Cert in the Digital Age - A Virtual CERT Team in Action

CERT in the Digital Age:A virtual CERT team in action from Snowquester to Nepal

Steve Peterson, CEMMontgomery County CERT

June 20, 2015

Montgomery County (MD) CERT presentation to CERTCON 2015– June 20, 2015

Montgomery County CERT Overview

Program Manager MCFRS

President Vice President Treasurer Secretary

Outreach Operations Special Operations Training Storm Camp Human Resources

Registrar Social Media Moulage IT CPR Logistics


• 29 SITREPs received

– ~40% provided photos

• 9 different zip code zones

• Captured deteriorating weather conditions

• SITREPs available at EOC

March 2013 Snow Storm Support Details


Trending Increase in SITREP ParticipationN

umbe

r of S

ITRE

Ps 113

32

125

83

Jan 21 Feb 3 Feb 13 Mar 3 Jan 23 Jan 27 Feb 16 Feb 21 Mar 5

15

75

95

140

2014 2015155+


Participant Growth/Expanded County Coverage

March 2013 SITREPs February 2014 SITREPs


FEMA Disaster Reporter App


Cyclone Pam Support Details

• Humanity Road mutual aid request

• Virtually activated Fri, March 20th • Stood down Sun, March 22nd

• Task 1: Keyword determination and search (~300)• Task 2: Health-related social media posts (~2500)


Maps

Medical Dispensaries with Health & Medical Updates in Vanuatu

MCCERT was only one portion of a much larger TEAM of organized volunteers contributing to cyclone relief!


Earthquake Support Details

• Humanity Road mutual aid request

• Virtually activated Fri, May 1st • Stood down Sun, May 3rd

• Task 1: Keyword determination and search (~400)• Task 2a: Info gathering - 177 hospitals• Task 2b: Info gathering - 220 villages/3 priority

districts

GOALS: 1. Provide daily SITREP updates 2. Identify urgent needs 3. Hospital tasks per Nepal POC


Lessons Learned

• Snow Storm– Photo inundation– Subjective comments

• Cyclone– Quality versus Quantity/Speed (350K)– Workload on collaborative doc

• Earthquake– Dynamic shift assignments– Version control


Best Practices

• Snow Storm– Availability/quantity of members– Standard “yes/no “questions

• Cyclone– Flexibility and adaptability– Cost-effective collaborative tools

• Earthquake– Personal accountability– Variety of team member skills


Recommendations

• Pre Incident– Reporting and monitoring – Training– Relationships

• Live Incident– Monitor who/what– Communication – Availability/adjustments

• Post Incident– Statistics– Lessons learned

Future Core Capability of CERT?

Trustworthy & credible Trained & experienced Flexible & availableREADY!