LIVE ACTION DRILL !
The LVH CERT team is going to have a mini drill incorporating the things we have been learning over the past year and a half. We want to to take a look at our areas of strengths and weaknesses. This will help direct our training in the coming months.
You may have been listening to the new LVH Neighborhood Watch Radio Network on CH 5 FRS. In which case you have listened to the CERT team in operation. When a threatening condition develops or begins to develop in our community the word is passed and we begin instituting one of our disaster plans. We have had a couple live actions based mostly on high winds and power outages. We think the team performed really well in those events but now we plan to take them into the world of earthquake disaster.
This time will be different in many ways. The first thing is that we plan to announce the date and time of our simulated disaster. We also plan to conduct most of our radio communication on CH5 FRS (our local Neighborhood Watch Channel). The reason we are doing that is to invite you to listen as the drama unfolds on your FRS radios. We also invite you to watch our operations at the disaster site and at the clubhouse which will be our command post and temporary hospital.
Ben Davi is a registered Nurse with an up to date license and we have asked him to examine the victims as we transport them to the clubhouse. He will decide the order of evacuation. Several City officials may be present to give advice.
Team members are not and will not be aware of what is in store for them so that will add to the drama and confusion that will be generated. This is reality training and necessary so the observers can help point out the areas that we need training in and our strengths. The drill will not be long. We are hoping for less than an hour and a half. It will happen between 9:30 am and noon.
We expect errors. We want them... This is how you learn best. During the drill if anyone on the team is unclear about what is happening or in their roll they will pause the drill until a leader clarifies the point.
Now you know about the drill.. I would like to talk about your roll in this drill. We know that when a disaster strikes some good Samaritans will come to help. We would like you to do just that. Our plan is to assign CERT team members as rescue and triage team leaders but they will need approximately 4 volunteers per team. You will work under a team's direction in the rescue operation. They know how to safely do the job. Most of you don't know. We ask these volunteers to do as directed by the team. This will give the teams a chance to see the problems of using untrained volunteers. Some lifting and bending is anticipated. Women or men are acceptable.
We will be contacting some Neighborhood Watch Block Captains in the drill test area and asking them to call in assesments on their FRS radio to the CERT Communications. This will be the first use of Neighborhood Watch to do this task and is the main reason for the new Park Radio alerting system. This action will save the CERT team many hours and allow them to go right into emergency mode.
We will need records keepers and radio communications assistants who will also work under the direction of CERT team members. You can help we look forward to seeing you on drill day. The rest of the park you will be given locations where you can observe or just tune into CH5 with the new FRS radio you want to go out and buy right now.
Those of you who do have your FRS radios and are using them you could help us out here by putting in a comment and telling everyone what you think about this new system and what you have experienced with it.
The drill is currently scheduled for Wednesday the 28th of MARCH.
Some other things for you to know folks. We think this is the first time CERT and Neighborhood Watch have worked together... anywhere. We think our Neighborhood Watch is the first one to use radios for every individual as a communications resource. You truly are the modern Oregon Trail pioneers ... circling your wagons preparing for difficult times.
