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    Emergency Preparedness in the San Ramon Valley

The following pages will provide you with Emergency information about the San Ramon Valley, the Certified Emergency Response Training (CERT), and Blackhawk HOA’s program for CERT Training and Emergency Response.

The two links below for the San Ramon Valley Fire District and Be Ready will help all of you be more prepared in case of a disaster.

https://www.firedepartment.org/community/outreach-programs/cert

http://www.bereadysrv.org/

San Ramon Valley Fire Prevention District Overview          

https://www.firedepartment.org/community/be-ready-srv
The Fire District is well prepared to handle everyday emergencies. However, during a disaster, the number and scope of incidents will likely far exceed its ability to provide effective emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is centered around an all-risk, all-hazard training course. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors, and your neighborhood in an emergency situation. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster preparedness where citizens will learn to take independent actions that are critical to a successful outcome. While people will respond to others in need without the training, the CERT course is designed to help them do so safely and effectively.

With the successful completion of CERT training, students are sworn in as Disaster Service Worker Volunteers for the District. The State of California Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Program (DSWVP) provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage in the event a Disaster Service Worker (DSW) volunteer is injured while performing assigned disaster duties. DSW volunteers are used throughout the state to augment first responder and rescue teams in a state of war, state of emergency, or a local emergency disaster and to assist in recovery activities following a catastrophic event.

San Ramon Valley Emergency Preparedness Citizen Corps Council

Blackhawk Community Emergency Preparedness/CERT

The Blackhawk Community Emergency Preparedness/CERT is comprised of Certified CERT members of the Blackhawk Resident Community, Blackhawk Country Club, Blackhawk GHAD, Blackhawk HOA, & Allied Universal (Privacy Staff) in conjunction with all of Contra Costa Counties Emergency Services.

CERT on a Federal level

Introduction

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors such as the number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs.

One also expects that under these kinds of conditions, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following the Mexico City earthquake, where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 people lost their lives while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay and is preventable through training.

If we can predict that emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster, especially if there is no warning as in an earthquake, and people will spontaneously volunteer, what can government do to prepare citizens for this eventuality?

First, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. Second, give the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. Third, train them in needed life-saving skills with emphasis on decision-making skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. Fourth, organize teams so that they are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.

Background

The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. 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 their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees.

The training program that LAFD initiated makes good sense and furthers the process of citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family, and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy adopted and expanded the CERT materials believing them applicable to all hazards.

The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. This individual will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster. Since 1993 when this training was made available nationally by FEMA, communities in 28 States and Puerto Rico have conducted CERT training.