What Are Emergency Ribbons?

                       What are Emergency Ribbons and why do we need them?

These are Emergency Ribbons.  They would be used if there were a wide spread emergency that caused damage to your home or family, like an earthquake or other natural disaster.

After checking your home and securing your family so they are safe, you would post the applicable ribbon of your circumstance on the doorknob,  light fixture or light post so that your Block Captain would see what is happening in your household.

This is our Emergency Ribbon Supplier
 

Custom Caution Tape
1-813-715-1314
www.customcautiontape.com
 sales@customcautiontape.com

Tie it on your doorknob

Tie it on your light fixture

 The Block Captain reports your ribbon color you post to the Precinct Comms (Communication Person) via walkie talkie, HAM radio, or by foot, where it is recorded. 

Then the Precinct Comms reports to the District Comms. The District Comms reports to the City via HAM Radio, Packet,  D-Star or any other system they have set up.

Emergency Ribbon status being reported in your Precinct

In your neighborhood, this information is very useful.  As the information is received at the Command Post already set up in your neighborhood by your Precinct Leader and Precinct Comms (per your neighborhood emergency plan already in place), it is clear to see what areas of your neighborhood is hit the hardest and which ones are ok.  

The information will be used to dispatch your your neighborhood CERT Search and Rescue Team by the Precinct Leader and Comms.

Take a CERT Training Course

Take a HAM Radio Class

Remember.....

You may be on your own for the first 5 days    following a large scale disaster or event.

When the information gets to the city, via HAM Radio, it will populate a map that the GIS Specialist of the City has already set up.  Through the process of receiving that information, areas hit the hardest will populate the map of the city.  Dispatch priority will be clear.

Calling 911 will not be an option, as lines will be jammed.  Responsibility lies with each individual family, neighborhood (Precinct).

On a family level, preparations for your Grab 'n Go Bag is vital.

Also, storing a month's worth of extra food for your family is always a good idea.
Store water in your home with the ability to filter it for usage.
Get to know your neighbors. You may even want to volunteer to become a Block Captain for your neighbors.

Take a CERT Training Course to be part of your Neighborhood CERT Search and Rescue Team.
A First Aid Class or a CPR Training will be of great value in an emergency no matter where you are when any emergency happens.

The City of Cottonwood Heights has taken the responsibility of purchasing supplies for  Emergency Ribbons for it's residents.

Emergency Ribbons will be distributed to Cottonwood Heights residents through their District and Precinct Leader from the City Manager
Block Captains will receive Emergency Ribbons from their Precinct Leader.

Block Captains will deliver Emergency Ribbons to all the neighbors on their block explaining their usage.

Block Captains may check with the Precinct Leader to obtain ribbons for new move ins.

Emergency Ribbons will be used every year for Shake-Out currently held in April.  Precincts may use them for practice drills so be sure to keep them.

Store your Emergency Ribbons in a ziplock bag and tape it to the inside of a kitchen cabinet that you see all the time and will remember in the event it is needed.

What is CERT?

WHAT IS CERT?

Copyright 2013 Debbie Mackintosh www.chgetready

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was developed and implemented by the city of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985.  They recognized that citizens would very likely be on their own during the early stages of a catastrophic disaster.  Accordingly, LAFD decided that some basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills would improve the ability of citizens to survive until responders or other assistance could arrive.  The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California.  Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet immediate emergency needs.  As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens in the CERT concept.  As of 1993, more than 8,000 people and 225 teams had been trained.

The training program LAFD initiated proved to be so beneficial that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) felt the concept and the program should be made available to communities nationwide.  The Emergency Management Institute (EMI), in cooperation with the LAFD, has expanded the CERT Materials to make them applicable to all hazards.  The goal of the training continues to be preparing people to help people.  Seeing the value of CERT, FEMA is committed to supporting the training of local CERT teams across the nation.  These teams too can assist with saving lives and protecting property in the event of a major disaster.

Those who benefit from the training should thank the LAFD for their vision and initiative in developing CERT, and for their willingness to support FEMA’s effort to share this program with communities across the nation.

If available, emergency services workers are the best trained and equipped to handle emergencies and you should use them. However, following a catastrophic disaster, you and the community may be on your own for a period of time because of the size of the area affected, lost communications, and un-passable roads.

CERT training is designed to prepare you to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster.  Because Emergency services workers will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by receiving the training to help save lives and protect property. This training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available.  You will want to help.  With training and practice and as a team, you will be able to do the greatest good for the greatest number after a disaster, while protecting yourself from becoming a victim.  

  Contact your Local Fire Dept for training and more information.

Salt Lake Area

CERT Training http://www.unifiedfire.org/services/registration/default.asp?e=6&t=66093.18

Sandy CERT/First Aid/CPR Training

Herman CERT Drill

CERT Trailer

Why Do You Need a CERT Trailer?

A CERT Trailer is also known as a Neighborhood Cache

CERT Trailer                          CHGetReady

It is a place for your neighborhood to gather and store Emergency Supplies that you will use in the event of an emergency.

Because you know, in the event of a large disaster.......911 does not have the capacity to respond to the individual.  They will be going to schools and other places where large numbers of people are housed or gathered.
Emergency Responders are limited in number and so you will be on your own.

You may not see them for up to 5 days.  Therefore, the neighborhood must prepare themselves, have emergency rescue equipment and supplies, a plan to rescue and care for themselves.

Block Party                CHGetReady

Some Neighborhoods are preparing by holding neighborhood  block parties where everyone donates money for the food being served, and also bringing pot luck.

Most of the donations collected will go towards purchasing and filling their CERT Trailer. They will fill it with supplies like Medical Equipment, bandages, backboards, splints, blankets.  Lots of First Aid Supplies, a couple of porta potties, hygiene kits, paper products, garbage bags, disinfectant etc.


Also, rescue supplies like shovels, ropes, pics sledge hammers, ladders, hand tools, flashlights and Command Post Equipment and Supplies, like folding tables and chairs, overhead lighting, maybe a generator and extension cords.

Some Neighborhood's even choose to include helicopter landing lights and solar chargers.

Begin by educating your neighborhood why you are motivated to create your CERT Trailer.  When people understand it will be for them, they usually choose to be a part of the effort.

The Precinct Leader may lead this effort.  Consider having a neighborhood party where you get to know one another.  Start the process, let them see it grow as you purchase your trailer first. Then begin to fill it.

Ask for donations of used, clean sheets and towels. We had a Rip Roll and Bag Night where we gathered together in a back yard,  summertime on the clean beautiful green grass.  Putting chairs in large circles where we could visit as we measured, ripped, rolled and bagged clean, donated sheets and pillowcases into 4 and 5 inch wide bandages.  We later sanitized and re-bagged them. We also sewed two large towels together to use as blankets.

It won't take long to fill your trailer as you work together to make it happen.  Invite everyone in your neighborhood to participate.  Friendships created will be the foundation of your success and survival.

 CLICK BELOW FOR A PRINTABLE CERT TRAILER LIST

A Big THANK YOU!!! to Cottonwood Heights Police Department

CHGetReady would like to thank the awesome Cottonwood Heights Police Department for the amazing working relationship that has been developed through the years as residents, (volunteers) and professionals.

We thank the Chiefs, Department, Staff and Officers for their dedication to the safety and education of our community.  The responsibility of caring for the safety of others is taken seriously and personally.  Many of them are also our neighbors so it is personal for them.  We are grateful for their sacrifice, every day as they put their own lives on the line to keep us safe and to do their job to the best of their ability.

We appreciate the time, their time given to teach us in our Quarterly Precinct Leader Training meetings about Neighborhood Watch Training, Animal Control Principles, City Emergency Procedures, their support at Neighborhood Parties, City Events, Communications for emergencies training.  They want us to be more educated and prepared in our homes, neighborhoods and our community.  The list goes on and on and we are so fortunate to have amazing officers who watch out for us.  Thank YOU Cottonwood Heights Police Department.

Everyday, every response to a 911 call or a response to a traffic violation brings them face to face with the possibility of a personal attack from someone who is on drugs, disgruntled, out of control, life threatening possibilities.  They are willing to do it., EVERYDAY.  That is their job, just like the military.  Sometimes it isn’t pretty, most of the time it may be horrific to them! Do we take into consideration the entire event or do we pick it apart to try to make a point of our police officers not showing respect to the one being hand cuffed or subdued to submission?

Really?  Is our life always fabulous or do we have emotional ups and downs? And are we being judged on just the downs?

Well, lately I have seen that many of the Police Departments in our country have had their feet held to the fire of the downs.  What got them there?  Does anyone ask what they were responding to?  Was that pretty?

NO! It usually is not, that is why they are there.

So if News stations are looking for the ratings, why don’t they get the entire story?

Why aren’t the bottom line questions being ask?  Why aren’t we getting all the information?  Don’t we owe it to ourselves to get all the information BEFORE we choose to act or take a stand?

There are definitely times when people in any profession, business or government officials make poor choices that will affect others negatively.  That is part of being human.  All of us are responsible to live our lives with integrity and respect, not just the police department or those in places of authority. 

We can look all around us at others, ourselves included and those in places of power and authority, we see the consequences of making unaccountable choices at the expense of others. 

So the question that comes to mind is…….”because someone else chooses to act without integrity and lawlessly, does that give me the right to do the same?

And if I do act without integrity and lawlessly, what will the consequence of my action bring?”  Does a child learn a better way by behaving badly with no consequence given? Or does a child learn a better way by being taught a more productive way of looking at their frustration?

We must see that there are laws given so we can learn a better way.  And when we learn that better way is to be accountable and responsible for the choices we make,  we become orderly people who live with honor because we choose to become honorable.

Relationships matter, taking personal accountability and responsibility does matter.

Personal integrity matters from both, residents and professionals in any city. Respecting ourselves by living true principles daily ripples out to respecting others.

True principles lived ripples out as easily as no principles lived ripples out.

It is all a matter of choice, our own personal choice.  We are powerful beings, we can make the world a better place or we can be part of its destruction.

We choose to make it a better place, we choose to applaud our amazing Cottonwood Heights Police Department, Officials and Officers for a job well done.  We thank them for being a part of our incredible community.

Cottonwood Heights Amateur Radio Club CHARC

Shake Out 2014

Take a look at the great video from our Amateur Radio Club CHARC
We had a great drill.
Successful after many hours of planning from the city to the block captains.
We have a great city of awesome residents, volunteers and city officials working together.

We look forward to building on this experience in the coming year.
We will be preparing through the year to build on what we have learned.

Awesome work from our Amateur Radio Club, City Officials, District and Precinct Comms, Block Captains and Residents!

Response to What?

We will respond to all kinds of emergencies, earthquake, flood, fire,  chemical spill, tornado, hurricane and many other emergencies.

When a neighborhood's residents are prepared, and know each other,  the event can be a totally different kind of experience, even a good one.

Knowing what to do, who to work with,  how to respond through training will prepare us to respond systematically shortly after an event. Getting to work to accomplish what is needed with no time wasted,  saving lives, serving one another.  The sense of community, of family when based on respect, honor, self discipline, self-reliance, honesty and service will unite a community in a hurry.  You see, we as human beings need each other.  We need to be wanted and needed and we want to serve and love.

It is natural for us to want to jump in and help someone else first without thought of ourselves, there are times that will work. However, taking care of one's very basic needs first can mean the difference of life or death for both the saver and the saved.

A great example is the airlines specific directions of putting your own air supply on first before you assist your child or anyone else.......meaning Always, take care of yourself, then your family and home before you go assist others.

In an emergency, it is Always your safety and your family first.  When they are out of danger, help your neighbors.  Hopefully, you have gotten to know your neighbors and your neighborhood is organized so you can get to work.

Response is executing all the levels of your family, neighborhood and city plan you have prepared so well for with confidence that the experience will make you stronger because you are ready for it.

What is a District Liaison? How does their part work?

A District Liaison is the connection person between the District (Stake) Leadership and the City Leadership.

A District Liaison is also known as a Stake Preparation Leader, wearing two hats:

1. As the Stake Preparation Leader
2. As the District Liaison

A District Liaison oversees and assists the Precinct Leaders in their District to get their neighborhood/Precinct organized. In Cottonwood Heights City, the District Liaisons are part of the Precinct Training Team.

In Cottonwood Heights City, we have 49 Precincts.

The District Liaison Team works together to ensure their Precinct Leaders are informed, trained, confident and effective leaders in their own Districts.

This is a serious team effort as the District Liaisons Teach Family Preparation, support "how to connect the dots of response" by including The City Emergency Prep Team representatives of Red Cross, Neighborhood Watch, Animal Control, Unified Fire, CERT Training, Comms, and the Emergency Management Team, to be part of the Precinct Training Team.

Precinct Leaders will learn of how each area of responsibility and expertise works to prepare for and execute the emergency response plan as well as assisting each Precinct Leader in creating their own Neighborhood Emergency Response Plan since help may not come for 72 hours and beyond.

They will become educated about recovery and what organizations are involved, how it all works together. Also known as VOAD, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.

Neighborhoods can come together before the emergency to organize and prepare themselves, enabling them to be trained and ready.  Hopefully running to do their job  as they help one another.

Many Precinct Leaders (Ward Emergency Prep Leader), have chosen to step up to the next level and are serving their community as well, wearing two hats:

1. As the Ward Prep Leader
2. The Precinct Leader.

Where this is not possible, the Precinct may invite someone in their neighborhood to serve as their Precinct Leader. 

The Ward Preparation Leader fulfills their responsibilities in preparation of families in basic emergency and being prepared for anything that may come their way, with food, water, supplies and gaining skills to sustain themselves, also,  financial and spiritual preparation.

The Precinct Leader fulfills their responsibility in response, organizing their neighborhood by inviting Block Captains, CERT Team and Precinct Comms to join the Precinct Team, develops and executes Neighborhood/Precinct Emergency Plan Drills.  Make a plan for the Neighborhood to fund and gather their own CERT Cache, in other words their Neighborhood/ Precinct Emergency Supplies. (Wow, that was a mouthful!)  Creating a great team effort opportunity, all  bases are covered.
 The Precinct Leader attends quarterly Precinct Leader Team Trainings with the District and City, and holds regular meetings with their Block Captains, Comms and CERTS.

Precinct Leader, Block Captain, Comms and CERT Team are not callings. It is an opportunity for neighbors to come together to serve their local community (neighbors and friends).

Copyright CHGetReady

Precinct Leader

 

If you have chosen or have been ask to be a Precinct Leader or Emergency Preparation Leader, you will become part of a great team that already exists or you may have the opportunity to develop, your own Neighborhood/Precinct Team.

Welcome to Precinct Team Training.   We look forward to assisting you as you organize your neighborhood.

You may become a trained Precinct Leader through your city Precinct Team Training and/or CH GET READY.

 

Let's Get Started...............

1.  A first step as you organize your neighborhood is to divide up your neighborhood into blocks.  Use an overhead map that you may download and print.   Make sure it is the simplest map available, showing property boundaries and roads only.  Check on Google or with your city GIS specialist. 

2.  Divide your neighborhood up in blocks of 6-10 homes that are next to or across the street from each other.  Number the blocks.

 3.  Now comes the fun part, pick up the phone and begin calling a person or a couple from each of those blocks, inviting them to be the Block Captain for their block and joining the Block Captain Team of your Precinct.

4.   Assign them their Block Captain #, generate a Precinct Team Contact List: include your Precinct # (applies on a City Map), CERTS, Block Captain #, Name, Phone #, E-mail, # Homes of each BC. Then, distribute this list to your Block Captain/ CERT Team. 

5.  You will want to begin holding regular communication drills to learn and practice your communication skills. (weekly drills work real well at first to establish the skill and familiarity with the equipment)

Make a call - in chart of your Block Captains and CERTS contact info.

6.   You must have a Communication Specialist (Comms), who will run your  communication drills.  So the next step is to recruit someone in your neighborhood/precinct to become the Precinct Comms.  ( A registered HAM operator is perfect, or someone who is willing to learn, teach and run your weekly communication drills).

7.  You, the Precinct Leader and the Precinct Comms are a team.  You will work together to dispatch CERTS, emergency supplies and organize people in an emergency.  You will benefit by becoming CERT Trained to assist you in this responsibility.

8.  Plan a date and time with your Precinct Comms, to practice communication drills with your Block Captains and CERTS to practice and sharpen your communication skills on your walkie talkies. Inform all your Block Captains and CERTS the time, day and channel these weekly drills will be on.  Be consistent, don't give up.  Every week counts for those who check-in. Practice, Practice, Practice, even if you miss occasionally, you will benefit by holding your drills.

9.  All Block Captains and CERTS invest in their own Walkie Talkies.  This way everyone buys in and is truly committed.  Paying a price has a way of pushing us to get our $'s worth.  Developing skills are an amazing investment in self. 

10.  You will want to hold Block Captain Training meetings.  Quarterly works well.  Use this website to encourage basic family preparation, food and water storage and use, Grab 'n Go Kits, Sanitation Kits,  Sanitation Procedures, 72 Second Kits, Laundry Kits,  Car Kits, School Kits, alternative heat, light and cooking supplies, alternative cooking skills etc.  Security of Home, Sheltering in Place, Alternative Sheltering, Cold Weather Clothing, Use of Emergency Ribbons, How to use walkie talkies, Teach them to all be self-reliant and to learn and live self-sustaining principles.

11.  Prepare and secure your own home in all ways.

12.  Encourage your Block Captains to share what has been learned with their own block of neighbors (and beyond).

13.  Create your own Neighborhood Emergency Plan.  Include:    

• The physical site of your Neighborhood Command Post
•  Shelter, water and food for your CERT Teams so they can rest
• Medical staging area for triage and treatment area
• Morgue
• Nursery
• Pet area (in your neighborhood, in case of home structure damage)
• Pre-assign Team Leaders for set up
• The Precinct Leader will oversee their neighborhood plan (as per CERT Training)
• Comms responsible for all communication coming in and going out of Precinct, from BC and CERTS to District Comms.  Will receive info from District Comms from outside the Precinct in.  Will pass info to Precinct Leader.
• Develop and share the Neighborhood Emergency Plan with your Precinct (neighborhood)
• Practice Emergency Drills with Block Captains and CERTS first, add pre-assigned team leaders
• Create your own Neighborhood Emergency Cache (trailer) of Emergency Supplies
• Surround yourself with people of integrity, work together

14.  Work consistently, by doing small and simple things weekly or do a project together and then take a break knowing you are planning another part of your project.  Remember that you create great things to happen when you are consistent and committed.

The amazing sense of community and caring for one another strengthens all of us.  Friendly, strong relationships are the foundation for a successful and amazing life.

Look for people who want to help and who have the desire to be of service in their community.  Those kind of people are an amazing value to your neighborhood.  People with heart do take their responsibilities very seriously.  Also, you get to know your neighbors. Relationships are the foundation of working together.  Working together motivates people to do their best.  We are beings who love to serve our fellowmen.

You will have the opportunity to guide your neighborhood and to become an effective and prepared team, as you gain knowledge, skills and confidence to deal with many challenges that may come your way.

With courage, practice, and by getting to know one another, confidence will grow with knowledge and skills gained. You must all work together as a team.  That means everyone learns what their job is and does it.  We get better with practice.       

Remember.......in an emergency or large scale disaster, you and your neighbors may be on your own for at least 24 hours to a week and in some instances, maybe longer.  Prepare accordingly and work together as a team to take care of your own family’s needs, encourage your neighbors to take care of their own needs and work on your neighborhood's emergency needs.

That means preparation, relationship building, skill building, gathering supplies and practice of working together.

In Cottonwood Heights, we meet quarterly as Precincts for training.  We know people are busy, so a quarterly meeting is reasonable.

CERT Training is encouraged, HAM Radio training is also encouraged as channels on walkie talkies may be jammed.  So realize you may need to have a team of younger people or athletes that will act as messengers to deliver emergency supplies to your CERT Search and Rescue Teams.

First Aid, CPR Training is also encouraged.

We are here to support you as you organize your neighborhood with tools, lists, documents, links, rosters, comms radio check in script, etc.

Check back to hook up to classes, CERT, HAM Radio Training, FIRST Aid being held in the area.

Believe in you!!!

Your neighborhood will become better prepared and will get to know one another as friends and can create a great team, so that if and when that emergency happens, you  know what to do, what not to do, who to contact, how to get your information out and back, you will know your surrounding Precinct friends that you may need to call on or for your team to help.             

In a Nut Shell..........
Know your Precinct Team..... Precinct Comms, Block Captains
Create your Precinct Emergency Plan, and practice it, learn from it and adjust it when necessary.
Hold quarterly meetings with your Block Captains and CERTS, include, family preparedness, trainings, planning drills and other pertinent information, etc. Keep in touch with your team. Encourage Block Captains to share info with their neighbors, cover training on emergency ribbons and practice with your team and neighbors.

Remember.......in an emergency
1. Take Care of your own household first, make sure your own family is safe
2. Plan to set up the command post with your Precinct Comms to dispatch CERTS after they have cleared their own homes as safe. 

3.  Send Team Leaders to set up their areas after they have checked in at the Command Post
4. Organize non-CERT volunteers appropriately
5. Be prepared to turn over all responsibility to the City First Responders when they arrive 

6. Know that what you do matters in a very real way to real people

7. You can do great things a small bite at a time

Copyright  CHGetReady.com

Block Captains

If you have been ask to be a Block Captain by your Emergency Preparation Leader/Precinct Leader, you have joined a great team.  You will learn skills that will prepare you to be a great asset in the event of an emergency.

Block Captain Duties

1.  Prepare your own household.

2.  CERT Training is valuable to guide you through that process. Look for CERT Training in your area. Invest your time in your own education of CERT Training, First Aid, CPR.  You may even be interested in becoming a HAM Radio Operator. Great skills that will benefit you for your entire life.

3.  Invest your own set of walkie talkies. You will then be vested and will want your neighborhood to succeed.

4.  Attend Block Captain Training Meetings.  You will learn how to prepare your own home and also your Neighborhood/Precinct Emergency Plan.

5.  Get to know your block of neighbors.  Give them your contact info and receive theirs.

6.   Share with your neighbors (your block) what you have learned on family preparation. Encourage your neighbors to prepare their own homes with food, water and emergency supplies.  Also how to Shelter-in Place, Alternative Heating, Lighting and Cooking, Grab 'n Go Kits, Laundry Kits, Sanitation Kits and Procedures, Car Kits, Pet Responsibility, Cold Weather Clothing, etc.

7. As you meet with your block team, get familiar with tools and equipment each other owns that would be available in the event of any type of emergency, and that you can access quickly. Become friends, look out for one another.

8.   Join in your Precinct's scheduled call-in drills to learn and sharpen your communication skills.

9.   Deliver the Emergency Ribbons to your neighbors.  Teach them how to use them and when.

10.  Report the status of your block's Emergency Ribbons for practice drills or real life event.

11.  Practice Emergency Drills with your Precinct Team and eventually with your entire District and then your City.

Your knowledge, confidence and value will increase as you gain skills, prepare your own home, and work together as a block team, and precinct team.   "You are stronger than you think"

Can YOU Sleep when the wind blows? Are you prepared?

If everyone prepares to take care of themselves and family's needs, helping others will come automatically, and that feels AWESOME!
Just like the airlines teach, put your oxygen mask on first.......Be part of the solution 
copyright CHGetReady

What is a Precinct?

A Precinct is your neighborhood, or for some,  your ward area.   It is a geographical area that is connected by roads in close proximity so in the event of an emergency, you can help each other.
Getting to know neighbors, becoming friends and serving one another is the name of the game.

What is a Precinct Team? 
A Precinct Team includes a Precinct Leader, Precinct Comms (communications), Block Captains (1 per 6-10 homes in your neighborhood/Precinct) and CERTS (trained CERT Team Members) also, Team Leaders included in your Neighborhood Emergency Plan.

What does a Precinct Leader do? 
Organizes the neighborhood into blocks.  Invites Block Captains, Comms and Team Leaders to join the neighborhood team.  Plans and practices regular communication drills with their Comms, Block Captains and CERTS.  Also, plans and practices the neighborhood emergency plan.

Encourages family preparation and neighborhood gatherings to get to know one another.

A Precinct Leader would benefit greatly by CERT Training,  First Aid Training, and CPR.

Precinct Leaders are supported  by and become part of their District and City Team.  Our is the Cottonwood Heights City Precinct Leader Team.
We attend Quarterly Precinct Team Training at the Cottonwood Heights City offices where training is provided that will support  Precinct Leaders on  how to use and report the Emergency Ribbon status of their neighbors, setting up a neighborhood cache (emergency supplies), assistance on creating the Precinct Emergency Plan, steps on how to begin emergency training drills and how to layer each area of their plan for yearly drills, updates on city news,  CH Neighborhood Watch Training,  How to deal with the animals in your neighborhood in the event of an emergency by CH Animal Control, Unified Fire training and instruction on keeping your home and neighborhood safe from area fire potential, District news and to become familiar with emergency plan of the city.

2013 www.chgetready

What does a Block Captain do?
A Block Captain is responsible to their block of neighbors.  Getting to know them by sharing tips on preparation and being friends,  shares contact information, plan as a block group what supplies and equipment they all have that would aid them in search and rescue, Emergency Ribbons know how for practice drills and in the event of a large scale emergency, participates in regular walkie talkie check ins and Precinct Team Training Drills
They may also become CERT, First Aid, and CPR Trained.

What is a Precinct Comms? 
A Precinct Comms is your neighborhood communication specialist.  Can be HAM Radio licensed, runs your weekly radio drills and is a team with their Precinct, District and City Comms Network. They are the other half of the Neighborhood/Precinct Leadership Team.   Send and receive communication concerning their neighborhood status.
Training is two times a year at Cottonwood Heights City Precinct Team Training, held in January and July.
Copyright   ChGetReady

What is a District?

A District is a group of several Precincts, sometimes known as Stakes and Wards.

We used the area mapping system of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for Wards and Stakes in our city since it already existed.  (why invent a new one when a successful one already works?)

Emergency Response is a Civil responsibility, therefore using the names, Precinct and District is appropriate.

We have six entire Districts in our City and five partial Districts/Precincts from surrounding cities that are in  Cottonwood Heights City Boundaries.

Amateur Radio Operators

  
 

Calling all Amateur Radio Operators Amateur radio is the communications tool of last resort. Throughout its history amateur radio has always been the most robust communications method. If you are already an amateur radio operator your community needs your services. You need to be practicing on a regular basis to make sure your equipment is reliable and that you know the protocols for communicating in the most efficient way. Here are the steps you should take: Check to see if there is a local club or group and join up. Call your City Hall and ask them if they have an amateur radio emergency communications group. Join the Amateur Radio Relay League, the parent organization for all amateur radio operators at http://www.arrl.org/ Become a member of your local ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) group. Go to http://www.ares.org/ Become a member of your State RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) by signing up at http://www.qsl.net/races/ Remember, if you do not have a RACES number and a national disaster is declared you will NOT be able to operate your radio(s). If you wish to become an amateur radio operator it is easy! Here is a website for you to find out more information - http://www.wikihow.com/ Related Links Information on HAM RADIO TRAINING http://www.qrz.com/testing.html http://www.xmission.com/~uarc/testinfo.html

What does the Precinct Comms do?

Walkie Talkie          chgetready

The Precinct Comms is the communication specialist, who is in charge of learning how to use walkie talkies or HAM Radio, and conducts the regular communication drills with your Precinct Block Captains and CERTS. (weekly works best)

Determine what time and day of the week will work best for your weekly check- in.
The FRS walkie talkie, use the channels 8-14.  Resist using the sub channels as they only block the sender from hearing other users.

The GMRS channels require a FCC License that is around $60.00, however, the channels are very clear. Channels 1-7 and 15 and up are GMRS Channels.  There are rules that govern the airwaves, so be clear as to their usage since fines may be issued where respect of usage is compromised.


Precinct Comms Duties will include training the Precinct Block Captains and CERTS how to use the walkie talkies and also how to use and report the Emergency Ribbon System with their neighbors.

It is of utmost importance that proper radio usage is learned and taught.  If the radio is held at the wrong angle, the signal will be compromised.  Hold it upright, not tipped, as the signal is like a plate connected on top of the antenna and if it is tipped the signal will shoot into the air and down into the ground.

Practicing correct handling and usage will determine whether the message is successfully transmitted and received.  This is critical, since in an emergency, time is matters.

A Precinct Block Captain/CERT Team check in roster that includes the Block Captain #, names, phone #'s and e-mail addresses is very helpful for contact and also to keep track of your regular drills.  Encourage your BC to report to another BC or the Precinct Leader if they will not be available during the drill that week.

Personal accountability to the Precinct Team effort also strengthens unity.

It is really fun to report in every week, same time, same channel.  It creates the synergy of unity in your neighborhood.

Take a look at a simple script that is available for you to begin practicing with so that your BC and CERTS get familiar with their radios and the reporting process.

Consider taking a HAM Radio course.  Transmission is much clearer getting and receiving  information to and from your Precinct to the District or the City Comms. 

HAM Radio Training
  http://www.wikihow.com/

Walkie Talkie Communication Education

Walkie Talkie Communication Education
 

Block Captain Reporting 2013 chgetready

The call: “Block Captain 10, This is Precinct 3, Over”

The answer: “ This is Block Captain 10, Go Ahead”

The response: “ Contact Medical on channel one four, Over”

The acknowledgement: “Block Captain 10 changing to one four for Medical contact, Roger, Out”

Let's re-cap what happened

** The Precinct Communications Specialist used “THIS IS” to identify himself and “OVER”,  he expects a reply.

**The answering Block Captain 10 said “THIS IS” followed by his call sign “BLOCK CAPTAIN TEN”, then acknowledged he was listening and ready to receive by using the pro-words “GO AHEAD”.

**The Precinct Communications Specialist instructed Block Captain Ten to contact the medical team on another channel – channel number 14. (Spoken as “ONE FOUR” not “FOURTEEN” – this is clearer) The pro-word “OVER” was used to indicate that the transmission ended and he expected a reply.

**Block Captain 10 acknowledges by repeating the command he is following, “BLOCK CAPTAIN TEN CHANGING TO ONE FOUR FOR MEDICAL CONTACT”.  He uses the pro-word “ROGER” to communicate that he received and understood the message.  “OUT” meaning he’s done and does not expect a reply.

Copyright CHGetReady