CERT and PODs (Points of Distribution)

Following a major disaster, such as an earthquake, equipment and supplies will be rushed into the area to help the affected people.  As food, water, blankets, etc. come in via convoys, a method of distribution to individuals and families must be set up and operated.  This would be a "POD" or Point of Distribution.

CERT could be asked to assist in this operation following the emergency activities that would be your primary responsibility:  yourself, your family and your neighborhood.

What are Points of Distribution or PODs?

     -    Points of Distribution are centralized locations where the public picks up life sustaining commodities following a disaster or emergency.

    -    Commodities usually include shelf stable food and water.

During a disaster, one method of issuing supplies may not be enough.  The Jackson-Madison Co EMA could use other distribution systems or use all of them at once.  All three complement each other and provide expanded distribution coverage.

Mobil delivery is a method that utilizes vehicles to drive into an affected area and provide commodities at different drop locations or where the need is identified.  This type of distribution is common in rural areas and where roads are damaged.

Direct delivery is coordinating with a specific location, such as a shelter, feeding site, or hospital for the delivery of specific items and quantities.  These commodities could be food, water, comfort kits etc.  Direct deliveries are usually larger in size and more specific in commodity type than what is delivered through mobile delivery.

Points of Distribution are centralized points where supplies are delivered and the public travels to the site to pick up the commodities.

If you are interested is assisting with this program, if needed, you are encouraged to take the following FEMA free on-line course:  IS-26:  Guide to Points of Distribution ( http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS26.asp ).

Once you have taken this course and received your FEMA Certificate of Completion, please email a copy to:  jmcema@bellsouth.net

LDS Church CERT Team Final Exercise

On the morning of Saturday March 20, 2010, members of the LDS Church CERT Team of Jackson, TN completed their required Final Exercise to become a certified Community Emergency Response Team, part of the Citizen Corps program of the Department of Homeland Security.

The LDS CERT Team practiced and honed their skills in light fire suppression, triage and search and rescue. This was the last phase of a 20+ hour course to become a CERT Team member.

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs.

One also expects that under these kinds of conditions, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following the Mexico City earthquake where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 people lost their lives while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay and is preventable through training.

If we can predict that emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster, especially if there is no warning as in an earthquake, and people will spontaneously volunteer, what can government do to prepare citizens for this eventuality?

First, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. Second, give the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. Third, train them in needed life saving skills with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. Fourth, organize teams so that they are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.

If you would like more information about CERT and how you can start a team in your neighborhood or organization, please contact:

G. Michael Winslow, CERT Coordinator
Jackson-Madison County Emergency Management Agency
Tennessee Homeland Security District 10

731-427-1271
gmwinslo@bellsouth.net

Photos courtesy of Jimmy Owen

CERT Team Final Exercise March 20, 2010

CERT Final Exercise for LDS Church CERT Team will be held Saturday March 20^th, 2010 at the Jackson Fire Department Training Center from 9 am – 12 pm.

Topics covered will be:

1.     Fire Safety

2.     Fire suppression

3.     Search & Rescue

4.     Cribbing

5.     Triage

All current CERT Team Members and Instructors are invited to come and observe and/or participate in this session.

Being prepared makes for a safer community.

G. Michael Winslow, CERT Coordinator

Jackson-Madison Co EMA

Tennessee Homeland Security District 10

LDS Church of Jackson, TN CERT Training

On October 16th and 17th, the CERT Team from the LDS Church located on Pipkin Rd in Jackson, TN started their CERT Training program.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Our volunteer instructors for this class included:

Scott Mizen - Sardis CERT
Ray Lipford - Sardis CERT
Marty Clements - Director, Jackson-Madison Co EMA
Scott Parrish - LANA CERT
Sgt. Alan Castleman - Madison County Sheriff's Department
Billy Young - Union Universtity, Director of Security

Thanks to all volunteers and instructors. The CERT program could not function without you.






For more information on CERT and training opportunities, contact:

G. Michael Winslow, CERT Coordinator
Jackson-Madison Co EMA
TN Homeland Security District 10
gmwinslo@bellsouth.net
731-616-8599

Multi-Agency Emergency Drill Oct 10, 2009

On October 10th, 2009, the MSC CERT team lead by Scott Mizen participated in an emergency drill involving the Boy Scouts from several Troops in West Tennessee. This drill was held at the BSA annual Camporee on the Maubury family farm in Denmark, TN.

The drill scenario was a school bus accident / fire with multiple injuries that required emergency responders to suppress the fire, locate and extract the victims and transport them to a Triage area managed by the CERT Team.

The drill was very realistic complete with professional makeup (lacerations, abrasions, impalements) designed and applied by Leah Gray, CERT Coordinator for Jackson State Community College, Jackson, TN.

Emergency responder units participating the the drill, which was run twice that day, were:

Madison County Fire Department
City of Jackson Fire Department
Medical Center EMS
Madison County Sheriff's Department
Lifeforce Air Evac.
Jackson-Madison County Emergency Management Agency

Congratulations to all who participated in this important and valuable drill. As it happened, the same day of the drill, a real life bus accident occurred in Utah very similar to our scenario. It can happen and the skills learned and practiced here in Madison County could save a life someday.

G. Michael Winslow, CERT Coordinator
Jackson-Madison Co EMA
District 10 - TN Homeland Security

Escape and Rescue from Submerged Vehicles

By Gerald Dworkin

Each year, there are approximately 1,500 incidents and 600 deaths occur involving vehicles that have gone off the road and plummeted into the water. Therefore, the public needs to plan for these types of emergencies by (A) rehearsing the steps necessary for a successful self-rescue from a vehicle in the water, and (B) having the rescue/escape tools readily available for use during this type of emergency situation. In addition, First Responder agencies need to provide the training necessary to prepare their personnel to respond to these types of incidents, and should provide the Personal Protective Equipment and rescue tools necessary for a safe and effective response to vehicles in the water.

SAFETY

Public service campaigns should be increased in an effort to educate the public about the risks of driving through flooded highways; driving in close proximity to bodies of water during snow, rain or other slippery conditions; or driving over lakes, rivers or ponds that have frozen over. The following information should be included in these efforts:

It only takes 6” to 2' of water to float a vehicle off its wheels. Heed warnings about low water crossings and do not attempt to cross flooded highways.

8” to 12” of new, clear, hard ice is required to drive a small vehicle onto the ice. 12” to 15” of new, clear, hard ice is required to drive a medium-sized truck onto the ice.

Wearing seatbelts will increase your chances of surviving a crash into the water.

If a vehicle leaves the road and lands in deep water, the vehicle's float time at the surface of the water may be as little as 30 seconds, or as much as 4 minutes. Factors which effect the float time include closed, sealed, and intact windows and weather seals. Because of the location of the motor in the front of the vehicle, the vehicle will immediately assume an angled nose down position in the water.

ESCAPE

Because of the relatively limited time frame for self-rescue, the decision to escape the vehicle must be made immediately. However, because of the angled nose-down position in the water and the pressure exerted by the water against the doors, as well as structural damage to the vehicle as a result the crash, it may be extremely difficult or impossible to open the driver's side and passenger doors of the vehicle in order to effect an escape. Therefore, the only avenue of escape may be through the car door windows.

Studies have shown that the electric power may stay on for as much as 10 minutes. Or, the battery can short out immediately, making the electric window switches useless. Therefore, in order to escape through the car door windows, the occupants must be able to punch out the windows. Because the door windows, as well as the rear window, are constructed of tempered glass, they will easily shatter using an appropriate rescue/escape tool, such as a life hammer device, or a spring-loaded window punch. Many of the commercially available rescue/escape tools also have an integrated seat-belt cutter/blade that provides the ability to slice away a seat belt should its release mechanism fail or jam.

The decision to escape the vehicle must be made as soon as the vehicle leaves the road and enters the water. If the occupants delay their escape from the vehicle and the vehicle begins to sink, it may not be possible to effect an escape until the water pressure has equalized inside the vehicle. Also, should the vehicle land in deep water, if the water depth is less than 14', the vehicle will usually come to rest on the bottom on all four wheels, assuming there are no large rocks or other debris on the bottom. However, water depths greater than 14' usually results in the vehicle turning turtle and landing on its roof. Needless to say, being upside down in a dark environment with water rushing in will totally disorient the occupants of the vehicle.

We advocate the escape principles of SOS-GO.

S = Stay Calm
Assess the Situation
Slow your Breathing
O = Open your Window(s) or Door(s)
S = Disengage your Seatbelt
GO = Get Out

In order to accomplish this, these emergency procedures should be rehearsed before the emergency occurs. Use a body reference point to identify and locate the door latch, window crank or electric window switch. As an example, the driver should practice finding the location of these by touching his knee or hip with his/her left hand and then move the hand laterally to the door. A rescue/escape tool should be immediately available for punching out the window and cutting seatbelts. This tool should be mounted on the sidewall of the driver's side compartment, attached to the key ring, or located in some other conspicuous location that can be easily accessed during an emergency. Consideration should be given to additional tools for the passenger side and rear seat compartments as well.

If there are multiple occupants, once an escape route has been opened, each occupant should hold hands in a human chain and escape from the same route. If young children are secured in car seats, based on a limited study, we found that of those car seats we evaluated, they were sufficiently buoyant to float a child on the surface of the water. Therefore, the car seat can be cut loose from the seat belt and removed from the vehicle with the child still secured in the car seat.

There is no doubt that when a vehicle leaves the roadway and plunges into the water, this would be an extremely frightening experience, especially during the winter months with cold water posing additional risks and hazards to the occupants. But, by rehearsing the emergency escape and survival procedures and having the rescue/escape tools readily available, occupants can safely and rapidly self-extricate themselves from this situation before the vehicle begins to sink.

RESCUE

Public Safety and Rescue personnel should be appropriately trained, protected, and equipped to effectively and safely respond to vehicles in the water. Besides the availability of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), Wetsuits, and/or Dry-Suits, rescue personnel should have the tools readily available to punch in the car door windows or the rear window in order to rapidly extricate a victim or multiple victims from a vehicle in the water. Spring-loaded window punches or life hammer type devices with seat-belt cutters provide the rescuer with the opportunity to gain immediate access to the victims and to cut away the victim's seat belt for their immediate extrication from the vehicle.

As standard protocol, whenever a rescue agency is dispatched to respond to a vehicle in the water, the dispatch of a wrecker should be automatic in every community and emergency response system. Upon arrival of the wrecker, it can be used to assist in the stabilization of the vehicle during and after the rescue of the vehicle occupants.

RESCUE/ESCAPE TOOLS

We evaluated a number of rescue/escape tools. These tools are either hammer-type devices or spring-loaded window punch devices. Although both types of tools were effective in breaking door windows and rear car windows, we found that the hammer-type devices were more dependable. Each of the spring-loaded window punch devices we tested were effective in breaking the windows when they were first removed from their packaging. However, after several practice drills, the points on these devices became dull which resulted in their failure to work and break the windows. Therefore, we caution against using the spring-loaded window punches for any purpose other than for breaking the windows. Furthermore, using a spring-loaded window punch, without appropriate hand protection, increased the chance of suffering cuts on the hand than the use of the hammer-type device. Regardless, rescue personnel should always wear an appropriate water rescue, neoprene, or fire glove when using any type of device to shatter door windows or vehicle rear windows.

About the Author

Gerald Dworkin is a professional aquatics safety and water rescue consultant for Lifesaving Resources Inc. (lifesaving.com) and is responsible for aquatics safety, lifeguard, water rescue, and ice rescue training curricula and programs. He also consults as an expert in drowning and aquatic injury litigation. He is a graduate from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, and has over 30 years professional experience in the fire, EMS, and water rescue sector. He is currently a firefighter/EMT for the Harrisville (NH) Fire and Rescue Department. For more information, visit www.lifesaving.com, or e-mail Gerry at admin@lifesaving.com.

Boy Scout Disaster Drill October 10th

Hello Everybody:

I have more details about this exercise on October 10th, 2009.

This exercise will be in conjunction with the West Tennessee Council of Boy Scouts of America Camporee to be held in Denmark on October 9-11. The exercise will be on Saturday October 10th from 9am - 12pm and repeated at 1pm - 3 pm.

This is shaping up very well and will be a multi-agency drill involving the Madison County Fire Department, The City of Jackson Fire Department, Medical Center Emergency Medical Service, Madison County Schools Transportation Department, CERT, and the Jackson-Madison County Emergency Management Agency.

We need to have as many CERT members/instructors as are available participate.

Here is the scenario:

The Madison Co School Bus Dept will have two buses staged at the scene. One bus will be "involved" in a major accident with a wide range of injuries. Boy Scouts will portray the victims to be treated and extracted by EMS and the Fire Departments.

Older Scouts will perform immediate first aid and help get "walking wounded" and un-injured off their respective buses before First Responders arrive. We need CERT members to assist with this and to mentor the Scouts. CERT will set up a Triage area and demonstrate to the Scouts how to do this.

This will be a great opportunity to brush up on your skills and perform a great service for the Scouts. Please make every effort to attend and bring your kits.

The exercise will be held at 550 Shady Grove Road in Denmark. From I40, take Exit 76; turn left on TN-223; Turn left at Britton Lane/TN-223 and continue on TN-223; Camporee at 550 Shady Grove in Denmark.
(Click on the map above to enlarge)

Thank you, in advance, for your participation.

G. Michael Winslow
CERT Coordinator
JMC-EM / TN Homeland Security District 10