On Saturday April 28, Dillon Beach Emergency Response Team (DBERT) hosted it’s bi-annual disaster simulation drill. They were assisted by members from two other CERT groups, Tomales Emergency Response Network (TERN), and the Valley Emergency Readiness Group (VERG) from San Geronimo Valley. This was a critical collaboration of CERT groups from northwest Marin, as a disaster is most likely to affect a broad area.

The drill was a simulated earthquake with both structural damage and injuries. A radio call at noon, requesting Search and Rescue team support in Dillon Beach at 3pm, was sent to the Tomales Marin County Fire Department and the Tomales CERT team. A total of 19 CERT members participated in the drill.

The Command Post

The three CERT teams, utilizing the Incident Command Systems (ICS, gather at the command post at 3pm. DBERT has organized a group of neighborhood supply sheds through the neighborhoods to improve the readiness of their community. The IC was smartly set up near two emergency sheds for easy access to supplies. As a result of this planning, the command post had a HAM radio operator, logistics person in charge of shed supplies, a medical operations lead, and three four-person Search and Rescue teams.

Communications between the command post and SAR teams was conducted through HAM, GMRS and FRS radios. Great planning and a perfect opportunity to practice these skills. The CERT teams appreciated that Senior Captain Tom Nunes and Marin County Fire Department stopped by to assess the drill.

Deployment

DBERT had pre-positioned nine volunteer victims at three different locations in Dillon Beach. The three SAR teams were dispatched to the specific addresses to treat and rescue the victims.

At one location, there were two teenagers with various serious injuries. Another house had a mother and two small children and they spoke only Spanish. The last house had a disorientated mother and 3 small kids to treat. Their assignment was to assess each structure for safety and stability, and seek out and triage the victims.

Every victim had injury makeup (called moulage) applied for a realistic, bloodied appearance. This detail made the scenarios more realistic for the SAR teams.

DBERT also mobilized its patient transport utility vehicle for the first time to rescue victims and return them to the medical treatment area at the command post.

The drill was a great experience, challenged everyone’s skills, and procedural knowledge. The consensus of all was that there should be more CERT groups from different neighborhoods training together.

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