About Big Sur Cert
Mission
The mission of BigSurCERT.org is to serve as a central communications tool among Big Sur CERT members and to provide the general public with accurate, timely, official news and announcements regarding threats to the community.
The purpose of the Big Sur Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program is to educate, train, and prepare local residents to effectively respond to disasters within the community. CERT members may work within the Incident Command System as an auxiliary arm of Big Sur Fire as first responders.
CERT members are trained in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, property protection, and medical operations. Utilizing this training, CERT members assist others in their neighborhood, enclave or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. Utilizing local knowledge, CERT members assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster.
CERT teams are established for individual enclaves within the community with a team leader for each. In addition, an overall Big Sur CERT leader coordinates CERT training and activities and act as liaison with the Big Sur Fire when necessary. The Big Sur Emergency Operations Plan includes the role of CERT members during a community disaster.
During times of emergency, CERT members are authorized to move about within the Big Sur community to gather information, identify locations and extent of damage or other potential problems, and assist residents with immediate needs. Information and assessment data will be used to establish priorities and make decisions about how CERT members respond.
CERT members may be utilized during road closures to help law enforcement personnel identify residents and other authorized people for entry purposes.
In the event of orders for evacuation or shelter in place, CERT members communicate with the members of their enclave(s) in order to assess the impact of the incident and any need for additional resources.
Image Soberanes Fire - 2016
(c) by Peter Nicholas