Why being prepared matters
I am concerned with some of the talking heads who criticize what they call “stockpiling” of supplies to fight the coronavirus. This isn’t hoarding; it is preparing for a fairly certain future event.  Proper leadership does not wait until an incident occurs to start amassing resources. That causes delay that causes increased damage from the incident.
 
We have a recent local example. A Hancock County COAD partner had an opportunity to receive a large quantity of items that could have been used to alleviate a need with local coronavirus response efforts. Unfortunately, the gift required use of other specific resources that had not been lined up in advance. Due to the lack of those resources that gift had to be declined.
 
So please help us be better prepared for whatever we might get hit with.  If you have access to any of these items that may be needed by local disaster response efforts, let me know so that we can contact you when we get hit, saving valuable time in our efforts to mitigate the damage.

4WD vehicles with towing capability
Pull behind camper with shower and kitchen for sale
Enclosed utility trailer for sale
Donations to help with above purchases
Generator
Warehouse space
Mobile food service equipment
Cold storage space
Data entry capability
Volunteer time for a variety of tasks
Hancock County COAD Team
www.HancockCOAD.org

How will we communicate?

In today’s world of mobile technology and cloud connections, we have the potential to lose all means of communication if a severe storm takes out the cell phone towers. Many of you have heard me ask at presentations: “How long could you survive without these?” while holding up my cell phone and a credit card. 

Hancock County has a plan. The Emergency Management Agency and Hancock County Health Department along with Hancock Amateur Radio Club (HARC) have the ability to activate and broadcast over AM radio station 1610 if all other traditional means of communication are down.  

Please make a family plan as part of your quarantine activities. If you need help with that go to www.ready.gov/plan. Add AM 1610 to your programmed buttons on your radio. (You may have to call Grandma and have her explain what AM radio is to some of the younger generations.)

Please share this with the community in any way that you can.

Hancock County COAD Team
www.HancockCOAD.org

Salvation Army Hancock County Team
www.SalArmyHancock.org

Here’s What Happened Yesterday

Yesterday’s workshop took an a different atmosphere due to the recent Nashville tornado.  We had a great turnout and a lot of input. Here is what went on (if you missed it):
-Talked through activity/communication flow for three minor scenarios and then explored differences when the “big one” hits. Dispatch/EMA/First Responders on scene/COAD/Member agencies/Community
-Clarified communication between EMA, COAD and American Red Cross Shelter Team to coordinate other resources available to those affected
-Pet Care Team has capacity for 50 animals
-Transportation agreements with Greenfield Schools and Hancock Area Rural Transit as well as potential for use of church buses and vans
-Temporary intake centers available until scope and duration of incident can be determined
-Tentative threshhold of 8 families to transition from commercial rooms to formal overnight shelter
-Currently five overnight shelters with several others potential

Next steps:
-Rework written documentation for ESF 6 as far as shelter and ESF 1 for transportation
-Compile list of private owners of 4WD vehicles that would be willing to assist
-Determine details of liability and insurance for drivers and vehicle owners
-What about unaccompanied minor children?
-How do we accomplish medical issues and triage when EMS is overwhelmed?
-How do we handle professional care for emotional and spiritual care, mental health issues?
-How do we educate public about AM transmissions regarding status and location of shelters when traditional communication channels are down?
-Follow up with Hancock County Sheriff and Hancock Regional Health regarding special needs for evacuation of their populations.

More to come:
March 24th 3:30 EOC – next workshop
Command and Control (Communications)
                Live exercise setting up COAD Command Center with power and lighting
                Train on radio communications with EOC
                Who talks to media?
                How is community made aware of situation?

Join us – we need everyone’s input to make a workable plan

Hancock County COAD Team