Preparedness Progress
CONTENTS:
December 2020 Activities — Furniture and Garage Doors.
Database
Radio network
Preparedness guide
Upcoming issues and activities
RPG Database development: A Zoom meeting of the Technical Committee plus other interested parties revealed considerable interest in creating a resident database that would not be subject to the restrictions imposed on RVM information. This could be a major undertakng, and it was pointed out that RPG had an immediate need for a simpler information base. Dan Wagner volunteered to review existing drafts and assemble a proposed structure for basic RPG data collection. That was accomplished and reviewed with Bob Walden and Bob Buddemeier. The second draft is awaiting broader review.
Radio network plans: Dan Curtis and Bob Walden drafted a description of RPG Emergency radio network plans and needs, That has gone through multiple review stages and is ready for submission to RVM Admin as a basis for overall communication system development.
Disaster (preparedness) Guide: A zoom meeting of the co-chairs with the tower building coordinators (Jim Macmillan, Gary Jensen, Teddie Hight) and the Facilities Team (Scott Wetenkamp and Ken Kelley) was held to start exploring the question of what support and information the coordinators need to do their jobs. A major point of agreement was the desirability of a concise, well-organized and easily accessible guide to disaster preparation and response. The intended characteristics of the product are:
- Topics addressed in one-sheet (2 sides) format, designed to be a web-based set of linked documents that can be printed on demand, either as individual handouts or as a booklet (ca 20 pp).
- Supporting and more detailed information will be linked in the web version, printable, and referenced by source or URL in the printed version.
- A living document, with each section identified individually and as part of the whole so that updates can be made and documented as appropriate without requiring total revision.
- A practical orientation to RVM residents and their situations — specifying what to get or do, why, how, and where.
- Initial drafts will be stand-alone, based on standard advice adapted for RVM; plans and guidance from RVM will be linked and integrated as they become available.
Production: The structure of the /rpg and /prepare pages of The Complement will be modified (over the course of January 2021) to facilitate review of and access to the develping documents. We envision moving through 4 stages — in preparation, draft for review (primarily on the /rpg page, and involving primarily RPG and RVM personnel engaged in preparedness activities), followed by beta review and accepted phases (on the /prepare page), where residents in general will be encouraged to use the material and provide feedback.
We will explicitly request reviews by Administration for the purpose of keeping procedures and objectives aligned as we develop the individual components of what must become a single system.
Upcoming Issues:
- Mid-April (6 months after the October Great Shakeout exercise) is the time tentatively targeted for a suite of Preparedness Awareness events (displays, programs, information and supply updates, etc.). We should be planning for this (RVM and RPG jointly, as discussed at the meeting prior to last year’s Great Shakeout) by Februaryt at the latest, which means that it is time to start identifying participants and themes.
- RPG organization — As the RVM preparedness effort continues, it is time to settle on an organizatonal structure for RPG (and in the process, a relationship to the Residents Council organization) so that there is a basis for clear understanding of how the necessary interactions will be carried out. Discussions will be initiated in the near future.
November 2020 Activities
by Bob Buddemeier (with Bob Walden)
This “article” consists of three components: an update on important developments concerning Emergency and Disaster Preparedness at RVM; comments (“editorial”) on their significance and Residents’ Preparedness Group plans; and a brief summary of RPG’s status and activities.
- Developments – on November 23rd, Bob Walden and Bob Buddemeier (RPG co-chairs) met with Executive Director Stan Solmonson and Assistant Executive Director Alexander Ben-Israel to discuss preparedness and emergency responses at RVM. Stan announced a program, to be headed by Alexander, that would develop a comprehensive preparedness and response plan at RVM. The effort is in the early stages of formation so that there is not yet an organizational structure or schedule, but Stan said that he expected completion within a year.
It was also stated that RPG would be a component of the development activities, and would be brought into the effort as soon as the organization was in place. There were a number of further outcomes of the discussion. It was agreed that we could anticipate situations, both in preparations and in response, when resident action would be needed to supplement RVM efforts. Stan emphasized that he wanted a single, integrated program, including both RVM staff and resident efforts. Other subjects were the challenges resulting from RVM’s unique population and the need for both training and exercises to ensure the reliability of any action plan.
- Commentary (BB and BW) – We consider this an extremely important and favorable development in terms of our goal of improving resident emergency preparedness, and we are looking forward to participating in the effort. As experience has shown, the RPG network can provide an extremely important communication link between residents in general and RVM Administration.
Functioning effectively as part of a larger system will require a more structured RPG management and operations system, as well as further development of present activities and plans. We will be restructuring the Complement pages devoted to preparedness in order to make them more user-friendly for submission of questions and suggestions, and for review of the documents and plans being developed. We will also be contacting coordinators and other volunteers to solicit input and additional participation.
- RPG: Goals and current activities – RPG sees its mission as support for RVM operations, including backup of and replacement for activities that RVM may not be able to carry out adequately. This results in a focus on resident interactions, especially at the level of cottage neighborhoods and high-rise floors. The RPG system of geographically assigned coordinators (https://thecomplement.info/2020/06/30/how-it-works-organization-and-operation/) provides a system for communication with and among residents; linking this with the developing RVM communication system is needed for comprehensive emergency preparedness and response.
3.1 Coordinators are reaching out to become acquainted with individuals in their neighborhoods, to encourage a sense of community in local areas, and to develop an information base that will serve everybody well in the event of an emergency/disaster. In addition to providing the information needed to assess and promote preparedness, available information about things such as access to transportation, pets, handicaps, special skills or supplies, etc. can pinpoint those who may need assistance and those who can provide it in the event of an emergency.
3.2 Preparation resources: Most generic preparedness information does not take into account the age and condition of the individual, the nature of their community, or the specifics of their environment. In addition, the diversity of topics and volume of information can be overwhelming. We are working on providing locally-appropriate, RVM-relevant, manageable information resources on what to do, why, and how to do it. These are derived from materials published by government agencies and NGOs, with editing and formatting to adapt them for use at a retirement community. Examples may be found at https://thecomplement.info/prepare/.3.3 Infrastructure and program development: Examples of activities, completed, in progress, or planned.
- Communication (specific) – an emergency response radio network has been designed and tested. It awaits equipment, after which coordinator training will be initiated.
- Communication (general) – Various approaches have achieved some success: lectures, displays, postings and emails, etc. Mailing lists have been established for subsets of people (coordinators, residents of neighborhoods and areas), etc. The establishment of The Complement has not only opened up easier access for the general community, but it also provides a semiprivate page for RPG “business” and development work (https://thecomplement.info/rpg/).
- Response supplies and training – our Medical Team has developed a list of recommended supplies to be stored at the Area or Neighborhood level, and has also arranged for training (since suspended due to covid restrictions). Evaluation of proposed forms and procedures for both neighborhood preparation and post-event evaluation is in progress.
These and other activities will be developed for effective integration into the overall RVM preparedness plan.
Questions? Suggestions? Email rpgrvm@gmail.com.
Pandemic-fire evacuation-more pandemic-next (Patrick McDonald)
Look what you’ve unleashed!! Great fun. (Connie Kent)
2020 apocalyptic Bingo card full yet? (Ronald Constable)
Down upside feel world the doesn’t? (Dale Lohman)
Covid ? RVM= shelter from the storm (Pratibha Eastwood)
It appears that RVM (PRS) may be getting serious about Emergency Preparedness. Appointing the Assistant Director to head up the effort is a good step.