...there has been an explosion of a tank car; one of many terrorist events unfolding throughout the day for emergency first responders throughout the region. The tank car was filled with toxic fumes and there have been some injuries at the scene?
You and your family reside in the houses that were in the path of a dangerous vapor cloud of gases from the tank car explosion. People are running in all direction; a public siren is heard, a loud speaker directing you to the nearest evacuation shelter? How will you handle it? Are you prepared?
Yesterday morning my daughter and I was one of the many volunteers for the Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Drill which was held at the Maidu Community Center in Roseville. That was our scenario for the day. Every Disaster team throughout Placer and Sacramento Counties held a mocked MCI drill or exercise to prepare themselves for the community in situations such as this.
As volunteers, we were each handed a role to play - from being part of the casualties; to being homeless and needing assistance; to lost connections with family members, etc, etc. (that's my daughter pictured on the left, playing a role as a student separated from her parents looking sad). At the center of this is the American Red Cross Disaster team who had no idea who will walk into their mocked Evacuation and Shelter Center. Each ARC member had to compose themselves and set their own fear aside; to calm the community who was coming into the Center in mass quantities; and calm a many disillusioned and hurt victims, all the while connecting them to appropriate channels of the Center for assistance. Along with them are local firemen, policemen, paramedics and nurses at hand.
The full chaos that transpired and commotions brought about by the many volunteers (some brought their kids) playing their roles made it so realistic and intense. It was no longer a role play to me. It became a scary event which has taught me a huge lesson - that this could very well be a reality and being prepared is very important. That amidst a major catastrophe it is important that we all stay calm and become a team, to help each other, to comfort each other, to get us through it all in one piece. I learned that the very people who are helping are people just like us, who have family members who may have been displaced or lost, and yet they set aside every personal emotion to assist strangers for the good of the community.
After the drill, all volunteers were bused to the Roseville Fire Training Center where we received a pin and served a bountiful lunch courtesy of the Roseville Fire Department. If you asked me would I do this again, it will be a resounding "YES"! This drill offered by the City of Roseville took three hours and I recommend everyone partake in one. Contact your local office to see if they offer it in your City.
Make sure you and your families are prepared for emergency, visit FEMA for a basic guide. You can also visit the American Red Cross for training and preparedness handbook.
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Tina Farinas is a Real Estate Agent servicing Placer and Sacramento County.
I am YOUR resource in Short Sale and Foreclosure.
MagnumOne Realty
Cell(916) 208-5718
email:tina@tinafarinas.com
DRE# 01803153
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