What's Shakin'?
DEM's Online Newsletter - Issue: November- December 2013
Check out SF72 for yourself at www.sf72.org and let us know what you think!
SFDEM.org Re-Loaded
Urban Shield 2013
The largest exercise of its kind in the US, Urban Shield 2013, was conducted the weekend of Oct. 26-28. With more than 50 different scenarios situated around the Bay Area and participation by local, national, and international first responder agencies, this 48 hour exercise assists first responders prepare for a unified response to disasters and major emergencies.
Police, fire, and EMS teams encountered situations requiring effective communication and on-scene strategic planning and tactics to obtain a successful outcome. New this year was a Regional Catastrophic Preparedness scenario involving a Mass Fatality incident.
This year, 88 teams participated in Urban Shield and the San Francisco Fire Dept. Water Rescue Team took 1st place in the fire competition and San Francisco Police Dept. SWAT Team took 3rd place in the tactical competition.
Bay Area UASI - FY14 Grant Cycle
The Bay Area UASI is preparing for the FY 2014 UASI Grant cycle. The regional proposal process has been streamlined and uses an online form which jurisdictions submit. Projects must be regional, have a nexus to terrorism and be completed by the end of the grant performance period. The application deadline is November 15 at 5 PM.
UASI is Hiring
The Bay Area UASI Management Team is in the process of hiring a Resiliency and Recovery Project Manager. This position focuses on citizen preparedness, emergency planning, resiliency, recovery, and health and medical preparedness. It also involves working with the UASI Advisory Group and various stakeholders, to obtain and make recommendations on the allocation and distribution of grant funds as well as policy and programmatic objectives.
Dispatcher of the Month - Kenneth Hart
Kenneth Hart was operating a radio channel when a Code 33 emergency was called by a police officer who witnessed a possible shooting. Within seconds, there was a huge influx of calls from the public. Many reported shots fired, others gave descriptions of the shooter, and one woman reported, ”Help, help, my brother has been shot!”
Kenneth calmly relayed information to field units, maintained channel control, set up perimeters, and typed CAD updates. Within moments, another Code 33 emergency was called by the police. An officer fired his weapon and a suspect was down. Kenneth deployed medical units, made proper notifications, and continued to control the busy radio traffic.
Kenneth's personal composure during this highly stressful situation was commendable. His actions reflected well upon his fellow dispatchers and the Division of Emergency Communications.
Check Out the Latest Blogs from DEM
What's HADR?
Emergency Preparedness Redefined
It was a big week for San Francisco’s emergency preparedness: The 24th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake; the Great California ShakeOut; and www.SF72.org is launched! Read more.
Loma Prieta: 24 years later
Here are a few stories about the Loma Prieta earthquake and how this disaster helped to shape us into a more resilient San Francisco. Read More.
A Very DEM Halloween
A New Edition: Eleanor Susan Schildwachter
Inching Towards Our Goal!
Congratulations to the DEM Coffee Card Winners:
- Will Lee
- Maura Moylan
- Karen Omalley
- Jaime Sears
- Cecile Soto
- Jean To
- Francis Zamora
Your coffee cards will be distributed this week!
November - December: Calendar of Events
November
November 11: Veteran's Day Holiday
November 18: Port of San Francisco Emergency Table Top Exercise and Dive Exercise
November 25-26: Thanksgiving Holiday
December
December 18: DEM Holiday Party
December 25: Christmas Holiday
December 31: New Years Eve
San Francisco's Whistleblower Program
We all share a common goal: To provide the residents of the City and County of San Francisco with an honest, effective, and efficient government. Like any organization, government institutions are vulnerable to fraud and improper activities in the workplace. The Office of the Controller’s Whistleblower Program is an important avenue for reporting fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement within the City and County of San Francisco. Reporting fraud, waste and abuse is an obligation for each City employee.
For more information, please visit the Office of the Controller’s Whistleblower Program website: www.sfgov.org/whistleblower
Interested in Submitting an Article?
Have a good story to tell or a picture to share about the good work taking place at DEM? Send an e-mail to francis.zamora@sfgov.org or kristin.hogan@sfgov.org.