Most of the home work is already done on this. The national CERT teams are a perfect organization to use in the implementing of the N-CERT-POD systems. (The acronym can also stand for National CERT Points of Distribution.)

Specially designed disaster mitigation kits can be stored in strategic locations throughout the residential and commercial communities. These will be steel job box type storage containers (about the size of a standard trash dumpster or smaller depending area specifics) that will contain special supplies that are significant to the area where it is located.

• Flood Containers: Built in floating systems (like a dock that rises and falls) filled with flood rescue equipment and inflatable flotation devises that can be filled with solar power generated compressed air or CO2 bottles, warming devises, sand bags, 
• Fire Containers: Smoke masks, fire fighting equipment, 
• Earthquake Container: Rigging, Search and rescue equipment, Fire fighting equipment, flood, ...
• Rural and domestic animal rescue PODs with animal control equipment and containment devises
• First-Aid
• Food
• Water purification stations can be built into the container
• Communication centers
• Toxic Spill Containers

Each location will have special gear to relate directly with the locations. For instance, if you have an industrial area that has a potential of hazardous material gas or toxic spills the containers in that area will be loaded with specialized gear for CERT volunteers to don in the event that a rescue would need to be made.

These boxes can be assigned to the CERT teams that are familiar with their locations.

• Specialized CERT training can be increased for these special N-CERT-PODs

The boxes can be monitored with CCTV to prevent vandalizing.

They can be connected to local green energy grids or even have solar power panels to charge special radio communications and two way communications with the local , county, and state agencies providing the CERT teams with fail proof communications. This power source can also keep other specialized equipment charged and ready for use at all times.

Built in to the system will be a locking devise that can be opened from radio signals that are connected to the proper authorities.

In case the CERT team is not available, these boxes will have displayed instructions on the lid or sides to give the proper instructions to the neighbors that are in the area. 

Many more important details will need to be addressed. However, an unmanned fully functional disaster kit large enough to assist the persons that have a regular excuse to not being prepared will still have a small form of relief and will in turn use this kit to aid themselves and their families even if help has not arrived.

I am a former general contractor. I canceled my license in 2001 during a divorce. I now work for an alarm company that is in the process of extending disaster survival supplies and training to all of our customers. It is our goal to bring Hollister California, the earthquake capital, to a ready state and set the example of how to have a community totally prepared for any disaster. I have contacted the Red Cross in this county and was told that they had a volunteer staff of eight people for our area. This is unacceptable to me. So I am on a mission to train myself and become the person to go to in this area for disaster mitigation. This is a hard battle with little training in the field. Becoming a CERT member is a dream I have. I have always been the type to place the other persons comfort before my own and I look forward to reading all the ideas that this challenge will bring.