FLOODS? Options

[supazuk]

Just wondering how people are fairing from the floods in New England?
And should we be offering our services as transport being that we have skills in driving were there are no roads? some of us have deep water fording capibiltys. Stump draging touque and winches. This could be a time to show the public that ORV's are not just a form of entertainment. maybe a NEOW emergency responce team sort of way. Maybe this could eventualy open trails to us publicly dictating that we are "honing" our skills.
Ok off my soap box...
But I called Keene and offered my personal help if any one thinks off any other towns let me know.

[NHabit]

No problems here.

[cmcolfax]

Just wondering how people are fairing from the floods in New England?
And should we be offering our services as transport being that we have skills in driving were there are no roads? some of us have deep water fording capibiltys. Stump draging touque and winches. This could be a time to show the public that ORV's are not just a form of entertainment. maybe a NEOW emergency responce team sort of way. Maybe this could eventualy open trails to us publicly dictating that we are "honing" our skills.
Ok off my soap box...
But I called Keene and offered my personal help if any one thinks off any other towns let me know.

Very good idea.

Prolly would have to be done on a small, community by community scale.

Something similar was done in CT a few years ago... had volunteered as part of a group to deliver Christmas Dinner's for (IIRC) the local YMCA but then we got the big Christmas Day snowstorm and the lifted, 4wd Jeeps were the only vehicles that could get around.

Do it!

-cmc-

[VPCIII]

Great idea but here's the rub.
Institutional thinking will not exceed the box boundery.

We were up at the Homestead when the waterways broke last Saturday night/Sunday morning.
The section of road that washed out cut off the Washington HD pit, where they needed to pull the gravell to fix the dammage to the roads. These are the roads the First Responders and relief crews need to traverse to get to people.
Stephen was out here first thing with his dump truck and loader looking to make it passable for equipment and the local PW furher tells him to go (pardon the pun) pound sand.
"We'll handle it."
Of course, after looking over exactly what he had for available resources and the tasks ahead, he purdently re-thought his position.

Chuck is correct, it needs to start small but in addition, there has to be some kind of "official" sanction to allow it to work.

[bigdog]

Sounds like a great idea. Interested people should consider contacting their local community's police, fire or emergency management agencies. Unfortunately, they may be told that due to insurance concerns they cannot utilize people who are not city/town employees using privately owned vehicles.

Lawyers have screwed so many things up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[supazuk]

Great idea but here's the rub.
Institutional thinking will not exceed the box boundery.

We were up at the Homestead when the waterways broke last Saturday night/Sunday morning.
The section of road that washed out cut off the Washington HD pit, where they needed to pull the gravell to fix the dammage to the roads. These are the roads the First Responders and relief crews need to traverse to get to people.
Stephen was out here first thing with his dump truck and loader looking to make it passable for equipment and the local PW furher tells him to go (pardon the pun) pound sand.
"We'll handle it."
Of course, after looking over exactly what he had for available resources and the tasks ahead, he purdently re-thought his position.

Chuck is correct, it needs to start small but in addition, there has to be some kind of "official" sanction to allow it to work.

maybe we need to sanction ourselves as a recovory asset if not for this current disaster but present ourselves for future situations in light of the current damages. I belive some steps toward this action were done durring the past blizards.
we can do roadside pickups and trail maintance all day but untill we are seen as an asset to the public we are an activity and even a nusence

[preach]

My town took my name and #, but they did tell me that it would be a pretty unique event if they had to call me.

They'll prolly call this winter since I do not have a rig. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[cmcolfax]

Great idea but here's the rub.
Institutional thinking will not exceed the box boundery.

We were up at the Homestead when the waterways broke last Saturday night/Sunday morning.
The section of road that washed out cut off the Washington HD pit, where they needed to pull the gravell to fix the dammage to the roads. These are the roads the First Responders and relief crews need to traverse to get to people.
Stephen was out here first thing with his dump truck and loader looking to make it passable for equipment and the local PW furher tells him to go (pardon the pun) pound sand.
"We'll handle it."
Of course, after looking over exactly what he had for available resources and the tasks ahead, he purdently re-thought his position.

Chuck is correct, it needs to start small but in addition, there has to be some kind of "official" sanction to allow it to work.

And Stephen get's it. In case anyone forgot what his "real" job is. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Sounds like a great idea. Interested people should consider contacting their local community's police, fire or emergency management agencies. Unfortunately, they may be told that due to insurance concerns they cannot utilize people who are not city/town employees using privately owned vehicles.

Lawyers have screwed so many things up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Yup.
But sometimes in unique situations, small communities will utilize whatever resources they can get their hands on. Start small, call the mayor, the Fire Chief, etc...

-cmc-

[supazuk]

Sounds like a great idea. Interested people should consider contacting their local community's police, fire or emergency management agencies. Unfortunately, they may be told that due to insurance concerns they cannot utilize people who are not city/town employees using privately owned vehicles.

Lawyers have screwed so many things up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

howevery if we include our vehicals as assets much as done in the boating comunity, like the coast guard auxilary, then we are by all means a legal asset. with this title the USCGAUX has been afforded rights to open exercises. and the aid in Search and rescue on a volinteer basis with their our private vessels.
This may have started as a "what about" when I first typed, and still open ended this is a great oppertunity not just to us but also to prove our worth to socity and secure a place for 4wheeing in the future.
This is not somthing that would happen over night and will require work on our behalf but look at just the grant to land access just starting NEOW and local clubs has afforded us. maybe submit to get aids in groups like tread lightly and blue ribbon.
I your wondering where this brain storm came from I'm active duty USCG on cape cod I was just sending out a AUX patrol schedual and I started thinnking why don't we as off roaders have some org like this. as for local experiance I was a Paid call FF and did forestry in hampstead, NH for 3 years prior to my enlistment.
maybe i should instead of getting off my soap box make it biggger

[bigdog]

Sounds like a great idea. Interested people should consider contacting their local community's police, fire or emergency management agencies. Unfortunately, they may be told that due to insurance concerns they cannot utilize people who are not city/town employees using privately owned vehicles.

Lawyers have screwed so many things up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

howevery if we include our vehicals as assets much as done in the boating comunity, like the coast guard auxilary, then we are by all means a legal asset. with this title the USCGAUX has been afforded rights to open exercises. and the aid in Search and rescue on a volinteer basis with their our private vessels.
This may have started as a "what about" when I first typed, and still open ended this is a great oppertunity not just to us but also to prove our worth to socity and secure a place for 4wheeing in the future.
This is not somthing that would happen over night and will require work on our behalf but look at just the grant to land access just starting NEOW and local clubs has afforded us. maybe submit to get aids in groups like tread lightly and blue ribbon.
maybe i should instead of getting off my soap box make it biggger

The USCGAUX was created by congress and is sanctioned by DHS. All of its members have had government background checks. The regulations for a vessel to be included as a facility are fairly stringent. It sounds like a lofty goal to try to achieve.

This post has been edited by bigdog: Oct 14 2005, 09:45 AM

[Bill Zitomer]

I would think this is something you'd need to set up in advance, in somewhat of a formal fashion, with insurance/liability issues worked out, and with the various departments/agencies up to speed on who is part of this reserve unit, what equipment they have, what they can do, etc. It's unfortunate that with the threat of lawsuits everywhere, the officials in charge have no choice but to turn away help, otherwise they open the town (and possibly themselves personally) to a huge liability.

[supazuk]

The USCGAUX was created by congress and is sanctioned by DHS. All of its members have had government background checks. The regulations for a vessel to be included as a facility are fairly stringent. It sounds like a lofty goal to try to achieve.

actully it was created then granted sanction from congress to the dept of transpotation... and in 2002 DHS
they proform safty clinics, help aid the coast guard and harbor masters, they patrol the local harbors for things like disabled boaters, waste, and unsafe vessels/activitys (think of the trails/land that could be opened and ways to keep the yahoo's/renegades off)
and a govenment background check is not that big of a deal it is just a matter of filling out an SF 86 (national security form) this is what i do for a living.
and the regualtions for the vessals are a safty guide I can include the list f you like
I'm sure the first that suggested the USCGAUX were told the same just a lofty goal
I'm not talking over night not talking fedral to start. A small step could go along way to help us as a hole
just as not every boater is not an AUX .. not every wheeler has to be an asset

[supazuk]

I would think this is something you'd need to set up in advance, in somewhat of a formal fashion, with insurance/liability issues worked out, and with the various departments/agencies up to speed on who is part of this reserve unit, what equipment they have, what they can do, etc. It's unfortunate that with the threat of lawsuits everywhere, the officials in charge have no choice but to turn away help, otherwise they open the town (and possibly themselves personally) to a huge liability.

as i said maybe we would not be able to help in this present disaster but bring light on our possiblity as an asset .. i have used the CG AUX ( not to be confused with USCG reserve)as an example because they are civilains with no govenment nor military status.. however when they recieve orders from the USCG they are blanketed under these orders as legal juistriction during such time.

[bigdog]

The USCGAUX was created by congress and is sanctioned by DHS. All of its members have had government background checks. The regulations for a vessel to be included as a facility are fairly stringent. It sounds like a lofty goal to try to achieve.

actully it was created then granted sanction from congress to the dept of transpotation... and in 2002 DHS
they proform safty clinics, help aid the coast guard and harbor masters, they patrol the local harbors for things like disabled boaters, waste, and unsafe vessels/activitys (think of the trails/land that could be opened and ways to keep the yahoo's/renegades off)
and a govenment background check is not that big of a deal it is just a matter of filling out an SF 86 (national security form) this is what i do for a living.
and the regualtions for the vessals are a safty guide I can include the list f you like
I'm sure the first that suggested the USCGAUX were told the same just a lofty goal
I'm not talking over night not talking fedral to start. A small step could go along way to help us as a hole
just as not every boater is not an AUX .. not every wheeler has to be an asset

Supazuk,

The requirements to be an official CGAUX facility are different than the Vessel Safety Check requirements.

I was not suggesting that having a governmental background was a difficult hurdle to overcome. But it does take time to have the checks performed. As you suggested, the groundwork would have to be laid now to be able to volunteer for future disasters.

Having people with amateur radio licenses (technician class) would be a plus since some communities have R.A.C.E.S. (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) members. This would allow the vehicle operators to communicate with the local Emergency Operations Center in the city or town. Communications are vital to any rescue/recovery operation.

Also, if you volunteer your services there needs to be a clear understanding between the owner/operator of the rescue/recovery vehicle who would be responsible for any damages to the vehicle and the occupants if there was an accident. To be done correctly, this would probably include the services of a lawyer. Know any attorneys who wheel?

Just trying to help.

[supazuk]

The USCGAUX was created by congress and is sanctioned by DHS. All of its members have had government background checks. The regulations for a vessel to be included as a facility are fairly stringent. It sounds like a lofty goal to try to achieve.

actully it was created then granted sanction from congress to the dept of transpotation... and in 2002 DHS
they proform safty clinics, help aid the coast guard and harbor masters, they patrol the local harbors for things like disabled boaters, waste, and unsafe vessels/activitys (think of the trails/land that could be opened and ways to keep the yahoo's/renegades off)
and a govenment background check is not that big of a deal it is just a matter of filling out an SF 86 (national security form) this is what i do for a living.
and the regualtions for the vessals are a safty guide I can include the list f you like
I'm sure the first that suggested the USCGAUX were told the same just a lofty goal
I'm not talking over night not talking fedral to start. A small step could go along way to help us as a hole
just as not every boater is not an AUX .. not every wheeler has to be an asset

Supazuk,

The requirements to be an official CGAUX facility are different than the Vessel Safety Check requirements.

I was not suggesting that having a governmental background was a difficult hurdle to overcome. But it does take time to have the checks performed. As you suggested, the groundwork would have to be laid now to be able to volunteer for future disasters.

Having people with amateur radio licenses (technician class) would be a plus since some communities have R.A.C.E.S. (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) members. This would allow the vehicle operators to communicate with the local Emergency Operations Center in the city or town. Communications are vital to any rescue/recovery operation.

Also, if you volunteer your services there needs to be a clear understanding between the owner/operator of the rescue/recovery vehicle who would be responsible for any damages to the vehicle and the occupants if there was an accident. To be done correctly, this would probably include the services of a lawyer. Know any attorneys who wheel?

Just trying to help.

all good points .. and yes very familar with RACES ans well as MARS, i'm a OPERATIONAL SPECIALIST in the USCG ( plan/exacute SAR(search and rescue), man radio watches( answer distress calls, organise cg AUX ops, take guards for vsls , maintain security requirments for the CG along with other things I can't talk about)
I'm mostly seting this out as a tickler that we could toss around to get good ideas how to make it happen.
It is posible, however we would have to do alot of work . But i think we would greatly benifit from it as a whole.