Greetings-

I had been working on this Homeland Security - Emergency Preparedness Information project for years to develop a resource page that would have had some specific information for the use Trinity County Residents provided or approved by their local officials. This part of the project has been suspended due to lack of interest by those approached in local government. I decided to work on atleast an informational page with links.

The Trinity County Officials are doing the best they can, literally "save" local government itselfl... Poor management, planning, and ineptness for generations has left Trinity County at the edge of bankruptsy and worse in 2005.

To expect a comprehensive plan to meet threats and realities of terrorism today, when there is no money to even finance exercises dealing with simpler more comomon possibilites, would make it difficult.

Even considering the modest resources, and what they might allow, most of their work is by it's nature somewhat confidential, and we will just have to hope for the best. MOstly, that State, Federal, and Private Resources for your homeland security and emergency needs will be adaquate for our needs.

The Trinity County Office of Emergency Services that is part of the Trinity County Sheriff's Department seems to be the main coordinator. Hopefully lessons learned in past emergencies, improved communications, gerneral planning, and the integration of procedures provided by the State and Federal Government will be usefull.

In the mean time...best I can tell as usual we are pretty much on our own...I am re-thinking the best way to provide information about related Trinity County Calfornia Homeland Security issues to you.. It will certainly include some of the many LINKED INFORMATIONAL PAGES you might want to print out or save within your battery operated computers or just a simple binder(plastic pages might not be bad idea for some stuff). They will likely include reference lists and the like, some of the content of various local, state, federal government and private sector websites such as mine. (www.trinitycam.com)

Some of the information I certainly wish to provide is related to radio communications; from reception of 24hr Weather/Emergency Radio Information, to Public Safety Broadcasts,etc on a scanners or citizen owned radio systems will be useful. If you can not hear what is going on, or even better yet, communicate to yourselves or others, it is more difficult. The improved reception of standard AM and FM radio broadcast in the mountains will be addressed, (outside VHF Antennas and AM Loop,etc Antennas) and an emergency power source is helpful.

Personal radio communications utilizing FRS,CB,MURS (All unlicensed, easy to use, inexpensive two-way radios) will be described.. Explanations of how easy it has become to communicate reliably with simple equipment and training. It is now very easy to obtain an Amateur ( Ham) Radio License. Learning of the Morse Code nolonger required, with simple study aids that will enable you to utilize the powerful abilities of amateur radio like voice, data, video and digital picture tranmission..

Your membership is welcomed to the local Ham Radio Club, Amateur Radio Emergency Communications group and other specialty emergency communications groups is welcome. Various emergency related radio groups interface with local, state and federal officials and agencies using standard procedures recognized by State and Local Government and Client Agency Groups like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Military Radio System, etc.. The pre-planned inter-face of mountain top solar powered two way radio systems, tactical portable short wave sets, and commercial personal communication systems. Our local group presently has some portable voice/data radios and an Emergency Communications Unit (Trailer) with public safety, Ham, Commercial, and Broadcast Communications capabilities. It can interface with portable command posts(rado,phone,intercom) and has been utilized during actual FIRE, WEATHER disasters and EXERCISES.

A group of dedicated communicator-neighbors has planned for the extended absence of power, telephone, broadcast radio/tv, Computer Networks and the like with little if any public financial support. The resource is very limited, but we will do the best we can.

I am a member of the Trinity County Amateur Radio Club, Trinity County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) , US Army Military Amateur Radio System, Red Cross Communications, Salvation Army Communications (SATERN), and one of yourllocal Ham Radio Emergency Communictaions volunteers. We are your friends and neighbors that have maintained personal short and long-range radio communications. Some of us also belong to other groups and have made arrangements/equipment to contact FEMA, SHARES, CAOES, ARES, RACES, U.S. Military, RED CROSS, SALVATION ARMY, CDF, USFS and many other agencies. Post 9-11, there have been many changes as you might suspect to utilize our existing plans and upgrade then to inform and coordinate them with local, state and federal government.

Trinity's ARES group has been working on plans for communities to utilze simple, inexpensive and unlicensed two-way radios in concert with loal community ARES Members and Public Safety Agencies. These are particularly oriented at Weather, Fire and Terrorist Acts that result in interuption of power, telephone, and radio/TV broadcast reception/communication. Planning is the extent of the progress so far.

I am still working on it, and you are invited to take a look at the work in progress, The Community Radio Plan. on the TCARES and Trinity Amateur Radio Club website.

Here in Trinity County, because we live in a rural environment and are aware of the dangers from Weather Emergencies (rain, snow, flood, storm), Earthquakes, Forest Fires and the like, we tend to have extra supplies of food, water, and emergency items normally.

You will find helpful information like Emergency Preparedness Supply Lists, Radio Communications information, Medical Information, Sources of information to help you decide what is right for you and your family in your own preparedness program on my pages..

There is even information on the larger international aspects of World Wide Terrorism.... Well the world is a smaller place each day... with events a world away impacting us even here in Trinity County. Some of the sites will explain some of the realities of WMD on a world-wide basis...Do do not forget that the Oklahoma City Blast, that killed and injured many that was a couple misguided fellows using materials all found within a very few miles of where you are sitting now.

Recently, the Hurricane KATRINA, showed the entire world what most of us interested in such things, that the USA is NOT PREPARED to respond to anything like "Dirty Bomb", Bio-Terrorism, Multiple-Disruptive Terrorist Events (Fire, Power/Communications Disruptions,etc.). Hopefully, it will inspire individuals to atleast make increased personal arrangements. I hope folks find info in this section and others linked to it to help.

As time allows, I will work on a prinable brochure, list or both relating to Trinity County and general information will be posted on the www.trinitycam.com Website..

In the mean time.... There are many good links to websites on my pages, I hope they will be of help to you while you make your own arrangements. If you share my interests and find good sources of information, PLEASE FORWARD THEM.

My Best Wishes, and I sincerely hope you never need any of this information...but I encourage you to atleast print some of it out and consider applying some of it to your lives.

Greg Greenwood, volunteer Webmaster, http://www.trinitycam.com

Homeland Security Links

• TrinityCam HOMELAND SECURITY-Section of my INFOsite.
• Institute for Homeland Security- Info & Newsletter
• www.ready.gov- US Gov't Site
• Two Tigers Homeland Security Site- Big Info Site
• Red Cross Article on Unexpected Emergencies- and what to do...
• More Links Soon..

Many Trinity County Groups and Agencies are working on plans in coordination with State and Federal Government Agencies presently. Many planned improvements in Emergency and Public Safety Communications for Trinity County are being studied. Your Trinity County Amateur Radio Club ARES Group has continued to update their equipment and abilities. The Volunteer Fire Departments thorughout the County continue to lead their communities. Trinity County, State and Federal Govermnent Agencies located in our area continue to drill, and update plans to protect and serve us.

At very least invest in a good AM/FM radio, a durable Flashlight, and lots of Alkaline Batteries (or solar rechargeable battery system).

CONTACT the WEBMASTER