Checklist for Individuals and Families

            Step One        

                        Check on own family and home

                                    Provide first aid to your family if necessary

                                    Each family member should gather in a safe, designated area to assess physical and emotional needs

            Step Two

                        Protect your head, hands and feet

                                    Head:  hard hat or bicycle helmet (protect from falling debris)

                                    Hands:  leather gloves (protect from broken glass and debris)

                                    Feet:  sturdy shoes (protect from cut feet)

            Step Three

                        Contact your Block Captain

                                    Contact by phone (if working) or by going to the block captain’s home in person

                                    Report on the physical conditions of you and your family….whether they are okay, hurt mildly, needing immediate first aid, dead or missing.

            Step Four

                        Hang Assessment Cards                     Assessment Cards

                        Put the appropriate Assessment Card as close to the front door as possible or where the front door was:

                                     Green:  “All is Well”

                                     Yellow:  “We need help but it is not critical”

                                     Red:  “We need immediate help or critical care”

                                     Black:  “There is a deceased person(s) here”

                                    White:  “This home is vacant or nobody is home”

                                           *The Black card should be used in conjunction with any of the other four cards, depending on the situation

            Step Five

                        Determine if gas and water need to be turned off

                                    Make sure you have a wrench

                                    NOTE:  Once the gas is turned off, it may only be turned back on by a licensed individual

            Step Six

                        Put all Fire Extinguishers outside on sidewalk or street edge

                                    This will help in case of fires throughout the neighborhood

            Step Seven

                        Go to the Neighborhood Gathering Site

                                    Block Captains

                                                Report on each family within your stewardship

                                    Decide where help is most needed

NOTE:  This is where a CERT trained individual is really needed!!!!

In most instances, the first response teams (firefighters, police, etc,) will not be available to help any particular neighborhood for quite some time……perhaps up to two weeks.  Their first priority is to schools, hospitals, etc.  You may be on your own.  The more prepared you are, the better.  CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team.  Look for a place you can become certified.  It will be well worth it.