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msar-riders - [MSAR] CERT is unofficial and probably will stay that way

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: "IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>
  • To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [MSAR] CERT is unofficial and probably will stay that way
  • Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:13:57 -0500

A recent gathering of preparedness people meeting informally reported that they couldn’t use CERT in their community because they were not authorized to be enrolled in any official program. Without enrollment as part of the emergency response program they would be acting either entirely on their own, without any control by the authorities, and they would not be entitled to any workman’s comp or PSODB, even if under the loose direction of officials. Under the PA Fire and Panic Act a fire chief can commandeer resources but the township may not be responsible for them depending on how the fire protection agreement is written between the volunteer fire company and the town. The federal PSODB program does not recognize CERT specifically and only covers peace officers, fire suppression, rescue, and EMS personnel directly employed by a government.  There is an effort to include contract wildfire personnel, such as pilots and machine operators, in the program.    

 

This apparently also affects VOAD groups and other NGOs where their members are not government responders.  Some counties are enrolling personnel but most are not due to lack of control over their activities.  This creates an interesting limbo area for many SAR organizations which are not part of a government agency. As an NGO they must provide their own insurance and try to qualify as a responder or other emergency service type to qualify for legislated benefits.  

 

Irv Lichtenstein




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