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Hooper emergency-preparedness team outlines CERT, RDAP and mock exercise plans
Summary
The city's emergency-preparedness lead summarized the year's work: CERT volunteer recruitment, a rapid disaster assessment program (RDAP) with 17 area coordinators, needs for public outreach and a planned RDAP mock exercise on Feb. 19.
Dave Harris, Hooper City's emergency-preparedness lead, presented a year-in-review and a work plan emphasizing volunteer training, local response organization and outreach.
Harris said the program has two pillars: trained Community Emergency Response Team volunteers (CERT) and a Rapid Disaster Assessment Program (RDAP). He described RDAP as a block-captain-style model using 17 designated areas and four quadrants; each area will have an area coordinator and a physical envelope/box with instructions for the first volunteer who arrives after an incident.
Harris said the city has certified four CERT members and that CERT volunteers are trained to assess health and welfare and prioritize life-safety needs. He urged more marketing and public exposure so residents know where resources are and how to participate.
Harris said the city lacks a full emergency plan document and is working toward a more sustainable plan that can be handed to future volunteers; he asked for help posting preparedness materials to the city website and for a web presence or social-media outreach to publicize meetings and trainings.
Harris listed specific near-term actions: (1) host a RDAP-only mock exercise on Feb. 19 to test the RDAP boxes and procedures; (2) continue monthly preparedness meetings (third Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.); (3) develop a repository of preparedness resources on the city website or another accessible location; and (4) explore a trailer or shared cache for larger response equipment. He said the battalion chief for a neighboring city will help run the RDAP test exercise and that the city has begun coordination with voluntary organizations active in disaster response (VOAD).
Council members and staff suggested using the city newsletter, the city's TextMyGov system, and a new city website to publicize the program and suggested looking for small grants or used trailers to start a mobile equipment cache.
Harris asked residents to volunteer and encouraged council support for outreach and logistics. He repeated that the team meets monthly and that training and mock exercises are planned.
