From:[email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dennis Tiu - CERT Neighborhood Lead Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 2:24 PM To:[email protected] Subject: Re: [OC-CERT] FEB6 Drill - All hands on deck
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The Drill was a success!? Thank you everyone for giving it your all.? I hope that everyone now has a good idea of what can happen during an actual emergency. Lives and properties were saved, nobody got hurt, everyone was accounted for, everyone got to go home and sleep.? A special "good work" came from Jim Williams, the Drill DOC. I hope all our drills are as successful in the future.
Drill debrief: ? ? ?The following were comments shared by all after the drill: WF2101:? Comms for the WTs and HF with the DOC were overloaded RO60:? HF/WT were overloaded in Bodega Bay C127:? We need to set up a table and use a computer ? ? ? ? ? ? Set up a chart of callsigns/names/abbreviations ? ? ? ? ? ? Need a better reference chart of information. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?- who's doing what where with whom P10:? 1.? OCEPT Side - Announcement of the activity to OCA ? ? ? ? ? 2.? suggests Zoom meeting 2-3 days before the event RO20:? None. ET353:? Can get lost - need a map ET368:? Need Forms for Triage ready ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Need tarps BT2329:? Can use EMT Form - will provide ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Need patient transport using golf cart if possible M2:? Need better maps ? ? ? ? 70 Merion used because the scripted Merion address did not exist ? ? ? ? 6 Muirfield - was a good exercise
Some other facts worth noting: 1.? Although Heavy Rescue was en route to rescue Mr. Bunny from his house, we do not know if help would arrive to save Mr. Bunny's life.? In a real scenario, the chances of Heavy Rescue being available to help people like Mr. Bunny is next to nothing.
2.? Two of you did not sign up for the exercise and were not given a script to follow.? Nevertheless, my hat's off to you for showing up.? You were a big help to our Team and to OC.
3.? Part of what we do is comfort our neighbors (injured or not).? We should practice this next time.
4.? Many of you may NOT be able to physically help in a real emergency.? At least one of you will not be there for sure.? So, for those who are sure to help, expect to have less help with more to help.
5.? Food and refreshments were not taken into account during the drill since the drill only took an hour.? Imagine the work load we would have if the emergency lasted longer - say TWO WEEKS.? We should consider plans to keep ourselves hydrated and fed.? We can't help if we ourselves are out for the count.
6.? We can only organize ourselves to be as efficient as we can be.? But, nothing can replace sheer man/woman-power.? We only had 4 certified CERTs:? 2 handled the medic center and administration; 2 were hands-on.? As a gauge, CERT recommends 4 certified CERTS to perform a Search-and-Rescue at ONE structure.? We have over 250 structures in OC.? We need more certified CERTS.? Please encourage everyone you know who is WILLING and ABLE to volunteer and train to become certified CERTS.
7.? At our progress rate, we would have been able to clear all of OC in 3-4 days.? That's not fast enough when only minutes count.? Expect our Medic Center to be busier.? We will need a very big black tarp.
8.? We did not get to exercise any community administration (food/water/shelter/sanitation/etc.).??
9.? I welcome any suggestions for future drill scenarios.? I'm already working on "The Fog".? It will have similarities with the recent SC4ARES and Southcoast CERT evacuation due to potential debris flows.
If you have any comments/feedback/suggestions, please feel free to reply to this message.