Degrees of Damage.pptx

Degrees of Damage The CERT mission for interior searches depends on if damage is light, moderate, or heavy Assess and Communicate Damage ● There are general guidelines for assessing damage in interior searches and exterior searches. When in doubt about the condition of a building, CERT volunteers...

Degrees of Damage The CERT mission for interior searches depends on if damage is light, moderate, or heavy Assess and Communicate Damage ● There are general guidelines for assessing damage in interior searches and exterior searches. When in doubt about the condition of a building, CERT volunteers should always use the more cautious assessment.; If you are unsure about whether damage to a building is moderate or heavy, CERT volunteers should assume heavy damage. The CERT mission changes depending on the amount of structural damage. Light Damage ● Superficial damage ● Broken windows ● Superficial cracks or breaks in the wall surface, fallen or cracked plaster ● Minor damage to the interior contents Moderate Damage ● ● ● ● ● Visible signs of damage Decorative work damage or fallen Many visible cracks or breaks in the wall surfaces Major damage to interior contents Building still on foundation Heavy damage ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Partial or total collapse Tilting Obvious structural instability Building off foundation Heavy smoke or fire Gas leaks/hazardous materials inside Rising or moving water CERT volunteers are not to enter a building with heavy damage under any circumstances Assessing Damage ● Assessing the damage of a building or structure will require an examination from all sides. Be sure to do an initial “lap around” the building ● In assessing damage, CERT personnel must consider probable levels of damage based on the type and age of construction ● In addition to a visual assessment, rescuers should also “listen” to damaged structures. If a building is creating or “groaning”, it is unstable and volunteers should not enter it Communicating Damage ● You can describe different locations within and around the structure by using the ABCD standard, with A corresponding to the front of the building B, C, and D representing the sides of the building moving clockwise from A ● Using this system, volunteers can break down the area inside of a structure by quadrants to facilitate communication, For instance, a hazard or survivor located closest to the A and B sides of the structure is in the A/B quadrant. Probably Severity and Type of Earthquake Damage Based on Construction Type: Single-Family Dwelling (home) Description Probable Damage Areas Severity ● Wood Frame ● ● Masonry chimney Utilities ● Light ● Pre-1933 ● ● ● Foundation movement Utilities Porches ● Moderate ● Hillside ● ● Unique hazards Ground failure ● Heavy Probably Severity and Type of Earthquake Damage Based on Construction Type: Multi-Family Dwelling (apartment) Description ● Up-and-down and/or side-by-side living units Probably Damage Areas ● ● Soft first floor Utilities Severity ● Moderate Probably Severity and Type of Earthquake Damage Based on Construction Type: Unreinforced Brick Description ● ● ● ● ● ● Pre-1933 construction Lime or sand mortar “King row” or “Soldier Row” (bricks turned on end every 5-7 rows) Reinforcing plates Arched windows and doors Recessed windows and doors Probable Damage Areas ● Walls collapse, then roof Severity ● Heavy Probably Severity and Type of Earthquake Damage Based on Construction Type: Tilt-Up Description ● ● ● ● Large warehouses and plants Concrete slabs lifted into place Walls in set approximately 6-8 inches Lightweight roof construction Probable Damage Areas ● Roof collapses, then walls Severity ● Heavy Probably Severity and Type of Earthquake Damage Based on Construction Type: High-Rise Description ● Steel reinforced Probable Damage Areas ● ● ● Broken glass Content movement Exterior trim and fascia Severity ● Light ● Remember, you must communicate your findings to the CERT command post or responding agencies. Consider Probabilities ● Because you will be working in close proximity to the dangerous situation, considering what will probably happen and what could happen are of critical importance. Be sure to identify potentially life-threatening hazards and ask….. How stable is the situation? ● Even within a structure that appears from the outside to have only minimal or moderate damage, nonstructural damage or instability inside the structure can pose real danger to the rescue team. CERT volunteers should think about what they already know about the structure that has been damaged. Are lawn chemicals, paints, or other potentially hazardous materials stored within the structure? How are they stored? Where are they stored? It will not take CERT volunteers much time to answer these types of questions, but the answers could make a huge difference in how they approach the search. What secondary factors should CERT volunteers consider? ● Take a moment to look around and assess the situation outside of the immediate area. What is the weather doing? Is the wind changing? Is a storm moving in that would affect the response? Is there a crowd growing? Are there very few people around? Do you hear first responders in the distance, or is everything quiet? What else could go wrong? ● Based on the information gathered during the size-up, CERT volunteers should take a few moments to play “What if?” to try to identify additional risks that they may face. What happens if the power goes out during the search? What if a wall that appears stable shifts and collapses? Applying “Murphy’s Law” to the situation could save CERT volunteers’ lives. What does it all mean for the search and rescue? ● Based on the probabilities, CERTs should think about what they can do to reduce the risks associated with the probabilities that they have identified. Is a spotter necessary to look for movement that could indicate a possible collapse and warn the rescue team? Is some remedial action required to stabilize non structural hazards before beginning the search? CERT search and rescue teams must remember that their own safety is the priority.