Before a disaster

1. Acquire or locate as many of the following supplies and equipment as possible and place in local cache site:

a. office materials: clipboards, pens, markers, rubber bands, blank pads of paper, team rosters, ward and area maps, ward and area directories, etc.

b. search and rescue materials: blank search and rescue reports, cribbing, prybars, generators, extension cords, portable electric and non-electric lighting, buckets, flashlights, utility shut off tools, shovels, rope, pickaxes, sledge hammers, handsaws. chainsaw, backhoes, etc.

c. medical equipment and materials: water, bandaging, splints, stretchers, backboards, cots, blankets, alcohol, latex gloves, C-collars, surgical and sports tape, etc.

d. fire suppression materials: fire extinguishers, axes, shovels, hoses, buckets, et.

e. safety equipment: hard hats, gloves, dust masks, goggles, CERT vests, whistles, latex gloves, radiation monitoring equipment, etc.

f. mass feeding supplies: Dutch ovens, gas grills and stoves, etc.

g. communication equipment: HAM and FSR radios, batteries, etc.

h. morgue supplies: plastic, toe tags, body bags, etc.

i. sheltering supplies: tents, sleeping bags, blankets, plastic, etc.

j. sanitation supplies: water, plastic, lime, buckets, pot-a-potties, wash basins, liquid non scented bleach, heavy duty plastic garbage bags and containers, water filters, etc.

k. transportation supplies: flares, stretchers, 4x4 vehicles, horses, bicycles, motorcycles, etc.

l. misc. supplies: several rolls of 4 -6 mil plastic, staple guns, duct tape, etc.

In the event of a disaster

1. Setup the Emergency Operations Center with initial areas of: logistics (including communications, maps, supplies, and transportation); fire suppression teams; search & rescue teams; medical teams (to include a first aid or critical care station) and morgue (if needed).

2. Locate the EOC up hill and up wind of any disaster. If available try to use large covered areas such as churches, schools, civic centers, etc. If covered areas are not available try to find tents, pavilions, back of large trucks, etc.

3. Set up a volunteer check in with a log.

4. Have responders and volunteers sign in.

5. Assign personnel with at least two people per group for medical and morgue, logistics and communications and at least four people per group to fire suppression teams, six people per group to search and rescue teams. Assign an extra person as a runner to each group.

6. If a local cache is available open it up and distribute supplies, as needed; medical, stretchers, backboards, blankets, pry-bars, log sheets, etc.

7. Check that all personnel have safety equipment to include: helmets, goggles, vests, dust masks, work gloves, latex or rubber gloves, proper clothing, flashlights and whistles or other signal devices.

8. Setup the medical area with divisions for immediate, delayed, morgue victims.

9. Set area, as needed, for team/crew feeding, mass feeding, child care, sleeping quarters, recreation, water purification and filtration.

10. Gather facts, identify any additional resources, develop a rescue plan, evaluate progress, rotate crews.

11. As report start coming in from block captains establish rescue priorities and send out teams to where the greatest need is.

12. If there are not block captains set up or they are not available to send in reports send out search and rescue crews to start door-to-door search.

13. Arrange for transportation of injured individuals.

14. As victims start arriving at the medical unit have them logged in and sent to the appropriate area, depending on their condition.

Fire Suppression Teams

1. Gather the facts.

2. Fire teams stay together, up hill and up wind.

3. Before you enter a structure, STOP, LOOK, LISTEN and assess the damage.

4. Watch for hazards! Is it safe? If not, STOP!

5. Watch for hazardous materials signs and placards.

6. Watch for flammable or combustible material and liquids.

7. If anybody shouts "STOP", then do so. They may see something you don't.

8. Does electricity need to be shut off?

9. Does gas need to be shut off?

10. Can the fire be fought safely? Will the structure collapse? Can you escape if it does?

Medical and Morgue Teams

1. Gather Facts

2. Partners stay together, up hill and up wind.

3. Setup Triage Area (Immediate, Delayed, Dead), Treatment Area, Convalescents Area, Morgue Area (preferably some distance from live victims) and Transportation Staging Area.

4. Assemble medical supplies, get ready to receive victims.

5. Talk to victims, tell them who you are.

6. Ask permission to help conscious victims, perform total body assessments when given.

7. Tell the victim and your partner what you are going to do to help them.

8. Treatment (A, B, C, S,); Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Shock.

9. Blanch test for capillary refill. Check circulation often.

10. Document patient condition, location and complaints. Use victim tags if available - if not still tag victims with some form of tag.

11. Describe; Age, Sex, Body Build, Height, Weight, Clothing, Injuries, Treatment Rendered, and transfer location.

Search and Rescue Teams

1. Gather Facts

2. Crews stay together, Up Hill and Up Wind.

3. STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, Size up for Safety, Plan Rescue.

4. Caution hazardous materials and areas, risks. If anybody says STOP, everybody STOP!

5. Mark building before going in, and again when leaving. Go slowly.

6. Call to victims to come to you when you go in. Time is critical.

7. When you find a victim, tell them who you are and ask permission of conscious victims to help them.

8. Perform head-to-toe body assessments then perform triage; Airway, Breathing, Circulation, & Shock.

9. Tag as I, D, or M (dead).

10. Talk about what you are doing as you do it to inform your team mates and victim.

11. Have search and rescue team leader document results.

12. Evaluate Progress.

Triage and Assessments

Checking the airway and breathing rate (30 breaths per minute average)

If higher, person is in shock, tag "I" for immediate.
If lower, check circulation and control bleeding.

Check for bleeding and capillary refill (2 seconds average)

If higher, person is in shock, tag "I" for immediate.
If lower, check mental status.

Checking Mental Status

If failing to follow simple commands, possible head injury, tag "I" for immediate.
If following simple commands, Mark "D" for delayed.

Perform head-to-toe assessment

If structure is lightly damaged, check for bleeding, broken bones, then evacuate.
If structure is heavily damaged, evacuate to safe area then perform assessment.

Communications

1. Set up a base statio at the EOC with logs, and if available and necessary: radios. generators, portable lighting, markers, blank paper pads, pens, etc.

2. Organize all message forms and daily report form blanks. Place message form blanks at the team's radio base station.

3. Start generators if available and necessary and test radios for operation by attempting to sign-on to the emergency net.

4. Open all FSR and HAM radio battery wells and install fresh alkaline or rechargeable batteries.

5. Use a piece of masking tape to mark each Walkie-Talkie with a call sign (such as "SAR 33 Alpha" or "Med 33 Alpha") which specifically identifies the team group to which the radio is being assigned.

6. Assign one radio to each field team that goes out of the EOC.

7. Set up a "radio log" on regular paper and a large chalk or white board (if available) with the following headings: Time, Call Sign, Description, Operator's Initials and Comments.

8. Record every message that comes in from the field units of your team.

9. Set up an area map.

10. Use colored thumb tacks or markers to track the last known location of each field unit.

11. Collect all field unit forms at the end of the day, compile them and complete the daily report for the team's activities.

12. Collect radios, replace or recharge all batteries and reissue them.

13. Assign a team communicator to operate the station base for each 6 hour shift during the entire disaster response. Twenty-four hour coverage of the radios should be maintained until local authorities have been able to respond into the service area.

14. File all completed reports and message forms in the team's cache for future reference.

15. Keep CERT team leader and local authorities CONSTANTLY informed on events as they are reported to you.