City of Houston CERT Program Community Emergency Response

City of Houston CERT Program Community Emergency Response Team 1

Introductions Jackie Miller Mayor’s Office of Public Safety & Homeland Security Community Preparedness Programs Manager CERT Coordinators Marni Rosen Capt. Homero Ponce Lopez Liz Shuler 2

The History 1985 – Started by Los Angeles Fire Department 1986 – First team of 30 Trained 1993 – FEMA made concept and program available nationwide 2002 – CERT became part of Citizen Corps Harris County Citizen Corps established – City/County 2003 – 1 st graduating class in Harris County 2006 – UASI Regional Community Preparedness Project Trained over 30, 000 people across Region 3

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UASI – Urban Area Security Initiatives Regional Community Preparedness Project Funds CERT Programs For: City of Houston Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Brazoria County Galveston County 5

What is CERT? ? Community Emergency Response Team CERT is a training program that prepares an individual to help themselves, their family and their neighbors in the event of a disaster. 6

CERT is a free awareness level class 24 Hours Taught in 8 - 3 hour modules Trains basic disaster response skills in neighborhoods, the workplace, faith based organizations and schools. Day-Weeknight-Saturday 7

Module Topics • Disaster Preparedness • Fire Safety • CERT Organization & Incident Command • Terrorism • Light Search & Rescue • Disaster Medical Operations • Disaster Psychology • Review & CERT Drill 8

How do you find or schedule a class? www. houstoncert. org Click on CERT Training Schedule List of Open Classes Closed classes - Groups/Organizations Contact my office or CERT Coordinators listed on website for your jurisdiction 9

Host of the class is responsible of finding a location and recruiting for their class Our office assists by posting on CERT website, providing flyers, placing on Next Door Our office provides all class support including equipment, materials, instructors 10

What Participants Receive? • Manual • Backpack – includes first aid supplies Triage tags, mask, notebook & pen, light sticks, Mylar blankets • Vest • Hard Hat • Gloves • Goggles • Certificates of Completion • Photo Badge 11

CERT Rodeo – February Supplemental Training Offered • Rodeo Preparation Training • Stop the Bleed • Traffic/Crowd Control • Disaster Psychology • Shelter Management • Mini Skills Camps 12

During Harvey Teams and Individuals Self Activated in Neighborhoods We communicated where assistance was needed 13

1. Conducted damage assessment and welfare checks on their neighbors. 2. Helped muck out homes 3. Led and supported shelters and PODS at churches throughout Houston & Harris County 4. Worked with first responders conducting high water rescues 5. Supported donation drives 6. Worked Donations Management at COH warehouse 7. Assist the American Red Cross (ARC) with staffing shelters 8. Assist the ARC with demobilization of mass shelter at GRB 9. Assist the ARC with transition of mass shelter from NRG to Greenspoint Mall 10. Self-activated within their neighborhood, even before Hurricane Harvey had left the area. CERTs responded to neighbors as rising water inundated the homes of seniors and the medically fragile, assisting with the transport of neighbors, pets, and needed medical equipment to higher and dryer locations. 14

11. Supported professional first responders by organizing the volunteer effort at Memorial City Mall. They helped serve food to the professional first responders. They designated areas for the collection and distribution of donated supplies and divided the numerous spontaneous volunteers into teams to assist in each area. 12. Cooked 2, 000 hot meals for their neighbors. Members of their team, along with other church members, walked through their neighborhood, bringing hot meals to families in their community. 13. Running shelters and collecting, organizing, and distributing donated goods to their communities. 14. Provided on-scene first aid 15. Neighborhood clean-up 16. Prayer requests 17. JJ Watts Foundation Distribution 18. Setting-up and running resource fairs in the community 19. Assisted other non-profit groups working in the 15

Ongoing Community Engagement MS 150 Tour de Houston Gymnastics Tournament Houston Marathon Freedom Over Texas Wings Over Houston Operation Stocking Stuffer Healthcare Summit Smoke Alarm Installation – Red Cross & HFD Community Fairs and Meetings Exercises Ready Houston Preparedness Kit Chef Challenge Extreme Weather Ready Expo – June 2 nd, GRB 16

Other Preparedness Programs Readyhoustontx. gov Are You Ready? Video School Ready – Elementary/Middle Neighborhood Ready Make the Call Program If You See Something, Say Something™ Run Hide Fight® 17

Questions? ? ? Contact Information: Jackie Miller City of Houston Community Preparedness Programs Manager 832. 393. 0922 jackie. miller@houstontx. gov 18