Silver Dragon V is a Success!

Your dedication to preparedness really showed through, making our exercise a success!!!  Rain or shine, and geez it rained a ton!!!

Thank you to all who participated in this year’s Silver Dragon V exercise.  You worked together as a strong team of committed volunteers and successfully managed the emergency exercise and drill using the Incident Command System.  It couldn’t have been done without your willingness and expertise.  With this being the fifth year of Silver Dragon and the first of inclement weather, it was natures way of testing the emergency plan and each of you did your part.

Thanks again for a great job and excellent team playing.  We appreciate your commitment of time and look forward to working with you again in the future.

At the conclusion of our exercise, each participant was give a token of appreciation for your attendance (CERT key chain).  The plan for these special key chains, was to distribute them at the annual get together to those CERTs who had participated in a large exercise or volunteered at an event during the year.  With the current status of our department, it was decided to share them at the end of this exercise.  You are all greatly appreciated, please enjoy!

Please read the  City of Belmont press release, San Mateo County Public Health press release and the special thanks to all CERT members from San Mateo County Public Health.

CERT Article

Here is an interesting article on CERT that was brought to our attention.  One of our own members, Richard Bey, was interviewed by The Survivors Club.

San Mateo CERT Window Display

I spotted this display in the Walgreens in downtown San Mateo last weekend, what a great way to get the word out about CERT!  Let think about whether we could do this in Belmont or San Carlos.

 

San Carlos Police Citizens Academy

The San Carlos Police Bureau is presenting a Citizens Academy, please see the attached flyer for additional information.  Or contact Deputy Adam Reininger, at areininger@co.sanmateo.ca.us tel. (650) 599-1642

Red Cross Tsunami Shelter in Pacifica

One of our own CERT team members, Carol Corden, volunteered to help set up and operate a tsunami shelter last week.  Here are photos and a description of what Carol experienced.

Silver Dragon V is coming

Our March 24^th exercise “Silver Dragon V” is coming up in the next few weeks.  If you have not signed up, please take a look at the attached schedule for the day and please send your RSVP by 3/16.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: We will be meeting at St. Marks Church, 325 Marine View Street, Belmont… in the Community Hall.  Please see the updated schedule reflecting the location change.  In addition, sign in and breakfast  begin at 7:30am… please be at the hall no later than 8:15 for our exercise briefing.

Emergency Water Storage

Here is an ingenious way to store a large amount of drinking water in your home during emergencies. http://www.waterbob.com/ A relative in Hawaii just used one this morning to store water prior to the tsunami evacuations.  These can also be found on eBay for $21 each (not including shipping)

Emergency Pet/Animal Preparedness

Don’t forget to plan for the evacuation of your pet(s) when making emergency plans. Ensure you have appropriate cages or travel carriers and collars/leashes to assist in the controlled transport of your pet.

Take some current photos of your pets (both sides to show unique markings) to assist in the recovery of your pet should you become separated. They will also need a minimum 3-day supply of food and water, and don’t forget sanitation control measures too.

Keep their licenses, registrations and vaccinations current and maintain copies with your important documents. Remember to include any daily medications that your pet needs in your kit and information related to their microchip if one is implanted. Refer to our Pet-Animal Emergency Planning page for additional information.

This information has been provided for our CERT group’s use courtesy of GetReadyGear

CERT In Hawaii

We picked up a CERT flyer on a recent trip to Hawaii and thought others might be interested.  Here it is. (I hope we don’t look that stern when we’re on duty….)