Using Forms to Communicate with Responders/Emergency Management

Volunteers can use a variety of logs and forms to document incident status and disaster response activities and communicate detailed information to responders and emergency management personnel.

The table below provides sample forms and their purpose. Select each form to view a sample of the completed form. Note how the form entries demonstrate clear, concise, plain language.

Forms Used for Response Documentation


Form	Purpose
Damage Assessment Form [CERT Form #1] CERT Basic PM, page 2-14	Completed by CERT volunteers as they travel through the area to the CERT’s staging location, then given to the CERT Team Leader; provides a summary of overall hazards in selected areas, including: Fires; Utility hazards; Structural damage; Injuries and deaths; Available access; and Essential for prioritizing and formulating action plans.
CERT Personnel Resources Check-In Form [CERT Form #2] CERT BASIC PM, page 2-15	Used to sign in CERT volunteers as they arrive at the staging location; provides information about: Who is on site; When they arrived; When they were assigned; Their special skills; and Used by staging personnel to track personnel availability.
CERT Assignment Tracking Log [CERT Form #3] CERT BASIC PM, page 2-16	Used by the Command Post for keeping awareness of situation status; contains essential information for tracking the overall situation.
CERT Briefing Assignment Form [CERT Form #4 a, b] CERT BASIC PM, page 2-17	Used by the Command Post to provide instructions to functional teams; used by teams to log their actions and report new damage assessment information.
CERT Team Action Log CERT BASIC PM, page 2-18	Completed by CERT volunteers to document team actions and findings. Every action is listed by a timestamp.
CERT Treatment Area Record [CERT Form #5] CERT BASIC PM, page 2-19	Completed by medical treatment area personnel to record survivors entering the treatment area, their condition, and their status.
CERT Communications Log [CERT Form #6] (based on ICS 309) CERT BASIC PM, page 2-20	Completed by the radio operator; used to log incoming and outgoing transmissions.
CERT Equipment Inventory Form [CERT Form #7] (based on ICS 303) CERT BASIC PM, page 2-21	Used to check out and check in CERT-managed equipment.
CERT General Message Form [CERT Form #8] (ICS 213) CERT BASIC PM, page 2-22	Used for sending messages between command levels and groups; messages should be clear and concise and should focus on such key issues as: Assignment completion; Additional resources required; Special information; and Status update.