Thursday, October 17, 2013

Mira Mesa CERT Newsletter

Happy October!

We have new activities going on this month and next, so this will be a longer newsletter. Have a hot chocolate and snacks ready.

Team Meeting -- This month's team meeting will be a simulated Call Out Drill to correspond with the Great California ShakeOut. It will happen on a Saturday with time unknown. That means we will call/text you per CERT activation protocol and give you instructions at that time as if a real disaster is happening.

If you have had a change of address, phone number, e-mail address, DSW status, or change of heart to continue participating with CERT, reply me NOW.

To those who are always waiting for "the call", prepare yourself, dust off the CERT Manual, READ through Unit 6: CERT Organization. PRINT OUT at least 5 copies of each of the empty forms to have with you in your "always-ready" Go Bag.

CERT Manual (full, or with each Unit) can be found online at FEMA.gov:
Scroll down and click on Unit 6 to read.


New CEs as volunteer victims -- SDFD is conducting drills in the first week of November and will love to give CERT members a chance to participate as victims. We understand these are long hours and most during weekdays, but we want, as an organization, to establish good relationships with the FD by showing them we are here and committed to help them whenever/however possible. It is also a great time to observe how they work and refresh your S&R skills.

Sunday 11/03 7am~5pm (NTC, Volunteer Hours only)
Monday 11/04 7am~5pm (NTC, good for a CE)
Tuesday 11/05 9am~8pm (NTC, good for a CE)
Wednesday 11/06 7am~5pm (Fiesta Island, good for a CE)
Wednesday 11/06 6pm~1am (night drill at SDSU, good for a CE)


Wear old long sleeve clothing and PPE (helmet and boots). Bring extras as they might cut off your clothes and strap you to backboards. Also bring hydration, snacks, a blanket and something to entertain yourself if you are not discovered in time. (NTC is known to have bad reception/limited 3G when indoors)

If you know of youth groups who have group participation liability coverage, such as Boys and Girl Scouts, they might also be able to participate as victims through their Scouts. Contact Carie if you can provide her with a direct contact to the interested party.


November Live Drill CE -- quick reminder to those who have signed up for this drill, it has been moved from Sat, Nov 2nd to Sun, Nov 3rd. If you cannot attend, contact Carie directly. You will be on your own to organize and start a citizen response at the beginning of the drill. Make sure to have all your gear, equipment, resources, and documents handy. Know your protocols, especially what you can and cannot do. Treat this like a real thing, and wow the FD with what we can do. :)


November Team Meeting -- After 3 months of outdoor activities, November meeting will return to the Senior Center on Sunday, Nov 10, 6pm~7pm. Topic is FEMA Module on Traffic Control and Management. https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28662?id=6358

That's it for now.
Love to hear from you.
Have a great week!


JenT

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