We are in this together!

 Have you been feeling like this lately?

                                    Or this? 

• Natural disaster or manmade challenges
•  Earthquake
•  Pandemic
•  Job loss/reduction
•  Loss of the person in your family who knows how the bills are paid
•  Inflation and supply chain disruption

2021 statistics for Sandy City

• 96,000 people over 22 square miles
• 7 fire departments: 80 full time, 30 volunteer=110
• https://www.firedepartment.net/directory/utah/salt-lake-county/sandy/sandy-city-fire-department
• 117 police officers
• https://www.police1.com/law-enforcement-directory/police-departments/sandy-city-police-department-sandy-city-UT-e1KGbAJ49h9vLO20/

117 + 110= 227 emergency response people divided by 96,000 people = 1 response person for every 422 people in Sandy

…plus Costco, the soccer stadium, the mall, and other shopping centers within Sandy. In a disaster, priority will be given to places with higher density of people. 

Convenience is the first thing lost in an emergency. Prepare now to in order to be capable when things are not convenient.

The more we can help each other, the better off we’ll be.

CERT: Community Emergency Response Training

Sandy City: https://sandy.utah.gov/1362/CERT

$15, meets over several weeks

Draper City: https://www.draperutah.gov/627/CERT

$35, hybrid- online and in-person

JUNE 2022 Willows Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness

Make a Plan (Part I) 

The best resource we have during an emergency is each other as neighbors! The biggest roadblock we have to being prepared and being able to help each other is feeling overwhelmed.

This monthly newsletter will help you complete small steps to become prepared for an emergency. The challenge for the week take around 5–15 minutes. If you complete the challenge step each week, in two years your home and family will be better prepared for an emergency.

 

Here are the first few steps for this month. Let’s do this together so our neighborhood will be prepared!

 

Week #1—Decide to Prepare

Disasters can strike at any time without warning. The more you prepare, the better off you’ll be. Discuss the importance of emergency preparedness with your family and commit to spend a few minutes each week preparing. Talk about what you can accomplish if you spend a little time each week, and how good it will feel to be prepared!

 

Week #2—Choose your Meeting Spot

Talk about where you’ll meet in the case of an emergency.

Pick two meeting places—one right outside your home for when your home isn’t safe and another a little farther away for when our neighborhood isn’t safe.

If you have children in school, talk with them about what they should do if you are not able to get to the school to pick them up. Plan a designated route for them to walk home.

Bonus: Plan a designated route for family members who commute to work, so you’d know where to find them as needed.

 

Week #3—Create a Family PACE Plan

Determine your family communication PACE plan: Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency communication. How will you communicate if there is no cell service?

 

Week #4—Emergency Contact Card

Fill out and print the Emergency Contact Card for each family member. Have each family member put the card in their wallet, purse, backpack, etc.

https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/m4240194_ECCard.pdf

 

Extra Credit 1:

Fill out the Family Emergency Communication Plan from Ready.gov:

https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/family-emergency-communication-plan.pdf

Extra Credit 2: Sign up for CERT training

-          Sandy City: https://sandy.utah.gov/1362/CERT

o   $15, meets over several weeks

-          Draper City: https://www.draperutah.gov/627/CERT

o   $35, hybrid- online and in-person

 

Family Emergency Communication PACE Plan

1. Communication Goals

·       Reunite with loved ones

·       Establish communication within your preparedness group

·       If needed, call out for assistance from further away

·       Coordinate with others for information exchange and support requests

·       These plans are all effective for non-emergencies (off-roading, camping, if cell towers are congested, etc.)

        2. Every family should have a PACE plan for communication

     3. Contingency Communication Options

 4. How to get your GMRS license

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuX_zx35VpU

     5.       How will we learn how to use these radios?

    Stay tuned for more info about “nets” (meeting at a pre-designated time and frequency). Our first few “nets” will be over Zoom so we can help you.

Recommended FRS and GMRS Radios

The recommendations below will allow you to charge your radio when grid power is off. These radios can be powered with USB-C cables and the cigarette lighter adapter added in order to plug it into your car. (You may already have this to power your phone.)

·       FRS: (2 pack) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqvhGXLAgTM
·       Handy-talkies (handheld) GMRS:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOO6jL0duCk

o      Cigarette lighter adapter - https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Ainope-Aluminum-Charging-Compatible/dp/B0795DJXNH/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=car%2Blighter%2Badapter&qid=1653361437&sr=8-7&th=1

OR- Handy-talkie GMRS Family Pack: https://www.buytwowayradios.com/btwr-essentials-pk-gmrs.html
·       Mobile GMRS (to use in a car) https://www.buytwowayradios.com/midland-mxt115.html .

·       For an upgraded antenna: click the "accessories" tab and select the Midland MXTA26A 6db gain antenna and also select the MXTA12 Mag Mount. 
·       This radio and antenna will allow you greater transmitting power.  In an urban environment the upgraded antenna is helpful to overcome line-of-sight obstructions and power line interference.

 

Hand-held GMRS radios will allow for communication, but have a limited range

Radio reviews from Eric:

These are only recommendations.  Feel free to shop around and get what suits you.

I would advise that the GMRS radio be repeater capable too.  I suggest that you have a way to charge your radio when grid power is off.  That is why these recommendations include radios that can be powered with USB-C cables and the cigarette lighter adapter added in order to plug it into your car. (You may already have this to power your phone.)

I have personal experience with the Beofeng G11s - nice audio, sturdy feel, but I had to spend some time programming it out of the box in order to communicate with non-Beofeng radios.  Be advised.  

I also tried the Radioddity GM-30 - nice radio, ready out of the box, minimal fine-tuning, the manual is easy to understand and follow. 

I really like the transmit and receive audio of the Wouxan KG905g.  Good manual too.  Of course, it's the most money of the three that I have tried, but the adage "you get what you pay for '' really applies to handheld radios. I would think the KG805g is a strong performer for $20 less.  I only got the 905g for the larger battery capacity.

There are many other FRS radios available online and off-the-shelf from many retailers. In most cases they would be sufficient for immediate neighborhood communication.

·    If items are out of stock, go ahead and order. Orders are filled as inventory comes in.

Remember:  FRS and GMRS handy-talkies (HT's) share (overlap) channels 1-15. Channels 15-22 allow for 50 watt power usage.  Channels 23-30 are reserved for repeater use and 50 watts output power. Please take the time to watch this video, it explains it well.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVdAgAZgFLM&t=32s

How to participate in an GMRS Radio Emergency Net

Tips on how to participate in a GMRS Radio Emergency Net

The best way to learn to participate in a net is to listen to nets as much as possible, because you will learn how the local net is run and become familiar with the stations that comprise the net.

Here are some general pointers.

Checking in

• Participating in a net is similar to attending a formal seminar. You raise your hand (give your call sign) and wait to be recognized by the leader (the Net Control). 
• You NEVER just start speaking without being recognized by net control. If you are at the check-in portion of the net and you have something to say, when you say your callsign add that you have traffic. (“WRQE557 with traffic.”)
• After taking the initial round of check-ins the Net Control will go back through their list of check-ins and call on anyone with traffic. Be patient.
• Don’t try to check in during heavy traffic, unless you have time-value traffic.
• Listen to Net Control for check-in requests & procedure.
• Unless instructed otherwise, transmit your call sign, and wait to be acknowledged.

Example: “WRQE557 mobile checking in” or “WRQE557 base checking in”.

• If you have specific resources or information, you may indicate that with a “tag line.”

Example “WRQE557 with radar information”

• Never speak for more than 5 seconds with a check-in.
• If the check-in portion of the net is over and you have something to say, wait for a pause in the net and give your call sign (raise your hand to get the attention of the leader). You never just start speaking after giving your call sign until you have been acknowledged by net control.

Transmitting

• All traffic must be authorized by Net Control.
• If another station calls you direct, do not answer without permission of Net Control.
• Be short and concise. If you need to speak more than 20 seconds, take a 2 second pause to allow Net Control or urgent traffic to break in. If no station breaks in, continue for another 20 seconds, etc. When done, say “back to net control.” Do not be long-winded or trivial.