Sonoma neighborhoods to train for disasters

The Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority is preparing for a February launch of the Sonoma Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies (SCOPE) program. The program, modeled by the Oakmont COPE program (Citizens of Oakmont Prepare for Emergencies) provides training for neighborhoods to organize and assess their needs and resources as well as learn what to do, and who should do it, during an emergency.
Joe Morrison, acting administrative captain for the Fire and Rescue Authority, said Monday that the department is already gathering names of citizens interested in participating in the training. “The list is growing rapidly,” he said. “Some neighborhoods already have disaster plans.”
A plan initially involves one neighborhood coordinator distributing census forms to find out from each householder what resources are on hand – special tools, such as generators, or special training, such as first aid or ham radio training – or special needs, such as wheelchairs, oxygen, etc. The census will also show where householders’ utility shut-offs are, so that in the event of an emergency, anyone on the team will know what to do for individual houses. The census will also show, if there’s a blackout, what resources are available in that neighborhood.
The whole point, for the fire department, Morrison said, is that in a time of emergency, they can operate efficiently. “What it does for us is that we’re talking with one person, not 20. The team can go around and I can talk with that coordinator. Our training [for them] will be on how to mitigate little problems without calling us.”
The aim, he said, is for neighborhoods to pull together and also for individual households to pull together around the idea of a possible emergency. “Initially, we’re going to train anybody who’s interested, and then as the project grows, we’ll be training leaders in the neighborhood.”
The model for the program is written out in book format. “Any interested party can come to the firehouse and read up on the program,” said Morrison.