Building A CERT Team Members Deployment Kit!
Upon graduation from the 20-hour BASIC CERT training class a student is provided with a basic CERT deployment kit. The kit includes a safety vest, a safety hard hat, leather gloves, a plastic water bottle and a CERT field reference guide. This deployment kit is just the beginning of a useful kit.
As a deployment kit, this pack should have things that you will need and use as a member of a team while on a CERT deployment. NO ONE KIT IS "THE BEST." Your kit should focus on you, your involvement level in CERT and your budget. You don't need to spend lot of money on specialty items. You can build the kit over time. Consider partnering with friends, family, and classmates to purchase some items (like light sticks) in bulk at a discount.
Rather than duplicate the hard work that other large scale CERT projects have done, we are providing you with links to some neat resources to look at and consider as you build your kit.
Very Important Considerations for SBCITY CERT TEAM MEMBERS:
CERT ID Card - Members of the SBCITY CERT team (Advanced CERT) are members who would be contacted by the City and asked to response to assist during events. As such, these members are issued a City Identification Card. It is essential that members have this card available when they report in for assignments to help.
Sturdy Shoes - The work environment could be full of very sharp, heavy, and dangerous debris after a disaster. Sturdy shoes without open toes are essential to your personal safety. The shoes should be comfortable and broken-in so that you will be able to wear them for long periods. In California, we love our flip-flops and casual fun footwear. CERT work does not mix well with relaxed casual open beach shoe styles. Plan for your comfort and safety.
A Pair of Long Pants - Because of the fact that the work environment could be full of very sharp, heavy, and dangerous debris after a disaster you should consider a comfortable pair of long pants to protect your legs while you help on a CERT team. Cargo pants might be helpful but a pair of large worn blue jeans will work great. The pairs should be loose fitting. Your personal comfort is important. We don't care about designer labels! Consider a simple belt so that you can hang tools, radios, and other small things while you work with your hands.
Long Sleeve and Short Sleeve T-Shirts - Helping out in the sunlight might suggest that you would be comfortable in a short sleeve shirt but if you help into the evening or night hours the temperature might cool down and a long sleeve shirt would be very useful to change into. Plus, a long sleeve shirt would likely help protect your arms as your help in dirty and dusty environments.
LINKS TO EXPLORE AS YOU PREPARE A DEPLOYMENT KIT:
Elk Grove City CERT Suggested Kit Equipment - Also includes some vendors and items that are not mandatory