Cert Official What Specific Training

CERT Official

What specific training is given to volunteers when dealing with Weapons of Mass Destruction?

CERT imparts training to volunteers on Weapons of Mass Destruction -- WMD that includes biological, nuclear, incendiary and chemical. Volunteers gather knowledge to look for warning signs in areas affected by WMD which includes (i) Casualties which cannot be explained (ii) Dead or dying animal life like fishes, birds etc. (iii) Abnormal odors, fumes or cloudy regions (iv) Suspicious gadgets (v) Absence of insects in the areas as they have been killed by the effect of the WMD. The safety measures to be taken up while dealing with the issue are (i) Recognizing the symptoms (ii) Avoiding contact with the harmful agents by the trainees (iii) Isolating the victims (iv) Sounding an alert to the Fire Department and Police. The trainees are informed to look for possible damage to the nervous system affected by WMDs that is manifested by the symptoms given under the acronym SLUDGEM which means "Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, Gastro-intestinal aggravation, Emesis, Muscular twitching." This condition is known as "parasympathetic nervous system response to an organophosphate or nerve agent exposure." (Weapons of Mass Destruction Drill)

What specific training is given in relation to the role of CERT and the threat of terrorism?

In explaining the role of CERT to the trainees, introduction is given by the definition of terrorism as follows: The U.S. Department has defined terrorism as the "unlawful use of force or violence committed by a group or individual against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives." (Unit 8: Terrorism and CERT) The trainees are made aware of the recent acts of terrorism such as (i) the Sept 11, 2001 attack on the WTC leading to its devastation and damage certain portions of the Pentagon. (ii) Sending of Anthrax through U.S. Mail, also in 2001. (iii) Bombings during the Olympics Games, 1996 at Atlanta. (iv) Oklahoma City bombings in 1995. They are then explained that terrorist attacks can happen with or without prior warning. Due to the characteristic of the terrorist attacks, they have the potential and sometime result in (i) Massive casualties (ii) Damage to critical resources (iii) Interruption of important services and also the economy. (iv) Individualistic and mass fear. The trainees are given emphasis that team safety comes first and CERT members must treat possible terrorists as the stop sign.

And the most important thing is CERT are not equipped or trained to respond to terrorist events. The role of CERT lies in preparing for a terrorist attack. Several of the steps for preparation for a terrorist incident are identical for natural hazards, however some need special planning. These are (i) collecting a disaster supply kit (ii) locating a secure room and meeting place outside the home or the workplace (iii) Developing of a family communication plan. (iv) Giving training about shelter-in place methods.

The trainees are made aware about the various steps taken to prepare for a terrorists attack including (i) Assembling a disaster supply kit: This includes a battery powered radio and a cell phone. People residing in high risk within the 10-mile emergency planning zone around a nuclear facility will be supplied with more information by their local emergency management agencies. (ii) Identification of a safe room inside the home or an office and a meting place outside the home or workplace: It is made aware to the trainees that as the public will not have advance knowledge to evacuate or shelter in place, it is essential to plan for both. Since a lot of chemicals are heavier than air, a secured room inside the house must be on the main level or the second level and never in the basement and it must have possibly the minimum doors and windows. (iii) Development of a family communication plan: Depending on the locations of the family members during the attack, it might not be possible to reach the meeting place. Locating an outside the state or outside the contact or other family communication plan will enable the knowledge that the family members are secured. (iv) Training about the shelter-in-place procedures: Trainees are made aware about the importance of the sheltering kit. Shelter-in-place methods for a chemical or biological are made aware in a visual that shows the procedures. These are (a) shutting-off ventilation system (b) Entering a safe room with a disaster supply kit and duct tape plastic sheeting over opening where the outside air can enter, sealing with duct tape other areas where air can enter and listening to battery-powered radio for ensuring that everything is clear. (Unit 8: Terrorism and CERT)

What specific training is given regarding Nuclear Power Plant facility emergencies?

While addressing the problem of nuclear power plant emergency, it is important to minimize the exposure to radiation which can be attained by (i) Time: limiting the time of the exposure to the radioactive material. Majority of the radioactive strength loses is potency very quickly. At the time of a nuclear power plant emergency, the local authorities will assess any release or radiation and determine when the danger is over. (ii) Distance: Evacuation of the people from and around the nuclear plant facility. This is because, greater the distance between the persons and the source of radiation, the better. (iii) Shielding: The trainees are made aware that it is crucial that people should stay indoors during a nuclear accident, as more dense material between people and the source of radiation will prevent radiation hazards.

While preparing for nuclear emergency terms the following points are pertinent (i) Notification of the unusual event: Information that there has been a minor leakage at the plant and there is no release of radiation material. Federal, State and county officials will be informed immediately and there is no action on their part. (ii) Alerts: Sounding an alert that a small problem has happened and small amounts of radiation materials could have leaked inside the plant. There is no danger on this and there is no action to be taken on part of trainees. (iii) Site area emergency: There has been a more serious problem, and small amounts of radiation materials might possibly leak from the plant. In case of need, State and county officials will be taking action to guarantee safety of the public. Area sirens might be sounded and it is important to stay tuned to the radio or television. (iv) General emergency: This emergency is sounded when there is the most serious problem. There is the possibility of leakage of radiation material outside the plant and off the site of the plant. It is important to stay tuned to the local broadcast or television station for emergency information reports. As regards awareness measures it is important to learn about the (i) Community Warning system (ii) Obtaining emergency public information (iii) Learning about emergency plans (Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies)

How vulnerable are we to Nuclear, Biological, or Radiological attacks from terrorists?

The trainees are made aware that our vulnerability has increased following the recent incidents of acts of terrorism. Terrorists target (i) Govt. places (ii) Important industries (iii) Bridges, subways, tunnels, and other important transportation facilities (iv) Water supplies and utilities. Besides, the places of mass congregation are also easy targets for terrorists like sports events Due to this there is a need for increased security measure for helping and preventing terrorism. Even though nuclear weapons present the highest impact, the vulnerability of the civilians are the lowest due to the difficulty in getting access to weapons grade material and technical complexity of developing and maintaining the patience needed for a nuclear device to blast. Incendiary, chemical, and normal devices are regarded as being higher-risk but lower-impact weapons. However, civilians are most vulnerable to biological weapons which are regarded as high-risk as well as high-impact weapons, however only for diseases which are extremely contagious. The other categories of biological weapons which need dispersal devices are regarded as having lower risk due to the sensitivity of the biological agents to heat, light and shock. (Unit 8: Terrorism and CERT)