INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MMRC News 1 Message from the Program Manager 2 Classes & Events 3 MMRC in the Community 4 Mission Statement 4 MMRC Core Competencies 5 Management Team 6 Branch Director Reports 6 MARCH 2015 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 Kate Garay, RN, MSN, FNP PROGRAM MANAGER 899 Northgate Drive Suite 104 San Rafael, CA 94903 PHONE: O 415.473.2721 C 415.497.8298 EMAIL: [email protected]OFFICE HOURS: 9am to 5pm Appointments advised Neighborhood Response Group Model and MMRC Synthesize Resources By Mira Schwirtz Lee and John Howard first started thinking about emergency response when their daughter- in-law, in Rhode Island, said she wouldn’t visit California because she was scared of earth- quakes. As residents of east Corte Madera’s Mariner Cove development, where there is no local fire or police staon, the Howards realized they and their neighbors could not count on professional help in the wake of a disaster. “Our neighborhood response group (NRG) model is a response to the fact that there’s really not enough first-responders out there,” said John Howard. “In Mariner Cove, we’ve got a real possibility of being isolated.” Now, southern Marin NRG groups and MMRC are synthesizing their organizaonal models. NRG’s in Tiburon, Tamalpais Valley and Corte Madera will parcipate in MMRC-created clas- ses in First Aid for Disaster Response this spring and summer. Meanwhile, the MMRC is using the NRG model to help neighborhoods start disaster planning. “The [NRG] methods have proven to be good starng steps for organizaon,” said Ann Eich- horn, MMRC Operaons Manager. “MMRC is offering assistance in these conversaons re- garding the establishment of spontaneous treatment sites (STS) and seeking local resources to supply local caches. “ The Howards began to build a neighborhood response plan bit by bit, based on the idea of neighbor helping neighbor. They started with the creaon of “clusters” or groups of about 20 homes overseen by block captains. The block captain educates his or her cluster about earth- quake preparedness, organizes drills, and, in the event of a disaster, monitors the cluster’s buildings and homes for damage or injury. Block captains then report to a control team, which, as in a professional-level Incident Com- mand System response protocol, supervises all communicaon and sends help wherever it is needed. A medical team has also been organized. Today Mariner Cove has 23 clusters and 75 volunteers parcipang in disaster drills and training. Three years ago, the Howards’ plan aracted the aenon of the Corte Madera and Larkspur city councils. With the councils’ help, the NRG plan has expanded to nine neighbor- hoods in Corte Madera and eight in Larkspur. MMRC News NEWS >>PAGE 3
Transcript
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :
MMRC News 1
Message from the
Program Manager
2
Classes & Events 3
MMRC in the Community 4
Mission Statement 4
MMRC Core Competencies 5
Management Team 6
Branch Director Reports 6
M A R C H 2 0 1 5 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3
Kate Garay, RN, MSN, FNP PROGRAM MANAGER 899 Northgate Drive Suite 104 San Rafael, CA 94903 PHONE: O 415.473.2721 C 415.497.8298 EMAIL: [email protected] OFFICE HOURS: 9am to 5pm Appointments advised
Neighborhood Response Group Model and MMRC Synthesize Resources
By Mira Schwirtz Lee and John Howard first started thinking about emergency response when their daughter-in-law, in Rhode Island, said she wouldn’t visit California because she was scared of earth-quakes. As residents of east Corte Madera’s Mariner Cove development, where there is no local fire or police station, the Howards realized they and their neighbors could not count on professional help in the wake of a disaster. “Our neighborhood response group (NRG) model is a response to the fact that there’s really not enough first-responders out there,” said John Howard. “In Mariner Cove, we’ve got a real possibility of being isolated.” Now, southern Marin NRG groups and MMRC are synthesizing their organizational models. NRG’s in Tiburon, Tamalpais Valley and Corte Madera will participate in MMRC-created clas-ses in First Aid for Disaster Response this spring and summer. Meanwhile, the MMRC is using the NRG model to help neighborhoods start disaster planning. “The [NRG] methods have proven to be good starting steps for organization,” said Ann Eich-horn, MMRC Operations Manager. “MMRC is offering assistance in these conversations re-garding the establishment of spontaneous treatment sites (STS) and seeking local resources to supply local caches. “ The Howards began to build a neighborhood response plan bit by bit, based on the idea of neighbor helping neighbor. They started with the creation of “clusters” or groups of about 20 homes overseen by block captains. The block captain educates his or her cluster about earth-quake preparedness, organizes drills, and, in the event of a disaster, monitors the cluster’s buildings and homes for damage or injury. Block captains then report to a control team, which, as in a professional-level Incident Com-mand System response protocol, supervises all communication and sends help wherever it is needed. A medical team has also been organized. Today Mariner Cove has 23 clusters and 75 volunteers participating in disaster drills and training. Three years ago, the Howards’ plan attracted the attention of the Corte Madera and Larkspur city councils. With the councils’ help, the NRG plan has expanded to nine neighbor-hoods in Corte Madera and eight in Larkspur.
MMRC News
NEWS >>PAGE 3
Message from the Program Manager P A G E 2 T o T h e C o r p s N e w s l e t t e r
We’re moving in to the second quarter of the year already – much is in play for MMRC to achieve our goals this year! By the end of April we will have trained 15 new FADR trainers, and 32 MMRC members, 38 CERTs, and 44 Neighborhood First Responders in FADR skills. By the end of May we will have beta-tested two new classes in our Disaster Medical Response (DMR) curriculum. I’m very excited about what’s ahead for our MMRC Team, as we build more of our disaster medical re-sponse capabilities in our medical, mental health and chaplains teams. We will be testing these ca-pabilities in the drills scheduled late April and May, and continuing with more FADR and DMR clas-ses during the Summer and Fall.
At our Annual Meeting in January, I spoke about the dual mission MRCs across the nation have – to respond to dis-asters and public health needs. Dr. Matt Willis, our Public Health Officer, spoke about Marin’s gaps in health status – especially related to the impacts of chronic disease. While much of our operational focus is on building our disas-ter response capabilities, we have also been building our public health response capabilities, and are looking to do more with our Public Health Team this year in health screening, testing and referral activities with community pub-lic health partners. What has been most exciting for me as I’ve been working with you these past few months, is the competence and care you bring to your work with MMRC. I feel very grateful. Our Marin community is very blessed to have you. Welcome to the TEN new members who have joined us since January: David Clausen, James Powell, Anne Towler, Jerry White, Belinda Ingraham, Kevin Hagerty, Dr. Fiona Clements, Patti O’Connor, Kathi Buada, Rick Moses! I look forward to seeing our new members at our orientation meeting on May 18, 6-8pm, location to be announced.
Kate
At the end of April, the EMS Program office, which is also the headquarters of the MMRC, will move from 899 Northgate, Suite 104 to 1600 Los Gamos, Suite 220, San Rafael, CA 94903. This move is prompted by the county’s decision to relocate as many offices as possible from leased buildings to county-owned buildings. The EMS/MMRC offices will be closed for the move on April 30th and May 1st, re-opening at the 1600 Los Gamos location on Monday, May 4th. All email and phone numbers will remain the same.
EMS/MMRC Office Relocation
By Loretta Rogers
T o T h e C o r p s N e w s l e t t e r P A G E 3
Upcoming Classes and Events
FROM PAGE 1 News NRGs take part in two annual drills when the clocks are reset. The most recent drill, on March 8, included five neighborhoods and rehearsed radio communication with CERT command trail-ers in Corte Madera. The Howards estimate that 72 percent of single-family homes in Corte Madera are on their way to being organized. “We’re trying to take this to the next step and have a permanent NRG town committee that makes regular reports,” said John Howard. The Howards have also made presentations to disaster
councils in Tiburon, west Marin, and San Rafael. The biggest obstacle to preparation, John Howard observed, is getting just a few residents to organize a neighborhood meeting. Once the idea of an NRG is put forward, momentum builds, he said. “A huge side benefit of this is that the neighborhoods develop a sense of identity and community. They’re building social capital.” Website: http://www.nrgmarin.org/
Date/Time Location Class Contact
April 9 1330 ET
Webinar: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/disinfo Enter name in guest box , click “enter room”, enter phone # and system will call
Digital Humanitarians by Patrick Meier, PhD Dial-in information: 1-888-757-2790, pass-code is 745907
For more information: http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dismeetings.html
April 11 0900 to 1200
Novato Community Hospital, Medical Office bldg., Room 101
MMRC Mission Statement The Marin Medical Reserve Corps Mission is to augment Marin County’s public health and disaster medi-cal response. Our mission is to: Educate and train citizens and MMRC volunteers in Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Medical Re-
sponse Deploy MMRC volunteers and resources in the event of a disaster or public health emergency Deploy MMRC volunteers for public health in non-emergency situations Build relationships and partnerships throughout our county to promote community
resilience.
MMRC in the Community
T o T h e C o r p s N e w s l e t t e r P A G E 4
CERT-MMRC First Aid for Disaster Response Collaboration Thirty eight participants engaged in the 4 hour advanced CERT/First Aid for Disaster Response training and learned the necessary steps to perhaps save a person in a life threatening disaster. CERT trained volunteers brought blankets, pillowcases, old towels, magazines, cardboard pieces and learned a variety of ways to use ordinary articles from home to address serious injury situations that might arise in their neighborhoods following a natural disaster. An MMRC seven person training team led by Kate Garay, conducted the class and extended the invitation to others to take the upcoming, April 11th, train the trainers class to be held at Novato Hospital. For more information regarding this class, please contact either Kate Garay ([email protected]) or Ann Eichhorn ([email protected]).
The Office of the U.S. Surgeon General released the Medical Reserve Corps Core Competencies requirements. It is found that the Core Competencies requirements represent the baseline level of knowledge and skills that all MRC volunteers should have, regard-less of their roles within the MRC unit.
The first competency is personal/family preparedness. The specific competency is to describe the proce-dures necessary for the MRC member to protect health, safety, and overall
well-being of themselves, their fami-lies, the team, and the community. Suggested trainings for the MMRC team members are GET READY Marin and Marin County CERT.
The GET READY Emergency Disaster Preparedness Program is a free two-hour training course that includes a take-home manual. At the conclusion you will know what to do before, dur-ing and after a regional disaster. Sign up for the GET READY Marin at
www.getreadymarin.org.
CERT, Community Emergency Re-sponse Team, is about readiness, peo-ple helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the great-est number. Marin County CERT is 15 hours of FUN and costs $45. You will receive a student manual, backpack, helmet with chin strap, vest and gog-gles. Secure your seat and sign up to-day at www.marincountycert.org.
C E R T… What you NEED to know!
Important Websites Marin County = http://www.marincounty.org
DHV = https://www.healthcarevolunteers.ca.gov/
Link to IS22 = http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is22.asp
Link to IS100 = http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100b.asp
Link to IS700 = http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/is/is700a.asp All MMRC members are required to complete these courses and report completion to Loretta Rogers 1t [email protected]
T o T h e C o r p s N e w s l e t t e r P A G E 5
Marin Medical Reserve Corps Core Competencies
You must complete all 18 hours of the program to obtain certification!
NORTH MARIN BRANCH Director: Sharon Grabovac [email protected] From the ridge line separating Marinwood/Lucas Valley to the North SAN RAFAEL BRANCH Director: Peggy Woodring - [email protected] From the ridge line separating Lucas Valley/Marinwood to ridge that separates Terra Linda from San Rafael, includes Los Ranchitos, Santa Venetia, and all of San Rafael. SOUTH CENTRAL MARIN BRANCH Director: Judy Greenwald - [email protected] Includes ridge that separates San Rafael from Greenbrae/Kentfield south to Corte Madera Creek, includes Ross, Kentfield, San Anselmo, Fairfax, San Quentin.
SOUTHERN MARIN BRANCH Director: Ann Eichhorn - [email protected] South of Corte Madera creek to Pacific Ocean, includes Corte Madera, Larkspur, Tiburon, Belvedere, Mill Valley, Marin City, Sausalito, Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, Bolinas. WEST MARIN BRANCH Director: Marty Frankel - [email protected] Includes Woodacre, San Geronimo Valley, Nicasio, Marshall, Pt Reyes Station, Tomales, Inverness, Pt Reyes National Sea-shore, Dillon Beach. Program Manager: Kate Garay - [email protected] Operations Lead: Ann Eichhorn - [email protected]
T o T h e C o r p s N e w s l e t t e r P A G E 6
Branch reports
Management Teams
North Marin Branch is springing into spring with a branch meeting on April 2 at the clubhouse in the Ignacio Creek townhouse complex, 6-8pm. Dave Jeffries, owner of Jeffries Public Safety Consulting, will be a guest speaker. Dave retired as a police captain after a 31-year career with the Novato Po-lice Department and is a key figure in Novato’s disaster pre-paredness planning. We’re beginning to establish locations for STS’s and actively recruiting branch team members. We are also hoping to offer our branch members ample opportu-nities to get their 16 hours of training completed by adding pertinent trainings to our quarterly branch meetings. We wel-come your ideas and suggestions!
San Rafael Branch has scheduled branch leadership meetings on the first Monday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30pm at 3210 Kerner Blvd in San Rafael-please join us if you wish. New member Kevin Hagerty, President of the Glenwood Homeowners Association will attend our next meeting. Hagerty has established an emergency preparedness com-mittee called Ready Glenwood. In an effort to help CERT neighborhood groups, MMRC members Shirley Young and Diane Ayers are working with the Marinwood and Lucas Valley
Community Centers to prepare them to serve as spontane-ous treatment sites. Peggy Woodring will be meeting with Gayle Gillfillan and Nadine Watts who are working to organize the Sun Valley neighborhood. Preparations are being made for the county CERT drill on May 2, in the Dominican neigh-borhood. Four to five MMRC members will be establishing a medical treatment site as part of the exercise. The Kaiser Medical Center San Rafael has invited MMRC members Peggy Woodring and Karla Mahars to their monthly Emergency man-agement meetings.
Southern Marin Branch Southern Marin Branch welcomed two new members, Dr. Fiona Clement, and EMT David Clausen to the Leadership team. The team is making plans to participate in two upcoming drills. One will be a two site earthquake drill in Tamalpais Valley on April 30th from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, which will exercise Spontaneous Treatment Sites with a few pseudo injured “victims” in austere situations. The other exercise they will participate in is with the Mill Valley wildfire evacuation drill on Saturday morning, May; 9th from 10-12AM.
Report Your Volunteer Hours - You Count! All volunteer hours are recorded and reported throughout the year. Send an email to Loretta Rogers at [email protected] with the event/ training, date and number of hours immediately after earning.
When you break out your time spent into categories, it gives a clear picture of how balanced we are between the cate-gories of Activation, Administrative work, Committee meetings, Exercises, Foundation work, Outreach (public edu-
cation), Training and Work Parties. This information is vital in that it allows MMRC to plan and manage the organi-zation. A report is generated every six months.
