TO: ALL ARES OPERATORS IN DISTRICT 3 (OFFICIAL)
ALL AMATEURS IN WEST VIRGINIA (INFORMATION)
FROM: WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED AND WOOD
COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES (ARES)
ARES DISTRICT 3 BULLETIN NR 07.30 DATE: July 29, 2007
SUBJECT: KNOW WHERE TO LOOK!
It's impossible for any human to know everything, however, at times many claim to. The secret that may make some appear to know so much is their ability to find, or have access to, the information needed. A well organized plan or information book comes in handy when you need information in a hurry. Even some of the best Incident Commanders or Officers-in-Charge get a little "scatter brained" when activities are moving fast in a disaster. This makes it difficult to pull the information they need out of thin air.
The best way to start such a book or plan is put together the information you know you might need in an emergency such as names and telephone numbers, and build from there. After every incident you should have a critique. In the critique ask the famous five words "Who, What, Why, When, and Where". For instances: Who did you need for help that wasn't in your book? Why did you need a particular material? What kind of assistance or material did they provide? How long would it take to get someone's assistance or material? Where would the assistance or material come from? If you add information to your information book each time you have an incident it will be easier the next time.
(Reprinted, with modifications of Wood County ARES Bulletin NR 05.02)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Assistant Section Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator