How To Size-Up

Photo from www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=2344

Before responding to a disaster, size up the situation.  Size-up is a continual process of examining and evaluation the damage in an environment.  It will enable you to make decisions and respond appropriately in the areas of greatest need.


CERT Size-up Steps

1.  Gather facts

• What has happened?
• How many people appear to be involved?
• What is the current situation

2.  Assess and communicate the damage

• What has happened?
• What is happening?
• What could happen (i.e., how bad could things get)?

3.  Consider probabilities

• What is likely to happen?
• What could happen through cascading events?

4.  Assess your own situation

• Are you in immediate danger?
• Have you been trained to handle the situation?
• Do you have the equipment that you need?

5.  Establish priorities

• Are lives at risk?
• Can you help?  Remember, life safety is the first priority!

6.  Make decisions

• Base your decisions on an assessment of the situation and in accordance with the priorities that you established.

7.  Develop a plan of action

• Create a plan that will achieve your priorities
• Simple plans may be verbal, but always write down more complex plans.

8.  Take action

• Execute your plan, documenting any deviations and status changes so that you can report the situation accurately to first responders.

9.  Evaluate progress

• Evaluate your progress in accomplishing the objectives in your plan of action to determine what is working and what changes you may have to make to stablize the situation.

Information obtained from Salt Lake CERT Field Operations Guide