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1 posted on 07/04/2017 2:03:21 PM PDT by bboop
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To: bboop
The Community Emergency Response Teams that I have been around were HAM radio groups their main goal was to setup and run emergency communications where needed

They do train in fire fighting first aid and other needed skills

When all other communication means fail there is HAM radio

2 posted on 07/04/2017 2:13:33 PM PDT by mouser (Run the rats out its the only chance we have)
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To: bboop

Friend of mine...very conservative. ..is on local CERT team...they prepare for when when SHTF.


3 posted on 07/04/2017 2:16:35 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Say hello to President Trump)
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To: bboop

CERT training is worth having.

W4CBL


4 posted on 07/04/2017 2:18:46 PM PDT by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
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To: bboop

Are they government employees? Do they work for FEMA? I wouldn’t let a govt. employee anywhere near my personal information unless required by law.


5 posted on 07/04/2017 2:19:24 PM PDT by raybbr (That progressive bumper sticker on your car might just as well say, "Yes, I'm THAT stupid!")
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To: bboop

More of the FEMA/DHS national security cult


7 posted on 07/04/2017 2:28:30 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up.)
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To: bboop

I Was in the fire service as a volunteer for many years. One good thing that FEMA implemented was National Incident Management System. (NIMS) is a standardized approach to incident management developed by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

It has greatly aided communication across agencies at incidents.

For instance everybody knows that “Command” is in charge rather then a specific person.


8 posted on 07/04/2017 2:28:31 PM PDT by UB355 (Slower traffic keep right)
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To: bboop

I’ve been a member of our local team for over 5 years.

I recommend it. It’s local in emphasis and gives some good general training.


9 posted on 07/04/2017 2:31:30 PM PDT by CCGuy (USAF (Ret.))
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To: bboop

In Florida, it’s a big deal. I worked with FEMA through Red Cross during hurricane Charley and also the No-Name storm. I know many people here are not high on the Red Cross, but around here (Tampa Bay) they do a great job on disaster services.

I would recommend going through your local Red Cross... get involved with them first and then go for FEMA training. They will quickly get to rely on you in a pinch or a disaster.


14 posted on 07/04/2017 2:52:14 PM PDT by MaxistheBest (...)
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To: bboop

My county’s ham radio team is ARES/RACES-CERT. It’s a backup communications team but we have to meet the requirements of Maine CERT in terms of basic knowledge and also understand the Incident Management System (ICS).

There are other opportunities in CERT for those who are not radio operators.


15 posted on 07/04/2017 2:54:00 PM PDT by NewHampshireDuo
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To: bboop

You get some basic training and exposure to quite a lot of interesting information that probably you won’t see otherwise. In our area we were told that in the event of a major catastrophe, read hurricane, that nearly all the trained first responders were going to be tied up in the disaster zone and that on the periphery only volunteers like CERT people might be available to help people. How effective the CERT people might be depends entirely on whether or not they continue to train and exercise. It’s a good beginning and points you in the right direction. I have since moved but I still always carry my gear. I recommend it for the exposure if nothing else.


16 posted on 07/04/2017 3:13:12 PM PDT by Bayan
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To: bboop

So, they’re not the guard force Obama recruited to guard the FEMA camps he was readying for the resistance?


17 posted on 07/04/2017 3:24:50 PM PDT by JimRed ( TERM LIMITS, NOW! Building the Wall! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: bboop
I have taken the CERT training in my community.

Instructors included current and former EMT and Firefighters. Training sessions were conducted weekly at various city facilities over a period of several months. The sessions included first-aid, emergency patient movement, and CPR training. The training was at a basic level and we were cautioned to avoid going beyond our training in any real-world incidents. More advanced training and EMT certifications were (and are) available. We practiced searching fields or woodland areas for injured people or forensic evidence.

We also were shown how to do triage procedures for incidents with multiple injured patients. We had a couple of full-scale disaster simulations conducted in a nearby city with multiple agencies and a few hundred people participating. There was at least one “real-world” injury during each of the simulations.

I was astonished at some of the directions that I heard and saw during the sessions. In some respects, the Government officials who ran the training sessions sounded like "preppers" and "survivalists".

We were trained to put together "go-bags" for rapid evacuation in case of fire, flood or chemical spills. The suggestions for what should be in a “go-bag” or a portable emergency kit seemed to be well-considered for different circumstances. We were repeatedly told that we should expect to be the first-responders in an emergency and it could be a long time before Government people might get to us in an incident – if ever. We were encouraged to be self-reliant for extended periods during different kinds of emergencies. We were encouraged to stockpile various supplies.

We were encouraged to learn about CB and Ham radio communications.

There was a section on “dealing with terrorist incidents”. It could be summarized as “get out of the attack zone immediately” and “let the police and military handle the problem”. CERT volunteers are not supposed to carry weapons.

There was a section on the FEMA Incident Command System. We were trained to work a location in buddy-pairs or trios within a squad of 8-12 people. An experienced Firefighter was always the squad leader in the exercises. Tasking is supposed to originate from a central area command post. It was very clear during the simulations that communications from central will break down quickly and most of the activity depends on a squad leader that knows what he is doing.

Volunteers were mostly older people, many retired. It was clear that a real-world emergency would be very physically demanding and would require excellent conditioning, probably beyond what most of the volunteers have. It is a young man’s game to be the hero. The older folks (such as I am) can run supply convoys or communications.

I can get the coffee and donuts or run a dispatch desk while the professional squads are on site,

The CERT groups here have been called out a few times to help with parades and other events.

You hear a lot of good stories - and can be thankful that you were not in the middle of them.

18 posted on 07/04/2017 3:27:07 PM PDT by flamberge (What next?)
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To: bboop

Sadly I’ve been to two funerals this year for retired military and CERT from each town helped us park, ran shuttle buses, got us back safely. I had never heard of them before, very impressive for our needs those days! All were grateful for their service!


19 posted on 07/04/2017 3:32:08 PM PDT by GizzyGirl
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To: bboop

Better to learn 4 skills:

Basic Paramedic
Basic Rifle marksmanship
HAM radio
Food prep skill (canning, drying, vacuum seal, etc)


20 posted on 07/04/2017 3:43:46 PM PDT by taxcontrol (Stupid should hurt)
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To: bboop

I’m a level 1 CERT member with the local fire department. We are kind of a swiss army knife for the FD. I got involved since the individual in a disaster are their own first responder and getting the training i’ve learned the local disaster response system as well as skills I can use for my neighbors until help can come.


22 posted on 07/04/2017 4:14:17 PM PDT by Godzilla ( I just love the smell of COVFEFE in the morning . . . . .)
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Would HAM radio work in the event of an EMP?


23 posted on 07/04/2017 4:33:13 PM PDT by wastedyears (Prophecy of sky Gods, the sun and moon)
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To: bboop

Happy Independence Day, FReepers. You are the best. Great answers, great advice. Thanks so much.


27 posted on 07/04/2017 6:42:57 PM PDT by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
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To: bboop

There is an utter load of mish-mash in reply to your query. I don’t have a lot of time, so take this for what it’s worth:

ANYONE can take CERT training in our area. It’s free, supported by FEMA, usually assisted by the local municipal Emergency Management organization and EMS. CERT “members” sign up to be on callout lists, are background-checked and provided City/CERT IDs. Generally, ALL CERT trainee graduates generally get a bag with basic safety stuff, including CERT hardhat, gas shut off tool and the CERT training binder. Residents not signing up go home with their training & bags (no background checks, no IDs, not on a callout list)...referred to as a dormant asset in the event of an emergency.

CERT members are on a callout list and, in the event of mobilization (a local or regional emergency), are to report accordingly IF they see fit (obviously seeing to their own families first) as a 2nd line of support to EMS services. When mobilized in our area, we then fall under the umbrella of liability of our local municipal organization as “mobilized volunteers.” (that’s an important distinction)

HAMS are our organization’s weakest part, as local HAMS want nothing to do with the CERT amateurs (I’m a HAM and a CERT). HAM will vary from one organization to the next. Zero consistency. Local HAM services are usually coordinated through ARES and municipal emergency management, including County. Our local repeaters are volunteer-maintained; I have no idea about other areas.

I have an ethical problem with one of the municipalities in our area misusing CERT members for volunteer activities unrelated to preparedness outreach. I also have problems with one municipal organization dictating what sort of supplemental training we may seek to provide other members as an all-volunteer organization (water purification, for example...a recent meeting of which was basically “rely on your local utility water trucks”).

I also have an ethical problem about our local emergency management (state and feds, too) parroting about the BIG ONE in our area, trying scare tactics to get people involved. It’s highly-ineffective as an outreach technique.

I have my biggest ethical problem with promotion of “easy” solutions to get neighbors to connect. This includes the BS app NextDoor and Map Your Neighborhood. I will NOT knock on my neighbor’s door and ask them what assets they can bring to bear in the event of an emergency. If they want to be on a CERT team and volunteer that info, that’s their business, but I think you all know where I’m coming from in this respect.

Put simply, every CERT organization is basically built around neighborhood organizations and each local organization is dependent upon the personality of the CERT district leader. This goes for the organization as a whole under the local emergency management head and the municipal employee responsible for running the CERT program. The success of each district relies heavily upon that local organization’s neighborhood leader (elected by the neighbors) and the CERT district leader (usually elected by the CERT steering committee, all volunteer CERT members).

Other than the problems I outline, ours is run fairly well, despite the fact that the new emergency management head tried to dictate the type of training volunteers would provide themselves and a lot of good people abandoned the program.

Here’s the rub: If you care about what your local & county government is doing in regards to rubbing shoulders with the feds and in regards to emergency preparedness, get involved in CERT.

It’s pretty basic: If you’re on the inside, you at least have tacit knowledge of what’s going on...I recommend it. You have no idea what you will learn.


28 posted on 07/04/2017 8:39:22 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus-)
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