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BURNT STORE ISLES
EMERGENCY DISASTER RESPONSE
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
The damages caused by a natural/man-made disaster can severely
restrict or overwhelm the first emergency responders from Punta
Gorda/Charlotte County to our community. In essence, we could
be ISOLATED from our surrounding communities. In the time
it takes for these emergency responders to answer our calls,
we in BSI must rely on our own resources. As
a result, BSI, in conjunction with Punta Gorda Police and Fire
Departments, are presently forming the BSI Community Emergency
Response Teams (CERT).
To be effective, our Burnt Store Isles CERT teams must preplan
for emergencies. Our duties will consist of:
- Disaster preparedness.
- Identify the types of hazards most likely to affect our
homes and surrounding areas.
- Identify disaster location addresses.
- Report information to a centralized location for relay
to responding Emergency Services.
- Stabilize victims and areas, if possible.
- Perform first aid, if able.
To facilitate an effective response, BSI has been divided
into 10 “neighborhoods” which will allow for a quicker, more-focused
response. Benefits will include:
- Identifying areas of concern and prioritizing them in order
of importance.
- Conducting light search and rescue missions.
- Providing medical treatment as required by treating life-threatening
injuries until professional assistance can be obtained.
- Extinguishing small fires, if our safety is assured.
- Assisting disaster survivors to cope with the emotional
stresses.
CERT members can only respond once:
(a) a disaster has been officially DECLARED, and
(b) will act only as an adjunct (in support of)
Fire/EMS personnel.
For Medical/Fire EMERGENCIES, call 911 – not your
local CERT members.
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