In October, the BPA Emergency Preparedness Core Committee, consisting of Jack Paddock, acting Chair, Katie Edwards, Inge Harding-Barlow, and Art Bayce, were invited by Fire Chief Ruben Grijalva to a meeting of various neighborhood groups in Palo Alto to work on a Neighborhood Disaster Plan. We submitted our Goals and Objectives, as published in the 1994 winter newsletter, modified to apply to all of Palo Alto. (See Goals and Objectives below this article). It was accepted to serve as a basis for a more comprehensive plan. It was decided that a Steering Committee, to consist of two members from each interested community group, would be formed to work on the plan. Your BPA representatives are Katie Edwards and Art Bayce. The Steering Committee will meet every two weeks until a final plan is developed.

Chief Grijalva discussed the Emergency Management Plan for Palo Alto which is being updated. The Public Awareness and Education section of this plan is where the community's ideas may be incorporated.

The Steering Committee is working on two major areas.

1. Community Education: To inform and educate the community to prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters.

2. Preparedness Planning: To organize, maintain and evaluate plans and resources.

GOAL: To provide residents information and guidance for emergency situations.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To help prepare residents to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours after an emergency occurs.

2. To ensure that all neighborhoods, including local schools, are provided with storage bins which contain food, water, medical supplies and other emergency necessities .

3. To acquire equipment, such as diesel-electric generators and hand tools, for each neighborhood.

4. To provide training for residents in disaster and emergency practices and procedures.

5. To form local communication networks to include amateur radio, computers, cellular phones, bicycles and foot messengers as needed.

6. To see that all City wells are up to acceptable standards and accessible for use during emergencies.

7. To utilize our parks and schools to serve as coordination centers during emergencies.

8. To schedule emergency preparedness drills.

Contact a relative or friend who lives out of the area to be your central communication point. If members of your family are separated after an earthquake and local telephone lines are down or overloaded, it is sometimes possible to call and leave messages with your outside contact. Then you can eventually establish contact with the rest of your family, if each members calls in!

If you have a cellular phone, and can help during an emergency, please tell us on the membership application form (email njh@best.com and we'll fax you a form, or join on-line -- see bottom of page). You don't need to become a Barron Park Association member in order to volunteer your help!! Thanks!

What can you as a resident do to help yourself and your neighbors in Barron Park? Here are some suggestions:

• Take part in First Aid and CPR classes.
• Become a Ham radio operator -- take a class.
• Prepare to have enough food and water to share with others.
• Volunteer heavy equipment.
• Senior assistance.
• Infant and small child care.
• Share in distribution of information sheets in Barron Park when necessary.
• Distribute information packets to new residents.

If you wish to become a Barron Park Association Member, email the editor at njh@best.com and I'll fax you a form or,

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