CURRENT STATUS AND SCHEDULE (NEWSLETTER)
No missions in progress. Back to planning, preparation and training.
FROM THE 12/01/08 BCDRG NEWSLETTER
1. Review of November's program
2. Flu shot clinic
* Disaster drill
3. Look forward to 2009
4. Cloning ourselves
5. Other people's training
1. NOVEMBER MEETING -- Thanks to those who attended. We had a
heavy-hitter panel of major-organization response managers, some of whom
were checking us out as potential partners in future disasters. Alas, many
of our folks had conflicts, and the meeting was in Blanco, where turnout
is usually smaller. We needed to make a good showing, and we did. The
panelists were quite complimentary about the attendance, the group and the
work you've done this year.
The panel included representatives from FEMA, the Governor's Division
of Emergency Management, two American Red Cross managers (Austin and San
Antonio chapters), and the president of the San Antonio umbrella group,
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters. They used their response to
the 2008 hurricane season to explain how they work and why they work that
way. They also spoke highly of our effort here as we grow and learn to
become more capable to respond in more ways. Two-way learning is the best
kind.
2. FLU SHOT CLINIC -- We also helped the Texas Department of State
Health Services conduct a flu shot clinic in Johnson City. We publicized
it for them and provided members to help with the paperwork and guiding
folks through the process...jobs we'd do (among others) in case of a
health emergency, like a pandemic. We got good training and experience out
of it, and the DSHS got new volunteers and TWICE the usual number of
shoot-ees. They were pretty pleased.
* DISASTER DRILL -- I'm supposed to turn in names today for the Llano
Memorial Hospital mass casualty drill the morning of Tuesday, December 9,
in Llano. They need volunteers to be victims of whatever the disaster is.
These exercises are a lot of fun because you get to misbehave and mess up
other people's day and get away with it. I have to be in Houston that day,
so Pastor Sid is leading our delegation, currently at five (maybe seven)
people. I expect they'll accept late submissions of names, so if you want
to join in, let me know pronto and I'll get you on the list.
3. WE HAVE BEGUN PLANNING FOR 2009 -- One of the things we're leaning
toward is reducing the frequency of training meetings. Our members vote
with their feet, and the vote count tells us we're scheduling more things
than you want to do. The tentative plan is to shrink from 11 training
meetings during the year to six. Tentative topic list is:
- Organizing a community's churches for disaster
response
- Establishing and operating an pet shelter in a
disaster
- Disaster organization, chain of authority, and
the Incident Command System
- Volunteer management
- Spiritual and emotional care in disasters, part
2
- Search and
rescue
I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU which topics you'd want to schedule first,
any topics that sound like you'd skip 'em, and what topics you want added
to the list. Also, please tell me whether you think reducing the number of
meetings is a good idea.
4. CLONING OURSELVES -- We have two requests to help set up groups
like ourselves, one in Junction and one in Kerrville. We will, of course,
be delighted to do so. What ideas do you have for a new group, starting
from scratch? What can they do better than we did? What mistakes did we
make that they can avoid?
5. OTHER PEOPLE'S TRAINING -- which you're welcome to attend.
Free unless otherwise noted.
ARC Hill Country Chapter -- Courses are at
the Chapter House, 333 Earl Garrett at Jefferson, in Kerrville. To
register, call 830-257-4677.
12/6 9-5
Adult/Child/Infant CPR and First Aid ($40)
12/16 1-5 Adult CPR ($30)
12/17 6-10 First Aid.
($20)
ARC Centex Chapter -- All training is at
the Austin ARC chapter house at 2218 Pershing Drive unless noted. To
register, call 800-928-4271.
12/3
6-10 Psychological First Aid. Good supplement to the Spiritual
and Emotional Care course we had in June.
12/11 6-9:30 Fulfilling Our Mission. Basic
for ARC disaster response.
12/13 9-4 Mass Casualty Disasters. How to
function when the number of dead, dying and injured is
overwhelming.
12/16 DAT Workshop. Being a Disaster
Action Team member, responding to immediate local needs, such as
housefires.
ARC San Antonio Chapter -- San Antonio appears to
be back in the training business after Hurricane Ike. All training is at
the SA ARC chapter at 3642 E. Houston St. unless noted. To register,
call 210-224-5151 or go to http://www.saredcross.org/class_result.asp?SN=1942&OP=&IDCapitulo=3GB144PVAK.
12/3 1-4
Psychological First Aid -- Good follow-up to Spiritual and Emotional Care,
or as an adjunct to First Aid.
12/6 9-5 Emergency Response Vehicle -- How to operate
or work in an ERV, those ambulance-looking trucks that are rolling feeding
stations or supply trucks, as needed.
12/12 1-3
Disaster Action Team Orientation -- Responding to immediate local needs,
such as housefires.
12/12 9-noon
Fulfilling Our Mission -- Basic training for all disaster response
volunteers.
12/13 9-5 Client
Casework: Providing Emergency Assistance -- How to open a case file, get
people into the relief system, and start aid flowing to them.
Texas Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response (TIDR) is offering an
introduction to their family-to-family mentoring program. Their hope is
your church will support a Hurricane Ike evacuee family with mentoring,
connections, guidance, etc. Whether you choose to take on an Ike family or
not -- and the Hill Country isn't a very fertile ground for them -- it
would be good training for aiding our own families following a serious
disruption to their lives. It's at 6 pm Thursday, December 11, at the
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 East 8th St, in Austin. 1-512-458-8848
for more information.
The Alabama Department of Public Health has archived a couple of
years' worth of online training sessions and courses (not all
health-specific) on their website at
www.adph.org/alphtn. You
have to register, but it's free and you can take what you want when you
want.
The American Red Cross now offers Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)
for some courses, including First Aid and CPR. If you need CEUs for your
job or professional license...or just want 'em...the ARC can provide 'em.
Check on availability when you sign up for ARC training courses.
This isn't training -- but, then, it is -- the disaster folks in the
European Union have devised a city risk-management game which you can play
on line. You play a mayor developing a new section of your city over a
period of years. Problem is, the area is subject to a variety of natural
hazards. You're expected to protect against some -- and respond to some --
while the calendar rolls. Further problem is, you have to take into
account costs of preventive measures and of the potential disasters; you
also have political pressures from taking preventive measures and from
letting disaster happen without them. As in real life, you're right -- and
wrong -- no matter what you do. Go to
www.e-oikos.net/gmap/oikos.htm
and read the guide before hitting the start button.
