2020 Lindon City Drill Objectives
NEW! Text/phone only drill.
Concept
We will find out whether the city could get an emergency message to every household through the Block Captain system efficiently and rapidly. This cell-phone texting method would only be used in circumstances when people need critical knowledge or instructions in a hurry. It could be used citywide or only in one area of the city (East, Central, or West) depending on the emergency and what information needed to be relayed. It must be practiced first to be effective.
In the past, we have exercised under the assumption of a total infrastructure collapse and zero ability to communicate except in person. No technology.
While inherently valuable in the most serious disasters like a major earthquake, it has limited applicability in smaller yet vital responses such as 1) rapid evacuations, 2) messages that must reach everyone, like boil orders, or 3) situations where exiting a home/business to communicate in person or gather as a group could be deemed dangerous, like the need to shelter-in-place due to criminal activity (active shooter/other), a wild animal, a hazardous materials spill, or a pandemic.
This year's text-oriented drill should help us work on that notable gap in emergency communications with our Block Captains. The drill has been simplified.
NEW! Text/phone only drill.
- Establish two-way text communications from city officials to every resident of Lindon City through a system of pre-designated Area, Neighborhood, and Block Captains.
- Collate participation results & track resident responses to a question about 72-hour emergency kits.
- Send a thank you text with drill results to every resident of Lindon City on the night of the drill.
- Note gaps, problems, successes, and ways to improve after our first-ever mass text drill.
- Create a list of ways to improve in a formal After Action Report to be shared with city officials and other captains as recommended.
Concept
We will find out whether the city could get an emergency message to every household through the Block Captain system efficiently and rapidly. This cell-phone texting method would only be used in circumstances when people need critical knowledge or instructions in a hurry. It could be used citywide or only in one area of the city (East, Central, or West) depending on the emergency and what information needed to be relayed. It must be practiced first to be effective.
In the past, we have exercised under the assumption of a total infrastructure collapse and zero ability to communicate except in person. No technology.
While inherently valuable in the most serious disasters like a major earthquake, it has limited applicability in smaller yet vital responses such as 1) rapid evacuations, 2) messages that must reach everyone, like boil orders, or 3) situations where exiting a home/business to communicate in person or gather as a group could be deemed dangerous, like the need to shelter-in-place due to criminal activity (active shooter/other), a wild animal, a hazardous materials spill, or a pandemic.
This year's text-oriented drill should help us work on that notable gap in emergency communications with our Block Captains. The drill has been simplified.
2019 Lindon City Drill Objectives
Communication
Rapid Intelligence Gathering
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Management
Business Readiness/Continuity Planning
Functional and Access Needs
School Readiness
Communication
- Establish Two-way Radio & Runner Channels
- Report Information on Two Separate Nets (Lindon/ERC)
- Report Drill Results to All Citizens by Means of Lindon City Drill Website, Facebook, City Text, City Email, and Everbridge within a Week of the Drill
- NEW! Gather information for and establish a database of citizen volunteer resources (both equipment and specific skillsets like CERT, ham radio, MRC, Red Cross certifications, etc.) to be maintained by the city for training purposes and potential volunteer deployment/use
- NEW! Increase Lindon City Everbridge Emergency Notification registrations: http://www.lindoncity.org/everbridge-emergency-notification.htm
Rapid Intelligence Gathering
- Account for All Citizens of Lindon within 2 Hours
- NEW! Increase citywide participation in 2019 to 90% of all residents
- Accurately Report All "Emergency" Scenarios within 2 Hours
- Report Information in Real-Time
- Accurately Fill out Forms at All Levels
- Track All Volunteer Hours for Finance/Administrative and Simulated Reimbursement Purposes
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Management
- Establish ALL Incident Command System officers and section chiefs in the Lindon EOC
- Incident Commander, Deputy Incident Commander
- Officers: Public Information Officer (PIO), Safety, Liaison
- Section Chiefs: Finance/Admin, Logistics, Operations, Planning
- Give Updates and Coordinate Messaging with City Council and Mayor
- Establish Two-way Communication Between City EOC & the Lindon Radio Net
- NEW! Begin to fill matrix of primary and support agencies for Emergency Support Functions
- NEW! Train using WebEOC and Incident Action Plans (IAPs)
Business Readiness/Continuity Planning
- 25% Participation by Lindon Businesses in One of the Following Ways
- Practice a Business Drill of any Kind on 9/16/19
- Study Business Continuity Information
- Determine and Carry Out One or More Actions to Make the Workplace More Prepared
- Put a Lindon City Drill poster in Business Window
- NEW! Increase reporting of business participation to the city within one week of 9/16/19.
Functional and Access Needs
- Account for Residents of Lindon Group Homes
- Provide Information to Lindon Daycare and Other Care Centers on Emergency Preparedness
- Encourage Lindon Daycares, Group Homes, and Care Centers to Practice a Drill of Any Kind on 9/16/19
School Readiness
- 100% Participation by Lindon Schools in Citywide School Drills on or around 9/16/19