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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIII (B) Approval Authorization to proceed with Community Emergency Response Team AGENDA 4-16-96 Item III B Ocoee 6e Voevre. e t 125 N. Bluford Avenue — Ocoee, Florida 34761 RON STROSNIDER EMERGENCY 656-1313 Fire Chief BUSINESS 656-7796 DATE : April 10 , 1996 TO : THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND BOARD OF CITY COMMISSIONERS FROM: Richard Firstner , Assistant Fire Chief tF THROUGH : Ron Strosnider , Fire Chief ?.t- SUB : COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM Attached please find the staff report addressing the Community Emergency Response Team(CERT) for your review. The program will benefit The City of Ocoee by promoting self-sufficiency among it ' s citizens during and after a natural or man-made disaster . The program will become the cornerstone of the Ocoee Fire Department ' s public education efforts . RF/sm CalSaa COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM C . E . R . T STAFF REPORT The C.C7177177Z.112 tY EMeI`"eJ7cy Respolase TeaJJ7 (CERT) is a group of citizens or business persons trained to a level that enhances their ability to recognize, respond to, and recover from a major emergency or disaster situation. When a major emergency overwhelms normally available resources, response delays of hours or even days may occur; someone with "CERT skills training" should be able to immediately assist those in distress. Citizens will be trained by Ocoee Firefighters in areas that will help them take care of themselves and others before, during, and after a major emergency. As an organized team, they can provide vital services in the absence of emergency responders, whose arrival may be delayed due to the scope of the event. The CERT is organized under the leadership of the Board of City Commissioners, City Manager and the Ocoee Fire Department. HISTORY: The C C71711711.1111ty E171er e11C;y Response Tea171 concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department 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 in the CERT concept. As of 1993, more than 10,000 people and over 267 teams have been trained. In 1994 both the City of Orlando, and the City of Port Orange started CERT programs designed to meet the hazards faced by Florida residents. The CERT program is now starting to spread across Central Florida. New programs that have developed locally with the help of Orlando and Port Orange include Maitland, Apopka, Hillsborough County, Daytona Beach Shores, Cape Coral and Orange County. WHAT MAJOR EMERGENCIES COULD AFFECT OCOEE \\\ Weather Emergencies: Severe thunderstorms and high winds are a regular occurrence in Central Florida and drain emergency resources area wide in scope. Tornadoes and hurricanes, although not a regular occurrence, can cause an extensive impact on the entire community. \\\ Transportation Incidents: An airplane crash or a passenger/school bus accident with mass casualties, could command over half of the County's on duty emergency resources immediately. A train derailment or truck transport accident with a chemical release or fire could cause a mass casualty incident or the need to move a large number of people out of harm's way in a very short period of time. \\\ Major Fire: A fire involving a high rise building, hospital, retirement community or shopping mall could easily require all on-duty resources as well as response from other jurisdictions. PuIp11[: t1017 and citizen 117 volV 172en t appear to be the. 17205t S res i L'e 172etl2od of Mit tion available, ROLE OF CERT TEAM MEMBERS The City of Ocoee will benefit by having it's citizens properly trained to be better prepared to deal with events that might otherwise seem overwhelming. Ocoee CERT members will: *** Recognize the potential hazards associated with particular events. *** Take steps to get to safety, and help others *** Assume a leadership role *** Administer first aid *** Identify, organize, and utilize available resources *** Perform needs assessment *** Assist others with the emotional distress associated with major emergencies *** Allow better allocation of emergency resources CERT COURSE CONTENT: Students attend seven (7) weekly classes presented by the Ocoee Fire Department. Each class lasts for two and one half hours each week and reading assignments are given at the end of each class. Lecture is supported by video, slides, and overhead projected materials. Lecture time gives way to practical, tabletop, and team building exercises whenever possible. The course materials cover: Week 1: Makes the student aware of various types of major emergencies that could affect Central Florida, the Emergency Management System, and the process of disaster recovery. Week 2: Teaches basic fire suppression, team and personal safety considerations, and an introduction to the problems associated with Hazardous Materials incidents. Week 3 & 4: Disaster medical operations. Recognizing and treating life threatening injuries, triage, splinting, bandaging and patient care. Week 5: Teaches light search & rescue operations; size-up, search methods and patterns, and safety precautions. Week 6: Focuses on CERT operations before a hurricane. Long-term planning, how to organize a neighborhood, evaluate available resources and identify people with special needs, Week 7: Deals with "post-storm" team operations. Facing problems organizing teams under emergency conditions and operating a neighborhood "command post". The student learns concepts of resource procurement and allocation, disaster psychyology, damage assessment and documentation. POST GRADUATE ACTIVITY: It is important that graduates realize they are an integral part of the City's Emergency Management System. The CERT Program Coordinator schedules graduates for a variety of activities that are intended to show the City's commitment to the program. Meetings are scheduled for graduates and interested individuals to attend. Attendees are brought up to date on any news or changes that affect them or the Emergency Management System, and they are given a half hour to an hour class on a topic that enhances training they have received. Graduates are asked to periodically attend neighborhood activities or other public gatherings to man exhibits, hand out literature, and help others learn about the CERT program. PLAN TO PROCEED: Upon approval, the Ocoee Fire Department will prepare the necessary program materials, advertise and schedule classes. A pilot program of 10 participants will be conducted to refine instructional techniques and receive feedback on the program. We intend to fund the program with in-house resources and seek Corporate/Civic sponsors to help defray expenses. The program is not intended to be revenue generating. RECOMMENDATION: The Staff requests the support and endorsement of the Board of City Commissioners and the City Manager, for the C QI77177LU71ty E177e124'?17c:y Response Team (CERT) concept, and approve the Ocoee Fire Departments' plan to proceed.