Emergency Response Team

As an umbrella body ERT SAR works in many disasters and emergencies and recommends developing Preparedness and Resilience in communities.  By being better prepared in our communities we take some of the weight off our emergency services - but not having to drain any resources we could have planned for and allowing them to get on with emergencies. 

It may be as simple as making small changes to better prepare for unexpected incidents and planning contingencies before they occur.  For example, when there is a power cut many people do not have plans for their computers or mobile phones or landline cordless phones or torches at hand - etc.,

Every member of ERT has to complete several 'Emergency Planning and Disaster Management' modules (such as understanding our role in the well known and internationally used Disaster Management Cycle) prior to full operational status.  Members also study and understand the Disaster Management Cycle and our function within it.

ERT do presentations in schools, community groups, churches, businesses etc., to teach members of our communities what to do in an emergency or major incident and how we may be better prepared.  School talks are well received and beneficial.

Specialist camps and community safety courses such as water safety are also taught with fun and educational practical sessions.

Typically, any large scale incident which may affect a drain on the Emergency Services can be planned and trained for in an effort to help better prepare communities to help each other.  This is NOT to put anyone at risk but to help offer suggestions to help build resilience at a community level - such as not driving cars on empty (having a quarter or half a tank a refuelling) or some water bottles or tinned food store cupboard for emergencies.

The emergencies could include:

• Severe Weather i.e., Heatwave, Extreme Cold,
• Storms
• Mass Drought
• Flooding
• Natural Disasters (i.e., earthquakes)
• Power Cuts
• Collisions involving people (ships, boats, coaches, etc)
• Train Derailments
• Air Crashes
• Massive Transport Disruption
• Structural fire & Explosions
• Building structural collapse
• The result of Terrorism
• Biological Threats (e.g., Avian Flu, Swine Flu)
• Any major emergency that requires large scale coordination

An example of developing Resilience and preparedness is to have an 'Emergency Preparedness Kit' or EPK.  These can be carried or stored for personal use, workplace use, to have in your home or in your car, for example.