Re: [SARES] Missing Child - Activation

Given today's "exercise", I have been thinking.

GOOD JOB, team -- this is one of the most effective rapid-callouts that I 
have experienced.

In a known-to-be-short-term situation (this case was a missing child), 
should we use the phone tree NOT to leave messages?
As I did my calling, I talked to people directly (and had surprisingly few 
answering machines) and told them that an activation was happening, need was 
not yet known, and to check into the Sunnyvale ARES repeater.

When I found an answering machine, I chose NOT to leave a message.  Figuring 
that I could always call back later if the need escalated.

The end result was an educated response team available immediately, and no 
latent messages which would trigger action after-the-event.  I also did not 
feel the need to call back and leave a second message that the activation 
had successfully concluded.

Obviously, this is not the procedure for a major call-out (a wildfire, an 
earthquake, or an act of terrorism).

What does the SARES leadership think about my procedure (talk to people, 
leave the answering machines for later)?

[on another topic, I found the call-out via my habit of scanning when 
convenient.  It was traffic on the SARES repeater which caught me -- about 
5-10 minutes before my cellphone rang]

  - Skip AA6WK
     AEC



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Gundrum" <pafidt@INTERNET. rawbw.com>
To: "SARES LIST" <sares-list@INTERNET. sunnyvaleares.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 10:03 PM
Subject: [sares-ares-races] [SARES] Missing Child - Activation


> ALL,
>    THANK YOU to all!!!!!  The phone tree was exercised for the first time, 
> with POSITIVE results.  We had 20 members on the air within 30 to 45 
> minutes, some of whom were already headed to Stocklmeir school.  When we 
> arrived at the ICP, we were told to standby as the child might have been 
> located.  DPS would not be sure until they had a officer make contact, 
> which was accomplished within the next 5 minutes.  At that time all SARES 
> resources were released, with the THANKS of the IC.
>
>    THANKS again for your support and response, both Lt.Berrien (IC) & 
> Capt. Mata were impressed with the prompt response from SARES to the DPS 
> request for assistance.  YOU made SARES look very responsive to requests 
> from DPS.
>
> Bob ~W6MOL~
> EC
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