What is the Encinitas Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)?
The Encinitas Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is comprised of citizen volunteers trained to support our local community's professional emergency responders. Under the direction of the Encinitas Fire Department, Encinitas CERT members are trained to provide damage assessment, victim assistance, shelter management and evacuation guidance.
Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical assistance will not be able to immediately meet all of the demands for their services. The CERT program provides for community self-sufficiency in order to meet the general public's urgent life-saving and sustenance needs until emergency personnel arrive.
As a member of CERT, you can respond to disasters, participate in drills and exercises. CERT members receive 24 hours of initial training (over a two-week period). Additionally, continuing education programs consisting of quarterly 3-hour refresher drills and full day exercises maintain team readiness.
Emergency preparedness and hazard mitigation can minimize the effects of a disaster and facilitate recovery. The benefits of this program are numerous and invaluable, such as firefighters and citizens working together to build safer communities; expanding the bond between government and the general public; enhancing community spirit and improving the quality of life for people in your neighborhood. You too can make a difference by using CERT training to save lives and protect property.
History of the CERT Program
Nationally, the concept for CERT training grew out of the Mexico City earthquake in which untrained volunteers who were willing to undertake rescue and life saving steps in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake saved over 800 people. However, over 100 of these volunteer rescuers lost their lives because they did not have sufficient training to accomplish everything they were attempting.
California authorities, visiting Mexico City after the earthquake, saw the potential of having a core of trained volunteers who could respond (without direction) in natural or man-made disasters and save lives while government and other disaster response agencies mobilized an organized response. As of 1993, over 8,000 individuals and 225 teams had been trained in Southern California . The concept proved a great success in saving lives and preserving property following the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
In 1994 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) adopted the program and has started promoting the concept with standardized training nation-wide. FEMA still bases the program on volunteers, but by standardizing the training they feel they can insure a consistent level of training and performance nationwide. Standardized training allows volunteer emergency organizations and government officials from any jurisdiction to be familiar with capabilities and limitations and how to effectively communicate missions to C.E.R.T. members/volunteers from other jurisdictions.
After September 11, 2001, America witnessed a wellspring of selflessness and heroism. People in every corner of the country asked, "What can I do?" and "How can I help?" Citizen Corps was created to help all Americans answer these questions through public education and outreach, training, and volunteer service. President Bush has now included CERT volunteers in the new Citizen Corps and as part of the overall Homeland Security Team.
Why Should You Become a Member of Encinitas' Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)?
Because... well, let's put it this way: try to picture this...
A 7.5 earthquake strikes the San Diego region, hitting North County particularly hard. A number of dwellings have collapsed, killing many people and trapping many more, some severely hurt. Emergency Services rush to the scene of the first calls they receive and try to help as fast as they can. But there are serious obstacles on their path: segments of highways have become impassable and many roads have suffered significant damage. As a result, traffic is at a standstill almost everywhere. Most cell phone relay towers have crashed, rendering cell phones useless. Land lines have suffered damage as well, making phone calls impossible. In addition, gas leaks have started fires in dozens of houses and apartment complexes and need to be extinguished quickly lest they extend to entire city blocks or trigger a replay of the San Diego fires of 2003 and 2007. Firefighters and EMS are overwhelmed. Some hospitals have suffered destruction and disruption, too.
Where will you be when this happens (and it will happen, all geologists agree on that)?
Will you be at home with your loved ones, or will you be at work, and therefore cut off from them and not able to reconnect, maybe for days? What will you do? What should you do? Will you know? Are you counting on your neighbors or co-workers to tell you what to do in such a situation? Do you have an emergency backpack in your car? If you're away from home, you may have to make it back on foot. What takes 45 minutes over the highway today may take a day walking the same distance. Do you have enough food and water to make the trip? Do you have a first-aid kit? You will probably encounter people who will need your help. Will you be able to do so or will you have to ignore their pleas for assistance? Wherever you find yourself when the earthquake strikes, there is a very good chance that many neighborhoods will be on their own during the early stages following a catastrophic disaster of this magnitude.
Such disasters in the recent past have shown that most people, when they are not hurt themselves, want to volunteer and help others. But without proper training, they can expose themselves to potential injury and even death. To take just one example, do you know how to recognize the danger of downed power lines? Basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills improves the ability of citizens to survive and take care of others less fortunate until professional responders arrive.
The Encinitas Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program
To prepare residents for a catastrophic disaster of the type described above, the Encinitas Fire Department started a CERT program in 2004. This program teaches citizens basic emergency skills, and trains them to respond effectively to disasters as a part of a team. The program was initially created by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1986, and has been established in various communities nationwide since.
People who participate in CERT training will have a better understanding of potential disaster threats to their home, workplace and community. If a disaster occurs that overwhelms the response capabilities of local emergency services, trained CERT members can apply their training to give critical support to family, neighbors and co-workers until professional help arrives.
The program includes special training for basic fire suppression and medical care. Volunteers also learn how to size-up search and rescue situations, such as a collapsed building, for example, to determine whether it is safe to go in. The classes are taught by Encinitas firefighters or by CERT volunteers certified to teach some of the course modules.
At the end of the course, the students respond to a mock emergency to give them a chance to put their skills to good use. Once the training is successfully completed, volunteers receive a certificate at a special City Council ceremony, a designation as Disaster Service Worker and a CERT hardhat, vest, gloves and other safety and emergency response equipment worth about $50 per volunteer.
The course modules are:
Disaster Preparedness
Fire Safety
Disaster Medical Operations (Assessing and Treating Injuries)
Light Search and Rescue
Team Organization
Disaster Psychology
Terrorism and CERT
Wildfire Preparedness and Response
Final Exercise
Who can participate and become a CERT volunteer?
The program is open to those who live or work within the city of Encinitas and are at least 18 years of age. Class size is limited to the first 20 students that enroll, and students must complete all classes to be officially recognized as a CERT member.
All classes are held at the Encinitas Community & Senior Center at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive (at the corner of Encinitas Blvd and Balour Drive), with the exception of the Final Exercise.
How Do I Enroll?
Fill out the form on our site here.
If you have questions regarding the Encinitas CERT Program, please send us an e-mail using our contact form here.
The Encinitas Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is comprised of citizen volunteers trained to support our local community's professional emergency responders. Under the direction of the Encinitas Fire Department, Encinitas CERT members are trained to provide damage assessment, victim assistance, shelter management and evacuation guidance.
Nationally, the concept for CERT training grew out of the Mexico City earthquake in which untrained volunteers who were willing to undertake rescue and life saving steps in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake saved over 800 people. However, over 100 of these volunteer rescuers lost their lives because they did not have sufficient training to accomplish everything they were attempting.
A 7.5 earthquake strikes the San Diego region, hitting North County particularly hard. A number of dwellings have collapsed, killing many people and trapping many more, some severely hurt. Emergency Services rush to the scene of the first calls they receive and try to help as fast as they can. But there are serious obstacles on their path: segments of highways have become impassable and many roads have suffered significant damage. As a result, traffic is at a standstill almost everywhere. Most cell phone relay towers have crashed, rendering cell phones useless. Land lines have suffered damage as well, making phone calls impossible. In addition, gas leaks have started fires in dozens of houses and apartment complexes and need to be extinguished quickly lest they extend to entire city blocks or trigger a replay of the San Diego fires of 2003 and 2007. Firefighters and EMS are overwhelmed. Some hospitals have suffered destruction and disruption, too.
To prepare residents for a catastrophic disaster of the type described above, the Encinitas Fire Department started a CERT program in 2004. This program teaches citizens basic emergency skills, and trains them to respond effectively to disasters as a part of a team. The program was initially created by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1986, and has been established in various communities nationwide since.