The Ventura County Emergency Planning Council will honor ten organizations and two individuals for their contribution to emergency services in 2009 on Thursday, December 10, 2009. The presentation of awards will be held at 9:00 a.m., during the quarterly Emergency Planning Council Meeting, at the Ventura County Government Center, Hall of Justice, Pacific Conference Room, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA.
Best Emergency Preparedness Training – Countywide CERT Training and CERT Refresher Training – Ventura County Fire Department
Best Emergency Community Program – Countywide CERT Training – Ventura County Fire Department
Here's the full story from Fillmore Gazette
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Ham Radio Rapid Response equipment show-and-tell
Tom Sullivan (W8MKL) gave a very informative presentation during today's Ojai Valley Amateur Radio Club Monthly Meeting -- 8AM, Third Wednesday at Holy Cross Pre-School on Maricopa Highway. The public are always welcome.
Tom is part of the Ventura County Auxiliary Communication Service (VCACS) Rapid Response Team -- this means that he is ready to roll at a moment's notice with a bevy of radio communications equipment to deploy on-site where needed.
In this picture you can see the truck's wheel holding in place an extensible pole with various antenna attached - Tri-band high-gain, directional antenna, High Frequency Buddipole. Upon arriving on-site, this antenna system can be assembled in less than 30 minutes. Of course, you can also see the antenna farm on the truck's cab which is permanently mounted.
In this picture you can see a custom-built storage unit which holds the various pieces of communications equipment, with the capability of sliding out components if needing separately.
Components include:
- Icom IC-706 (High Frequency Radio) for long-distance voice communications
- Pactor III modem (connected to Icom) for sending long distance packet (text) traffic.
- Alinco DR-135 (2 Meter for both voice traffic and local packet (text) traffic)
- Kantronics KPC-3 (TNC modem) - similar concept as Pactor, but local communications
- Radio Shack 25 AMP power supply if able to plug in - otherwise on deep-cycle batts
- Laptop for using Packet Software.
Paul (KI6USA)
Tom is part of the Ventura County Auxiliary Communication Service (VCACS) Rapid Response Team -- this means that he is ready to roll at a moment's notice with a bevy of radio communications equipment to deploy on-site where needed.
In this picture you can see the truck's wheel holding in place an extensible pole with various antenna attached - Tri-band high-gain, directional antenna, High Frequency Buddipole. Upon arriving on-site, this antenna system can be assembled in less than 30 minutes. Of course, you can also see the antenna farm on the truck's cab which is permanently mounted.
In this picture you can see a custom-built storage unit which holds the various pieces of communications equipment, with the capability of sliding out components if needing separately.
Components include:
- Icom IC-706 (High Frequency Radio) for long-distance voice communications
- Pactor III modem (connected to Icom) for sending long distance packet (text) traffic.
- Alinco DR-135 (2 Meter for both voice traffic and local packet (text) traffic)
- Kantronics KPC-3 (TNC modem) - similar concept as Pactor, but local communications
- Radio Shack 25 AMP power supply if able to plug in - otherwise on deep-cycle batts
- Laptop for using Packet Software.
Paul (KI6USA)
H1N1 Clinic was a success in Ojai
The Ojai Valley Emergency Response Team Triad (CERT, Ham Radio and Red Cross) were in full force at the recent Ojai H1N1 Clinic.
Over 20 Ojai Valley CERT members responded, primarily managing vehicle traffic in the Parking Lot (brrr...), guiding cars to correct parking lots (there were several events that evenng), and ensuring pedestrians could enter/leave the clinic safely. CERT also volunteered inside the clinic providing crowd control and other services.
Ojai Valley Amateur Radio Club assisted by programming the AM 1610 Radio Station with pertinent information about the clinic, including securing flashing road signs on Highway 33/150.
American Red Cross were kept busy assisting with various paperwork processing for over 860 vaccinees throughout the day.
Ventura County Public Health Staff were very impressed with the volunteer turnout, including the relatively large response from those seeking vaccinations.
(Crowd Shot)
(Volunteer Command Post - we followed Incident Command System Structure and all CERT members carried two-way radios).
(CERT members with bright ANSI vests)
Over 20 Ojai Valley CERT members responded, primarily managing vehicle traffic in the Parking Lot (brrr...), guiding cars to correct parking lots (there were several events that evenng), and ensuring pedestrians could enter/leave the clinic safely. CERT also volunteered inside the clinic providing crowd control and other services.
Ojai Valley Amateur Radio Club assisted by programming the AM 1610 Radio Station with pertinent information about the clinic, including securing flashing road signs on Highway 33/150.
American Red Cross were kept busy assisting with various paperwork processing for over 860 vaccinees throughout the day.
Ventura County Public Health Staff were very impressed with the volunteer turnout, including the relatively large response from those seeking vaccinations.
(Crowd Shot)
(Volunteer Command Post - we followed Incident Command System Structure and all CERT members carried two-way radios).
(CERT members with bright ANSI vests)
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Mass Vaccination Clinic (H1N1) comes to Ojai
Ojai Valley CERT Graduates:
Details for Mass Vaccination Clinic (H1N1):
Overview: This is a great opportunity for Ojai Valley CERT to be recognized as a viable pool of volunteer talent to be called upon when requested by County agencies
Event: Mass Vaccination Clinic (H1N1)
Requesting Agency: Ventura County Public Health Department requests Ojai Valley CERT to provide volunteer assistance (crowd control, parking lot management, other assignments as needed)
Location: Ojai Nordhoff High School, 1401 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA.
Date: Tuesday, December 8
Time: Covering shifts between 1PM and 9PM (ideally working 3 to 4 hour shift). Note: If only available for a smaller shift, still consider volunteering.
Attire: CERT Vest, Long Sleeved CERT Shirt (if available), Flashlight. No need for full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
ICS: This event will follow the Incident Command System - you will only be receiving specific instructions from Ken Williams or his CERT IC replacement.
Web-Site: Additional information from Ventura County Public Health on H1N1 --http://www.vchca.org/h1n1
If interested in volunteering, please email Ken Williams (Designated Ojai Valley CERT Incident Commander) at miramontecert@roadrunner.com. Provide your name, contact number and hours available.
Details for Mass Vaccination Clinic (H1N1):
Overview: This is a great opportunity for Ojai Valley CERT to be recognized as a viable pool of volunteer talent to be called upon when requested by County agencies
Event: Mass Vaccination Clinic (H1N1)
Requesting Agency: Ventura County Public Health Department requests Ojai Valley CERT to provide volunteer assistance (crowd control, parking lot management, other assignments as needed)
Location: Ojai Nordhoff High School, 1401 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA.
Date: Tuesday, December 8
Time: Covering shifts between 1PM and 9PM (ideally working 3 to 4 hour shift). Note: If only available for a smaller shift, still consider volunteering.
Attire: CERT Vest, Long Sleeved CERT Shirt (if available), Flashlight. No need for full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
ICS: This event will follow the Incident Command System - you will only be receiving specific instructions from Ken Williams or his CERT IC replacement.
Web-Site: Additional information from Ventura County Public Health on H1N1 --http://www.vchca.org/h1n1
If interested in volunteering, please email Ken Williams (Designated Ojai Valley CERT Incident Commander) at miramontecert@roadrunner.com. Provide your name, contact number and hours available.
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