Charbonneau Villager Jan 2022 | Page 4

4 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER January 2022

By SANDY BATTE

We all know the story about “ The Little Engine That Could .” Well , in Charbonneau we have a committee that began as “ The Little Committee That Thought They Might be Able to ” and has grown into the “ Big Committee That Can !”

Our network of HOA emergency preparedness captains and medically trained residents now number more than 150 dedicated volunteers !

Many of you are most familiar with your neighborhood captains as they conduct the great ShakeOut drill each October , but the responsibilities these volunteers assume go much further . It is the goal of this team to educate homeowners of the importance of having a community-based plan in place to help us care for ourselves in the event of a major disaster , such as an earthquake , ice storm , fire , or extended power outage . Especially when that emergency will overwhelm emergency responders .

It is important to recognize that the job of this team is not to take the place of emergency responders but to acknowledge that in a disaster , your most immediate sources of help are the neighbors living around you . We are incredibly fortunate to have a cadre of more than 35 medically trained residents ( MTRs ) who have agreed to step forward to deliver first-aid assistance under these circumstances .

The Emergency Preparedness / Public Safety ( EPPS ) Team , meets twice a year to develop , review and enhance methods and procedures to assure that residents are as prepared as possible for any emergency situation . These are just some of the activities they take on :

� Assist in maintaining a current list of residents , including out-of-area contacts and any household information pertinent to responding to a disaster . Noting those with disabilities and / or mobility issues , who has pets and who might need use of an emergency generator for medical reasons .

� Maintain a fully-charged , two-way radio for use in an emergency . Attend training class on radio usage during a disaster .

� Assist with development of a list of resources available within the HOA such as generators , chainsaws , tents , ladders , walkie-talkies , fire extinguishers and first-aid supplies .

� Assist with development of a list of

skills and knowledge within your HOA such as electrician , carpenter , medical and nursing skills , plumbing skills and elder care .

Mike Brown , lead captain at the Lakeside HOA shared the following :

We have always been very proactive when it comes to our neighbors and their needs / safety . With the great proactive preparation program established at Charbonneau , by the EPPS team , our residents have become even closer as neighbors and friends . This was very evident during the ice storm and fires that we experienced recently . They were perfect examples of how preparing for the worst kind of scenario allows for the neighborhood to react to and deal with any lesser events as they happen . Our residents with gas , heated water and cooked food for those who had electric appliances . Ways were found to charge phones for those that could not . Just having people , especially our captains , going around to their individual group members to check on their wellbeing was a comfort to many of our more senior friends . One take home message from these serious yet minor events is that we need to continue to expand our knowledge and preparedness skills , along with additional survival supplies , so that when the next test happens we are even better prepared to deal with whatever comes our way .

Our team learned some valuable lessons during that storm that will make us even more prepared for the next one ! Since so many of us lost phone service when the power went out , we have set up a chain of contacts using cell phone texting to exchange information and report needs .

The EPPS team of volunteers is an incredibly valuable asset to our community . The resiliency of Charbonneau depends on these trusted , trained , committed volunteers ! If you are not aware of who the captain for your neighborhood might be , there is a flier in the clubhouse office that will direct you to the EPPS leaders for your HOA . You can pick one up from Jen Chavez . The next time you see your neighborhood captain , take a minute to thank them for looking after our well-being !

Want to be a part of this “ can do ” team ? Jen can put you in touch with your HOA leader for that purpose as well . In addition to captains and MTRs we are seeking people who would like to be trained to assist in the radio command center . There is no experience needed , we are happy to train anyone interested . These vital volunteers make our communications network possible ! You can reach Jen via email at j . chavez @ charbonneaucountryclub . com or call her at 503-694-2300 .

Stay tuned in February to hear about the EPPS efforts on behalf of public safety in Charbonneau !

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