Category: Blog

City of Saratoga Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Cox CERT Division

Meeting Minutes

Meeting held on Thursday, 07 February 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the home of Lori Stafford.

Saratoga Cox CERT Division meeting attendees were the following:

1. Tom Baker
2. Trueman Denny (rejoining active CERT operations)
3. Jack Griswold (02 February 2019 CERT Academy graduate)
4. Reshu Jain
5. Kevin Marques (future CERT Academy graduate)
6. Peter Melhus
7. Craig Pietrow (on hand for issuing of Floureon FRS two-way radios)
8. Chuck Rader
9. Brad Silveria
10. Lori Stafford
11. Lyle Topham
12. Jeff Walker

Discussion items:

• A motion was made to nominate Brad Silveria as the assistant (i.e., deputy) lead for the Cox CERT Division. A hand vote was taken and Brad was unanimously appointed to the position of assistant division lead.

• Peter Melhus, Brad Silveria and Chuck Rader discussed the results of their exercise to determine the maximum transmission and reception range of the Floureon M-880 handheld two-way FRS radios. Testing from a centralized “command post” location at Kevin Moran Park to the extremes of the divisional AOR revealed that the average maximum range was approximately three-quarters of a mile. Unreliable transmit and receipt were encountered in the farthest four corners of the AOR, with a notable lack of coverage in the Saratoga Woods and Westbrook neighborhoods.

• All meeting attendees were provided a preliminary Floureon M-880 FRS radio setup document prepared by Peter Melhus. Based upon discussion, a revised document will be prepared by Peter and will be sent out with these meeting minutes.

• A detailed review of all upcoming CERT-related training and exercises was conducted. Of particular note is the upcoming American Red Cross (ARC) Shelter Fundamentals training class, to be conducted at the Pisani Recreation portable from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, 28 February 2019. This class is required for all Saratoga CERT members who would like to work in a City of Saratoga/ARC shelter. After completing this class, those CERT members who would like to elevate to the position of a credentialed City of Saratoga/ARC shelter manager can pursue additional training opportunities to obtain this qualification. Following the Shelter Fundamentals class, the ARC can provide a mentored “hands on” drill that exercises the principles of the class by actually setting up a “subset” shelter and conducting simulated shelter operations. The student leads for this training would be those Saratoga CERT members who have pursued the higher qualification of shelter manager. This shelter establishment and staffing drill is tentatively scheduled for late March or early April 2019.

• Another key training opportunity will be on Thursday, 25 April 2019, when Michael Grodin from the Campbell CERT organization (and a Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services EMT in his daily work) will provide “Stop the Bleed” training. There will be two back-to-back training sessions on this evening; the first from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the second from 7:10 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. The training will be conducted at the Pisani Recreation portable.

• A brainstorming discussion was held on how CERT could work to address the potential for displaced/stray dogs after a major-magnitude earthquake. It was decided that establishing a CERT “kennel,” using either the Kevin Moran Park or Azule Park enclosed tennis courts, offers a good solution and location. Oversight of the “kennel” could be delegated to a responsible non-CERT community member or a CERT member, if available. Further discussion was held on what documentation and photographic could be maintained to facilitate tracking of accepted stray dogs and reuniting them with their owners. All of these inputs will be used to formulate an appendix to the divisional EOP.

• A detailed discussion was also held on CERT interaction with deceased community members, post-disaster. There are two circumstances that require consideration: (1) deceased found during post-earthquake neighborhood assessments, and (2) those who pass away while under treatment/observation at a CERT field medical treatment site. It was agreed that further research needs to conducted to fully understand the legal ramifications of this question, along with gaining an understanding of how professional first responders (SCCFD, SCC Sheriff’s Office, SCC Office of the Medical Examiner-Coroner, Federal DMORT, and California Army National Guard) would react/assist in this situation.

• A lively discussion was held on what CERT field neighborhood assessment teams should do when a victim is encountered with one of the “three killers,” is medically treated for one or multiple of these potentially fatal conditions, and the CERT team must proceed on with their neighborhood assessment duties. It was generally agreed that the CERT team should find a non-CERT community member to stay with the victim to both comfort that individual as well as to continue or maintain watch on the first aid rendered by CERT to the victim. As a critical medical incident, this situation would be radioed in by the CERT team to the local Incident Command Post. Typically, a victim in this condition would remain in-situ and not be moved to a neighborhood CERT medical treatment site for consolidation/mass observation.

• Due to a lack of time, the first session of focused training on key elements of the Cox CERT Division Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) were deferred to the next monthly Cox CERT divisional meeting.

ACTION ITEMS RESULTING FROM DISCUSSIONS:

• Brad Silveria to research how stray/displaced dogs were addressed during the recent Camp Fire (November 2018) in Paradise, CA.

• Chuck Rader to research the role the Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner-Coroner and federal DMORT resources have in addressing the deceased after a major-magnitude earthquake.

• Chuck Rader to research the possibility of using Church of the Ascension Catholic Church and Congregation Beth David Jewish Synagogue as an inclement weather CERT medical treatment site.

• Chuck Rader to pursue discussion with the City of Saratoga on establishing a “subset” cache of immediate response CERT materials and equipment on the grounds of Kevin Moran Park.

NEXT COX CERT DIVISIONAL MEETING:

        Thursday, 07 March 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to approximately 7:45 p.m.

        location: Lori Stafford’s house at 19850 Kane Court, Saratoga, CA

Saratoga Radio Drill

On Saturday February 23rd, between 10am and noon, please participate in the quarterly Santa Clara County emergency radio drill.

Ham radio members of Saratoga CERT should tune into the K6SA repeater and follow instructions, which will include listening to Channel 11 of your FRS radios. Hams should register for the city drill at the county website: https://www.scc-ares-races.org/activities/eventdetail.php?id=851. Registration simply means that you plan to participate, so please register unless you are a definite no.

All non-ham CERT members should turn on their FRS Radios to Channel 11 at 10 am and attempt to contact one of our CERT hams and provide your last name (and any other information they ask for). 

Please stick around for the full two hours if you can – there will be some trivial exercises to perform during the drill. When you have to leave, please let your ham contact (or the K6SA net control) know you are “checking out”. 

Thanks!

ICS-300 provides an in-depth focus on the NIMS Incident Command System (ICS) that includes the tools, practices and procedures that are available in ICS to effectively manage emergency incidents or planned local events at a local Type 2 level. Expanding upon ICS-100 and -200, this course ensures that responders understand the basic ICS concepts that allow an incident management organization to expand and contract as needed to fit the incident and maintain its operational effectiveness.

Mon, Mar 18-20, 2019, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PDT

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ics-300-intermediate-incident-command-system-tickets-48449810688

Saratoga CERT, Quito/West Valley DivisionTentative Agenda:

-Activation of City of Saratoga CERT members

-CERT member identification, apparel and personal protective equipment required upon activation

-Contents of individual CERT member’s “GO” backpack

-The Disaster Service Worker volunteer (DSW-V) program, as administered by Cal OES

-Protections and benefits afforded by the DSW-V program and “Good Samaritan” laws

-Specific actions to be taken by CERT members after a major earthquake

For (i.e., follow-on) training sessions, the remaining discussion topics divided up as follows:

 A. CERT Incident Command 

      Establishing and operating a CERT Incident Command Post

      CERT emergency supplies (City of Saratoga caches)

B. Area hazards assessment

     Potential deployment of CERT’s after disasters and incidents other than a major earthquake

     CERT communications (general discussion)

C. Triage

     Establishing, manning and operating a field medical treatment area/site

     CERT and mortuary affairs operations

     CERT and Spontaneous Unaffiliated/Untrained Volunteers (SUV’s)

D. CERT and American Red Cross shelter operations

     CERT interaction with vulnerable community members

     CERT and displaced community pets

     CERT light search and rescue operations, plus discussion on leveraging/cribbing operations

E. FRS radio usage and communications protocol (detailed discussion plus hands-on training)

In attendance: Chuck Rader, Jessica Fullmer, Raji Lukkoor, Maggie Church, Sussane von Stern

Date: January 31, 2019

“Miserable” event is on for Sunday, Feb 03.

Talk to Emma (City of Saratoga) for a map with geographic boundaries for Quito/WV, Division between Quito and WV. Include the “island” between Payne and S of Latimer. Include Sunland Community.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, April 13 – Blossom Festival

July 28 – Car Show

Michael Taylor is retiring! Crystal Bothelio, the asst city manager, could be filling in for Michael.main features, schools, etc.

Stop the Bleed – on Sat, Feb 2

Ham Cram Test – on Sat, Feb 16

Is there a pandemic coming? Talk about what to do during a Pandemic.

CERT Academy Training schedule for Saratoga is available. Pick up print copies from Joan Pisani. SCC Fire Dept is offering many refresher CERT training programs.

Update from Chuck:

Chuck was in the Navy for 30 years, and worked with CA (FEMA, US public health services) on disaster preparation. Making available Navy or Marine Corps assets for civilian use. National Pharmaceutical Stockpile – strategic stockpile of pharmaceuticals throughout the United States – to be unlocked during pandemics – all administered thru US public health services – WV College is a shelter to be used as a staging point – a cache in Sacramento.

Training:

-Los Altos Hills civic auditorium: Mobilization training

-Bimonthly city wide mtgs

-Bimonthly training sessions

Red Cross will be coming on Feb 28– 3 hr classroom training in trailer – if certified, can work in RC shelters

Chuck will set up a “Shelter Exercise” in Marchin conjunction with Nikki Rowe Executive of SV Red Cross. Date TBD.

Thursday,April 25: Stop the Bleed training for Saratoga @ Pisani Trailer

5:30 – 7:00pm; 7:00 – 8:30pm; 16 students per session

EOP:

Chuck has developed an ERP for Cox and shared it with other divisions to clone and use.

A higher level, plans-and-policy information to clarify, customize to each division, address local threats (earthquake, fires, flooding). More work is being done on the following topics:

-Pets: How to deal with stray and displaced animals?

-Black Tarp Operations: How CERT will deal with deceased in your medical treatment area

-Buddy System: Pair up during neighborhood assessment, treat victim, designate someone to stay with the victim, and move on

-Add an Appendix that adds the locations of the AEDs (defibrillators)

Next Steps:

Chuck’s update to be continued…

Next Mtg: Thursday, February 21 @ 6:30pm

MEETINGS IN 2019

• 22 members of Saratoga CERT attended the first general meeting of 2019, plus Michael Taylor and Crystal Bothelio from the City of Saratoga. This is the largest group at a general meeting for many years, possibly for all time, and the level of enthusiasm was high!
• Crystal will be taking over for Michael Taylor, when he retires this summer, as the primary contact between the City of Saratoga and the Saratoga CERT volunteer program.
• The plan is that there will be a general meeting every two months. In addition, there will be meetings at the division level as relevant, plus many opportunities for training—see below for more on this.

DSW CARDS

• Michael Taylor encouraged ALL active members of CERT Saratoga to get their DSW card because soon, a DSW card will be required in order to be activated. Cards can be obtained most Fridays from the City Planning Office. See: http://saratogacert.org/documents/

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS MANUALS & EQUIPMENT

• Michael Taylor informed the meeting that there are now 13 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) positioned around the City and that all Santa Clara County Police vehicles are now also equipped. He asked the meeting for approval to buy an AED for the CERT trailer for a cost of $1600. The meeting agreed: Ayes 20, nays 2. Michael will provide a list of locations for all the City’s EODs so that this information can be kept as part of the Emergency Operation Manuals (EOD) for both the City and divisions.
• Michael informed the meeting that he is close to completing a fully developed EOD for the City. He is currently working on sections to cover wild fires and CERT.
• Charles Rader is also close to completing a CERT division level EOD for Cox Division, which can then serve as a model for other divisions. Charles observed that the EOD currently does not have a section to cover the care of animals—which he has undertaken to create.
• The meeting discussed the need for a secure online location either, within the current Saratoga CERT website or at a third party, where the EOD, contact lists, etc. can be kept—enabling both easy access to the information for CERT members, and the ability to keep documentation up to date and in sync across the City divisions.
• The City has enough FRS/GMRS radios to provide one to all active CERT members with DSW cards. Craig Pietrow is responsible for distributing these and can also provide and stock backpacks for those who don’t have one yet. Upcoming distribution dates will be in the monthly newsletter. Radios can also be made available at division meetings.

DIVISIONS & LEADERSHIP

• Saratoga CERT now has active divisions for Cox, Quito, Vineyard and Argonaut, but there are still a number of active CERT members in areas that are not within a division. The meeting discussed the need to get all members of CERT connected to a division even if, for now, it was not in their immediate area.
• Brent Hailpern is currently responsible for both leading Saratoga CERT and for managing all aspects of IT. He needs somebody to take one of these responsibilities from him as soon as possible. There is also a need for deputies in many positions and division captains in areas with no current active division.

TRAINING

• Michael Taylor informed the meeting that the City buildings have recently been recognized by the Red Cross as priority shelters. West Valley College and Redwood Middle School are already recognized. The City/Red Cross needs people (who don’t have to be CERT) to be trained as volunteers. This 3-hour class is scheduled for Thursday Feb 28, 6pm.
• A Ham radio infrastructure is developing across Saratoga, and the hope is to be able to start offering Ham training in Saratoga soon. The intent is that all Saratoga CERT will have an FRS radio and that there will be sufficient CERT members in Saratoga with a ham license, so that, in the event of SCCAlert failing in an emergency, we can be activated by radio. Ham Crams continue to be available in Los Gatos. The next one is Saturday Feb 9.
• Campbell CERT have invited Saratoga CERT to join their training classes, which is a fantastic opportunity for us in Saratoga – as Campbell is a very well-established division with excellent leadership and training.
• All who attended Campbell CERT’s Stop the Bleed class said it was excellent. Unfortunately, classes are now fully booked, but the intent is to make the class available in Saratoga later this year. All CERT are encouraged to attend, date(s) to follow.
• Campbell will be running a “Miserable Exercise” in February – the intent being to practice our CERT skills, not on a nice warm Saturday morning but on a rainy day in the dark! Those who have taken part in this in the past, speak highly of it. The exercise will take place on either Feb 4 or 5, with three days’ notice (the date will depend on the weather forecast and the number of interested participants available on each day). All are encouraged to take part.
  See 1/26 post for details.

 OUTREACH

• Jessica Fullmer asked for volunteers to help staff outreach events at The Blossom Festival (April 3) and the Classic Car Show (July 28).
• CERT members are encouraged to meet with their local neighborhood watch groups (e.g. attend one or more meetings) so as to talk about CERT and encourage participation. Optimally, each neighborhood watch group would have at least one active CERT.  
• The country drill at Moffat Field in Fall 2018 was a great success. There will be no country drill in 2019 but one is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2020.
• There will be a number of County Ham drills during 2019 and the meeting discussed CERT members getting involved. The next one is Feb 23, 10am-12pm.
• Residents of Saratoga can attend training in any city served by SCCF, but the CERT training for Saratoga will take place in April and we hope for a really good turn out of Saratoga people–which will require us all to help spread the word!  See http://www.sccfd.org/images/documents/community_education/CERTAcademySchedule2019.pdf
  
  

To All Members of Saratoga CERT

Saratoga CERT have been invited to take part in Campbell CERT’s “Miserable Exercise” in February. The concept of this drill is that when “the bad thing” happens, the chances are that the sun won’t be shining on a lovely warm day, instead it’s just as likely that it will be at night and/or in the cold and rain. Thus, The Miserable Exercise takes place at night, preferably in the rain!

The two nights shortlisted for the exercise are February 4th and 5th between 6.30pm – 8pm. The date will be decided on Feb 2, based on a) the weather forecast and b) the response to the doodle poll at https://doodle.com/poll/eqy9qntfg8ysyhrk  

Campbell are an incredibly organized and active division, and have invited Saratoga to join them in this training opportunity. In fact, they are opening up all their training in 2019 to us! 

If you are interested in attending this training — and I do hope you will be — please go to the page linked above by next Thursday and complete the form. 

Participants will be notified on Feb 2. You will need your radio, backpack, headlamp, flashlight, and a set of maps (which will be sent later)—and, of course (with luck) your rain gear!

Thank you!

By Charles Rader:

Michael Grodin of the City of Campbell CERT (Hamann Park CERT Division) has invited all members of the City of Saratoga CERT to attend any one of the four identical classes, described below.  

In January and February 2019, Campbell CERT is offering a FREE Stop The Bleed class to all residents. Just as CPR saves lives, so does knowing how to stop a massive bleed (think trauma, mass shooter, bombings, etc.). This is a 75 minute class that trains people how to save a life by stopping life threatening bleeding.

No experience needed to participate in the class. Certificates are awarded to all that complete this hands on training. Classes are held at the Campbell Community Center.
Address: 1 West Campbell Avenue, Community Center #C-31, Campbell, CA 95008.

Dates/times are as follows:
Wednesday, 1/16/2019 at 12:00 p.m. noon
Wednesday, 1/16/2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, 2/02/2019 at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, 2/13/2019 at 7:00 p.m.

To sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0945aaae2ba4fc1-stop

Hello all,

Make sure your rig is working . . . make sure that K6SA can hear you and you can hear the repeater.

K6SA         146.655 (-) 114.8 Hz

or             443.150 (+) 100 Hz

Website  www.k6sa.net

Upcoming Events

Questions, Corrections, Additions, Deletions, Comments?

Please contact me.  Hope to hear from you tonight.

73, rj

Ron Jones, AJ6EG

SARA Net Manager

14355 D Saratoga Avenue |  Saratoga, CA  95070

408 872-1301  land  |  408 316-0854  cell

ron.jones@n-ablegroup.com

By Davina Witts

Hello All

Santa Clara County Fire Department will be holding its last CERT Refresher class of the year in two weeks’ time. The topic is Communication and Documentation, and I really encourage you to attend if you possibly can.

All training classes are important but this one is, arguably, the most fundamental. The reason I say this is that the county-wide training exercise at Moffett Field a few weeks ago demonstrated that, however good we are at the various skills taught during our CERT training, if we don’t know how to properly record the information we gather from our neighborhoods and communicate it to the Emergency Operations Center then our usefulness will be significantly reduced.

So, particularly, if you weren’t able to be at the recent exercise, please do try to attend the refresher on Dec 5^th:
Saratoga Prospect Center, Wednesday Dec 5^th, 6.30-8.30pm:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cert-refresher-8-communication-documentation-tickets-47540756683

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Davina
Argonaut CERT Captain