Winter 2005                                             Volume 7    Issue 1

The month of September was busy.  Along with the normal routine of getting back to school, vacations being wrapped up and the everyday of work, work, we experienced Hurricane’s.  Not just one, mind you but there was a whole family out there.  First there was Charley.  He decided to be a football player and go wide around the left side and hit us there.  Then there was Frances.  She decided that after a long journey from Africa she would visit the Bahamas for a while and really wasn’t sure how soon she would leave to see Florida.  When she finally made up her mind, “should I go to Ft. Lauderdale or, should I see the Palm Beaches, she decided to go a little further at see what was up in the central part of the state around Jupiter.  Ivan on the other hand was pretty sure of him self and went straight for the pan - handle.  He wasn’t interested in seeing all of Florida, so  he took the west coast route and then headed for areas north and beyond.

Looking back at all that has happened we saw CERT was ready.  Some of us had to evacuate, others just moved locations and went further inland.  Wherever CERT was, CERT was ready.  We had teams in neighborhoods.  We had teams in shelters.  We had teams put together with other teams.  Even with all that was happening around us, with families, friends and neighbors, CERT was ready.  Some Team Leaders met a few days before to secure their plans.  Others used email or telephones to communicate. “This is what we are doing” , explained one team leader.  “We are ready”. And ready you were.  We had people in shelters, and on the streets.  Communications were set up at the EOC with Ron Diego and Joyce and Sue Brennan at the controls.  Arriving on Friday they manned the ship taking information from CERT members, shelters and other Hams who would report in.  Radio checks and neighborhood “walk-about’s” were established.  Reporting wires and trees down.  Streets that were impassable or possible dangers that were found in each zone. 

YOU WERE READY!

The information that each team relayed was passed along and placed in our mapping system at the EOC.  There was some duplication of information, but for the most part the information proved valuable and timely.  We were able to get crew out to areas and begin opening up roadways and secure possible hazards.  We passed along downed power lines to FPL crews to try to help them do their job more efficiently.  As far as I know Boca CERT was the only team activated during the storm in South Florida.  We had some problems, and we know that.  Working together as a team, we will fix these problems.  One thing that is on the horizon is a repeater for CERT.  The Chief is looking into having additional radios with this system so that we can have better communications.

Our report to the state showed that we activated 77 members (We have over 350), and we logged a total of 1,888 man-hours prior, during and post storm.

YOU WERE READY! 

Thank you for all the good work and effort you have given to our program.  Thank you to our Team Leaders, and for all the members who helped during the storm.  Your efforts have not gone un-noticed. Stay safe and thanks again.  It is my honor to be part of the team.  

Return to   THE CONNECTION

  Click on the mail box to e-mail The Connection Editor

© All rights reserved, North American Emergency Management, 1998