This document discusses Amateur Local Emergency Relief Teams (ALERTs), which are community-based disaster relief workers. ALERTs are made up of volunteers from within a community who are trained to provide initial emergency assistance after a disaster when professional responders are overwhelmed. The document outlines how ALERTs are organized with a leader and teams focused on search and rescue, firefighting, medical response, and logistics. It provides guidance on ALERT equipment, safety procedures during response, and checklists for organizing an ALERT team within a community to supplement existing disaster response efforts.

1. Disaster Mitigation
ALERT
Amateur Local Emergency Relief Teams
(ALERTs) - A Community Based Approach
Lt Col K C Monnappa
MA Social Work
(Delhi university)
Dip-Sustainable Development
CEU-Hungary
Concept of a ‘Disaster Relief Worker’
When a disaster strikes, a variety of services, agencies and programs work together to provide
emergency services and disaster assistance to the affected. However, such agencies suffer inherent
limitations in that, they cannot be everywhere at once and generally initial needs may be greater
than they can handle immediately with available resources. In the initial hours after a disaster, when
the damage is heavy or widespread and emergency services are stretched to the point of breaking. A
number of people are called upon to provide assistance to those around them.
So who are “Disaster Relief Workers?” and “Who constitute this social group?”
“Disaster Relief Workers, (trained or otherwise) are people who adhere to the basic principle
of rendering their most important service during disasters, which is – ‘HELP’. They embrace a
concept wherein individuals and families help themselves. Neighbours help neighbours.
Coworkers help each other. Able-bodied people turn out to offer their services and assistance to
various emergency relief services and programs Volunteers play an extremely important role in
reducing the death, injury and damage in the period immediately after a disaster. They bring a wide
variety of skills and experience to the task and through teamwork can help build a vital network that
links all parts of the disaster area. (See Figure 1.)
The following groups can be termed as “Disaster Relief Workers”:
 Self and family
 Next-door neighbours
 Professional disaster assistance workers
 Colleagues
 Co-workers
 Locally trained disaster relief workers or ALERTs- (Amateur Local Emergency Relief
Teams).

2. Disaster Mitigation
ALERT
Potential Disaster Relief Workers
Although the concept is as old as ‘Humanity, still, the concept needs to be reinforced in terms
if awareness, knowledge and expertise albeit limited, (owing to the nature and the scope of their
employment, which will be restricted ONLY during times of disasters).
Stages of Emergency Response
 Preparatory Stage. This corresponds to the pre-disaster period and includes
disaster prediction, warning and alert systems, preventive measures, issue of
contingency plans and checklists for potential disasters. During this stage appropriate
organization-infrastructure provisioning could be set up, standard operating
procedures formulated, equipment and communication provisioned and rehearsals
conducted.
 Emergency Stage. This stage commences from the warning of disaster to the
period immediately after the disaster and aims at providing immediate relief to the
affected people and bringing a semblance of order in the disaster areas.
 Rehabilitation Stage. This period covers short-term measures to restore essential
services, communication and normal community life.
 Reconstruction Stage. This is long-term measure aimed at providing adequate
relief to the affected people.
Importance of CBOs and other Voluntary organisations
The Manual of Disaster Management in India has earmarked an important role for the
Voluntary Sector in India. It espouses the fact that Disaster Management calls for a multi-
disciplinary response requiring intervention many a times at extremely short notice, thereby lending
a new dimension and complexity to Disaster Response mechanism. One of the major challenges
posed is of Community mobilization for appropriate response within a given time frame. An even
bigger challenge is to motivate the community to long-term disaster prevention measures. The
Voluntary Sector, especially the Community Based Organisations (CBO), provides an effective
alternative in helping to meet such challenges. These CBOs that operate at grass roots level can be
useful in invoking community involvement, due to its linkages with the community base and
flexibility in procedural matters. They are usually small and grass root agencies, with informal
structures. Due to their very nature of arising from the community base itself; they are very closely
linked with the local population and conditions. They serve as the last link in the Disaster
Management chain. These organisations/associations are formed by the local residents to look after
the interests of those living a shared community life in that area. As such, these associations are
highly concerned about the welfare of the local community and need no additional motivation or
resource backup to take part in active disaster reduction. Thus, they can be a very useful tool for
getting across the message of community participation at the ground level.

3. Disaster Mitigation
ALERT
Functional Mechanism
The essential function of these CBOs is that of being a link between the Government and the
Community. This function is rendered possible through different mechanisms as per the
requirements of a situation e.g. if the Government requires to distribute relief material to the
community, then the voluntary agencies may be requisitioned for distribution and more importantly
in identifying the persons actually needing relief. The various other functions that these voluntary
agencies may be expected to perform are briefly enumerated in the table 1.
Stage Activity
Pre Disaster  Awareness and information campaigns
 Training of local volunteers
 Advocacy and planning
During Disaster  Immediate Rescue and first aid including psychological
aid
 Supply of food, water, medicines and other immediate
need materials
 Ensuring sanitation and hygiene
 Damage assessment
Post Disaster  Technical and material aid in reconstruction
 Assistance in distribution of financial aid to rehabilitate
society, dis-advantage groups, orphans, widows etc
 Monitoring
Table 1. Likely functions of Voluntary Agencies.
The important factor is to perceive CBOs as a live resource and use them in sensitizing,
establishing contact with people, gaining confidence of the people and in administration of relief not
to say in training and awareness campaign. CBO participation forms a vital part of disaster
management strategy. This becomes clear from the multifarious functions these voluntary agencies
can be expected to perform before, during and post disaster scenarios. Characteristics unique to
CBOs such as their short response time and close link with the community make them very suitable
agencies for specific activities of disaster management.
Another viable alternative for communities vulnerable to disasters/emergencies
(manmade/natural) is by preparing themselves in the Preparatory Stage itself by establishing
Amateur Local Emergency Relief Teams (ALERTs) to respond in the period immediately after a
disaster. ALERTs can assist existing professional response teams and assume the same functions
as response personnel.

4. Disaster Mitigation
ALERT
Concept
ALERTs embrace a concept wherein they form local teams through networking and pooling
of locally available resources and skills within a community, which could include an immediate
neighbourhood, locality, workplace or even a township. A potential ALERT member would be
expected to possess the following qualities: -
 Leadership
 Motivation
 Esprit de Corps
 High Moral Character
 Quick decision making and taking abilities
 Able to withstand pressure and work under stressful conditions
Most of the developed countries in the world that are generally vulnerable to disasters
(manmade or natural) have local community emergency relief workers who respond/are activated
when disaster strikes their areas or any area close to them.
A suggested ALERT organizational structure is shown in Figure 1.
The ALERT organization should interact with the local Fire Department Liaison;
Police/emergency relief organisations then add an ALERT Team Leader, Search and Rescue, Fire
Fighting, Medical and Logistics Teams
ALERT
TEAM LEADER
Functions
Documentation
Monitoring Status of
Situation
SEARCH & RESCUE
TEAM
Functions
SEARCH
RESCUE
EVACUATION
FIRE
FIGHTING
TEAM
Functions
EXTINGUISHERS
STAND PIPES
UTILITIES
HAZARD –
MATERIAL
MEDICAL
TEAM
Functions
TRIAGE
TREAT-
MENT
TRANSPORT
MORGUE
SUPPLY
LOGISTICS
TEAM
Functions
COMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT
STAFFING
SUPPLY
FOOD
FIRE
DEPARTMENT
LIAISON
POLICE/LOCAL
EMERGENCY
OFFICE
LIAISON
Fig 1. Organisation of an ALERT

5. Disaster Mitigation
ALERT
ALERT Mobilization
After a disaster incident has taken place, ALERT organization should proceed in the following
manner:
 First, ALERT members take care of themselves, their families and their neighbours.
 Then ALERT members proceed to the staging area with their disaster supplies. Along the
way, they should carryout damage assessments that would be helpful for the ALERT
Team Leader’s decision making.
 The first ALERT member at the staging area becomes the ALERT Leader for the
response. As other ALERT members arrive, the ALERT Leader makes team assignments,
including the Logistics Team Leader who is responsible for maintaining the flow of
ALERT members into the staging area and tracking personnel and supplies. Other Team
Leaders and team members are assigned based on their capabilities and the requirements
of the incident.
 As disaster intelligence becomes available through ALERT members reporting to staging
area, emergent volunteers and functional group reports (e.g., search and rescue teams), the
ALERT Leader must prioritize actions and work with the functional team leaders to
accomplish the ALERT mission.
Remember, following an incident; information and therefore, priorities will be changing
rapidly. The ALERT Leader must stay in close contact with the Logistics Team Leader and
functional team leaders to ensure that ALERTs do not overextend their resources or supplies.
Rescuer Safety
Effective scene management requires the formulation and communication of strategic
goals and tactical objectives that are based primarily on the safety of rescue personnel. The
question to ask is always: Is it safe for the ALERT members to attempt this rescue? Answers to this
question relate primarily to the degree of structure damage, as shown in the table below.
Degree Of Damage Should Rescue Be Attempted?
Heavy No. Too dangerous to enter. Secure the perimeter and control
access into the structure.
Moderate Perform only quick and safe removals; limit onsite medical care to
checking for breathing, stopping major bleeding and treating for
shock. Minimize the number of rescuers inside the building.
Light Yes. Locate, triage and prioritize removal of victims to the
designated treatment area.
Table 2. ALERT Rescue Efforts Based On Degree Of Damage

6. Disaster Mitigation
ALERT
There are lists of essential items and checklists that will help plan and organize ALERT and
assemble the equipment and supplies the team will need.
Recommended ALERT Equipment And Supplies
It is mandatory to have certain essential items when an ALERT Organisation is planned.
These items are recommended after careful consideration and experience and the ease of their
availability. It would be observed that almost all the items are generally used in a normal middle
class Indian household and can easily be replaced with an alternative depending on the area and the
type of disaster a particular community is vulnerable to.
The following equipment and supplies are recommended as a minimum supply cache for all
ALERT teams. The equipment and supplies should be maintained at or near the team staging area
in the format suggested below.
Equipment/Supply Date Procured
Quantity Date Last Checked
 Nylon/canvas bag with
shoulder strap (Ruck Sack)
 Water
(Two bottles per Search
and Rescue team)
 Dehydrated foods
(Maggi, Shakar para,
Khasta poori, Goond, Panjiri etc)
 Water purification tablets
 Work gloves (leather)
 Goggles
 Dust masks
 Torch/ lamp
 Batteries and extra bulbs
 Secondary torch/match box
 Utility knife
 Note pads
 Markers:
- Thin-point
- Thick-point
 Pens
 Duct tape
 Masking tape (2-inch)
 Scissors
 Crescent wrench/pliers
 First aid pouch containing:

7. Disaster Mitigation
ALERT
- 4 x 4 gauze dressings (6)
- Abdominal pads (4)
- Triangular bandages (4)
- Band-Aids
- Roller bandage
Protection for Disaster Workers
National, State and/or local laws generally protect people who volunteer their services during a
disaster. Most states have “Good Citizen” laws that protect people who provide emergency care in
a prudent and reasonable manner to ill or injured persons. Other city, town, or State laws may also
apply. A register should be maintained wherein all the current laws (National/state) offering
protection for disaster relief workers should be noted for future reference. Contents of the register
are given in table 3.
Ser
No.
Current Applicable Laws Salient Points Remarks
Table 3. Contents of a register for Protective Laws
Additional Materials
Amateur Local Emergency Relief Team Checklist
Note: The list below can be utilised when planning and organizing an ALERT.
Personal Preparedness
(ALERT members)
Completed Check (Yes/No) Date Last
Checked
Remarks
 Food
 Water
 Out Station Phone Contact

8. Disaster Mitigation
ALERT
 Mitigation Measures
- Gas/Elect connections
- Utilities
- Cabinets, etc.
- Others:
ALERT Organization
 Command &Control
- Team leader
- Group leaders
 Members
- Roster
- Phone list
- Technical Skills inventory
 Communications
- Telephone
Important -
Members -
- Amateur radio/Hams operators
in area
- Runners
 Resources and Locations
- Personnel
- Equipment
- Supplies
- Response kits
 Area Surveys/Earmarking possible
locations
- Evacuation plans
- Staging area
- Casualty collection points

9. Disaster Mitigation
ALERT
- Specific hazard/vulnerable areas
- Area maps
 Response Plan
- Response criteria
- Communications/notification
- Staging area/command post
Team Organization
 Teamwork
- Meetings
- Drills and exercises
- Training
- Rehearsals
- Demonstrations to community,
schools, colleges etc
 First aid training
 CPR
 Others:
Conclusion
ALERTs are among a variety of agencies and personnel that could cooperate to provide
assistance in the aftermath of an emergency or disaster as espoused by The Manual of Disaster
Management in India. The keys to an ALERT’s effectiveness are in:
 Familiarity with the type of disaster and the types of damage that is most likely to result.
 Adequate preparation for the disaster and its aftermath.
 Proper training in the core areas of competence to which ALERTs are assigned, to include:
- Fire fighting/suppression.
- Light search and rescue.
- Disaster medical operations.
- Logistics.
Having identified the core areas of competence, ALERTs can be an invaluable asset to
immediate response efforts. The ensuing Chapters of the book will be devoted to the training of
ALERT’s in their core areas of competence.