Community Preparedness

[Book of Ruth]

Several of the stakes and even the cities around my area of Northern Utah, Southern Idaho have bolstered their community preparedness within their stakes and wards, CERT in the communities, and communications. We've had a MAJOR push with money from the church and money from government grants coming to us. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have any experience in preparing communities and what is most important?

[BlueRain]

Here in Washington State, the church has urged the members to get their Ham radio licence. They have invested a lot of money in antennas so members can communicate with each other throughout Western Washington with radios.

[Mahonri]

and money from government grants coming to us.

That is interesting. Can you tell me more about this? The government is giving people money to get stuff, or giving it to the Church, or...?

[Book of Ruth]

The government grant money that we received is for ham radio's and a disaster trailer full of supplies. I live in a rural community that is not incorporated. The communications through the church has been big with money to fund ham radio's and communication as well. I know that an Idaho stake received money specifically for communications, and the nets (check in with ham radio) have been being pushed for every ward and stake to check in with the bishop's storehouse in our area.

There as also been a HUGE push for as many community members as possible to be certified in CERT, and that is not cheap, along with paying for first aid and CPR classes.

Personally, the calling of "Emergency Preparedness Specialist" in our ward used to be somewhat of an "optional" thing, meaning that people that often do not fulfill their callings to the extent that they could be done held these callings. That is absolutely NOT the case anymore. These are highly trained, highly motivated people called to these positions within our ward and stake.

Is this the case for anyone else, or is it just our area?

[Mahonri]

it was for us in Washington, not so much here in UT.

Again, sorry, but I am unclear. Was the government money going to people directly or was it going to the Church and then out?

[durangout]

it was for us in Washington, not so much here in UT.

Again, sorry, but I am unclear. Was the government money going to people directly or was it going to the Church and then out?

That's surprising that you say not in UT because in my stake at least it is as exactly above (i.e. they are pushing hams communication, CERT, block captain program...)

[Mahonri]

which Ward/Stake are you in in Draper? I know some folks out there and there Ward wasn't doing squat either

[BroJones]

Here in Sanpete, it seems to be a function largely of the motivation provided by the Bishop.

In our ward, the Bishop set aside five weeks for a special class on preparedness, taught by several in the ward. This was during Sunday School and people could choose which class to attend (Gospel Doctrine or preparing) -- so many chose the latter that they moved us to the Relief Society room, and it was generally packed. I taught the class on solar cooking, again approved by the Bishop. (This took place last winter, January-Feb as I recall.)

A friend in Mt Pleasant, same Stake, said he wished his Bishop would do something like this, but alas...

[BroJones]

I should add that in our town now, we have Jim Phillips, Keith Chandler, Mike Tullis and Jack Monnett -- to name a few that some of you will have heard of...

I think our community as a whole is getting better prepared. Most of us have back-up wood-burning stoves, for example.
All through the town, it is perfectly legal to ride 4-wheelers on the streets (except for a few blocks down main street near the post office) -- and I do, along with many others. Lots of fun. Hardy folks.

[Mahonri]

I know of a Ward in Mesa, AZ that has done the same thing Dr. As part of the preparedness class, they even had some lessons on the Constitution

[Nan]

Our ward and stake aren't doing anything in the physical preparedness area. Not a focus at all here. But our bishop just did a combined relief society and priesthood on youth and pornography. 9 out of 10 young men are using it in our stake. So I feel there is a focus on being worthy. Which is important too.

[Henmasher]

Our ward and stake aren't doing anything in the physical preparedness area. Not a focus at all here. But our bishop just did a combined relief society and priesthood on youth and pornography. 9 out of 10 young men are using it in our stake. So I feel there is a focus on being worthy. Which is important too.

Where do you get a number like that? Is your bishop giving statistics of confessions now?

[Book of Ruth]

The people within the community are getting the grant for the community. The church is not getting the grants. The church is providing their own funds for community preparedness.

It sounds like communication is pretty big in a lot of areas. I know that throughout Idaho they really want a relay ham radio connection I believe all the way to Ogden.

[Henmasher]

The people within the community are getting the grant for the community. The church is not getting the grants. The church is providing their own funds for community preparedness.

It sounds like communication is pretty big in a lot of areas. I know that throughout Idaho they really want a relay ham radio connection I believe all the way to Ogden.

To me the point would be to relay to the mother land

[prew]

Here in Cache Valley, Utah, I took the CERT classes and got certified. I now carry a CERT card. I took my certificate and receipt to my city offices and got reimbursed for the class fees.

I think that it was important for me to take. I mainly took it because of the possibility of an earthquake in this area is great.

One thing of interest that I learned that refers to the fight for freedom, occurred in the section called Terrorism.

The instructor for this lesson was a retired police officer. Basically, it started out with the definition of a terrorist activity. Then the lesson described types of terrorist weapons of mass destruction and finally what CERT personal can do for those situations.

Once the instructor gave the definition of terrorist activity I questioned the instructor. Because the definition didn't fit the examples that he provided. Of all the examples only one fit the description of a terrorist activity. The only one that fit was the famous 9/11 attack on the towers. The reason it fit was that it cased a change in social , economic laws; because it caused the patriot act to be pasted.

Hehe, thinking back to that night; the instructor wasn't expecting anyone to talk about it. After trying to explain my thinking (I am a bad public speaker) we finally agreed to go on with the lesson.

When the lesson got to the part about what a CERT person was to do at a terrorist attack scene; I was validated in my reasoning about the past terrorist activities. Basically, CERT personal can not enter the scene and are used to help civilians stay away from the scene. The reason: 1. unknown substances for the weapon of mass destruction. 2. It is a CRIME SCENE.

In other words, terrorist are treated as criminals.
GO GO
War on Terror
er
War on Criminals
...

[pjbrownie]

Man, I'd be careful with CERT.

Our company's CERT person told of how they were taught to defer their attention to emergency response with the boys with the guns and helmets showed up--to defer it all to them. I know what that means but I also know what that means.

[durangout]

Man, I'd be careful with CERT.

Our company's CERT person told of how they were taught to defer their attention to emergency response with the boys with the guns and helmets showed up--to defer it all to them. I know what that means but I also know what that means.

I didn't understand your post. Please explain.

Our steak has requested 10 persons per ward become CERT certified.