FOUR significant weather events impacted Connecticut in a recent 3 year span:
Mar. 14, 2010 - Winter Wind Storm (Region 1)
Aug. 29, 2011 - Hurricane/Tropical Strom Irene
Oct. 05, 2011- Winter Storm Albert (aka: "Snowtober")
Oct. 29, 2012- Hurricane/Tropical Storm Sandy

Question:
What is your personal state of readiness?
- ARE YOU PREPARED?

FAMILY FIRST
In ARES we talk about “Family First”.
The basic concept operating here is that: if you are not confident that your family is secure and has provisions to ride out an event, then you would not be willing or available to leave and participate in an ARES role somewhere else.

This is natural and very understandable.

The fact that I have taken steps to make provisions for the well-being of my family allows me to leave my family in Milford and travel up to the CT DEMHS Region 2 EOC in Middletown (just off I-91 on Country Club Road)… or anywhere else.

It's not hard - and tt doesn;t have to be expensive.
If I can do it, then you can do it too.

FEMA has been advocating that folks “be prepared”. Their first 3 Steps are:
- Be Informed (www.ready.gov/be-informed)
- Make a Plan (www.ready.gov/make-a-plan)
- Build a Kit (www.ready.gov/build-a-kit)

I recently came across a short article that adds some more depth to the subject, and is something I think you will find helpful:
“The 7 Core Areas of Preparedness”
www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/lewis133.html

YOUR TRAINING
“We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.”
- Archilochos (c. 680 BC - 645 BC)

Our motto in CT ARES – Region 2 is: “Trained – Active – Ready”
- Note the first word, “Trained”.

There are 3 things you can do, right now, to improve your personal level of training:

#1) SIGN UP to be the Net Control Station (NCS) for one of the weekly Region 2 Emergency Readiness Nets.
- It's not Rocket Science... just stick to the script and keep it moving.
a.) Select TWO Mondays (one being an Alternate) that you can run the Net.
b.) Send me an email ([email protected]) with those dates, so I know who is covering which dates.

Don’t delay! Jump right it!
- The water is fine.


#2) Get “CORE 4” Certified (FEMA: IS 100, 200, 700, 800).
"CORE 4" courses help volunteers operate from the same game plan, talk the same language as Emergency Personnel, and increases your credibility with them.
- This helps avoid creating misunderstandings, disagreements, confusion and delay.
- And, it is now a requirement to be able to be deployed to an EOC or whereever you may have interations with Emergency Personnel.

Go to:
training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp
and get "CORE 4" Certified.


#3) Introduction to Emergency Communications course (ARRL EC-001)
This course will provide basic knowledge and the tools for any emergency communications volunteer. It is also a requirement for all new EC appointments in CT ARES.

You have the option of takiing this course On-Line, over a period of about 9 weeks or doing it in person at one of the infrequent "1 Day" courses.
- Either way is great. You still have to do all the homework - during the 9 weeks or before the "1 Day" class.

EC-001 Course details at:
www.arrl.org/online-course-catalog