BEECN Volunteers: Difference between revisions

From Portland NET Wiki
← Older editNewer edit →
VisualWikitext
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 cohorts, 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 77: Line 77:
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.


=== BEECN Volunteer Cohorts ===
=== BEECN Volunteer Teams ===


# Each BEECN should have a cohort of no fewer than eight volunteers who are trained and familiar with the BEECN cache.
# 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 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]].
# 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 reflected in the [[VSF 14.01.02: BEECN Coordinator|volunteer position description]].
# 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]].
# A team 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]].
# 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]].''
# 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.'']]
[[File:BEECN_Volunteer_Shifts.png|thumb|400x400px|''Figure 1: The structure of a BEECN team.'']]
<br/>


=== 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.
# Serving as PBEM’s point of contact for a BEECN’s team. PBEM will contact this individual to inform of BEECN drills or exercises, policy changes, or any other information relevant to the BEECN program. The Team Coordinator is responsible for relaying this information to team members.
# 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.
# 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.
# Working with cohort members to plan out shift and primary/backup volunteer designations for operations.
# Working with team members to plan out shift and primary/backup volunteer designations for operations.
# 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.
# Ensuring that team 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.
# Ensuring that the cohort has no fewer than eight members, and recruiting new members from the immediate neighborhood as needed.
# 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.
# Ensuring that the team responsibilities described in [[BEECN Volunteers#BEECN Teams|BEECN Teams]] are carried out, and the results of audits and exercises are relayed to PBEM.
<br/>
=== BEECN Teams ===
 
=== BEECN Cohort Responsibilities ===
Each BEECN Cohort has the following responsibilities:
Each BEECN Cohort has the following responsibilities:


Line 104: Line 101:
# 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.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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 />
# 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).
=== Fire Station Cohorts ===
=== Fire Station Cohorts ===
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.]]
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.]]
Line 111: Line 108:


# BEECN volunteers and NETs operate independent of each other’s authority and are not under each other’s chain of command.
# 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.
# 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.
# 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/>
<br/>
Retrieved from "https://volunteerpdx.net/index.php/BEECN_Volunteers"