Berwyn Heights Emergency Response Trailer & Program
FULLY FUNDED BY THE TOWN AND IT'S CITIZENS
One trailer, a dedicated group of people and a whole bunch of emergency supplies equals EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS for Berwyn Heights
Disaster Planning not new to Berwyn Heights.
Since before the tragedy of September 11, 2001 the little town of Berwyn Heights had been working on an Emergency Preparedness program, however that fateful day lit the fuse on a program that has grown to be a model for other municipalities and has made Berwyn Heights a recognized leader in Municipal Emergency Preparedness within the State of Maryland.
Shortly after September 11th, Berwyn Heights acquired a 24’ trailer to house emergency supplies and equipment that could be used to set up a temporary shelter that could also provide electricity to citizens on electrical medical devices. The trailer also contains equipment such as chainsaws, hand pulleys and rope to aid citizens in clearing debris from roadways and to assist professional first-responders in gaining access to affected areas. There is also a supply of canopies, safety cones, field stretchers, backboards, hundreds of blankets, communications equipment, first-aid equipment and more to establish a medical triage-treatment and casualty evacuation area, a sanitation area, and a volunteer holding area. There are extra lanterns and batteries, and safety equipment for volunteers that unexpectedly arrive, and emergency supplies of water. The list of supplies and the town’s emergency capabilities goes on.
Charged with providing these services is the Berwyn Heights Emergency Response Team, a volunteer group of concerned citizens that have undertaken the task of preparing and training for man-made and natural disasters. The Team is comprised of both emergency response and service volunteers. Service volunteers will concentrate on supervising volunteer crews in removing debris from roadways, assisting in shelter operations and distributing supplies. The Emergency Response members have completed the FEMA Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and will provide initial intelligence to the town council, engage in light search and rescue, provide first-aid, and other disaster related activities until professional first-responders are available.
It has taken years of dedicated planning and hard work by a handful of volunteers that began as the Emergency Preparedness Committee. Former Mayor and Council Member Ron Shane who also served as the chairman of the committee and the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Town Council, a volunteer position. “I have a great group of people working with me and cannot take credit for everything we have accomplished. It may have been my vision from the start, however without the support of the Team, and the cooperation of several Town Councils over the years, none of this could have happened” remarked Shane.
Calvin Hawkins, Assistant Director of the Prince Georges Department of Emergency Management credits Berwyn Heights with not only being the first in the county to establish such a program, but also with fundamental assistance in establishing the CERT program within the county. “Berwyn Heights has been assisting us in many ways. Their website constantly provides us with new recruits to the CERT program from all over the county, and their members have repeatedly assisted in presentations to other municipalities and in CERT training segments. Last September, Berwyn Heights conducted an Emergency Preparedness Seminar for Municipal Officials throughout the county. Ron and his team are an important asset to the county in more ways than one.”
Shane indicated that as more municipalities begin programs and obtain capabilities such a Berwyn Heights’, that it would be practical for a county wide Municipal Mutual Aid agreement to take shape. “We saw the horrible situation that resulted from Katrina, and we need to learn from the mistakes made. We take emergency preparedness seriously in Berwyn Heights, and feel that municipalities have a serious obligation to their citizens. We may never have enough to do everything, but we certainly will be able to relieve a lot of suffering if a disaster strikes here. It’s simply neighbors helping neighbors,” said Shane. Berwyn Heights serves as the preparedness model for municipalities state wide.
What is in the trailer?
To put it simply, we have tried to prepare for as many circumstances that our training will permit. We know that our proximity to the train tracks, highways, creek, flood plain, and airlanes means that we could expect any sort of situation that they imply.
Our trailer, once emptied can be used as a medical facility, a command center or shelter if need be. The contents of the trailer are divided into components such as Command Center, Shelter, Debris Removal, Communications, Medical, Light Search and Rescue, Sanitation, and Power. In each of these components the trailer has necessary equipment and supplies to set up, operate and provide assistance.
Command Center: We can provide electrical, computer, lighting and communications. Our members are trained in reconnaissance, data gathering and other support services necessary for the government to make educated decissions for the community in emergency situations
Shelter: We can provide electrical service, temporary shelter, cots, water, blankets and supportive services such as intellegence and data gathering.
Debris Removal: To facilitate emergency responders ability to gain access to our community, we have an ample supply of chain saws, ropes and pulleys to remove debris from our streets.
Communications: We have generators and batteries for power as well as trained members in HAM radios to maintain communications with County and State agencies when needed. We also have several different types of handheld radios to allow us communications between team members, the command center and our local police department. We als have the capability to provide recharging of batteries when normal power is disrupted.
Power and Lighting: The trailer has a variety of lighting options including hand held battery lanterns and electrical halogen lighting. We are capable of providing area lighting for a field, building or shelter. We have generators, junction boxes, and hundreds of feet of power cords.
Sanitation: Our trailer has the capability of providing sanitation to the degree of segregating human and medical waste, providing potable water and establishing a minimum latrine service in emergency situations.
Light Search and Rescue: The trailer has supplies to suppliment the efforts of our Community Emergency Response Team as well as to outfit spontaneou volunteers with hard hats, coveralls, goggles, vests, and gloves. We have ropes, pulleys, shovels, saws, crowbars and other tools needed for forced entry, patient recovery and transportation, includingportable and collapseable streatchers and First-Aid supplies.
Medical: Our trailer has the capability of setting up a triage and light medical treatment area. We have tables, cots, blankets, sterile water, bandages, and a wide variety of first-aid supplies.
Volunteer Registration and Holding area: In any disaster situation, volunteers and civic minded citizens will arive to help out. Without the proper registration, and control of personnel the inavoidable situation of volunteers becoming injured is a reality. Our trailer has the capability of setting up a volunteer registration area, and more importantly a holding area for volunteers so that once people are registered, that they can be utilized by the various agencies support rescue efforts. We try to match volunteer capabilities and desires with requirements of the agencies requesting their assistance.
