Agenda - 09-02-2003-8f - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 Purpose The purpose of the Orange County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is to train citizens to the minimum level of emergency preparedness and response necessary to ensure the safety of themselves, their family, their co-workers, and their neighbors in times of disaster. The goal is to reduce the reliance on professional emergency services within the county during the initial stages of a disaster so that emergency resources can be allocated in the most efficient manner possible. A simultaneous goal is to improve the capabilities of the citizens to act safely and appropriately in completing the emergency tasks that citizens have historically attempted spontaneously, such as sheltering neighbors, providing first aid, searching for those lost, etc. This concept will reinforce the emergency preparedness position ofself- reliance that Orange County Emergency Management has maintained for many years. Orange County has experienced multiple disasters in the past ten years, including tornados, hurricanes, winter storms, and flooding. After Action Reports from these disasters have identified multiple needs concerning citizen preparedness. Examples include: encouraging the public to have a three day disaster supply kit, communicating disaster information in the non- English speaking communities, and training to be more self-sufficient in a post disaster environment. All of these needs could be feasibly addressed through the CERT program. The CERT training will provide the citizens training in first aid, basic rescue, limited firefighting activities, animal care and control, and crime prevention techniques. First aid training will allow the citizens to properly care for themselves and others until such time EMS can arrive. Limited firefighting activities will teach the citizens how and when to properly use a fire extinguisher. Animal care and control training will educate citizens on properly care during 4