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.

Emergency Ribbon Use

In Cottonwood Heights
Our city supplies the Emergency Ribbons for it's residents, we use them for our practice Emergency Drills, like Shake Out. They would also be used in case of a true emergency.

Block Captains can see from the road each neighbor's status and then report it to the Precinct Comms who will send the information up the ladder to where it needs to go for appropriate help

The City Manager distributes the Emergency Ribbons to the District Liaison who then has each Precinct Leader pick up the supplies and make enough ribbons to distribute to their Precinct.

This can be done by joining forces with the Block Captains who will then bag them up and deliver them to the residents in their block educating them on how they are to be used, when and why.

These are the instructions that go with the Emergency Ribbons for each household.

Home Occupant

Enclosed are four ribbons

Display the top priority color ribbon concerning your status in front of your home visible from the street in case of a natural  disaster or area emergency so your Block Captain and CERT Team members can report and respond to your status

Put this packet in a easy to remember area, like taped in a zip lock bag inside a kitchen cabinet door, one that gets used a lot so you know right where it is located in the event of an actual event. 

You may be drilling with your Neighborhood Precinct Team,  Shake- Out exercises or in the event of a natural disaster

Red: A Life threatening situation in your home

Yellow:  A medical problem, but not life threatening

Green:  Display when there are no medical situations

Black:  A death in your home

If you move, please contact your Block Captain to let them know so your ribbons may be replaced for the new occupant

You can print off a copy below under Printable Instructions For Emergency Ribbons

Printable Instructions for Emergency Ribbons