FW: Golden Guardian 2008 Monthly Email Update #4
Kevin McCarthy
FYI
Kevin J. McCarthy
CEO
United Way of the Inland Valleys
6215 River Crest Drive
Riverside, CA 92507
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LIVE UNITEDTM
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From: Rockot, Diana
[mailto:Diana....@fire.ca.gov]
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008
1:44 PM
To: Rockot, Diana
Subject: Golden Guardian 2008
Monthy Email Update #4
As you know, the Gulf Coast has been and continues to be affected by several hurricanes. Our thoughts are with the affected communities and the first responders who are there to help. It is times like these that remind us why we train and prepare for the worst. Much like hurricanes are inevitable to the Gulf Coast, earthquakes are inevitable to California. This is why we are all working so diligently to prepare for and participate in, the largest earthquake exercise in the Nation’s history. With just sixty-two days left until the start of Golden Guardian 2008 and as we continue to update our plans, train staff, etc. let us use this as a reminder of why these preparations are so important.
Golden Guardian 2008 – Email Update #4 September 2008
Since your last update many great things have been happening around the County with regard to GG08 planning. Here are some of the highlights:
On August 20th Riverside County Fire Office of Emergency Services (OES) in conjunction with EG&G Technical Services, conducted Table Top Exercise (TTX) Training. The training was a great opportunity for agencies and organizations to learn why it is important to conduct a TTX and also how to conduct such training. Participants were provided a wide variety of document templates to use within their agencies which will serve as valuable tools for them long after GG08. The training was very well attended with over 100 people in attendance!
Also at this TTX training, OES announced the launch of their secure website
where GG08 documents can be shared with participants. The site will allow you
to view or download meeting minutes, agenda’s, document templates,
scenario information and more. If you are a registered GG08 participant and you
would like access to this site, please contact the OES office at (951) 955-4700
for a copy of the log-in and user instruction sheet.
On August 27th the After Action Conference from the July 23rd County-focused TTX was held. The conference was a success with lots of positive feedback from participants. As with any successful TTX, there are lessons we learned and corrective actions that will be needed; however, OES looks forward to implementing some of the great suggestions that came from this conference and ultimately making some of our great plans even better.
Tuesday, August 26th marked the second Community Executive Committee (CEC) for the Hazus MH User Group. The meeting was hosted by OES and facilitated by FEMA Region 9 and FEMA consultants Dewberry, Inc. The meeting provided an update on the Pilot Study that Riverside County is participating in. This update brought great news that FEMA and Dewberry, Inc. are hopeful to release the damage report estimates for Riverside County prior to GG08. Although not all data will be available prior to GG08 most of the critical data will be; the remainder of the data is set to be released by January 2009. If you are interested in learning more about Hazus MH, please visit the FEMA website at: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/
In addition to all of these great activities, cities, special districts, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, private businesses, hospitals, hospice centers, volunteer organizations have also continued their planning efforts. We are excited to see the positive changes coming about with regard to GG08 planning but most importantly we are excited to know that so many people are placing a priority on disaster planning within their organization as a whole, not just in preparation for GG08. Often times after a small earthquake the interest in preparedness increases; however, within a few weeks it will slow again as people become complacent and forget. We encourage all participating agencies to continue their planning efforts long after GG08 ends and hopefully the partnerships you build during the GG08 planning process will enable you to do just that.
Upcoming Events:
1) Tuesday, October 7th - OES will host PIO/JIC training facilitated by Governor’s Office of Homeland Security from 9 AM – 1 PM at the Riverside County Emergency Operations Center located at 4080 Lemon Street, Basement Room 8, Riverside, CA 92501. Seating is limited to first-come first-served basis so call OES today at (951) 955-4700 to reserve your seat!
2) Wednesday, October 8th – State Final Planning Conference at the Ontario Marriott from 9 AM – 3 PM. Note: OES will attend this meeting and share details learned with you at the Riverside County Operational Area Planning Committee meeting on October 9th.
3) Thursday, October 9th – Quarterly Operational Area Planning Committee (OAPC) from 9 AM – 11 AM at the Cherry Valley Grange Hall located at 10478 Beaumont Avenue, Cherry Valley.
4) Wednesday, October 22nd – Riverside County Operational Area Final Planning Conference from 9 AM – Noon at the Cherry Valley Grange Hall located at 10478 Beaumont Avenue, Cherry Valley.
5) October 2008 (Date/Time/Location TBD) – Regional Associates meeting co-chaired by Congresswoman Mary Bono-Mack and Peter Lent, Deputy Director, Riv. Co. Fire Dept. OES. Everyone welcome.
6) Wednesday, November 5th – OES will host Controller and Evaluator Training and Briefing – This meeting will be to train any new controllers or evaluators who are conducting functional exercises. If you will be filling either of these positions within your agency for a functional exercise, you should consider attending this training. Call the OES office or speak with your area Emergency Services Coordinator for additional information. After the training there will also be a briefing for anyone filling this role. This briefing will bridge information about how city or special district controllers and/or evaluators will interface with the County and much more. Call the OES Office at (951) 955-4700 to RSVP.
Lastly, many of you know that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) is trying to register 5 million people to participate in their Duck, Cover and Hold Drill, which officially “kick’s off” Golden Guardian 2008 at 10 AM on November 13th. All school districts in Riverside County will participate in this drill as well as individuals, families, organizations, businesses, etc. For those of you who are preparing everyday for the GG08 exercise, let’s not forget that preparedness begins at home. If you aren’t prepared at home chances are you won’t be able to respond to your work or volunteer location during a real event. To the contrary, if you have your kits ready and your family plans in place you are more likely to be ready to respond to help the larger community. You can visit or contact the OES office at (951) 955-4700 to obtain informational brochures or you can visit the web for endless resource materials about becoming prepared. If you haven’t already signed your family up to participate in the Great Southern California ShakeOut, you can visit : www.shakeout.org and register. Its free and open to everyone. By signing up you are committing that at some point on November 13th you will conduct a Duck, Cover and hold drill in your home. Use this day to go over “what if” with your family. A few minute discussion today could change your family’s outcome tomorrow. Make a commitment to keeping your family safe.
Be safe, be prepared.
Diana Rockot
Administrative Services Analyst
Riverside County Fire Dept. Office of Emergency Services
(951) 955-5276 Office
(951) 955-4700 Main
(951) 901-5882 Cell