Training Materials
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Radio Communications and Radio Trainings, click here
- Block Captain Training (with video by Lee Howard)
- Steering Committee
- Neighborhood Response Group (Active Response) Command Team Training (Incident Control System, NRG Command Team (fka IC) Powerpoint, Protocols, Forms, Terminology)
- Drill Training: Program wide training, 2x a year on Daylight Savings Days
- First Aid Training Resources- Click here or go to First Aid/Medical: First Aid Training
Communications are vital in the first few hours to first few days after a major disaster.
If the power is out and if cell phones aren't working, hand-held radios will empower us to communicate within our own neighborhoods to check on everyone as well as to make sure our gas lines are secured to prevent fires and water lines are secured to save usable water.
Here are two sample organization charts show showing how communications would work within the NRG (purple boxes) as well as out to others (yellow, red, green boxes).
The first level only requires two radios and one to two people at Incident Command. One radio is used to communicate with block captains. The other radio is used to contact others outside the NRG. See "Incident Command Level 1".
If the power is out and if cell phones aren't working, hand-held radios will empower us to communicate within our own neighborhoods to check on everyone as well as to make sure our gas lines are secured to prevent fires and water lines are secured to save usable water.
- Radios empower us to communicate outside of our neighborhoods to the authorities, to access first responders for life threatening injuries or uncontrollable fires.
- Our NRG radio network gives us a direct channel to Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Command Post and connect up the chain to the Marin County Office of Emergency Services (OES) which manages the county's response in a major disaster.
- Radios will allow us to contact neighboring NRGs to share medical and search and rescue resources.
- Familiarizing ourselves with radios, radio protocol and incident command protocol enable us to run smoothly.
Here are two sample organization charts show showing how communications would work within the NRG (purple boxes) as well as out to others (yellow, red, green boxes).
The first level only requires two radios and one to two people at Incident Command. One radio is used to communicate with block captains. The other radio is used to contact others outside the NRG. See "Incident Command Level 1".
The second example shows a fully built out Incident Command with search and rescue function and medical function in addition to communications with block captains (situation unit) and communications outside of the NRG (Liaison Officer). If you would like to see more, see the Incident Command Training power point presentation below.
Radios
The NRG preferred radio is the MidlandGTX 1000VP4. Look for it on Amazon at less than $70 for a pair sold together. Click here for more hardware resource information. Some NRGs use the Motorola radio. Instructions are provided for both types of radios.
Powering on your Radio and Programming Channel Settings
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New Radio Channel Assignments (last update: March 2020)
Please note that this list will continually be updated as we add new NRGs. Please make sure you have the latest NRG channel assignments with your NRG gear.
Radio Tips
Block Captain Training
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Block Captain Training - The Disaster Talk. Lee Howard, September 2014 This is the talk block captains give to residents to apprise them of the program, gain their confidence, and convince them to share family particulars for the all-important data-base. Lee demonstrates. |
Block Captains
Block Captains (“BCs”) are the heart of a strong Neighborhood Response Group (“NRG”) Program. BCs play two vital roles in developing an NRG. One role is during the planning phase. The second role is during the active response to a major shelter in place disaster. Please consider volunteering as a block captain. You will be seen as a leader/helper in the aftermath of a disaster.
First role: During the planning phase, BCs attend a 1-hour block training orientation. Afterwards, BCs make about 10 resident visits. With these visits, BCs help educate his or her neighbors about family level preparedness as well as how the NRG program will add a level of support to make sure that every neighbor is checked on after a major disaster.
BCs collect information to 1) make sure the NRG can check on the safety of all residents in a home, 2) note if there are any special needs that the resident(s) wants the NRG to know about the inhabitants or the home, and 3) if resident(s) have any skills or resources that could help during a response to a major disaster.
Second role: During an active neighborhood response to a shelter in place disaster, 1-2 block captains would survey the homes in his or her cluster of 10-20 homes, and report to incident command if any resident or home needs help.
First role: During the planning phase, BCs attend a 1-hour block training orientation. Afterwards, BCs make about 10 resident visits. With these visits, BCs help educate his or her neighbors about family level preparedness as well as how the NRG program will add a level of support to make sure that every neighbor is checked on after a major disaster.
BCs collect information to 1) make sure the NRG can check on the safety of all residents in a home, 2) note if there are any special needs that the resident(s) wants the NRG to know about the inhabitants or the home, and 3) if resident(s) have any skills or resources that could help during a response to a major disaster.
Second role: During an active neighborhood response to a shelter in place disaster, 1-2 block captains would survey the homes in his or her cluster of 10-20 homes, and report to incident command if any resident or home needs help.
Incident Command Team
Incident Command System (ICS)
•Standard established and used by Government
•ICS is proven and efficient way of managing events at all scales.
•ICS identifies the functions we need.
•An ICS organized team is instantly recognizable by emergency responders.
•Using the ICS model gives NRGs added credibility.
•Standard established and used by Government
•ICS is proven and efficient way of managing events at all scales.
•ICS identifies the functions we need.
•An ICS organized team is instantly recognizable by emergency responders.
•Using the ICS model gives NRGs added credibility.
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Incident Command System for NRGs
Click to view nrg-ic__latest_sept_22_18_lar__v2.pptx for a short Power Point presentation that discusses how your NRG might be managed in the disaster. It explains the Incident Command System and its application to an NRG. We show baseline functions depending on your available resources and the size of your community. Comments were recorded to accompany the slides but to date the audio does not seem come through from the link. Try again in a few days to see if we have made it work. And please leave a comment under "Contact Us" if you know how to make a PPTX file available. |
Incident Command Protocols
Use the Incident Command System and these protocols to develop an Incident Command Team for your community's unique needs.
Incident Command Examples from other NRGs
If your community only has 40 homes, or your NRG is just starting out, please note that all you need to start with is the radio communication function for your incident command team. A pad of paper, a pencil, two radios. If or as your NRG community grows to around 150-200 members, then add more functions as you recruit more team members and those with medical or search and rescue training.
These incident command examples are from established NRGs with several hundred homes.
These incident command examples are from established NRGs with several hundred homes.
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IC White Board Set up (Mariner Cove): 3 White Boards
Events Status Board:
Numbers at top represent the Clusters. They circle clusters that report in. |
Goals Board: This board keeps specific goals for the drill. Make sure to pre-drill meeting so everyone is on the same page. It is important to debrief everyone post-drill to see what worked, obstacles to overcome, lessons learned etc.
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Organization Status Board:
The organization chart outline is permanent. the names inside the chart are empty, and are changed as folks relieve each other on duty. |
Detail on the first White Board
Headings are from left to right: Events:
Cluster, Address, Event Type Assigned, Status:In/Out Time |
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They use stickers for permanent features on the white board
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