An alert is intended only to inform CERT teams of the potential for an occurrence of and event.  An alert does not constitute a directive to begin any response.

A request for mobilization of a CERT team is intended to have team members report to a staging area with all of their equipment for possible deployment.  When responding to the staging area, ALL traffic laws will be obeyed.

The CERT team upon activation will report to the staging area for deployment. Individual response to an incident is prohibited unless authorized by the IC, adviser, or UM/Miami-Dade EOC/OEM.

Deploying CERT members will bring all necessary equipment and personal necessities for a 48-hour period.

Activated CERT members can be utilized to assist with basic scene or support functions including: 

  • Basic First Aid
  • Triage of Victims
  • Traffic Management under the direction and supervision of police authority
  • Extinguishment of small incipient phase fires utilizing makeshift aids or fire extinguishers. (NOTE - No interior firefighting is allowed and CERT members will not be in a position where smoke inhalation or heat endangers their safety)
  • Light Search and Rescue to include cribbing/leveraging and removal of patients from  danger
  •  Setting up treatment, rehab, or similar sectors
  • Maintaining accountability for fellow CERT members
  • Supervising CERT sectors or groups
  • Any other operation required to remedy a given scenario that does not endanger the CERT members or move outside of their scope of practice

When an alert, mobilization, or deployment order has been issued and subsequent information indicates CERT assistance is not required, the Incident Commander will issue a notice of cancellation that will follow down the chain of command.

Any member of the Command Staff or professional first responders may remove a CERT member from a scene for any reason as they see fit.

Team members are not allowed to self deploy to an incident. Deployment will be preformed as a team.  If a person self deploys, he/she will forfeit all protection from liability provided by the CERT program.  Furthermore, the individual will be removed from the CERT program immediately.