South Plainfield CERT/RACES members got together to take part in the Simulated Emergency Test, the first Saturday on October. Much to our dismay, we heard no activity on any of the local OEM repeaters; or for that matter, any chatter on the NNJ ARES group page. So we conducted our own exercise and sent our report in to the usual set of officials. Inquiries to the County OEM by Marv K2VHW, as to the lack of activity that day went unanswered.
I guess there was a reason for that:
http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/news/2010_CERT.asp
It seems there was an exercise planned to occur the following weekend; the only problem is that we found out after the fact.
I'm not sure what to think, who might have dropped the ball, why we weren't told. It certainly seems like it was a good drill; and the chance to participate would have been welcomed by all members of the South Plainfield CERT Teams (there are four teams, consisting of about 10 to 15 CERT members each). Certainly, we were one of the earliest townships to organize CERT in the county, and we are also one of the towns close to bordering on Somerset County (with whom this joint exercise was conducted).
In two words, I can sum up the entire experience as far as South Plainfield is concerned - very disappointing.
I am certainly hoping for better communications next year - after all, isn't that what we're supposed to specialize in?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Yes Larry it is very odd...as you hit the nail on the head when you said that this organization is supposed to be specializing in communication.
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