Welcome to Ojai Valley CERT

IMPORTANT UPDATE.....


THIS WEB-SITE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED.

PLEASE GO TO HTTP://OJAIVALLEYCERT.ORG

This blog provides information to those interested in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) activities in The Ojai Valley, CA. CERT works in partnership with OVARC (Ojai Valley Amateur Radio Club) which provides Ham Radio Communications - http://www.ovarc.org/.

http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert is a good place to begin learning about CERT. The fact is, immediately after a major disaster, each of us will be on our own while Emergency Services Personnel (Fire, Hospital, Police, Hospitals, etc) figure out what happened and how to respond. CERT teaches valuable self-preservation skills and empowers each of us to be of service to ourselves, family, neighborhood and community. By integrating CERT with Ham Radio, citizens can effectively communicate actionable information from the field to the Emergency Operations Center -- help will be on the way sooner.

Please check out the CERT Calendar & Map at the bottom of this web-page and sign our Guestbook (top right of page).

Ojai Valley (CERT, Ham Radio, Red Cross)

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Ojai Valley Amateur Radio Club CERT Presentation

On Wednesday, October 15th, Captain Steve Lazenby (Santa Paula Fire Department) graciously gave the Ojai Valley Amateur Radio Club (http://www.ovarc.org/) over 30 minutes to discuss Emergency Radio Communication with the 6th Ojai Valley CERT class.

Wayne Francis (W6OEU) led the presentation with an overview of Ham Radio, Disaster Service Worker Cards, and the upcoming Ojai Day OVARC booth.

Tim Shates (K6CTS) discussed FRS and GMRS radio and a lucky CERT student won a pair of FRS/GMRS radios. Please check-out this link for a recommended GMRS radio http://www.gmrsoutlet.com/product.php?productid=12&cat=3&page=1.

Paul Garth (KI6USA) concluded the presentation with an overview of Incident Command System, Neighborhood Areas, Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams, Rendezous Points, etc. A brief scenario was discussed regarding how a typical CERT team would enter a building during a Search and Rescue operation and communicate from the field to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Several questions were fielded from the CERT students.

OVARC hopes that CERT students will seriously consider becoming a Ham Operator, or at least acquire a GMRS license and radio.
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