NYC CERT Newsletter

This weekly newsletter should provide you with helpful information that you can share and discuss with your community members.

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Graduation Recording and Pictures will be available in next week's edition of the newsletter!

NYC CERT PROGRAM WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS ON ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

During a graduation ceremony on Monday, April 3rd, New York City Emergency Management welcomed 24 new Community Emergency Response Team volunteers to its program. In addition, the graduation marked the beginning of the program's year-long celebration of its 20th anniversary.

“This year we are celebrating our 20th anniversary of the NYC CERT program. Since 2003 we have seen the program grow and have witnessed the impact that our volunteers have had on their communities during both large and small emergencies. I want to welcome these new graduates into this amazing program and look forward to working with them to help make their communities safer,” said New York City Emergency Management Deputy Commissioner Community Engagement Herman Schaffer.

The New York City CERT fundamental preparation cycle includes 11 units that focus on disaster readiness and crisis reaction, equipping volunteers with skills in essential fire safety, search and rescue, traffic management, as well as medical aid and triage. The training program has been provided by NYC Emergency Management with instructors coming from the FDNY, FDNY EMS and NYPD Auxiliary.

“We’re very proud to welcome another class of graduating volunteers into our CERT family. These volunteers are everyday New Yorkers committed to helping their neighborhoods, borough, and city at a moment’s notice. CERT members answer the call to serve under all-weather conditions regardless of the emergency, and that is a testament to their character and dedication to public service,” said NYCEM Commissioner Zach Iscol.

Brooklyn Division 5 received the Carlos Nieves NYC CERT Team Award for Excellence in Deployment and Emergency Response during the graduation ceremony. The award honors the division's generous commitment of time, support, and inspiring contributions to the community. Carlos Nieves, a former American Red Cross volunteer and CERT member who passed away in 2017 while traveling to a volunteer assignment, hence why the award is honored to bear his name. Brooklyn Division 5 is responsible for volunteer support in many deployments that stretch from: Dyker Heights, Bay Ridge, Fort Hamilton, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Mapleton, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Brighton Beach, and Seagate.

“It is an honor to receive this award, and a credit to the hard work and dedication of all my team members in Brooklyn Division 5 to the communities we serve,” said Division Chief for CERT Brooklyn Division 5, Craig Kligfeld, who has been a CERT member since 2012. “I continue to volunteer because it brings me joy knowing that I’m helping people.”

View Full Press Release

Severe Weather Resource Guide

The Severe Weather Resource Guide for March 2023 was created by NOAA with FEMA and shared by FEMA Region 2 along with community partners. While the guide is dense there are valuable tidbits worth knowing.

This guide includes:

Severe Weather Overview
Storm Prediction Center Severe Weather Products
Severe Weather Terminology
Enhanced Fujita Tornado Rating Scale and NWS Damage Survey

Overview

Severe Weather Tidbits and Facts
Severe Weather Challenges and Limitations
Tornado Preparedness, Safety, and Myths
Severe Weather Resources

Severe Weather Resource Guide

Happy Passover!

NYCEM wishes a Chag Pesach Sameach to all who celebrate!

MONDAY RADIO ROLL CALL

Borough Channel: CERT BK (Brooklyn)

04/11: Bronx

Call Scenario: Have you checked on a fellow CERT member?

Documents to Review:

Citywide Radio Drill Refresher

Call signs per Radio

Each week we will have a survey with questions that relates back to lessons learned during NYC CERT training or your experience as a member. The answer will be revealed in the following week's newsletter. Good Luck!

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

The correct answer to last week's question is: The correct answer is: D) Updating expired items in your Go-bag. Spring is a great time to remember to go through your Go-bag to be sure your extra medications, snacks and paperwork are all up to date.

The NYC CERT Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) provides guidance and outlines policies and procedures for you and your team to follow.

NYC CERT Division maps are available (pdf format) to support recruitment and preparedness planning in your community.

Brooklyn - Bronx - Manhattan - Queens - Staten Island

View the NYC CERT Event Calendar to see upcoming training, meetings, and planned deployments.

After you participate, be sure to Submit Your Volunteer Hours!

For more questions on how to submit your service hours you can view the Hours Submission FAQs.

If your division is hosting or participating in an upcoming event, please complete the Event Request form to have your opportunity published through Eventbrite.com for members to register.

Your NYC CERT Ready New York Liaison can submit a Ready New York Material Request for upcoming events.

Get Notified with New York City's official source for information about emergency alerts and important city services. Download the free Notify NYC mobile app, available for iOS and Android.

Help us Celebrate 20 Years of NYC CERT

Send us your CERT photos or videos!

We have created a link for you to easily upload your collection of CERT related photos and videos from your time in the program.

You may upload several items per event/deployment, but only a maximum of three per submission. After submitting, there will be an option to submit three more!

You can scan the accompanying QR code or use this link: on.nyc.gov/CERTupload

Please label the files in the following manner: Date (including year), Borough, Division (or team), Event, members included (if available).

If you have any questions, please contact us at cert@oem.nyc.gov. Thank you!

Monthly Meetings

Queens Division 3

On April 2nd, Queens Division 3 discussed their earlier participation in the Queens Blvd. "Forest Hills" Festival.

To ensure the safety of the community, the team met with members of the community and handed out information about emergency preparedness.

The group talked about the events they have planned for the coming months and are excited to continue being a benefit to their Division in Queens.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY

Annual Blessing of the Rides in Coney Island

This past Sunday, CERT was requested by the 60th Precinct and Alliance for Coney Island to assist with the Annual Blessing of the Rides at Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.

The "Blessing of the Rides" is a famous Deno's family tradition that was followed by the official 2023 opening of the rides at Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. The event was held on the Boardwalk in front of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park at West 12th Street on the Boardwalk where CERT assisted with crowd control.

Forest Hill's Street Fair

NYC CERT members from Queens Division 3 assisted the 68th Precinct Community Affairs Division with traffic and crowd management during Our Lady of Angles Procession this past Thursday, April 6th. The Procession ran from 6:00pm to 9:30pm and spanned from 4th Avenue and 78th Street to 3rd Avenue and 74th Street.

Great work Queens Division 3!

Download NYC CERT Background for use during CERT meetings and training in a virtual environment (e.g. Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.)

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

CERT New Graduate Orientation!

An overview of the engagement in the CERT program will be held online this April 11th from 6:30pm to 8:30PM.

Pet Preparedness

at Maria Hernandez Dog Run

On April 15th from 10am to 1pm, NYC CERT members will be assisting the Dog Run Event by distributing Ready New York material regarding Pet Preparedness!

Volunteer Training Program

On April 17th from 3pm - 4:30pm, the Mayor's Office of Special Projects and Community Events (MOSPCE) and Gracie Mansion Teams are hosting an Overview of their Volunteer Training Program. CERT volunteers along with staff will attend the Volunteer Training Program in order to provide feedback and better the program. A Q&A will be held during the program overview, light refreshments will be provided, and a tour of Gracie Mansion will be held.

Registration closes April 10

Functional Exercise at Randall's Island!

This daylong event will be comprised of a series of stations with exercises, refreshers, and classes that will aim to increase NYC CERT volunteer's readiness for future events and hazards to New York City.

Classes will revolve around topics such as Search and Rescue, Stop the Bleed, and Crowd Management. A Subway Simulator will be in use during the functional exercise, and a Disaster Simulation will be conducted as well.

Please dress appropriately for the weather, wear a complete CERT uniform with your valid CERT ID, and make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Saturday, April 29 | 8:30am - 5:30pm

Support the Five Boro Bike Tour

Bike New York is thrilled to announce that the TD Five Boro Bike Tour will once again welcome bike riders from across New York and around the country on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

NYC Emergency Management is working closely with Bike New York to plan NYC CERT's participation in the event. Check your emails for private registration links made specifically for NYC CERT members for each location of the tour. Registration links are also listed on the NYC CERT Event Calendar. If you've already registered through the Five Boro Bike Tour website but plan to support as NYC CERT, you must re-register through the private links.

Click here for Roles and Shift Descriptions

NYC CERT CALENDAR

Buddy Check

As we close out a long year of volunteering to support your community and head into a new year with new challenges, please take some time to support one another. The best way to do that is by performing buddy checks.

What is a buddy check?

Taking the time to check on family and friends, especially those unable to leave their home for any reason. You might be surprised by the impact you'll have on those who you connect with.

Report your Volunteer Hours

Search for Buddy Check Event

Are you interested in becoming a mentor to new NYC CERT members?

All Volunteer leadership should be encouraging active members to serve in a mentor role in order to support both their growth as leaders and provide new opportunities for newer members to become more engaged.

Complete the NYC CERT Mentor Program form to let us know if you'd like to be a mentor or mentee.

Complete the Matching Questionnaire to help pair the mentor to a mentee. Both forms must be filled out to participate in the program.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Cultural Awareness Training

This April 24th at 6:30pm, a training will be held virtually with the goal of improving cultural competence and awareness in the workplace and on the job when interacting with the various communities we serve.

Through self-reflection, participants will challenge their biases and assumptions, learn vocabulary that is culturally appropriate, and develop innovative strategies for cross-cultural interactions, all of which can help reduce cultural misunderstandings and improve collaboration and trust.

NYC CERT online platform includes online courses to support volunteer growth.

Schedule free training for your Division here : FDNY Smart Fire Safety.

FEMA Region 2 (R2) Webinar Catalogue includes all recorded webinars.

COVID-19 Community Conversations: Mental Health, Equity and Resilience

DOHMH is offering free virtual training to community groups. There are two options, a 1-hour informational virtual presentation and a 3-hour interactive training (available in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin).

THINGS TO KNOW

CERT Self-Deployment

We at NYCEM appreciate NYC CERT volunteer's service and dedication to public safety and want to support members in any way possible. However, as your instructors, Division/Borough leadership, and NYCEM staff have told all CERT members from day one of basic training: NYC CERT members/teams NEVER self-deploy.

We encourage all CERT to listen to their Division leadership and ask any questions that may come to mind. We also want to encourage all members to review the NYC CERT Standard Operating Procedures, Section 5: Operations, Deployment protocol.

Find the NYC CERT Protocols here: NYC CERT SOPs

Schedule a meeting with NYCEM staff: NYC CERT Volunteer Support