s
s
Sections
Sections
Sections
Sections
Subscribe

Petaluma’s Neighborhood HamWatch Network is Still Active

Almost a decade ago, this blog site initiated a category titled, "Emergency Preparedness" which now consists of over 130 blogs. The various posts trace how the Petaluma CERT program (Community Emergency Preparedness Teams) could help neighborhoods become better prepared and ready to cope with a major earthquake such as an [...]

By | July 13th, 2016|0 Comments

When All Else Fails …

Although Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we all have expressed our "thanks" for various reasons: families, good health, friendly neighbors, and meaningful jobs; there is one community group of emergency preparedness volunteers that I'm thankful for - amateur radio operators who volunteer to establish an effective communications network when [...]

By | November 28th, 2015|0 Comments

How Does Sonoma County Communicate?

On September 1st., the beginning of National Emergency Preparedness Month, the Sonoma County Radio Amateurs sponsored a panel presentation and discussion devoted to how Sonoma County will be able to communicate when a major disaster (like an earthquake) occurs and most normal communication systems are inoperable. The following amateur radio [...]

By | September 5th, 2015|0 Comments

Are You Ready and Prepared to Communicate?

Today's blog is based upon several Emergency Preparedness blogs from 2110, 2011, and 2012. Almost ten years ago, on October 12, 2006, a "Special Report" video titled, Emergency Preparedness-Can Sonoma County Communicate? was produced by the Clearstream Media Group. Panel members included the Deputy Emergency Services Coordinator for Sonoma County, [...]

By | August 19th, 2015|0 Comments

Emergency Communications – At The Neighborhood Level

My twilight moment on May 1st, once again, dealt with emergency communications, when all normal sources of power (especially electricity) fail due to a local emergency or disaster. Most government EOCs (Emergency Operation Centers) and non-profit groups who maintain emergency networks (Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Amateur Radio Emergency Services [...]

By | May 2nd, 2015|0 Comments

Calling All Ham Radio Operators – 2015

Several years ago, volunteer neighborhood emergency response teams in Petaluma promoted the use of amateur radio operators (Hams) as communicators when most normal communication tools might be inoperable due to a major disaster and the loss of power. One of my earlier blogs, "Calling All Hams," was posted on January [...]

By | January 30th, 2015|0 Comments

How Many Senior Citizens Are Amateur Radio Operators?

For some reason I can't keep  Emergency Preparedness concerns out of my mind; especially the role that Hams or FCC licensed Amateur Radio Operators might play in the event of a major earthquake disaster. That question caused me to wake up at midnight this morning was, "How many Hams in Petaluma [...]

By | October 22nd, 2014|0 Comments

Earthquakes – Where’s Our Focus?

Two earthquake related events took place this past week. Thursday was the annual Great California ShakeOut Day, and Friday was the 25th Anniversary of the Loma Prieta quake (1989). The focus of the Great ShakeOut was to help people to "Be Ready & Prepared" for a major  shake, which included [...]

By | October 18th, 2014|0 Comments

Earlier Emergency Preparedness Blogs

As we approach the annual California Great ShakeOut Day on October 16th, remember to DUCK-COVER-HOLD when an earthquake strikes. Also check out these earlier Emergency Preparedness blogs listed in the August 24, 2014 blog titled, "It's Not a Question of IF, But WHEN?" They explain WHY it is important to [...]

By | October 11th, 2014|0 Comments

Looking Back to 2005 and 2011

Note: The following blog was originally posted October 2005, and titled, The Spirit of PetalumaNet is still Alive. Within weeks of Hurricane Katrina, PetalumaNet announced the NERT concept (Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams) on an Internet TV show titled, “Emergency Readiness – Can Sonoma County Communicate?” (10-19-2005) One of NERT’s mission [...]

By | October 22nd, 2012|0 Comments