What's the address?

I was sitting at a water station on a March of Dimes walk Saturday. Started thinking about what I would do "if."

First, in this really informal situation, I'd call 911 before talking to net control. I started thinking about how I'd describe the location if I made the call.

"Magnolia Street on the CSU campus, by the water tower" would work. But, the actual address would work better.

Dispatch systems much prefer street addresses when figuring out who to send.

Even out in the sticks, it is often possible to conjure up a street address. Some GPS apps will find your address based on location.

The actual addresses of fixed posts ought to be included in our plans and given to both operators and net controls.

Something to add to a checklist of event to-do's.

Please sign our Warning Petition

Earlier today, I received an e-mail from Art Botterell, one of the world’s leading experts on emergency public warning. He is the father of the Common Alerting Protocol, the global standard for warning messages, and godfather of the improved alerts being sent by broadcasters and cellular carriers.

Please sign the petition.

Here’s the letter:

Hi Friends -

A few of us, led by Richard Rudman, are doing a bit of consciousness-raising.  It’s easy to imagine that having systems like IPAWS solves the warning challenge.  But folks who’ve studied the subject know that one of the biggest obstacles to effective warning is the lack of a consistent professional standard of practice for warning issuance.

Why shouldn’t the whys, whens and wherebys of warning be part of NIMS?  We’re starting with a petition:

Congress should enact legislation for a national strategy so emergency public public information is always coordinated with other emergency response measures using the PPW report, “A National Strategy for Integrated Public Warning and Capability”: www.partnershipforpublicwarning.org/ppw/docs/nationalstrategy.pdf as a basis and guidance.”

That’s why I signed a petition to The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama, which says:

“Congress should enact legislation for a national strategy so emergency public public information is always coordinated with other emergency response measures. The PPW report, “A National Strategy for Integrated Public Warning and Capability”: www.partnershipforpublicwarning.org/ppw/docs/nationalstrategy.pdf”

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/the-united-states-needs?source=s.em.mt&r_by=7710354

Thanks!

- Art

Drinking in Uniform, Need I Say More?

Three off-duty members of the local senior police volunteer program showed up at the grocery store's weekly wine tasting tonight. And they tasted.

Care to guess how many calls the PD will get about this? Wonder if they had their police car parked outside?

Remember: Anytime you wear any insignia, you represent that organization. And people judge you and the organization together.

Never be around alcohol when in uniform. Not even to buy a six-pack with $100 of other groceries. Just don't do it.

Switching to Duracell

Because I am not perfect, I am switching from my old favorite Kirkland AA batteries to Duracells, also purchased from Costco.

A friend recently had Costco batteries leak and force early retirement of a piece of gear.

He wanted to see if the equipment might be salvageable so he called Duracell. Thinking it was their batteries that leaked, the Duracell people offered to replace the damaged item. That really bugged him.

See where I am headed? I've had batteries leak in the past. It's been years, but since I have tons of gear and use tons of batteries, the extra money spent on Duracells is a good investment.

I will probably carry Kirkland's as field replacement, but if quick use isn't planned, Duracell it will be.

Fused Power Bus

This piece is used in emergency vehicles for + DC power, but could be used anywhere. The two small slots hold a fuse. The - DC side is a seperate non-fused bus (not shown). Add PowerPole connectors as desired. Check automotive electric and emergency vehicle outfitters for these. This one cost $38. Thanks to Ron N6GKJ.