November 2009 Citizen Corps Council meeting minutes

New Castle County Citizen Corps Council
November 4, 2009 Agenda
Posted at http://ncccitizencorps.blogspot.com/

• Welcome and introductions
Those in attendance (in order of sign in): Richard Jester CPAW, Marissa Favata ESC/NCCOEM, Jessi Schimmel ESC/NCCOEM, Elizabeth Lee Roberts CPAW, Shirley Pierce CPAW, Linda Seltzer CPAW, Bobbie Merrill ACP, Bill Wheatley CPAW, Michele Tiberi Jenkins Whethersfield Block Watch, Brian Bannon NCCOEM, Lt. Gerry Donovan NCC Police, Dave Carpenter Jr. NCCOEM, Robbie McCray NCC Communication Corps.

• Review and approval of July 2009 meeting minutes
o Approved as presented

• NCC Citizen Corps update
o December CERT class December 10 and 11
o FY 2008 funding status, FY 2007 expenditures
• FY 2008 award has been received for $20,000. This money will be available in early 2010
• FY 2007 funds $8,000 are nearly exhausted

o Red Cross Damage Assessment – The New Castle County Citizen Corps has partnered with the American Red Cross Delmarva Chapter to offer a Disaster Assessment Team (DAT) training program. This is an opportunity for a series of training classes with the goal of creating a deployable team to assess damage in New Castle County in a time of disaster. For more information go to:
o http://ncccitizencorps.blogspot.com/2009/10/disaster-assessment-team-announced.html

• Discussion about services for the hearing impaired
o State preparedness video with subtitles (closed captioning) – Bob George from DEMA advised that he can provide this on disc to interested parties.
• Bob discussed the need for a coordinated media kit to kickoff an initiative to reach out to those with disabilities.
• The group discussed the need to coordinate and leverage existing programs, services, and systems in this outreach campaign.
• The state Disabilities Council was identified as a likely partner to assist with this effort.

o Bill Wheatley from CPAW provided the group with information about hearing disabilities and the group discussed targeting a preparedness message to people with all types of disabilities. The information presented by Mr. Wheatley can be found here:
Transportation Security Administration
• http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1380.shtm
Hearing Loss Association of Delaware:
• http://www.hlade.org/emergency-kit.htm
NOAA Weather Radio Information for those with Hearing Difficulties:
• http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/users/wood/public_html/NWR/spc-nds-nwr.html
Delmarva Power Emergency Medical Equipment Notification Program
• http://www.delmarva.com/home/requests/special/

• Discussion about public notification and warning
o Brian Bannon discussed the procedures used by the County to notify the public of protective actions (shelter in place or evacuate).
o The Delaware Emergency Notification System (DENS) was discussed. DENS is a computerized phone, voice notification system. DENS captures the entire E-911 database, including unlisted numbers. DENS does not have cell phones unless/until the user registers at the DENS website: https://alertregistration.com/dema/
o The County has a similar, redundant system called Reverse 911. Reverse 911 notifications do not currently include unlisted numbers in the database.
o Bob George discussed the possibility of using Nixle, a free internet based notification system. The State is currently investigating this system.

• Open group discussion
o Welcome to Bobbie Merrill from the First State Association of Contingency Planners (ACP). The Citizen Corps Council has extended an invitation to the First State ACP to join our group. This would offer an opportunity for Citizen Corps to partner with private sector businesses in New Castle County.

o There was a discussion about the Child Care Provider emergency planning outreach and training initiative conducted by DEMA, Delaware Citizen Corps, the Office of Child Care Licensing, New Castle County OEM, and Retired Senior Volunteer Program. This program is in the pilot phase and will be rolled out throughout the winter and into 2010.

o VIPS
• Lt. Donovan from the NCC Police advised that there are two new VIPS volunteers assigned to clerical and administrative support duties for the County Police. They are assigned to Research and development, Criminal Investigations, and Community Services.

o Communication Corps
• Robbie McCray advised that Communication Corps is in need of outreach and promotional materials to recruit members and increase awareness. Citizen Corps funds will be directed to this need.
• There will be an Amateur radio course in 2010. This course is a 4-day commitment of time. Successful completion will allow the attendee to be FCC licensed to use amateur radio equipment.
• New Castle County Communication Corps is an umbrella organization operating under the umbrella of New Castle County Citizen Corps. For details go to: http://ncccommcorps.blogspot.com/
• Robbie McCray offered an overview of the mobile communications vehicle, MCU37. Details about the capabilities of this vehicle can be found here: http://www.armymars.net/ArmyMARS/MCU/index.html

o CPAW - for details check out: http://www.cpawde.org/
• Bill Wheatley advised that CPAW continues to patrol communities in coordination and cooperation with the County and State police.
• CPAW is working on enhanced patrols of the parks
• CPAW is raising funds for the County Police Mounted Patrol Unit
• CPAW volunteers have received their T-shirts purchased with Citizen Corps funds, with the New Castle County Citizen Corps logo on the sleeve.

o Delaware Citizen Corps
• Bob George reminded everyone to forward information on activities and accomplishments to the New Castle County Office of Emergency Management so that they can be included in the Delaware Citizen Corps report to the Federal Government.

• Set action items and agenda for next meeting
o The next meeting will be at Delaware Technical & Community College, Stanton Campus on December 18th at 10:00 am. Everyone is asked to check in at the security desk for the exact location.

• Adjourn