CERTainly Prepared

News for Ohio CERTs from Ohio EMA

4th Quarter 2020 | V2.4

Hybrid CERT Rollout Webinar is live!

For those that were not able to attend the live rollout of the new Hybrid CERT Program, have no fear!  We recorded the webinar and you will be able to view it later this week on the Ohio CERT website HERE.

You'll be able to view recordings of the new Quarterly Webinar Series at that link as well, starting with the first Quarterly CERTainly Prepared Webinar in January 2021 (details in articles below).

Cuyahoga County CERTs Active Throughout COVID

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Many Programs throughout Cuyahoga County have been active throughout COVID response, with many supporting PPE collection and management and flu clinics.

Two examples of active CERTs include:

Brecksville Broadview Heights CERT is still conducting their drug take back program twice this year (collecting ~500# and donating ~100 volunteer hours).

Shaker Heights CERT has been active with various PPE missions including repair of N95 masks, a valuable commodity during 2020.

National CERT Association Updates

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Reminder that the 2021 National CERT Conference is scheduled for July 12-17 in Missouri.

We just received word from NCA President Suu-Va Tai and FEMA HQ's Andy Burrows that the final MOU authorizing FEMA and the NCA to work together has been signed!

Current NCA members can find information for a year-end webinar on Tuesday December 15, 2020 at 1:00pm by logging into their NCA account on NEP Connect.

Quarterly Ohio Webinars Begin in January 2021

After polling CERT Stakeholders ~ you've asked for a follow-up Webinar via Microsoft Teams to supplement the quarterly CERTainly Prepared newsletter.

JANUARY WEBINAR LOG-IN INFO BELOW!

The schedule for 2021 is as follows (note that these will alternate each quarter between 'business hours' and 'after hours' to accommodate both CERT Volunteers and EMA Staff).

January 11, 2021 @ 10:00am

April 12, 2021 @ 6:00pm

July 12, 2021 @ 10:00am

October 04, 2021 @ 6:00pm

10-Part FEMA Preparedness Webinar Series Begins January 2021

Each of FEMA's 10 Regions will be presenting a topic on "10 Steps to Preparedness" WEEKLY beginning on January 06, 2021.

Click HERE for the weekly time / date. topics by week, registration information, and additional details.

Q1 Ohio CERT Webinar ~ January 11, 2021 at 10:00am

Log in / call in information:

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Join with a video conferencing device

682042763@t.plcm.vc

Video Conference ID: 117 768 671 2

Alternate VTC dialing instructions

Or call in (audio only)

+1 614-721-2972,,524728148#   United States, Columbus

Phone Conference ID: 524 728 148#

Find a local number | Reset PIN

FEMA CERT Typing

Keep an eye on the NIMS NQS (National Incident Management National Qualification System) websites!

The comment period has closed and the community's input is being adjudicated. 

Once the typing requirements are finalized, they'll be on the NQS / OneResponder site at the link above.

Register Your Program On Ready.Gov

FEMA revamped the registration site in September 2020 and all previously registered programs were removed.

You'll need to register on the site again (use your old user name and password).

This will allow for tracking of volunteer hours to help FEMA make the case for additional Federal funding for the CERT Program.

This registration will also allow you to request FREE manuals and printed material from FEMA directly.

CERT Survey Snippet #5

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43 current CERT Programs in Ohio provided information on the agency sponsoring their Program.

Most Ohio-based Programs are sponsored by their County EMA, followed by Local Fire Departments, and then the ubiquitous "Other" category.

Snippet questions for you to think about:

• Programs sponsored by Fire Departments are likely significantly under-reported in this survey due to no response to the survey from many of these programs. 
• Fire Departments are often the sponsor in multiple Counties, including Cuyahoga, Hamilton, and Montgomery, which use a more localized approach vs. a countywide approach to their programs.
• Countywide Programs can draw from the full county and may result in larger teams, but individual Members may have to travel further or have other issues operating outside of their home community.
• What is covered by the "Other" category?  Some Programs are sponsored by Local Police Departments or Universities.  Most University Programs are under their respective University PD, which Ohio Revised Code recognizes as having the same status as a Local Police Department (and thus, allows them to be an eligible sponsor for a CERT Program).

Call for articles / photos / submissions

Washington Post Newsroom - Photo (c): Tom Allen / The Washington Post

Have you ever wanted to see your name as a by-line in a state-wide newsletter?  Do you want other CERT Programs to know how amazing your Program is and your Members are?  Have you had a recent deployment or activation to share?  Do you have a policy, procedure, or guideline that's a Best Practice you want to share with the other programs in the State?

If you answered "Maybe?" or anything more concrete than that, CERTainly Prepared's editor would like to hear from you!  Send your pitch / photos / articles to jdvittie@dps.ohio.gov and maybe you'll see it in a future issue.

Ohio CERT Resources

State of Ohio CERT Coordinator | National CERT Association Region 5 Representative:

Josh D. Vittie, MPA | Ohio EMA - Planner | 1.614.799.3655 | jdvittie@dps.ohio.gov

Ohio CERT Website:

• https://www.ema.ohio.gov/CERT.aspx

FEMA CERT Website:

• https://www.ready.gov/cert

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