STANDARD
OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPs)
STANDARD
OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPs)
Page Last Updated On 08/01/2009
Documents and Maps
Culver City is divided into three districts, and these are divided into Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams (NERTs).
Click here for the District map. Click here for disaster organization documents (volunteer coordination lists and check lists) and maps (for distrinct and NERTs): document and map files.
Activation Procedure -- How the Fire Department activates CERT Members to Respond to a Disaster
Culver City CERT Activation Procedures for Members, which was approved by the CERT board (and the Culver City Fire Department). Section 2.0, CERT, specifies that we can only be activated in one of three ways:
*Routine Activations where members are contacted by phone.
*Non-phone Activations where members are contacted in person
*Earthquake Response (self activation) after a significant
earthquake or other wide spread disaster occurs.
With the exception of an Earthquake Response, a Fire Department Representative will initiate a CERT activation.
A NERT is still part of CERT, and subject to the same rules. Only the Culver City Fire Department can activate a NERT, except in the obvious case of a significant earthquake or other widespread disaster. No matter how worthy the cause, a NERT cannot be activated by the Police Department, the LA Fire Department, the city council, the mayor or even the NERT manager. If a NERT is to be called to action, you will receive a telephone call either directly from the Culver City Fire Department or from a CERT Board member who has been asked to call you by the Fire Department.
Only when an activation is authorized by the Fire Department are CERT members who are injured in the line of duty covered by Workers' Compensation Insurance through the City. A Fire Department activation also triggers the Good Samaritan Law, shielding the CERT members from liability and lawsuits if something goes wrong.
That is not to say that you as individuals cannot use your skills and training to aid others in an emergency. But in those cases you do so as individuals, not as CERT members. In such a case, you need to leave your CERT badge, helmet and vest at home so the public does not identify your individual efforts as representing CERT.