Sunday, February 10, 2008

HELP


OK

My task is to convince you folks that you are going to get something for nothing and you need to use it... We can't bribe you with food... Pleading will get about 1/2 of you.. Chastising will cause you to drop out. Threatening ... well, what person likes that?

So, we are going to give you the cold hard facts and let you work it out for yourselves. Just like with Neighborhood Watch radio it is your responsibility to call and ask what is going on or if you need help.... So to, will be the new Placard system being introduced now.. First, what is it? Second, How to use it and last, Why do we need it?

WHAT IT IS...
Every home will be given a free placard if they want it(8 1/2 x 11) for their street facing window. On one side it will be red and say HELP! in red.. It will have easily seen reflective tape on it and be encased in plastic. Further it will be sprayed with reflective paint. A lot of effort went into making it highly visible.. People gave about $500 in resources to have this project completed. These signs are free to you but they were not free. Nor, did they come without CERT team labor. If you don't intend to use one ... please don't take one.

On the other side of the placard it says OK in black on a white background.

HOW TO USE IT...
In a disaster, power outage, windstorm, telephone failure.. or anything that brings the CERT team into play it is to be used as a signal... Example,,,, an earthquake happens... Your Neighborhood Watch block captains will report on the welfare of the people they know about in their areas if they can by radio on FRS CH6_16. If they miss you or if no one checks on you .. You too can call on the radio and give your status. Say the Block Captain misses you and you have chosen not to have a radio or the radio does not work? Put the placard in the window. White (OK) if you don't need help or Red (HELP) if you need help.

If you have chosen not to have a radio, not to participate in Neighborhood Watch and don't want a placard. Your home will be checked last in a disaster.

WHY WE NEED IT...
Our weekly practice drills show us that our CERT team will not get the response it needs from Neighborhood Watch block captains. Probably, less than 1/2 of the people have radios. That takes us to the placard system to catch those that fall through the cracks. Even so.. suppose you are to injured to put up a placard? CERT will check and clear every home after a disaster. We have one standing motto that we all abide by... "We will do the most good for the most people."
So, our order of Rescue operations will be prioritized like this:

Radio calls from or about injured
Placard canvasing HELP. second
Homes displaying no placard and no radio and no Block Capitan report, last.

This will allow us to "do the most good for the most people."

During minor emergencies such as high wind, power outages and the like you can use your placard to signal a CERT patrol vehicle by placing it in your window.




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