety is a concern, and each person needs to be vigilant about observing his or her surroundings when helping others. If responders get hurt and go down, there is no more backup coming to help. Exact details of the situation are not important—the goal is to assist and help patients until first responders come in to address their needs. While CERT members are not necessarily medically trained, they can help provide general first aid for bleeding wounds, apply CAT tourniquets to arterial wounds, tend to abrasions and bandages, and just be there for emotional support until help arrives.

The big question is how does one prioritize patients? Who prioritizes the patients? A Triage Officer is one who coordinates the assignment of Triage Teams of emergency medical first responders who quickly evaluate and tag patients. Then as sorting continues, first responders are sent in to treat the victims according to tag code. There are many methods, but the tool used for MCI triage is called Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START). JUMP-START is used for children. These are just a few, but follow these simple instructions when using the START Triage method. This triage tool was developed in 1980’s and widely used by EMS and fire departments across the United States.

PARTNERSHIP FOR SUCCESS

GREAT NEWS FOR THE ST LOUIS REGION

The Meramec Valley Citizen Corps Council, a coalition of CERT programs in the Southwest and Western portions of St Louis County, has partnered with St Louis Community College to offer FREE CERT training. To sign up, visit https://www.stlcc.edu/

In the fall of 2017, we offered our first class located at the Wildwood Missouri campus. Since then we have offered two classes a year plus added another campus located in Florissant Missouri. Each class consisting of 25+ students. This partnership has added more than 150+ new highly trained CERT members throughout the region.

We are thankful to our CERT members and have quite a lot of disasters to respond to in the Midwest. Such as our recent flooding on the Meramec River that took the national spotlight in both 2015 and 2017.

NEW CREST LEVEL

The flood of December 2015 happened between Christmas and New Year’s, not a good time of the year for a flood and our training and volunteers were put to the test. Record river levels and massive destruction hit the region. Our businesses of downtown Eureka were under water. We did everything to tried to save them, and the water won.

New Crest: 46.06 feet, prior level 42.9 feet from 1982.

LEARNING FROM OUR PAST

Then it happened again with a new crest record in just 16 short months, late April, early May of 2017, the people of Eureka Missouri and surrounding communities have twice braced for and dealt with the “100-year” flood that left damage, financial loss and heartache in their wake. We learned a lot from the flood of 2015 and used our knowledge and skills with the flood of 2017. This was the first time on record we were able to save the downtown businesses and kept the water out. Managing to keep the water on the other side of the sandbag levee was a huge feat. Strategic planning and sandbagging along with many CERT Volunteers were the keys to success.

New Crest: 46.11 feet

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT FLOOD AND OTHER DISASTERS

We as CERT members train throughout the year and on new equipment too such as the automatic sandbagger which will be a game changer for the next one.

Spring showers may bring May flowers…and the rains of 2019 have been heavy in our region yet spread out enough to not cause major damage.

We are left wondering how soon the next catastrophic flood or disaster will arrive, we will be CERT ready and more equipped to handle whatever comes our way. CERT

PHOTOS AND ARTICLE BY THERESA ARNETT, EUREKA CERT, MVCCC

2020 NATIONAL CERT CONFERENCE UPDATE

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the 2020 National CERT Conference scheduled for 7/13-7/18, 2020 in Springfield, Missouri has been rescheduled to 7/12 – 7/17, 2021. Due to the current state and impact of COVID 19 Pandemic we felt it necessary to align with current guidance and recommendations of the CDC. While this decision does not come easily, the health and safety of our CERT family is our top priority.

Registrations

All registered attendees, and their registration will carry over to July 12 - 17 2021 conference at no cost. Should you desire or have a need to request a refund please reach out to cert@christiancountymo.gov. Please understand that a conference price increase may occur prior to the 2021 date and could impact you should you re-register. Please be patient with us in this process and we appreciate your commitment.

Donations

If you would like to consider converting your registration to a full or partial donation to help CERT costs spent on conference planning and expenses, please contact us at cert@christiancountymogov

Hotel Reservations

Please contact the OASIS Hotel directly to cancel or adjust your hotel reservations dates at 1-888-532-4338.

http://2020nationalcertconference.com/

TRACKING: Not Just for Search and Rescue!

BY DIETRICH BIEMILLER

CERTvolunteers are known for service, but many members would like to experience actual mission time in addition to the many hours of training they invest in. Many CERT volunteers join Search and Rescue teams to sharpen their skills and provide service to their communities on a smaller-than-disaster scaled basis.

Snohomish County SAR is no exception. There are many CERTs in their over 300 strong ranks. Snohomish County is atypical of many areas, as we have an urban center, saltwater, swiftwater, and rugged mountains all in the same county.

One of the specialty teams of the Special Operations Group of the Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue organization is the Mantracking Team. The Snohomish County Tracking team formed in 1992 and is now recognized as one of the premier tracking teams in the country.

Today, the SCVSAR Tracking Team is aligned with nationally recognized tracking programs, such as the Joel Hardin Professional Tracking Services Visual Tracking and

Training Institute, and also offers regular in-house training for all SAR personnel.

In SAR, there are search functions and rescue functions. Tracking is a search discipline that can lead to finding the subject. Tracking is not mystical or magical, as one might imagine from movies and TV. It is the art of seeing “sign.” SIGN is all evidence, not limited to footfalls, of a person’s passage. This can include bent grass, broken twigs, compressed moss, dislodged stones, and discarded items, for example.

Experienced trackers can show anyone the physical characteristics of human SIGN and simple techniques on how to follow it. Tracking is simple, but not easy. It takes many

hundreds of hours to achieve various levels of certification, but one can begin tracking with experienced trackers right away. Anyone can see prints in the mud, but it takes training, dedication and experience to find footprints in forest duff, a grass field, or a gravel parking lot.

Trackers optimally work in three-person teams, with one point-person and two flankers. Beyond the requisite SAR gear, there is little specialized or expensive equipment. The gear usually consists of little more than a tracking stick and eyes.

On searches, Tracking offers a great deal. Tracks are a direct link between the searcher and the lost subject. There are over 2200 steps in a mile, so prints offer the most evidence available for the lost person! Not only can the Tracker provide a direction of travel for other searchers, which cuts down tremendously on resources, but Trackers can provide information about the subject. These “Sign Maker Characteristics” can tell how long ago the subject passed that way (“ageing”), the mental and physical state of the subject, and what the subject was doing.

one’s missions to missing person searches. Often, however, one type of mission leads into the other. The ability to not only follow the path of the subject, but also interpret the sign maker’s characteristics, proves especially valuable in crime scene investigations, an area in which Snohomish County Trackers excel. Snohomish County Trackers have been called in to numerous murders, suicides, abductions, assaults, mass shootings, arsons, and all manner of other crimes over the years.

There are over 2200 steps in a mile, so prints offer the most evidence available for the lost person!

Tracking operations can be used not only for search missions for lost people, but for providing assistance to Major Crimes Detectives in crime scene investigations. Not all are inclined to serve as Crime Scene Trackers, however, and it is entirely possible to limit

A recent mission provides a perfect example of search tracking evolving seamlessly into a possible crime scene tracking. On a Tuesday night, a van was found pulled off onto the side of an unpaved mountain road in the Cascade Range. The Driver’s side window was down, the driver’s wallet was in the front seat, but there was no driver. The investigating officer called out the SAR Deputy, who dispatched three trackers and one dog team early the following morning. We were informed that the identification documents had revealed that the driver had left his apartment on the previous Sunday afternoon to take a friend home, and had never returned.

Once upon the scene, the tracking team approached the vehicle first. We identified the prints of the investigating officer, and immediately saw prints that must have belonged to the driver exiting the car, moving towards the

hood. A review of the tires showed mud all around the tread of the tires, which indicated that the driver had become stuck and the wheels had spun. He appeared to have stood at the front of the car and attempted to push the car out, but was unsuccessful. We then found the faint remains of prints leaving the area of the vehicle and walking into the surrounding forest down a steep embankment.

We followed the prints, using step-

by-step tracking techniques, until the subject began to walk back and forth at a certain elevation. We found his eyeglasses in a small dug-out area. A short distance past that point, we discovered one of the subject’s shoes. With the direction of travel now established, we called up to the top of the slope for the K-9. The dog and handler bounded past now that they had a manageable area to search, while we continued our track. Within five minutes, we heard the ex-

cited baying of the dog, indicating that he had found the subject.

Unfortunately, the driver was deceased. But now the accompanying deputies asked that we “change hats” to determine whether the subject had died of natural causes in the frigid conditions of the mountains, or if he had been murdered. We continued down to the area where the gentleman had been found, and thoroughly detailed the ground to determine whose prints

belonged to the deputies and dog handler, whose were the subject’s, and whether there were any unknown prints that might have belonged to someone else who might have been present at the time the subject’s were made. Fortunately in this case, we did not find any prints that might have belonged to an unknown person, and our observations were used to corroborate a finding that the subject had died of exposure. This is not always the case, however, and Trackers have been called in to testify as Expert Witnesses at criminal trials.

This is unusual for volunteers. Most crime scenes and trial testimony is the purview of paid professionals, but our members are entirely volunteers. Although

Tracking operations can be used not only for search missions for lost people, but for providing assistance to Major Crimes Detectives in crime scene investigations.

they are volunteers, our Tracking Team members train diligently and approach each mission with as much professionalism as any paid personnel. Snohomish County Trackers have earned a high reputation not only in our county, but around the state and country. They work hard to keep that reputation.

If you have an interest in learning how to Track, you are encouraged to contact your local Search and Rescue organization and inquire into this exciting and fascinating art. Feel free to contact me with any questions, or you can review our webpage and its referencing links at www.scvsar.org/special_operations/ man-trackers. CERT

HAMDEN CERT SUCCESS:

Thanks to Strong Ties with Local Fire & Police Departments

BY ROBERT FREEMAN | PHOTOS: HAMDEN CERT MEMBER JOHN HOMER

First, you take care of yourself and family, then your neighbors, and then your community!

Over the last 15 years, Hamden’s CERT members have assisted our community during fires, hazardous material incidents, missing person searches, weather-related emergencies, mountain search and rescues at Sleeping Giant State Park, and emergency sheltering operations, in addition to attending the 15 to 20 planned community events during the year. It was also an honor for the Hamden CERT members to assist at the Kleen Energy Explosion Disaster (Largest natural gas explosion in history) for three days in Middletown, Ct., assisting with security and accountability on February 7, 2010. Hamden CERT was also present after the most recent tornado of May 15, 2018. During the 3-day POD

(Point of Distributions) Storm Center, the Hamden CERT Members gave out over 325 cases of bottled water, hundreds of gallons of potable water, and non- perishable food and snacks. They also supplied multiple charging stations to 79 families serving 234 individuals, while volunteering over 323 service hours. The team also has monthly training exercises and participates in community events, as well as activations of the town’s emergency operations center.

While some people may think that firefighters, police and paramedics will be on the scene right away when a disaster strikes, they could easily be inundated with calls for help in an emergen-

cy, or the nature of the disaster might cut off access for a time. This is where CERT, like other Emergency Volunteer Organizations, step up to fill the gap until paid reinforcements can arrive. In this case, Hamden CERT is in a very secure situation not found by other CERT Programs. Hamden CERT is very fortunate to have a great working relationship with its paid combination fire department and town police department. One of the main reasons for our success is this rewarding relationship with our fire and police chief, and the rank and file of both departments. Our team members have attained a personal relationship with many of our paid police and fire personnel both on and off duty. It is not unusual for us to hang out together and support any of our department’s social or fund raising events!

Another reason for the success of our program is the outstanding team cooperation with our town leaders and department heads, which is the backbone of any volunteer organization! We are so thankful for the ongoing support that we receive from our Mayor, Curt Leng, who has supported our team for many years, and was responsible for the purchase of our 6-seat golf cart that is used at all 17 of our annual community events. Mayor Leng was also instrumental in the complete refurbishing of our command vehicle back in 2014. Fire Chief Gary Merwede, who also serves as our Emergency Management Director, has helped restructure our team to be more effective with our rehabilitation procedures, and has gone out of his way to make sure that all our needs are met. He also ensures that our fire-department-provided command vehicle is always ready to respond when needed. Team Manager, Dave Lewis, and Administrative Chief, Deb DiLeone, who contribute many hours of work behind the scenes, complete this team of individuals helping us to be the team that we are!

Of the 106 members on our roster, we have 94 sworn members currently trained, and more than 60% are active with the team. We are always recruiting more people with our 2 basic training classes held each year to get more individuals involved. The classes strengthen our numbers and give people skills needed to cope during any emergency. Our CERT program will always have jobs or assignments for people who may not have the physical strength or capabilities for doing first aid and rescue work in the field. Logistical support and documentation are two of the most needed concerns of any large-scale emergency, and many of our “more seasoned” members have those skills from their civilian backgrounds. We are also recruiting more civic minded individuals who would not be able to qualify for the more stringent certifications and qualifications needed to be a volunteer firefighter. Many now serve with CERT programs that fit their physical, workplace, and family requirements and/or priorities. This is advantageous not only to our recruits but also to our community and our team.

People interested in more information about our program can contact us through our website at www.hamdencert.com. You can also review our activity on our Facebook or Twitter sites CERT

SUMMER EVENTS

JUNE 14

World Civil Defence Day World Blood Donor Day

JUNE 14 Flag Day

JUNE 15

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

JUNE 21 Father’s Day

JUNE JULY AUGUST

JULY 4 Independence Day

JULY 15 National Pet Fire Safety Day

AUGUST 1

DOGust 1st: Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs

AUGUST 4 U.S. Coast Guard Birthday