7. Individuals

7.1. Overview

This section is for anyone without a named role in this document.

7.2. What to do

After an earthquake you should follow the standard CERT procedures: check yourself, your family, your neighbors.

If you have time and are safe: you should make an initial Mike-Mike damage report to the town:

If you are a ham radio operator:

If you are the first one on the frequency: congratulations! You are now net control. See that section.

Otherwise make your Mike-Mike damage report on the net.

Monitor the net and listen for further instructions. The NCO will ask for folks who are available to help with tasks; you can check in then. Follow the NCOs instructions.

If you are not a ham operator but can text:

Send a text to the CERT phone (650 549 5242) with your Mike-Mike report and whether you can respond or not.

To make the SMS monitor’s job easier please format your message like this:

<<Name>> <<CERT Zone>> <<Mike-Mike number>> <<Yes/No repond>> <<Yes/No Ham>> <<Yes/No CERT Sup>> <<Yes/No Recon>>

Where:

  • <<Name>>: Your full name
  • <<CERT Zone>>: The zone you live in. If you don’t recall your zone say “Zone Unknown”
  • <<Mike-Mike number>>: Your severity observation. See the Mike-Mike damage report section for the definitions
  • <<Yes/No repond>>: whether or not you can help out: “Yes repond” if you can; “No respond” if you can’t
  • <<Yes/No Ham>> whether or not you have a ham license and a working radio you can use
  • <<Yes/No CERT Sup>> whether or not you are a CERT Supervisor
  • <<Yes/No Recon>> whether or not you are Recon trained and willing to do so

Example:

Jane Doe Zone 35 MM-4 Yes-Respond No-Ham No-Sup Yes-Recon

If you can listen to W6LAH: turn on your radio; it will be the fastest way to get updates.

Once the SMS monitor is up and running you should expect a response with further instructions. You may be asked to stand by, or you may be given a task. Remember: you are a volunteer; you should feel free to reject any assignment that you aren’t comfortable with.

If you don’t hear back within 30 minutes or so: you can gather your personal protective equipment and gear, and proceed to the ARK. Remember: silence may mean that we aren’t activating, or that SMS is not functioning.

One of the early tasks is to send a ham radio operator to the ARK so we can pass information to anyone who is gathered there.

If you can’t text:

You can go to the ARK and await further instructions.

If you are at the ARK:

A ham radio operator will be dispatched to the ARK if we are activating.

If no one shows up in 45 minutes: you will have to use your judgement. If damage is light or nonexistant then no one arriving with a ham radio probably means we aren’t activating. If there is lots of damage then it means things are running slowly; eventually someone will show up (even if they have to walk or bike).

But this is yet one more reason who you should have a ham radio, even without a license: you can listen to the radio to get status, even if you can’t legally transmit.