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

Join us on March 5th 

Our team will be gathering at the EOC  at 640 South Franklin in Greenfield at 3:30 for an informal walk through of the ESF 6 (Mass Care) documentation. With involvement by 911 Dispatch personnel, Hancock County Emergency Management, Hancock County CERT Team, local Radio Groups, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, Hancock County Senior Services(HART) and various shelter providers, it is critical that we make sure all interested parties are on the same page.

We learned from an actual call out that some folks will not evacuate when they need to because they won’t abandon their pets. Now, Frenzy Animal Rescue has joined our team and help to make sure everyone is safe, including our furry friends.

Often storms or flooding that necessitate people being evacuated to a shelter also damage their only transportation. That means various COAD partners will be called on to help with non-medical transport.

We will take a quick look at four different scenarios and explore the prescribed roles and responsibilities of the various team members, updating the current documentation as necessary. This will give everyone a chance to see how the process will work.

To find out more feel free to call 317-372-2304 or reply to this email

Hancock County COAD Team