BEECN Volunteers: Difference between revisions

From Portland NET Wiki
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
mNo edit summary
 
(25 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 18: Line 18:
| style="background:#e9ae97; text-align: center; border:2px solid white;"|'''<big>[[Main_Page#SECTION 800: Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication_Nodes (BEECN)|Back to Main Guidelines ↱]]</big>'''
| style="background:#e9ae97; text-align: center; border:2px solid white;"|'''<big>[[Main_Page#SECTION 800: Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication_Nodes (BEECN)|Back to Main Guidelines ↱]]</big>'''
|}
|}
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.
This section covers the role, structure, and responsibilities of BEECN volunteers. Volunteers operate in organized teams, perform regular equipment checks, participate in drills, and deploy communication nodes 24–48 hours after a major earthquake. A NET volunteer can also volunteer for BEECN.
{| class="wikitable"  
{| class="wikitable"  
|+
|+
Line 26: Line 26:
|[https://app.betterimpact.com/Application?OrganizationGuid=5c003f3a-8d04-4cdf-b8c0-41627fea7871&ApplicationFormNumber=1 BEECN Volunteer Application]
|[https://app.betterimpact.com/Application?OrganizationGuid=5c003f3a-8d04-4cdf-b8c0-41627fea7871&ApplicationFormNumber=1 BEECN Volunteer Application]
|2022.06.15
|2022.06.15
|-
|[[PBEM Volunteer Code of Conduct]]
|2024.12.12
|}
|}
<br/>
<br/>
Line 33: Line 36:
</div>
</div>
<br/>
<br/>
 
<br/>
=== BEECN Volunteer Position Descriptions ===
There are five types of BEECN volunteer listed in the [[Volunteer Support Functions Directory|VSF Directory]]. They are:
There are five types of BEECN volunteer listed in the [[Volunteer Support Functions Directory|VSF Directory]]. They are:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
!BEECN Volunteer Position Title and Link
!
====== BEECN Volunteer Position Descriptions ======
|-
|-
|[[VSF 14.01.01: BEECN Volunteer]]
|[[VSF 14.01.01: BEECN Volunteer]]
Line 46: Line 49:
|[[VSF 14.01.03: BEECN District Coordinator]]
|[[VSF 14.01.03: BEECN District Coordinator]]
|-
|-
|[[VSF 02.02: Fire Station HAM]]
|[[VSF 02.02: Fire Station ARO]]
|-
|-
|[[VSF 14.01.04: Fire Station UHF Volunteer]]
|[[VSF 14.01.04: Fire Station UHF Volunteer]]
|}
|}
BEECN Coordinators and BEECN District Coordinators are "Blue Skies" roles; the rest are considered volunteer disaster responders.  
BEECN Coordinators and BEECN District Coordinators are "Blue Skies" roles; the rest are considered volunteer disaster responders.  
 
<br/>
=== Role of BEECN Volunteers ===
<br/>
 
== Role of BEECN Volunteers ==
# BEECN volunteers are unpaid volunteers with the City of Portland and any responsibilities undertaken as a BEECN volunteer are voluntary. Volunteers are not employees of PBEM or any other city bureau while acting as a BEECN volunteer.
# BEECN volunteers are unpaid volunteers with the City of Portland and any responsibilities undertaken as a BEECN volunteer are voluntary. Volunteers are not employees of PBEM or any other city bureau while acting as a BEECN volunteer.
# Any time a BEECN volunteer engages in authorized BEECN activities, that member is a representative of the City of Portland and will comport themselves in a manner consistent with these BEECN Guidelines and [[PBEM Volunteer Code of Conduct]].
# Any time a BEECN volunteer engages in authorized BEECN activities, that member is a representative of the City of Portland and will comport themselves in a manner consistent with these BEECN Guidelines and [[PBEM Volunteer Code of Conduct]].
=== 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.


=== Persons with Disabilities ===
=== Persons with Disabilities ===
Everyone has a part in emergency preparedness and response, and any volunteer interested in the BEECN program will not 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.
Everyone has a part in emergency preparedness and response, and any volunteer interested in the BEECN program will not 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.
=== BEECN Volunteers and Portland Neighborhood Emergency Teams ===
# BEECN volunteers and NETs operate independent of each other’s authority and are not under each other’s chain of command.
# PBEM encourages BEECN cohorts to meet with regularly with their local NETs, and to be familiar with their [[Earthquake Response Frameworks]].
# One person may be both a NET and BEECN volunteer. NETs respond immediately following a major disaster, while BEECN volunteers operate 24 to 48 hours following an earthquake. Therefore, a volunteer can plausibly be part of both programs, and PBEM encourages volunteer participation in both.


=== BEECN Volunteer Qualifications ===
=== BEECN Volunteer Qualifications ===
Line 75: Line 87:
# Other skill competencies relevant to volunteering for the BEECN program include: public speaking, leadership/personnel management, mental health crisis de-escalation, and crowd management.
# Other skill competencies relevant to volunteering for the BEECN program include: public speaking, leadership/personnel management, mental health crisis de-escalation, and crowd management.
=== BEECN Training ===
=== 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.
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. Required and optional training is included in the position descriptions of each BEECN volunteer.
<br/>
<br/>


=== BEECN Volunteer Cohorts ===
== BEECN Volunteer Teams ==
[[File:BEECN_Volunteer_Shifts.png|thumb|400x400px|''Figure 1: The structure of a BEECN team.'']]
=== BEECN Team Responsibilities ===
Each BEECN Team has the following responsibilities:


# Each BEECN should have a cohort of no fewer than eight volunteers who are trained and familiar with the BEECN cache.
# No less than monthly, a team member does a sight check of the cache to ensure it is secure and has not been damaged or significantly tampered with, and that the tarp over it is still on tight (if the cache is outdoors). The check should '''''always''''' be logged in the [[BEECN Journaling System]].
# One of the eight in a cohort will be the Cohort Coordinator for that BEECN cohort. The responsibilities of the Coordinator are described in the section titled [[BEECN Volunteers#BEECN Cohort Coordinators|BEECN Cohort Coordinators]].
# No less than quarterly, inventory the contents of the cache through the [[BEECN Journaling System]]. Many caches include inventory forms to aid in the inventory process.
# 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 [[Operations at BEECN Sites#BEECN Operational Periods and shifts|Operational Periods and Shifts]].
# No less than annually, participate in a BEECN activation exercise. PBEM will coordinate an exercise in the area of the BEECN once a year, but will coordinate more activation exercises at the request of a cohort as resources allow.
# 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]].''
# In the event of a major earthquake, proceed with BEECN operations as described in [[Operations at BEECN Sites]] (which is also reflected in the [[VSF 14.01.01: BEECN Volunteer|volunteer position description]] for BEECN volunteers).
[[File:BEECN_Volunteer_Shifts.png|thumb|400x400px|''Figure 1: The structure of a BEECN cohort.'']]
=== BEECN Volunteer Team Organization ===
<br/>
 
# Each BEECN should have a team of no fewer than eight volunteers who are trained and familiar with the BEECN cache.
# One of the eight in a team will be the Coordinator for that BEECN team. The responsibilities of the Coordinator are described in the section titled BEECN Team Coordinators and also reflected in that [[VSF 14.01.02: BEECN Coordinator|volunteer position description]].
# For operations, a team is divided into two shifts (Shift A and Shift B). 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 [[Operations at BEECN Sites#BEECN Operational Periods and shifts|Operational Periods and Shifts]].


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


# Serving as PBEM’s point of contact for a BEECN’s cohort. PBEM will contact this individual to inform of BEECN drills or exercises, policy changes, or any other information relevant to the BEECN program. The Cohort Coordinator is responsible for relaying this information to cohort members.
# Use contact information provided by PBEM to keep other volunteers assigned to the BEECN resource organized as a team.
# Serving as the point of contact for the owner/manager of the property hosting the cache. The Coordinator should contact the property owner/manager when BEECN exercises are scheduled.
# On behalf of their team, serving as a point of contact for:
# Working with cohort members to plan out shift and primary/backup volunteer designations for operations.
#* PBEM; whose staff will contact the Team Coordinator to inform of BEECN drills or exercises, policy changes, or any other information relevant to the BEECN program.
# Ensuring that cohort volunteers feel comfortable with using the cache equipment, can deploy the BEECN competently, and that all volunteers understand their role and responsibilities in the event of a BEECN deployment.
#* The [[VSF 14.01.03: BEECN District Coordinator|BEECN District Coordinator]] (if one is assigned);
# Ensuring that the cohort has no fewer than eight members, and recruiting new members from the immediate neighborhood as needed.
#* The owner/manager of the property hosting the cache. The Coordinator should contact the property owner/manager when BEECN exercises are scheduled.  
# Organizes and leads deployment planning for their team, which includes completing the [[Operations at BEECN Sites#Deployment Planning: the BEECN Response Framework|BEECN response framework]] annually.
# Ensure team members are prepared to carry out responsibilities as indicated in [[Operations at BEECN Sites]].
# Ensuring that the team 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.
# Providing PBEM with program feedback, recommendations, and resource requests as appropriate.
# Ensuring that the cohort responsibilities described in [[BEECN Volunteers#BEECN Cohort Responsibilities|BEECN Cohort Responsibilities]] are carried out, and the results of audits and exercises are relayed to PBEM.
# Schedule regular activities around the BEECN, such as equipment checks and inventories.
# Encourage BEECN volunteers to participate in regular exercises.
# Ensuring that the team responsibilities described in [[BEECN Volunteers#BEECN Team Responsibilities|BEECN Team Responsibilities]] are carried out.
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
== Fire Station Volunteer Teams ==
[[File:2013.05.22.PACE Setter (9).jpg|thumb|''Volunteering at a fire station during a 2013 BEECN exercise.'']]
A fire station volunteer is a specialized [[VSF 02.02: Fire Station HAM|Amateur Radio Operator (ARO)]], '''''or''''' a [[VSF 14.01.04: Fire Station UHF Volunteer|non-licensed volunteer]] partnering with the ARO. Fire station volunteers also form an optimal team of six or more for each fire station. Fire station volunteers are responsible for relaying messages from BEECNs to the EOC during deployments and exercises and are fundamental to BEECN operations. Therefore, a BEECN team should know who the fire station volunteer is who will be relaying their messages. The responsibilities of fire station volunteers are described in their volunteer position descriptions and in the page [[Operations at Fire Stations|Operations at Fire Stations.]]
Like BEECN Teams, Fire Station teams should appoint a [[BEECN Volunteers#BEECN Team Coordinators|BEECN Team Coordinator]] to help keep them organized.
</br>
</br>
== Spontaneous Volunteers (SUVs) at BEECNs ==
In the aftermath of an earthquake, PBEM anticipates that neighbors will emerge to help other neighbors. Some of these spontaneous volunteers may appear at BEECN sites and offer to help BEECN volunteers.
After an earthquake, '''[[Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers (SUVs)]]'''—those who show up without prior training or affiliation—can be a valuable resource at BEECN sites, ''if managed appropriately''. The key is to assign tasks that:


=== BEECN Cohort Responsibilities ===
# Do not require prior training or credentials
Each BEECN Cohort has the following responsibilities:
# Support the mission of the BEECN site without compromising its integrity or safety
# Free up trained personnel for specialized roles
A member or members of a BEECN Team may want to consider taking a second VSF as [[VSF 15.03.02: SUV Intake]].


# No less than monthly, do a sight check of the cache to ensure it is secure and has not been damaged or significantly tampered with, and that the tarp over it is still on tight (if the cache is outdoors). The check should '''''always''''' be logged in the [[BEECN Journaling System]].
=== Appropriate BEECN roles for SUVs ===
# No less than quarterly, inventory the contents of the cache through the [[BEECN Journaling System]]. Many caches include inventory forms to aid in the inventory process.
'''Logistics & Site Support'''
# No less than annually, participate in a BEECN activation exercise. PBEM will coordinate an exercise in the area of the BEECN once a year, but will coordinate more activation exercises at the request of a cohort as resources allow.
 
# In the event of a major earthquake, proceed with BEECN operations as described in [[Operations at BEECN Sites]] (which is also reflected in the [[VSF 14.01.01: BEECN Volunteer|volunteer position description]] for BEECN volunteers).<br />
* '''Queue management''': Help organize and direct people forming lines to request help or information.
=== Fire Station Cohorts ===
* '''Foot traffic control''': Prevent congestion around the BEECN tent or radio operators.
A fire station volunteer is a specialized [[VSF 02.02: Fire Station HAM|Amateur Radio Operator (ARO)]], '''''or''''' a [[VSF 14.01.04: Fire Station UHF Volunteer|non-licensed volunteer]] partnering with the ARO. Fire station volunteers also form a cohort of four (minimum) for each fire station. Each shift requires one primary and one backup ARO. Fire station Volunteers are responsible for relaying messages from BEECNs to the EOC during deployments and exercises and are fundamental to BEECN operations. Therefore, a BEECN cohort should know who the fire station volunteer is who will be relaying their messages. The responsibilities of fire station volunteers are described in their volunteer position descriptions and in the page [[Operations at Fire Stations|Operations at Fire Stations.]]
* '''Set-up & Tear-down assistance''': Help erect shade structures, signage, or tables under supervision.
 
'''Information Sharing'''
 
* '''Greeter / triage screener''': Welcome people and explain what BEECN does (with a provided script).
* '''Signage holding''': Stand at intersections with directional signs pointing to the BEECN site.
* '''Runner / messenger''': Relay written messages between volunteers at the site or deliver updates to nearby partner locations.


=== BEECN Volunteers and Portland Neighborhood Emergency Teams ===
'''Care & Comfort'''


# BEECN volunteers and NETs operate independent of each other’s authority and are not under each other’s chain of command.
* '''Child distraction helper''': Supervise games, coloring sheets, or storytelling to occupy kids waiting with families.
# PBEM encourages BEECN cohorts to meet with regularly with their local NETs, and to be familiar with their Earthquake Response Frameworks.
* '''Elder or mobility assistance''': Provide seating or help individuals move safely through the site.
# One person may be both a NET and BEECN volunteer. NETs respond immediately following a major disaster, while BEECN volunteers operate 24 to 48 hours following an earthquake. Therefore, a volunteer can plausibly be part of both programs, and PBEM encourages volunteer participation in both.
<br/>


=== Volunteer Support Functions and BEECN ===
'''Crowdsourced Observation'''
All BEECN volunteers '''''except''''' AROs assigned to a fire station operate under [[VSF 14: Public Information]]. AROs operate under [[Radio Communication Procedures|VSF 02: Communications]].
<br/>
<br/>


=== Indemnification of BEECN Volunteers ===
* '''Damage Spotter''' ''(under supervision)'': Document visible damage nearby using a paper form or their own phones.
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.
* '''Rumor logging''': Record what people say they’ve heard (to help volunteers track misinformation).


=== Basic BEECN Training Links ===
=== Boundaries for BEECN SUVs ===
The Basic Training for BEECN includes mention of several links. Here they are:
SUVs should not:


* The BEECN Guidelines: [[Main Page#SECTION 800: Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Nodes (BEECN)]]
* Use or operate radios
* The BEECN Volunteer Application: https://app.betterimpact.com/Application?OrganizationGuid=5c003f3a-8d04-4cdf-b8c0-41627fea7871&ApplicationFormNumber=1
* Relay official messages
* BEECN Volunteer Position Description: [[VSF 14.01.01: BEECN Volunteer]]
* Enter supply caches
* Use PortlandMaps.com to find your nearest BEECN: https://www.portlandmaps.com/
* Access sensitive documents or patient information
* Email the BEECN program: [mailto:beecn@portlandoregon.gov beecn@portlandoregon.gov]


=== The role of Spontaneous Volunteers (SUVs) at BEECNs ===
* Be left unsupervised in roles with safety risks
Retrieved from "https://volunteerpdx.net/index.php/BEECN_Volunteers"