Longview Hills @ Newport Oregon

Building a safer community

It is not an easy thing to do on a shoe string. It makes for a heavy burden placed on volunteers. Our volunteers are exceptional. At a point in life when they are given the chance to do nothing but have fun with their time they choose instead to give something back. What their motivation is we can only wonder. But are terribly grateful for.

The CERT team meets and trains weekly to be ready for any disaster that might befall our community, minor or major. After two years their numbers stand at 10 to 14. They have a proven track record of accomplishments in our park. 10 to 14 is ok for small emergencies. A major one? It will be tough. In order to accomplish our goal of doing the most good for the most people in a disaster we are reaching out to you now. There are several ways you can help and we are going to list them now.

1. Take the CERT formal training and become a member of our team. Classes will start soon in September and run till January.
2. No time for training? Come to our weekly meetings at the clubhouse on Wednesdays at 11:00am. The team will train you in our emergency procedures so that you will be a valuable asset during a disaster at LVH. Meetings typically last only an hour. We plan to teach volunteers how to be a scribe, communications runners, communications assistants, equipment retrieval, Shelter helpers, nurse assistants, radio relay, patient retrieval and other valuable spots. We can use you regardless of your health .. We can find something you can do. Not only that your life experience will probably yield a solution to perplexing problems from time to time.
   
3. Let us put your lot number on your lamp post out front. It's free. Our rapid deployment system relys on lot numbers rather than street addresses which are confusing in this community.
4. Before the wind and ice storms this season get an FRS/GMRS radio and learn to use it on Ch6 16. More of you need to key your radio and ask for a radio check, often. Practice makes perfect. So much depends on you becoming familiar with your radio. It is your lifeline to help when power and telephones are gone. It's CERT's main instrument of rescue and help and it is Neighborhood Watch's best crime deterrent as well as the community's information source as events occur that affect the neighborhood..
   
5. Consider supporting our safety groups. Comments made by each of you at the clubhouse at the mailboxes and at coffee gatherings that are negative such as, "All they do is yak on the radio." or "They told me not to do that." are not only wrong but serve to downgrade efforts of people who are dedicated to helping everyone. You should know that when you fire your barbs they do eventually work their way back to their intended target.