BEECN Volunteers: Difference between revisions

This section covers the role, structure, and responsibilities of BEECN volunteers. Volunteers operate in organized cohorts, perform regular equipment checks, participate in drills, and deploy communication nodes 24–48 hours after a major earthquake.

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Everyone has a part in emergency preparedness and response, and no volunteer interested in the BEECN program will be discouraged or denied on the basis of any physical or cognitive disability. In order to ensure equal access to volunteer programs, PBEM will reasonably modify policies and procedures and provide auxiliary aids and services to persons with disabilities.

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=== BEECN Volunteer Qualifications ===

Each BEECN volunteer must:

# Reside within walking or biking distance of the BEECN or fire station the volunteer is responsible for, and be prepared to transport self to the BEECN or fire station in the event of a BEECN deployment without relying on motorized transportation. BEECN volunteers do this within the deployment timeframe of 24 to 48 hours following a disaster.

# Complete a criminal background check at PBEM’s expense. Though anyone can take BEECN training, some criminal convictions may bar an applicant from registration as a full volunteer. For details, please see the policy on [[Criminal Background|criminal background]] for PBEM volunteers.

# Sign the [[PBEM Volunteer Code of Conduct]], and follow the procedures indicated in this Guidelines manual.

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=== Relevant BEECN Volunteer Experience and Prior Training ===

# Other skill competencies relevant to volunteering for the BEECN program include: public speaking, leadership/personnel management, mental health crisis de-escalation, and crowd management.

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=== BEECN Training ===

PBEM will provide training to designated BEECN volunteers instructing on the deployment and use of BEECN equipment on an as-needed basis. PBEM encourages members of a BEECN Cohort to teach each other in the use of equipment when possible.

# Each BEECN should have a cohort of no fewer than eight volunteers who are trained and familiar with the BEECN cache.

# A cohort is divided into two shifts (Shift A and Shift B) of four volunteers each. The intention is that in an emergency deployment, each shift will work for eight hours maximum and relay to the other shift at the end of eight hours. See [[Operational Periods and Shifts]].

# Shift A and Shift B are further divided between two Primary Volunteers and two Backup Volunteers. If a Primary Volunteer is injured or for some other reason cannot deploy the BEECN, Backup Volunteers are available to fill in or take over deployment responsibilities. See ''[[Media:BEECN Volunteer Shifts.png|Figure 1: BEECN Cohort Organization]].''

[[File:BEECN_Volunteer_Shifts.png|thumb|400x400px|''Figure 1: The structure of a BEECN cohort.'']]

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=== BEECN Cohort Coordinators ===

Cohort Coordinators have no field authority greater than other BEECN volunteers, but are responsible for organizing their cohort during blue sky periods. Responsibilities of the Cohort Coordinator include:

# Ensuring that the cohort has no fewer than eight members, and recruiting new members from the immediate neighborhood as needed.

# Providing PBEM with program feedback, recommendations, and resource requests as appropriate.

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=== Indemnification of BEECN Volunteers ===

BEECN and Fire Station volunteers are indemnified under the same policies as all PBEM volunteers. Please view the page on [[Volunteer Risk, Injury Coverage, and Indemnification|Volunteer Indemnification]] for more information.