Communication systems can make or break an effective response for emergency teams. Without reliable communication systems, team leaders cannot insure the safety of team members, nor deploy team resources where they are most needed. A team without any communication is nothing more than a bunch of people running around with pry bars and extinguishers in utter chaos!

Not everyone needs to be CERT Trained but the more who are, the faster the rescue effort will be. If we plan for the worst then we will be ready for whatever else comes our way. There is something for everyone to do - it's all a matter of collecting data, knowing what resources are available and organizing the efforts of every volunteer involved.

FYI: The CERT program is a government sponsored program. It is NOT a part of the LDS Church programs. Kenneth Moravec (AVERT- CERT Trainer - Utah) has designed this Ward-related plan for members to incorporate the CERT program and has given me permission to post the information here. It is a tried and true plan that uses CERT Trained skills. Any part of this plan can be adjusted to meet individual needsEXCEPT the colors used in the house marking system. That is a standard that will be recognized by ALL First Line Response Teams inside the church and out. But the bottom line is that if you have a CERTIFIED CERT Team - a skilled team - it will be to your advantage at the moment of disaster. (BTW: All Certified CERT volunteer hours that are recorded are eligible for Federal Disaster Funding to your city.)

I hope this has given you a good look into how a CERT based Emergency Plan works. More information is available by signing up for the CERT Training in your area. Good luck! If you have more questions, you are welcome to email me at ritarawlins@yahoo.com. Be sure to say something about CERT in the subject line so that I will not think it's spam.