The government agency that sponsors your local CERT Program will establish local protocols for CERT activation and operations. These local protocols will be based on the Incident Command System (ICS). When working in their neighborhood or workplace, team members will use ICS to manage CERT activities.

As a CERT volunteer, you first respond to a disaster by reporting to your neighborhood or workplace staging area with your supplies. Along the way, record the locations and types of damage you see. You'll use this information to establish priorities and make decisions about if and how the team will respond.