Notes on the VCVOAD meeting of 1/21/2009 
 

Meeting was called to order at 0900 by Vice-chair, Elaine Martinez-Curry in the Conference/Training room of the American Red Cross office at 836 Calle Plano, Camarillo. 

Chris Johnson,  CEO of the Red Cross of Ventura County welcomed everyone to the newly remodeled facility and invited everyone to tour the new Chapter Headquarters. 

Elaine introduced Ms. Laura Hernandez,  Ventura County Sherriff’s  Office of Emergency Service (OES).  Ms. Hernandez gave a power point presentation on the County OES.  Discussions included the following points:

• Ventura County Emergency Planning Council (EPC).  VCVOAD president Connie Hall is a member with Ed Lamb (SBC) as alternate.
• The roll of the Sherriff as the Operational Area Coordinator in emergencies.
• The roll of the OES in Management of the County Disaster Plan and the Operational Area Coordinator.
• The State OES and the State Homeland Security have merged as of 1/1/09 into the Calif. Emergency Management Agency, CALMEA.
• Discussed the County participation in the “Golden Guardian” statewide earthquake exercise.  A 7.8 magnitude earthquake that originated in the Salton Sea and hit Ventura County at 1002 AM.
• Some of the lessons learned from the exercise was:
• Communications was a major problem both internal in the EOC and between the EOC and the DOC’s
• Use of the Internet.  Needed WiFi access for laptops. Document sharing was a problem. Web access in the EOC.
• Back-up communications;  Satellite,  Radio (ACS), & OASIS (State Satellite Net)
• The EOC design needs improvement to allow operations personnel to better maintain situational awareness.  Better Display Boards.  Mapping displays.  Video broadcast and T.V.
• EOC Operational Procedures need work.
• Training on the EOC before an emergency not OJT during.

• What Worked during the exercise:
• The Joint Information Center  (JIC) worked well
• ACS (Ham Radio) did an outstanding job.
• Coordination with the EOC of COG Plans.
• Had Good Teamwork
• More training needed in EOC
• Support for WebEOC
• Goals for 2009
• More EOC training and Team Development
• Web EOC Acquisition and Implementation
• Improvements in Communications, EOC Design, Equipment.

Elaine talked about the VCVOAD  email drill we had in December ’08 and the responses that were received. 

Elaine passed out the VCVOAD flowchart, updated 11/17/08,  showing the Organizations and their capabilities in sheltering and feeding. 

Copies of the Resource form was passed out to all present.  It was requested that it be filled out and returned by February 20, ’09  so that we can have a complete resource book of all agencies by the next meeting. 

Treasurers Report.   David Kaiser reported that we had $226 in the treasury.  A payment of  $40.  was sent to SCVOAD. 

Our  COOP plan was discussed.  A reminder to all agencies to review the plan.  And Do you have a COOP for your agency? 

Long Term Recovery in Santa Barbara from the Tea Fire.  The United Way web site has a lot of information on Long Term Recovery. 

FEMA is sending out Email updates to Connie on disasters to so that she will know what is going on and what the response is to specific requests for FEMA assistance. 

VCVOAD Goals for 2009:

• Put together some committees to work on Long Term Recovery plan,  update our COOP plan and the Resource List.
• Technical committee for our new web site update.  (www.vcvoad.org)
• Have COOP Plan include a list of member.

Introductions and comments were made around the room. 

Dave Brats requested to know if the members would like to continue to meet at the Red Cross or at our old location, the Camarillo Police Station.  It was moved and seconded that we meet at the Red Cross in Camarillo.   Motion carried unanimously. 

Next meeting is March 19, 2009,  0900 at the Red Cross office in Camarillo. 

Meeting adjourned at 1120. 

David Kaiser.

Treasurer VCVOAD

Acting Secretary