|
To provide information for the community, especially in times of crisis. DSV-Disaster Support Volunteers Inc.
(DSV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization that was established in response to the fire season of
2002, during which our mountain community in the foothills west of
Denver, Colorado was directly affected by 5 major forest fires, including
the LARGEST fire, Hayman, which ever hit the state of Colorado.
We found that our
neighbors that were in the path of the Hayman, Black Mtn, Snaking and
other fires – either evacuated or notified to prepare to evacuate
– had little or no information. The metro area media could not meet the
needs of the mountain community. Our volunteers with scanners provided current
information to those affected thru discussion board posting (on
Pinecam.com) of the
movement of the fire and provided vital communications to hundreds of
folks through the chat room associated with Pinecam.com. These volunteers provided a sense of
peace in those affected – knowledge is a vital tool.
These efforts have continued on the DSV forums and chat room, and DSV has provided the most consistent, timely and accurate scanner reports in our area since 2003. We found that information explaining how to mitigate the threat of forest fires, floods, and other disasters, and thus reduce the consequences, was difficult to find. Through the DSV website we provide information and links to information to assist in increasing public awareness and community preparedness. We found that there are many individuals who are willing and able to assist in a disaster situation who are unable or unwilling to dedicate the time necessary to become associated with organizations such as the American Red Cross or Intermountain Humane Society, which appropriately require their volunteers to be specially trained and to make commitments which many of us are unable to make. These individuals can be a very valuable asset in a disaster situation, as long as their efforts are coordinated to fit in with the overall plan, and they do not arrive on-scene uninvited, thus unintentionally making an already difficult situation even worse. DSV started building a database of this type of volunteers to assist in a wide array of services, both during disasters and during community events. The services we were looking for included collection of supplies; distribution of collected supplies; assistance of electronics/communications/computer technicians/mechanics/HAM radio operators; scanner monitors; assistance at local events of other organizations, etc. We
also found that resources for our
Emergency Responders can be quickly exhausted by large incidents or a
large number of smaller incidents. It is the emergency volunteers
who are the first responders; our area Volunteer Fire Departments,
Volunteer Rescue, Victims Assistance, etc. Many
of these organizations work strictly on volunteers and donations from
their communities and may not be fully prepared for disasters
on the scale of the Hayman Fire. Some of the activities of DSV 2003 We helped out during the March blizzard, worked with Hawg Heads on the motorcycle run, from which we received the proceeds, thanks to Jim Faucett, and assisted with the Platte Canyon Rescue Service, Inc. (PCRS) Race to the Rescue, the burro races in Fairplay and Leadville, and Conifair. 2004 In January a number of DSV volunteers attended the shelter training class hosted by EVOAD and presented by the Red Cross, to become prepared to open and maintain shelters in the event they are needed for any crisis in our area, and In April we submitted our Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. On May 4 we participated in a re-organizational meeting of MCDC (Mountain Communities Disaster Council) at which it was decided to rename the organization MCVOAD (Mountain Communities Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster). See Meeting Minutes for details. On May 12 three DSV volunteers attended a training class to become prepared to present part of the MCVOAD Emergency Preparedness program, in cooperation with Jefferson County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management, local fire departments, the American Red Cross, and the Intermountain Humane Society. This program is modeled after the Homeland Security CERT program. Look for more information on Emergency Preparedness on our main page. In June we received approval of our Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. On June 19, in conjunction with the Park County Radio Club (PCRC), we again assisted Platte Canyon Rescue Service, Inc. (PCRS) with their Race to the Rescue. In July, in accordance with our Vision to assist others in the community, we agreed to create and maintain a website for MCVOAD. On
July 25, we assisted Park County Radio Club (PCRC) with providing
communications to assure the safety of the racers involved in the
Fairplay Burro race, and on August 8, we assisted PCRC with providing
communications to assure the safety of the racers involved in the
Leadville Burro race. As a member of MCVOAD we have committed to providing Amateur Radio communications at the new MRC communications center during major incidents, in cooperation with ARES® Districts 6 and 23. To avoid taking existing ARES® members from their positions during these incidents, additional DSV volunteers have become licensed Amateur Radio operators, and we welcome additional Amateur Radio operators, either already licensed or willing to become licensed, to assist in this area. 2005 In accordance with our Vision of helping each other where we can, in March/April we agreed to create and maintain a website for Amateur Radio Emergency Service® District 6 (ARES® D6), serving Park, Chaffee, and Lake counties. On April 23 we assisted MCVOAD in a presentation to current and potential MCVOAD resource members, to better coordinate the efforts of all organizations and thus better serve the needs of the community. On May 14 we participated in the Tomahawk Fire training exercise conducted by ARES® Districts 6 and 23, Jefferson County Incident Management Team, Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center, Jeffco HEAT, and multiple fire districts and other organizations for the purpose of improving the response capabilities of all organizations involved. Jack (WØDSV) and Sharon (NØDSV) from DSV participated as Radio Operators. On June 18 Jack (WØDSV) participated in the Fire Truck Muster hosted by Littleton Fire Rescue as Radio Operator. On June 25 DSV sponsored the PCRS Race to the Rescue, and helped provide volunteers to stage the event. We also shared a booth at Bailey Day with PCRC. On July 31 Jack (WØDSV) and Sharon (NØDSV) assisted Park County Radio Club (PCRC) with providing communications to assure the safety of the racers involved in the Fairplay Burro race, and on August 7, we assisted PCRC with providing communications to assure the safety of the racers involved in the Leadville Burro race. On September 17 Jack (WØDSV) assisted PCRC in providing communications for the Kiwanis sponsored 3rd grade reading event at the Rainbow Round-up Trout Farm. On September 24 - 25 Jack and Sharon and some DSV volunteers assisted with the Pinecam sponsored clean-up of 285. 2006 DSV continued active participation on the Steering Committee of MCVOAD, with the PCRS Race to the Rescue, Bailey Day, Fairplay and Leadville Burro Races, Conifair, and Conifer Christmas Parade. DSV became a National Preparedness Month coalition member. Jack met with Judy Peratt, Jefferson County Director of Emergency Management, and Greg Moser, Jefferson County Plans, Training and Exercise Coordinator, to discuss our proposal for coordination of Spontaneous Uninvited Volunteers (SUVs). They expressed interest, but their emergency planning had not yet reached the stage where it would be appropriate to go into the subject in detail. Sharon (NØDSV) was elected President of PCRC, and Jack (WØDSV) was elected Vice-President. Jack completed several courses in Mitigation, Volunteer Management, and Preparedness. 2007 DSV continued active participation on the Steering Committee of MCVOAD, with Bailey Day and Fairplay and Leadville Burro Races, National Preparedness Month and Conifer Christmas Parade. Sharon and Jack were re-elected as officers of PCRC. Jack and Sharon upgraded to General Class Amateur Radio Licenses. Jack completed Citizens Emergency Response Training (CERT) in Denver. And of course, DSV continued to
provide awareness, mitigation, and preparedness information on our
forums.
2008 DSV continued active participation in Bailey Day and Fairplay and Leadville
Burro Races, National Preparedness Month and Conifer Christmas Parade.
Participation on the Steering Committee of MCVOAD by other
organizations declined to the point where Jack and Sharon were the only
meeting attendees, and the meetings were discontinued.
Sharon and Jack were re-elected as
officers of PCRC.
2009 Jack met with Park County Director of Emergency Management Lori
Hodges to discuss our proposal
for coordination of Spontaneous Unaffilliated Volunteers (SUVs) and
donations management. The timing was good as Park County is currently
working on volunteer and donations management. Following this meeting,
the DSV Board re-analyzed the resources we currently have or anticipate
being able to get in order to be sure that we could properly perform
these activities in a disaster. The conclusion was that
adequate resources are not available, and at the Annual
Meeting the Board reluctantly decided to stop pursuing our goals
regarding volunteer and donations management, and concentrate on
providing information to the community as best we can with the resources
available. Jack upgraded to Amateur Extra Class Amateur Radio License. Following
unsuccessful attempts to re-energize interest in MCVOAD, it was decided
to not renew the domain name registration for the MCVOAD website when it
expires.
Sharon and Jack were re-elected as
officers of PCRC.
Current
Structure of DSV We
are constantly striving to provide a better service to the community,
and welcome your comments/suggestions. Please feel free to make
positive (i.e., constructive) comments on our forums, join us in our chat rooms, send
email to jack_frank@disastersupportvolunteers.com,
or regular mail to Disaster Support Volunteers, PO Box 120, Conifer, CO 80433-0120.
Please feel free to volunteer to assist us in any area!
DSV Board of Directors
Web Site - webmaster@disastersupportvolunteers.com DSV, Inc. Business Questions - jack_frank@disastersupportvolunteers.com Mailing Address
|
|
