We are often asked, “What does Be MorePREpared do?” While the concept may seem quite simple, the implementation can require finely tuned logistics and planning. The best way to explain what we do is to show you a successful example. Below are excerpts from an After Action Report (AAR) of how Be MorePREpared assisted in the receiving, inventory, distributing and storage of a massive response to a call for donations due to the Woolsey Fire and other fires in Ventura County in California.

The complete AAR includes dozens of photos, support documents and may be viewed on our website:
https://atasteofpreparedness.com/bmp-after-action-reports/#woolsey_aar

DISASTER DONATIONS
Wildfires COLLECTION – November 9 to 11, 2018
AFTER ACTION REPORT (AAR)

City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
BobCAT for Emergency PREparedness
CD3 VECC – Operations Valley Bureau

A Public Private-Sector PREparedness Partnership to Be More Disaster PREpared

OVERVIEW

On the morning of Friday, November 9, 2018, TEAM Be MorePREpared was contacted by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield that an Evacuation Shelter was being set up at Taft High School due to Wildfires in Ventura County and Disaster Supplies were needed ASAP. Within an hour of the call, the first load of PRE-paid PRE-positioned Disaster Supplies were delivered to Taft High School.

Then, a request was made to deliver supplies to a second Evacuation Shelter with animals at Pierce College. Inventoried Disaster Supplies (not including animal foods) were delivered and a Call-Out for animal food donations was made.

The CD3 Community Services Center in Reseda was then established as an Official Disaster Supplies Donation Drop-Off Location. By the end of Friday, over 50% of the CD3 Community Services Center was full of Donations. That evening, The Salvation Army (TSA) Emergency & Disaster Services (EDS) sent a 53 foot truck to pick up Donations and take them to the active Shelters.

DONATION COLLECTIONS were then scheduled at the CD3 Community Services Center for Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11, 2018 – 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Over 300 Community Volunteers supported both Collection Days and helped to load and transfer all of the Donations to the VEPOD Fulfillment Center for Storage, Sorting and Re-Distribution.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

1. To Coordinate a “Productive” Disaster Supplies Collection Service Project to be able to Provide Supplies to Evacuation Shelters in a needed and timely manner.
2. Coordinate Professionals, Trained Volunteers, Emergency (HAM Radio) Communications Operators and EXPLORING Post Members to work together to maximize the combined and available resources of time, energy and dollars.
3. To prove that the Be MorePREpared Donation Management Service Program is Successful after a Whole Community Emergency or Disaster occurs.

LEARNED EXPERIENCES

1. The reason this Program is Successful is the ability of the Private Sector to be flexible to work with the Public Sector.
2. It takes a lot of people working together to ‘Get The Job Done!’
3. PRE-paid PRE-positioned Inventory is critical in order to have an immediate Response after a Whole Community Emergency or Disaster occurs.