It is the mission of Santa Clara - Ivins Fire & Rescue to protect and preserve life, property, & the environment from fire, medical, and environmental emergencies, through implementation of our organizational programs, while acting fiscally and ethically responsible.
Dave Williams
SCIFR
C.E.R.T. Director
Dave has been a member of the Ivins CERT since 2017, assuming the role of leader in 2019. He spent five years as a Public Safety Officer with the Sunnyvale DPS in California and 30 years with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, retiring as a captain in 2011. He stayed on as a reserve sergeant running the aviation unit until 2016 when he became a resident of Ivins. Dave is also a commercial pilot and an amateur radio operator.
The C.E.R.T. program helps to prepare citizens to assist within their communities in the event of a disaster. The training consists of instruction in disaster preparedness, emergency first aid, light search and rescue, fire safety, disaster coordination, terrorism, communication and disaster psychology. This training offers a great opportunity for team members to assist their family, friends and neighbors in the event of a major disaster.
There is no cost for the program, but students are asked to commit to attend each class in order to certify as a C.E.R.T. trained volunteer. Those completing the training will receive a certificate of completion and will be listed as a resource for use by the city and county in event of a disaster.
Neighborhoods are encouraged to develop active C.E.R.T teams. The information learned in these classes will not only help those who live within the neighborhood during a disaster but will help those attending with skills which they can use in their daily activities.
Ivins City Emergency Preparedness Plan
Disasters
We are not strangers to disasters in Southern Utah. Ivins City has developed an Emergency Preparedness Plan.
Areas, Zones, and Neighborhoods
The city has been divided into 14 geographical Areas; Each has a volunteer Coordinator. Areas have been divided into Zones. Each Zone has a Zone Leader and a HUB Box located in it. Zones are further divided into smaller geographic ‘neighborhoods.’
Disaster HUB Boxes
You may have seen white metal boxes attached to stop signposts throughout the city. These are ‘Disaster HUB Boxes’. They are owned and maintained by the city. The red lettering on each identifies their location and provides some basic information. A HUB box contains a walkie-talkie radio, and up to 10 clipboards, with 8-12 assigned homes per clipboard for the purposes of damage assessment and personal injury report.
Prior to a Disaster
Neighborhood Coordinator
Citizens in neighborhoods volunteer to be a ‘Neighborhood Coordinator’ or ‘Good Neighbor.’ These volunteers willing agree to take the responsibility for 8-10 homes (including themselves). All assigned homes are contingent to their home. Prior to a disaster they visit their neighbors. They briefly explain the HUB box procedure and share other emergency preparedness information. Any residents not interested are politely left alone.
Joint Sharing of Information
Sharing emergency preparedness information amongst the Neighborhood Coordinators is highly encouraged. Coordinators can collaborate and verify information for accuracy before dissemination. Though not a primary purpose, a HUB box location can serve as a gathering place where residents may be able to obtain information from the Zone Leader regarding the scope and size of the disaster.
Neighborhood Coordinators Disseminate Preparedness Information
Coordinators attempt to keep their interested neighbors informed of any opportunities to further prepare for emergencies i.e., ways to enhance their food storage, good deals on where to purchase desired preparedness items, how to store a little extra water, where to find websites with pertinent and accurate information, storage techniques, changes in policy or procedure, etc. This can be done in-person, by text, phone, social media, etc.
At the Onset of a Disaster
Volunteers
Available citizen volunteers within a Zone gather to their HUB Box. The first volunteer to arrive temporarily assumes the role of Zone Leader. (Once the Zone Leader arrives, he/she takes control.) The HUB box is opened (no key required, a flat metal object like a coin, flat screwdriver or pocketknife can be used) and the blue clipboard containing instructions for the Zone Leader is removed and read.
Disaster Assessments and Forms
As more volunteers arrive, each is given a red clipboard which contains forms and a map of homes for assessment. Following the instructions on the back of the red clip boards, the volunteer assesses the assigned homes for damage and the type of critical care the resident(s) may need. The volunteer returns to the HUB box and gives the clipboard and completed assessment forms back to the Zone Leader.
Walkie-Talkie Radio
A walkie-talkie radio (tethered in the HUB Box) is used to transmit assessment information to the Area Coordinator, who relays this information by a police-style radio to the Ivins City Command Center (or County Command Center). Emergency First Responders are then dispatched. By using this system, a large amount of critical information can be gathered quickly and assessed efficiently.
During and After a Disaster
On event day Neighborhood Coordinators will do an assessment of those homes in their assignment and take that information to the HUB box. Afterward, they follow up and help where needed.
Community Emergency Response Team – CERT
A CERT provides an additional resource to help stabilize our community and provide basic first aid.
CERT Certified
To become CERT Certified a resident must take a series of classes and tests must be passed. Usually, the course is taught in 2-hour segments, once a week for 8-weeks. Visit ivins.com, select the Emergency Preparedness tab at the top of the home page. Select the CERT link. Washington County is sponsoring online Zoom CERT classes. A great opportunity to participate from home.
If you have interest and/or questions about CERT, please contact:David Williams (Kayenta North Area Coordinator) at [email protected]