Posted: 2/4/2005 9:28:03 AM EDT
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I had an idea I wanted to get some feedback on before going to talk to my Sheriff. I live in a subdivision outside of the city limits. Being in a coastal area, from time to time we get hit with hurricanes. After Hugo came through the law enforcement agencies were pretty maxed out for a couple of weeks. They were working hard, long hours and spread thin. I had a thought of organizing with some residents of our neighborhood to provide security in case of such an emergency. It's still an idea under development, but here are some basics: - If we citizens can provide security against looters & such for our neighborhood it would lighten the workload of the sheriff's department, allowing them to put manpower into other areas. - There is one road into & out of our subdivision. If I could, I'd want to put an entry control point there to ensure people entering are residents or have bona fide business in there. Maybe at least keep a log of license plate numbers and times. - I'd want to stay inside the lines, so I'd work with the department on how to operate, what's legal & not, etc. - No cowboy stuff, but this would be an active security program that would be able to respond to threats with more than dialing 911. Telephone comm was out for a while following Hugo. Besides, if a thug pulled a gun, my phone would be the second thing I would reach for. I suppose you could almost consider this more a "neighborhood militia" than a neighborhood watch. Any thoughts from you badge wearers on this? What do you think about responsible citizens providing their own security during an emergency like this? |
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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Started in California, has spread across the nation particularly after 9/11. Your basic premise is exactly this--if the community pulls together to take care of itself as best it can (first aid, security, search & rescue, communications, etc.) then the emergency responders can do their jobs more effectively. Jim p.s.--Though it is organized under FEMA, it is not a 'federa' program, i.e. you don't need federal involvement to activate a CERT team. I don't know whether there is a policy on weapons...but if you're CCW, it should be C(oncealed) anyway... |
I considered that. Volunteering 20 hrs/mo without pay, buying my own gear, then guarding somebody else's neighborhood. I know guys who do it and love it. I'm not knocking them. However, if I'm cutting 20 hours out of my personal life, I'd like some compensation. 
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Most of the Firefighters in the United States are Volunteer. I am one of them and have been for 3 years. I wonder what would happen to neighborhoods if people took that "I'd like some compensation" approach with the fire service? hinking.gif It would just be you and your garden hose buddy. There is no tax base in my community. I live in a rural area. How would they compensate me even if they wanted to? Do we jsut go without fire protection? BTW...this doesn't prevent thousands of volunteer firefighters in Oklahoma from volunteering. |
I think he was trying to say his first priority right now is protecting HIS neigborhood after this disaster. Brohawk, I am the coordinator for the CERT teams in my agencie's juristiction. They are usually well organized and have lots of support from local LE. I would recomend this route for your community (if you have time to set it up in your current emergency). |
It would just be you and your garden hose buddy.|
I took a look at the CERT site and will check into it further. The concept I had in mind was that type of thing with the addition of being able to provide security from looters following an event. If anyone took offense at my comments about reserve officer duty, I guess I didn't express myself clearly. I'm not denigrating those who volunteer. On the other hand, I have great respect for them. I have a couple uncles who were volunteer firefighters, and a grandfather who was a volunteer fireman and died in a house fire. So please, don't misunderstand me on this. I retired from the USAF five years ago with a total of 22 years. I know a little about service. I was just saying that the reserve officer thing isn't for me. If anyone is offended by that, well, I won't be losing sleep over it. |