County OES and Aware & Prepare Receive Second Award

On December 7, at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting, the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Services and the Aware and Prepare Initiative received a merit award from the California State Association of Counties for the “Radio Ready” program. Radio Ready has placed satellite communication devices at local radio stations that have generators at their studio and their transmission towers. In addition, the program placed satellite stations at the County’s emergency operations center, the Betteravia Government Center in Santa Maria, and in a vehicle that is staffed by a 24-hour emergency manager; a “Duty Officer.”

In accepting the award, Michael Harris, emergency operations chief for the County, stated that one of the most important aspects of the program was the distribution of 5,000 hand-crank radios to lower income persons. “Having a hand-cranked radio is one of the most important parts of a person’s emergency plan,” according to Harris. Harris went on to say, “Radio Ready helped us get the hand-cranked radios to people who might not be able to otherwise have them.” Board Chair Janet Wolf, supported the need to have a portable radio by reiterating to the persons gathered in the hearing room that her hand-cranked radio is in her car, ready to use.

For more information about Radio Ready, including the Radio Ready stations, visit online .

In September, the Aware & Prepare Initiative received the “Platinum Award” from the California Emergency Services Association. The award was in recognition of the efforts in developing a collaborative approach amongst several philanthropic foundations to improve emergency preparedness in Santa Barbara County. Projects from Carpinteria to Santa Maria have received funding to assist jurisdictions and their citizens in being better prepared.

For more information about the Aware & Prepare Initiative, visit online .