TO: ALL WEST VIRGINIA ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM WV SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 10.03 DATE: January 17, 2010
SUBJECT: GEARED UP!
I have noticed recently, by listening to conversations on the radio, that a few of you have made up a "JUMP BAG" with items and essentials needed for long stays away from home. You know, similar to those long days and nights, a few years back. I'm glad to hear this. As disaster service volunteers and communicators we might be called upon for assistance at any given time, and possibly for long periods of time.
For those of you who have not made up a "JUMP BAG", you might want to think how you can prepare yourself in the event you're working an emergency, and it takes you close to the time you must leave for work. Have you thought what could speed your ability to go directly to your place of employment upon being cleared from your emergency communications post? Even if you don't have report to work, it would be nice to have a way to clean up after a hard day or night at your post, or get into dry clothes if you got wet.
Suggestions: In the same location you keep your equipment for a winter or foul weather response, you might keep an over- night bag (duffle-bag) ready. In it you should keep some items you would normally need in the morning before work, such as tooth brush, deodorant, hair brush or comb, shirt, pants, socks, underwear, and any other item that you may require. This could be a handy edition to your emergency response gear because we never know how long a particular emergency will last. A callout at 2030 hrs could last till morning depending on the emergency. Even if the emergency only lasted 2 hours, the duffle is easy to carry and if not used could be returned to your equipment location.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator