 |
| Lakeside CERT and CVG members brief prior to
taking to the field |
On Sunday, July 13, volunteers spent their afternoon serving
the citizens of Lakeside in a rather unusual way…grabbing HAM radios and
driving throughout El Monte Valley. The effort was to “map” the valley for
amateur radio communications in the event of a significant emergency.
Radio communication is often affected by terrain. Knowing
where radio “dead spots” are located, as well as areas of strong communication,
can make all the difference in a disaster. Having these locations mapped in
advance can save valuable time and assist in saving lives.
 |
| Radio signal strength is measured in different
areas of El Monte Valley |
To aid in this effort, members of the Lakeside Fire
District’s Communication Volunteer Group (CVG) and Community Emergency Response
Team (CERT) took to the streets and airwaves in a field exercise. Organized by
CVG member Gordon Shackelford, these volunteers drove their personal vehicles
to pre-designated spots in the valley and checked out their ability to
communicate directly with the “Annex” fire facility located next to the fire
station on Lakeside Avenue.
 |
| Volunteers were sent to several test locations in the valley |
After a couple hours of testing and data collection, the
volunteers concluded their efforts and debriefed. The data will be analyzed and
eventually displayed on a map in the “Radio Shack” of the Annex. In the event
of a major emergency the information on the map will direct CERT and CVG
members to areas of good communication to speed response and recovery.
 |
| Volunteers check in for signal strength testing |
While these volunteers come from two different groups, their
objectives are the same - to assist their community in the event of a disaster.
CERT personnel are taught disaster response skills such as light rescue and
first aid. CVG personnel are tasked with establishing communications on amateur
radio bands through a radio network (or “net”) and organize communication
between CERT teams in the field. Both programs are vital parts of the
District’s disaster response plan and we can’t thank these volunteers enough
for their hard work and continued efforts.
 |
| Test results were carefully recorded |
Story and photos by: Lakeside Division Chief Jim Kirkpatrick
