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Our CERT Mounted Search and Rescue team got together Saturday (1/28) morning from 0900-1115 at Jon Ed Blakistone’s ranch in Wimberley. He was joined by riders Shirley Roberts, Kay Mayfield and Gary Callon.
Their purpose was to work on setting compass points accurately, establish visual markers, trail marking and locating articles of clothing hidden by Jon previously.
Adding their mounts to the equation, the focus was on riding on a loose rein to better handle compass and monitor settings, rating the horses' speed to adjust to others while riding in a grid search pattern and making compass adjustments on a platform that likes to move about.
We utilized a deed map of Jon's ranch which had compass markings notated on it. We rode in a fenced 10 acre pasture riding from the front fenceline to the back fenceline utilizing a grid search pattern. Each rider on horseback was spaced 20 ft apart in an even line. Each outside rider marked their beginning location with trail marking tape. We rode toward the opposing fenceline stopping periodically as a group to check our compass markings, reestablish visual markers and adjust our spacings from each other if necessary.
It was difficult at times to ride in a straight line on the grid search as each horse has his own rate of speed he travels. Also adding to the difficulty was having to recheck our compasses and reset visual markers as we rode around groves of trees and other obstacles located in the pasture.
Upon reaching the opposite fence, we again marked where each outside rider was. When our outside rider arrived at the previously set trail marker on the opposite fenceline, it assured us that we were riding in a straight line, on the correct compass marking, our spacing stayed consistent across the pasture (we did not veer to the right or left), and there were no areas that were either searched twice or not searched at all.
CERT SAR held its January 2012 training exercise Sunday afternoon (1/29)at a ranch on Wimberley's Flite Acres Road belonging to friends of CERT member Gary Callon.
The purpose of the training was to practice using a compass and distance estimating techniques in the field, and the weather was very good - clear skies, dry ground, cool and pleasant temperature.
The session began at 1430 and wrapped up around 1715 following a post exercise 15 minute wrap-up session. Attending were: Jon Ed Blakistone, Shirley Roberts, Cathy Kubica, Karen Crowther, Kay Mayfield, Sharron Sullivan, Gary Callon, and Charlie Plassmann.
In preparation for the training, earlier in the afternoon, using a GPS unit, measuring tape and compasses, Gary Callon and Charlie Plassmann set up a series of three separate paths (White, Gold, and Red), each emanating from the same point and each path consisting of three way points at varying compass vectors and distances from previous way points, in a neighbor's field near Gary's ranch. Here is a copy of the plan for the exercise field, including distances in feet between way points and the GPS coordinates for the starting point, that was plotted using Google Earth prior to arriving at the field.
After attendees signed in and checked their equipment, the training session began. The training involved three separate steps:
First, each attendee determined the length of their pace (a pace being defined as two normal steps taken in sequence - left foot then right, or right foot then left, as preferred by the individual) by walking a measured distance (100'), then dividing the number of paces it took to walk that distance into the distance walked. This information can be used to determine distance traveled by counting the number of paces taken while walking, then multiplying the number of paces taken by the walker's pace length.
Second, the way point exercise was explained to the attendees.
They were told that for this exercise they need to locate, using their compasses to determine direction and pacing to determine distance, the three way points on whichever of the three paths they were assigned (Red path, Gold path, or White path). The way point markers consisted of fist sized rocks painted the appropriate color for each path and numbered sequentially from the common central starting point.
The attendees were then divided into groups of three, and each member of each group was given a slip of paper with the information each person would need to find the three way points on their path (specifically, the compass direction to follow from their previous point to the next point, and the distance (in feet) from the previous point to the next point, for each of the three way points on their path).
Third, in groups of three the attendees walked to the common starting point, and then each attendee, using compass and dead reckoning, began the process of navigating sequentially to their assigned path's three way points. When everyone found all three of their way points, they would be replaced by the next group of three.
After everyone had successfully navigated one path, attendees in each group swapped instructions and navigated the other paths as well. One of the experienced SAR members was always present on the exercise field to assist those who were navigating the course, and those attendees not on the course worked on related compass skills (triangulating to find your location, orienting a map, etc).
After completing the field exercise, the attendees held a short debriefing session to discuss the results of the exercise and share their experiences. Here is a summary of what was learned:
The way points were often found within a very short distance of where attendees thought they should be.
Even when attendees had difficulty finding their way point markers, given the distances traveled (each leg was between 100' and 200' long) and the small size of the way point markers the error rate was not excessive (generally less than about 15%).
Small variations in direction and distance measurement accuracy can result in significant variance at the end point, but these variances generally will be offsetting and should not materially affect results unless the variances are due to systemic errors (i.e., not keeping the compass direction indicator parallel to your actual line of travel).
Using a compass to maintain a constant direction while walking is not easy; it's difficult to both look down at a compass and look ahead for obstacles and around to be aware of your surroundings. Using a compass that has a mirror can help by allowing you to look ahead into the distance while continuing to view the compass needle in the mirror.
After determining your vector using the compass, by using visible landmarks as targets - a telephone pole, a structure, a mountain, for example - can help maintain a constant direction while walking; lining up two landmarks - one in the medium distance and one farther away - can work even better.
The exercise was conducted safely, and accomplished its objective of allowing SAR attendees to become more experienced in the use of a compass to navigate on land.
We all owe a big THANK YOU to Gary Callon's gracious, attentive and supportive friends and neighbors for allowing us to use their ranch for our CERT exercise!
IMPORTANT TEAM NEWS & INFORMATION
Training plans for Feb 11 & beyond...Training Director Paul Elliott has put together strong plans for this month and into August. All will begin at 0900 and take place at the Annex unless otherwise indicated:
Feb 11th - At the Wimberley VFD: Hand's-on fire extinguisher techniques using the Department's new training extinguisher (A teaching aid, it emits a propellant, but not intended to extinguish fires)and cribbing techniques. Advise wearing old clothes for this one.
March 10 - Disaster Medical Operations (part 1)
April 14 - Disaster Medical Operations (part 2)
May 12 - Swift Water Rescue
June 9 - Light Search & Rescue
July 14 - Terrorism & CERT
Aug. 11 - Disaster Preparedness & Disaster Psychology
For now, there are no plans for Feb. SAR or MSAR training sessions.
Want County/Area emergency alerts by CELL phone?... You’re already good to go for emergency alerts on your “land-line” phone. But, to sign up your CELL phone for alerts, go to the CAPCOG notification web site: http://wireless.capcog.org/ENS/Intro.aspx
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If you go to the County web site, you’ll be directed to CAPCOG anyhow because they’re the multi-county info hub. However, a good overall expanation and Q&A covering the land-line and cell phone notification setup is at the county’s site:
http://www.co.hays.tx.us/index.php/government/emergency-management/emergency-notification-system/
Community CERT presentations planned...Rodger Parker will be very busy the next couple of months representing CERT at community meetings. Hopefully these will result in boosting prospective member interest. They will include:
- Wimberley Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on January 6th at 1130 along with a representative of Hays County Sheriffs office.
- Wimberley Lions Club meeting Feb.7th on CERT and fire prevention along with Paul Elliott.
- City of Wimberley has also asked Parker serve on a new Firewise Task Force Committee This program was just approved by the City Council. Its purpose is to to set up and promote a Firewise Wimberley program.
Directors announce structure & leadership changes plus 2012 schedules... At the December Director’s meeting, the following revised organizational management plan was adopted.
The organizational structure needed to be modified to provide proper team leadership due to resignations and retirements.
Along with those changes, the SAR Team Leader position was realigned to SAR Training Coordinator and MSAR to MSAR Training Coordinator to better identify their duties with regard to specialized training. When activated for callouts requiring SAR capabilities, they would become the specialized team leaders for their respective SAR assignments. Otherwise the SAR/MSAR Training Coordinators will report to the CERT Training Director. Charlie Plassmann has sent SAR Team members additional details on these changes.
Below is the Management structure of Hays County CERT effective 10 December 2011.
Directors:
Finance – Bill Coffman, Logistics- Gordon DeWitte, Operations – Mike Wilmore, Training – Paul Elliott
Each Director will serve a 3-month term as Managing Director as follows: Jan-Mar - DeWitte; Apr-Jun - Elliott; Jul-Sep - Coffman; Oct-Dec - Wilmore
Team Leaders/Alternate Team Leaders
North Team – Charlie Plassmann, Cathy Kubica
East Team - Char Wood, Karen Herrmann
South-West Team – Kay Mayfield, Ron Kondoff (team to be composed by merging current South and West teams)
SAR Team Training Coordinators
SAR Training Coordinator: Charlie Plassmann
MSAR Training Coordinator: Shirley Roberts
Those who have been members of CERT for a number of years will recall several similar structure/personnel changes. As a 100% volunteer organization, these changes become necessary periodically to best accommodate our growth, mission capabilities/demands and availability of experienced volunteers who can accept or continue in demanding leadership positions.
Market Day rotation...Following is the rotation of teams staffing market day for fire prevention and EMS support:
Mar - North; Apr - East; May - South-West; Jun - North; Jul - East; Aug - South-West; Sep - North; Oct - East; Nov - South-West; Dec - Directors
A Hurricane Shelter Update.... This year's "hurricane season" has ended. Still, if you haven't done so, be sure to know how to get to the three principal county shelters that could be used for Hurricane evacuees. We need to be able to find our way to these locations quickly and probably on dark, rainy nights: Hays H.S. (4800 Jack C. Hays Trail, Buda); Lehman H.S. (1700 Lehman Rd., Kyle), and Barton Middle School (4950 Jack C. Hays Trail, Buda).
Thanks to recent ARC Shelter Mgmt/Operations training, we now have 36 members who are certified, including 13 who've completed CASHP (Capital Area Shelter Hub Plan)training.
FEMA Incident Command System courses required...All Hays Co. CERT members are expected to complete two on-line courses pertaining to the Incident Command System -- the system we will be working under at virtually all call-outs.
The many members who have completed the courses say each takes about 1-1/2 hours to complete. Access them at: http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp. That will take you to the Emergency Management Institute course list. Scroll down the course list to the first required course: ICS-100 (Introduction to the Incident Command System), then take ICS-700 (National Incident Management System). It's recommended you download the course outlines which you can use to complete the quiz which you can also download. Any questions... and once you've finished a course, please contact Training Director Cathy Kubica. In addition, Team Leaders are required to complete ICS-200.
Severe weather CERT advisories... The best place to stay up to date on what's happening in the County is to check the County web site (http://www.co.hays.tx.us)and click on the Office of Emergency Management tab on the home page. Call out standbys and actions will continue to be communicated through Team Leaders.
How to get to our "Annex" meeting location... To get there, it’s best to first locate the intersection of Jacobs Well Rd (CR 182)with RR12 on a map or Google.
That intersection is about 11 mi South of Dripping Springs (intersection of Hwy 290 & Ranch Rd. 12) or about 3 mi North of Wimberley.
There’s a huge Veterans Park/Rodeo sign at that intersection. From there, go West on Jacobs Well Rd. while looking skyward and spot a cell phone tower pretty much right in front of you. The tower will be about 1/4 mile from the RR 12 intersection.
Go in the open gate right under the cell phone tower, which leads to some ball diamonds and a little building to the right that looks like a portable school building. That’s the VFW annex where we regularly meet & also keep our supplies. There's a CERT sign on the building.
At meeting time on a Sat a.m., the Annex will also be the first structure you see that will have a bunch of cars & trucks outside within plain view of the road you’ll be traveling on.
There’s no physical street number for anything mentioned. But, if you use "Google" satellite map views, you can easily spot the ball diamonds, the annex building and the adjacent VFW rodeo arena and large VFW Post building and grounds.
Volunteers are needed. For more information, please click
here to email CERT.
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