Hurricanes-Fires-Earthquakes-Floods.

[Kelly]

I was an EMT on a Search & Rescue Team that was NDMS (partners with FEMA). Our primary directive was to aid local resources in the event of a natural or man made disaster.

As a group, the OB community has a unique set of skills and equipment that we could put to good use in such an event.

High Clearance Vehicles
Winches
Inverters
Comms
Solar panels
Shovels & Axes
Rope
First aid
Water & Fuel containers

In addition, I'm sure some of us have generators, boats, and advanced medical training.

I recognize that forming an "Official Emergency Response Group", opens up a can of legal & regulatory manure that nobody wants to negotiate. But as the group gets bigger, we could coordinate some kind of assistance for those in need.

Thoughts?

 

[Lassen]

I was an EMT on a Search & Rescue Team that was NDMS (partners with FEMA). Our primary directive was to aid local resources in the event of a natural or man made disaster.

As a group, the OB community has a unique set of skills and equipment that we could put to good use in such an event.

High Clearance Vehicles
Winches
Inverters
Comms
Solar panels
Shovels & Axes
Rope
First aid
Water & Fuel containers

In addition, I'm sure some of us have generators, boats, and advanced medical training.

I recognize that forming an "Official Emergency Response Group", opens up a can of legal & regulatory manure that nobody wants to negotiate. But as the group gets bigger, we could coordinate some kind of assistance for those in need.

Thoughts?

You know, this is kind of interesting. Today marks the 27th commemoration of the 1989 Loma Prieta quake in the SF/Bay Area and this is a kind of timely topic. One of the items you mention was Comm, and I have heard about Ham operators doing tests here in the area for disaster readiness.

I'm thinking the place to contact to find out if there is a fit would be, in CA, CalEMA, nationally, FEMA, probably by contacting local regional offices (Region IX covers CA, for example).

The primary issue is that in the case of a disaster - natural or man-made - is the simple fact that being in a disaster zone puts an additional strain on emergency responders (fire, law enforcement, etc.).

I've been involved with disaster recovery following wildfires, quakes and floods in CA. In disasters following Katrina, there was a definite lockdown in who had access where and when. It was very, very tight. That's a major hurdle to overcome, and getting the appropriate credentials allowing access to specific areas depending on what your capabilities are.

 

[MVO]

If you want to know how it is done google Cajun Navy. I have not been more proud of what my fellow Louisianians can do. Even the government agencies knew they could rely on the Cajun Navy.