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 07.37 DATE: September 16, 2007
SUBJECT: NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH PART 3 OF 3
This month has been proclaimed by President Bush and FEMA as National Preparedness Month. West Virginia Governor Manchin included the need to prepare in his weekly column: Being Prepared is Not Being Scared; It’s Just Smart. All recommendations are to build a kit, make a plan, be informed, and get involved.
There are a lot of people who still don't understand the need to prepare personally. Many don't think there is a need. The common thought is "It isn't going to happen here". It does not have to be a catastrophic event to justify personal preparedness. Any event that takes away normal services that we have grown accustomed to, and evolved to depend on, will cause us to provide for ourselves. High winds, Ice Storms, Flooding, Tornados, all of which can take away our power, and be wide spread enough to over tax the utility companies. Whatever argument that convinces someone to get a kit together to sustain themselves for 24 to 72 hours, is the task we are trying to accomplish.
Amateur Radio Operators, especially those members of Wood County Emergency Communications are like any other First Responder who may be called at a moment’s notice to respond to a command center, shelter, or other location. A person may be mobilized for several days. We have to make sure that we have a "To Go Kit" for ourselves to be ready to respond with the gear we need to do our job and with the supplies to sustain ourselves.
Another area that we need to prepare is the needs of our families. When we leave to give of ourselves to our communities, we can do so without concern that our families are in want or need. It will take away from our level of performance when our focus is distracted by worries of loved ones at home. It takes a special person to do the job first responders are called to do, but it is an equally special family that understands and supports the ones who answers the call.
Your kits, your plans, your sources of information, should be thought out to include yourself, your duty, and your family. Use the material available to you to compile your check-list for your kits and your plans. Books are available from Wood County Emergency Communications, free of charge, provided by FEMA that outline and help you plan.
(Bulletin By Don Williams, N8NUS, WV Citizens Corps program Developer, WV Homeland Security Region 1)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Assistant Section Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator