About Disaster Preparedness and Relief
When it comes to emergency services, the Civil Air Patrol is probably best known for it's air search and rescue missions. However, we do perform many services for disaster relief missions. For example:
"Members from the Mississippi, Alabama and Florida wings are launching daily aerial damage assessment flights from their station in the Mobile Convention Center, one of several incident command posts set up for the Gulf Coast oil spill response.
CAP’s critical missions in support of Deepwater Horizon Response have included flying VIPs over coastal waters to get a look at the integrity of oil containment barriers, transporting vital mission equipment, collecting data and flying coastline photo reconnaissance missions.
The most important task the CAP aircrews perform is making daily flights over 700 miles of coastline from Louisiana to Florida and taking digital images of the oil containment barriers and adjacent land area near the shoreline.
In 13 days of flying missions, 26 volunteers have expended 2,128 man-hours making 73 flights in 12 CAP aircraft, for a total of 197 hours in the air over the waters along the Gulf Coast.
On an average day, the aircrews take from 2,400 to 3,600 digital images. The images represent critical information that planners are using to help determine their response to the spill, which began April 20 following an explosion at the BP-operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig."
There are two components to disaster services. One, preparedness, is when we work on being prepared. We put together disaster response and contigency plans for our squadron, within the guidelines established by the national organization and our wing. We also establish liasons with local, state, and federal agencies to establish working relationships for when disaster occurs. And, we train our members to provide the needed services when called upon to respond. Then, second, relief, is when we respond to the call whether it is our own community, another locale, or on a large, or, national scale. Response may be air support, ground support, communication support, or logistic support. It could include anything from CAP ground team search and rescue,door-to-door search and assist as a CERT team, providing flight support for FEMA personnel, to serving at a staging area for victims/evacuees.
The Lubbock Composite Squadron has been conducting training in tornado preparedness and hurricane relief work. Along with other CAP squadrons we are preparing to help with air and ground support of disaster relief missions during the storm seasons. When it comes to disaster preparedness and relief, we may be working with FEMA, the American Red Cross, Citizens Corps, the ARRL, and other emergency service organizations. As an organization we are prepared to come to the aid of our community, state and nation in times of disaster, whether natural or man-made.
Members of our squadron work with the Lubbock Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), the South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG), the South Plains Citizens Corps (SPCC), the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), and more. Some of our members have received Red Cross training in First Aid and CPR, and we are forming a Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) in conjunction with the SPCC. As you can see, some of our members wear many "hats". It is in keeping with the spirit of the Civil Air Patrol, and one of its core values of volunteerism.
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." -John F. Kennedy
Disaster Preparedness and Relief Officer -ESO
Disaster Relief Officer
Assists the ES Officer in managing and directing disaster preparedness activities. They shall:
- Develop agreements with state emergency management officials pertaining to natural disaster and civil defense activities.
- Develop a unit disaster preparedness force capable of responding to appropriate requests.
- Ensure the civil defense and natural disaster training programs are adequate.
- Develop operational procedures for rapid alerting and assembling of disaster preparedness task force personnel.
- Coordinate wing disaster preparedness evaluations, training missions, and exercises.
- Know disaster preparedness responsibility of CAP in areas of operation. This includes unit’s responsibilities in the State and Region Disaster Airlift (SARDA) plan.
The disaster preparedness officer should be familiar with CAPR 50-15, CAPR 55-1, CAPR 60-1, and applicable Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publications.
CAP Links
CAPabilities_Handbook (low res pdf)
CAPabilities_Handbook_(high_res pdf)
Links to Government Agencies
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM)
South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG)
Lubbock Emergency Planning Committee(LEPC)
Links to Non-government Organizations
Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)
ARE YOU READY?
- Make a Plan -Safe places, Evacuation, Medical Needs, Family Communication, etc.
- Get A Kit -called by various names -24 hr pack, 72 hr pack, Bug Out Bag (BOB), Go Kit, Survival Kit, etc.
- Be Informed -Learn about tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, emergency services; Train -online, CAP, CERT, Red Cross, etc.
- BE PREPARED!
use the links below to help you prepare.
Prepare Your Home And Family (from ARC)
ZULU TIME
National Level Homeland Security Live Alert
