City Wide CERT drill - Nov 16, 2019

Post date: Nov 17, 2019 5:07:33 PM

The scenario:   

High winds with PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutdown)

Our task:

Survey neighborhood for all power distribution lines.  Record distribution lines in proximity of trees as high priority due to possibility of creating downed power lines. 

Experience means "having done it wrong once before".  

We certainly succeeded in that.   

Three 2-person teams surveyed the neighborhood to report incidents, which kept the incident commander and ham radio operator very busy.   Thanks Team Alpha (Kelly and Robyn), Team Bravo (Stuart and Rick), and Team Foxtrot (Matt and Rooster) for a job well done.   Many thanks to Jeff, our ham radio operator, for assisting the incident commander, transmitting to the EOC (Emergency Operations Center), and providing training on packet radio.

Important lessons we learned:

1. The command post requires at least 2 people to handle the work

2. Two radios should be available at all times for the incident commander who uses the radio triple the amount of each of the our 3 teams, thus batteries run out sooner.  A second radio will allow uninterrupted communication while replacing batteries.

3. New batteries stored in our CERT shed corroded. Periodic battery assessment and replacement is needed.

4. Relaxing armchairs are not adequate for working the command post

5. Two radios failed.   Because of this, team members recognized the importance of monthly radio check-in's

6. Neighborhood maps are out of date and need to be updated.

Everyone had a good time while learning a lot.

We all see the importaince of training exercises to prepare for emergencies.

Susan

WWNA - Wagon Wheel Neighborhood Association, CERT coordinator 

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is a critical program in the effort to engage everyone in America in making their communities safer, more prepared, and more resilient when incidents occur.

CERT ... We are there to help when 911 is overwhelmed