In the event of a catastrophe the City’s professional emergency personnel will be unable to attend to everyone immediately. By preparing our neighborhood in basic emergency skills we can lessen the effects of a disaster and sustain ourselves until assistance can arrive. To develop these basic skills, we have formed committees to help learn and serve each other.
If you are interested in joining any of the committees or are a Medical or Psychological Provider please
We are proud to have been given a “cache” of supplies by the Office of Emergency Services of the City of Berkeley. The cache is available to our Disaster Preparedness Teams. These supplies enable us to do the job of sustaining our neighborhood for the days following a disaster . To view a list of our cache supplies: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/supplylistattachb.pdf
Links to Committee descriptions: (To view the organizational ICS Flow Chart, click here).
Search & Rescue includes Damage Assessment & Fire Suppression
Damage Assessment
Fire Suppression
First Aid
Food
Mental Health
Child Care
Pets
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Search & Rescue (Safety)
The members of this committee will determine the geophysical hazards in the neighborhood. They will assess the extent of building damage, search for people who are unable to leave a house because they are either trapped or hurt.
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Damage Assessment (Safety)
As a vital part of Search and Rescue, the Damage Assessment team are the first to enter a house to evaluate the stability of the structure and determine if it is safe to enter or should be tagged and evacuated.
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Fire Suppression (Safety)
Fire is one of the most destructive and dangerous hazards we face in our neighborhood. This team will suppress small fires, use basic skills and knowledge to save lives, prevent injury and save property.
All neighbors need learn how to prevent fires, how to prepare your house, how to put out small fires, how to use your fire extinguisher and how to evacuate your home in the event of a fire. Everyone is on this team.
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First Aid
There are basic assumptions is every disaster. First, the number of victims will exceed the amount of professional help available, and immediate professional help may not be available in our location for days. Therefore, this committee will be counted on to assist in critical situations. The team will set up a First Aid Station (in or near Terrace View Park). In very poor weather conditions, a safe house will become the First Aid Station. If there are many injured, there will be a “Triage” (sorting) to assess each patient and categorize and prioritize them according to their needs. This team will be able to perform simple first aid and sustain injured until professional help arrives . For a list of personal first aid supplies for your home click here (links to the Supplies page).
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Food
This committee will coordinate a central food collection and community cooking in the event of a disaster especially where homes are not safe for its family. The teams main purpose is to be sure families are receiving food and that supplies are shared throughout the neighborhood. It is everyone’s responsibility to store food and water for a minimum of 72 hours. For a recommended list of supplies visit: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/publichealth/Familyemergencyplan/foodandwater.html)
In a time of crisis, it is a natural instinct to collect around food for comfort. A central food station will be set up in or near Terrace View Park. In very poor weather conditions, a safe house will become the Food Station.
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Mental Health
This is a committee where everyone is a member. For a list of coping with Disaster Mental Health (stress), click here. Learn the signs, but firstly, help yourself and then help your family and neighbor.
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Child Care
This committee will share the responsibilities of caring for small children as a collective. It allows capable parents to join in the Search and Rescue and other survival teams.
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Pets
Our pets are family to many of our neighbors. This team cares for and collects pets that are lost or hungry in a time of stress. To learn more on dealing with pets during a disaster, click here to go to the Plan for Pets page.