COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM                                      

   STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINE

Clarksville Fire Rescue and Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Service are responsible for fire suppression and rescue emergencies within the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County, respectively. On a day to day basis, there is an Incident Commander for each event response. During disasters, emergency personnel may be unable to respond to all emergency events.

CERT members may be called upon to serve in areas outside of their immediate neighborhoods – with or without Public Safety (Fire, Law, EMS, EMA) supervision.

If Public Safety Personnel are present at an incident scene, they may request CERT assistance. CERT team members would function in the Operations Section of the Incident Command System either under Search & Rescue or EMS.

If Public Safety personnel are unavailable to respond to a disaster scene, CERT team members will operate under their own Incident Command System in accord with NIMS. This will last the duration of the incidents or until they are relieved by Public Safety personnel. Proper documentation and reporting of the incident will be completed by the CERT Incident Commander.

First Actions to take

A.        Assess the damage to your building. If there is structural damage to the building, power, gas, or water, shut off the affected utility. If there is an uncontrolled gas leak, uncontrolled fire, or other hazardous situation, evacuate the premises and contact the EOC as stated above.

B.           Treat minor injuries to family members. If life threatening injuries are          present, CALL 9-1-1.

In the case of a disaster causing damage in their neighborhood CERT members are to quickly assess the amount and type of damage and call the EOC with their findings.  EMA will then make the decision for CERT activation.

If significant local damage has occurred within your neighborhood, you may not be able to reach the EOC via land lines.  If available, attempt contact via cell phones, neighborhood amateur radio operators, or by sending a messenger to your nearest Fire Station to contact the EOC via radio. If you are unable to contact help by any means, use your CERT skills to adapt, improvise and overcome.

Fire Suppression

                1. Extinguish small fires

Search & Rescue

   1. Attempt to contact the occupants by calling out and looking through                       

       windows. Depending on the situation, search and rescue operations may

       commence.

   2. If occupants are not at home. An exterior check for damage will be

       conducted. If a gas leak or broken water pipe is detected CERT members may

       turn off the Utilities. If so, they will leave a note under the door indicating

       action taken.

   3. There must be a reasonable belief that a life threatening situation exists

       before entering any structure, without permission.

   4. Mark the outside of the building with pre-designated signal: When the

       structure has been searched.

First Aid

1. Perform basic first aid including opening airways, controlling bleeding,      treating for shock, splinting, and head-to-toe assessments.

Other

1. If possible, listen to Radio stations 1400 AM (WJZM) and 107.9 FM (Q108) for information.

2. It is important for CERT members to provide assistance in their neighborhoods. Do not go to other areas seeking to provide help unless you are requested to do so by EMA.

3.Your safety is #1. Without your safety ensured, you may not be able to provide assistance to others.