Witt Associates conducts US version of CERT program in Haiti

Jun 19 2010

Witt Associates, the crisis management and preparedness services division of GlobalOptions Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GLOI), a leading provider of domestic and international risk management services, today announced that it has begun a US version of a Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) program in Haiti. In cooperation with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), the Haitian Department of Civil Protection (DPC), and the J/P Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO), this program was developed to provide Haitian citizens with the basic tools and training necessary to assist communities in times of emergency prior to the arrival of external first responder resources.

“CERT plays an important role in the recovery of communities in times of crisis, and we are dedicated to providing this service to the citizens of Haiti in support of the work of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in Haiti”

"CERT plays an important role in the recovery of communities in times of crisis, and we are dedicated to providing this service to the citizens of Haiti in support of the work of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in Haiti," said James Lee Witt, CEO of Witt Associates. "We had initially volunteered our services prior to the January 12 earthquake, and the need of the course was more evident after the earthquake, so we increased our commitment. We also are fortunate to have been joined by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano, who have sent their experts to help provide the training."

This program followed up on a commitment made at The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) which is a non-partisan organization that brings together global leaders from the public and private sectors as well as civil society to discuss challenges facing the world today. Former President Bill Clinton founded CGI in 2005.

The Haitian version of the US CERT training began at the Petionville Club Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp on June 8. This camp, under the management of J/P Haitian Relief Organization was selected due to their well organized and fully integrated operation of United Nations organizations, community leaders and other non-governmental organizations and will serve as a "pilot" in order to validate the program prior to the course being presented nationwide as a "train the trainer" course.

J/P HRO is a California-based 501c3 working in partnership with the Haitian government to empower and support the Haitian people in their recovery and long-term survival through the provision of immediate relief, shelter, urgent medical services and the development of infrastructure. For more information on J/P Haitian Relief Organization visit www.jphro.org.

This pilot program will not only assist in the final preparation of the national course but will also provide the Petionville Club IDP camp management with a cadre of Haitian CERT certified individuals that will take a pledge at the graduation to assist camp administration in times of crisis. The curriculum has been translated into Creole and has been developed so that it can be presented to audiences with different levels of literacy.

With J/P HRO's help during the two-week deployment to Port-au-Prince, Haiti Witt Associates will be able to train up to 400 highly motivated and committed camp residents in fire safety, first aid, triage, strategies to combat civil unrest, light search and rescue, public health, water safety, and disaster psychology. The team will conclude with a Mock Disaster Simulation and Graduation ceremony on June 18 attended by Witt Associates Northeast Region Vice President Kenneth Mallette, Sean Penn, Director/CEO of J/P HRO, and NYC Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno. Several senior Haiti and UN officials have also been invited and are expected to attend. The newly certified CERT members will be able to take these critical life-saving techniques and skills back to their neighborhoods and employ them when they return.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is assisting Witt Associates, sending a 12-member team comprised of four Creole-Haitian speaking fire fighters, two FDNY EMS personnel, a health department doctor and nurse, three OEM staff members and a senior CERT instructor.

This training is a continuation of many activities Witt Associates has undertaken to make Haiti safer and stronger for the future. Prior to the January 12, 2010 earthquake, James Lee Witt and his team supported the Clinton Global Initiative in its efforts to secure private investment to improve Haiti's economy, and conducted an evaluation for the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy of the most critical needs of the Haitian emergency management framework in preparation for future hurricane disasters.

Witt Associates has had personnel in Haiti since January, supporting the Haitian government and the United Nations with response and recovery planning and coordination efforts. Witt evaluated the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) command and control systems in the immediate response effort, and designed an organizational framework for infrastructure and housing recovery that formed the basis for the recently approved Haiti Recovery Commission. Witt Associates also enhanced recovery coordination efforts through the deployment and use of its million-dollar Mobile Command Vehicle, providing the Haitian Department of Civil Protection and the United Nations with mobile incident management capabilities, communications, and information technology support.

To date, Witt Associates efforts in Haiti include:

• Support of the Clinton Global Initiative's efforts to attract private investment to Haiti;
• Developed and translated the "Haiti CERT" curriculum, and coordinated training deliveries of same focusing on women's groups, the Department of Civil Protection, and residents of tent encampments;
• Completed an assessment for USAID of their command, control, and coordination systems for the initial earthquake response, to include identification of opportunities for improvement;
• Designed and recommended organizational framework for managing and coordinating the repair and restoration of infrastructure and housing (used as the foundation for the recently-approved Haiti Recovery Commission);
• Deployed state-of-the-art Mobile Command Vehicle in support of the Department of Civil Protection and the United Nations, providing communications, incident management, and coordination support for recovery efforts and to serve as an alternate Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the Haitian government;
• Provided expert staffing nearly full-time in Port-au-Prince since mid-January to offer technical assistance and disaster recovery expertise to the Haitian government, the United Nations, and others;
• In late 2009, evaluated the nation's short-term needs for the upcoming hurricane season for the UN Office of the Special Envoy to Haiti;

SOURCE GlobalOptions Group, Inc.