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CA NEWS
Water Matters Sun City Texas EMC Evacuation Exercise
Town Hall - new date! to take place March 9
Friday, March 10, 9 a.m., SCB Submitted by Sandy Kienitz, Emergency Management Committee
Submitted by Carlton M. Mathis,
Common Area and Irrigation The Sun City Texas Volunteers operating the facilities are
Superintendent Emergency Manage- EMC members, volunteers serving on the
ment Committee Resident Education Subcommittee, Sun
The next Central Texas drought al- (EMC) conducts a City Amateur Radio Society (SCARS) vol-
ways seems to be just around the cor- community evacuation unteers, COPs volunteers and a variety of
ner. Please join us Friday, March 10 at exercise each year. The purpose of the volunteers from other organizations in Sun
9 a.m. in the Social Center Ballroom exercise is to determine how effective our City Texas. City of Georgetown Emergency
where we will address these concerns on trained volunteers can staff, set up and Management Coordinator Chad Berg will
a local level and discuss Sun City Texas’ execute a resident evacuation resulting participate as an observer and evaluate
community goals and objectives for 2017. from a multitude of crises that may oc- the exercise upon completion.
Remember: there are a number of ways cur. There are four facilities available
to save water and help the environment, to provide services to evacuees need- To make the exercise as realistic as pos-
and they all start with you! We hope to ing shelter: the Social Center Ballroom, sible, resident evacuee volunteers will be
see you there. the Activities Center, the Cowan Creek needed. Residents willing to assist in this
Amenity Center and The Worship Place effort will role play evacuees requiring
Water Matters on Sun City Boulevard. medical treatment for injuries, evacuees
with pets in need of shelter and residents
Submitted by Carlton M. Mathis, The primary facility is the ballroom, as who simply need shelter for a limited pe-
Common Area and it is the only facility having an emergen- riod of time. It should be understood that
Irrigation Superintendent cy power generator. The ballroom and in a genuine crisis situation, all facilities
surrounding areas are organized and are available for a limited period of time.
This winter partitioned to provide space for evacuee None of the facilities are set up to accom-
has seen a registration, evacuees with pets and/or modate overnight stays.
wide range of in need of shelter, an Incident Command
temperatures, Center, minor first aid treatment and the Each year the exercise is conducted, vol-
but even with a press and media. The Activities Center unteers improve in their efficiency and
few days below serves as the primary first aid station base of knowledge. At the conclusion of the
freezing and a offering basic first aid treatment and tri- exercise, an outgoing brief is conducted to
handful of rain events the moisture age services for patients who may require allow for an exchange of ideas, review of
levels in our soil have held up quite transfer to medical facilities. The Cowan operations and update of procedures and
well. Irrigation systems should have Creek Amenity Center meeting rooms and protocols. The exercise this year will be
been left off during this weather, entryways are set up to receive and regis- conducted on Thursday, March 9 from 8
however I did see a couple of “ice ter evacuees and provide designated areas a.m. to noon. Volunteers working at the So-
gardens” in the community during for evacuees and basic first aid services. cial Center Ballroom, Cowan Creek Ame-
those freezing days. If need be, The Worship Place is available nity Center and the Activities Center will
March is the month to consider to residents; however, this facility would be readily identifiable wearing emergency
turning on irrigation systems. be limited to providing space for evacuees vests of various colors. We ask residents
Temperatures are warming up in need of shelter – other services would utilizing these facilities be considerate of
quickly and plants are starting to most likely not be available. the volunteers and defer to them as appro-
wake from their winter slumber. If priate to help ensure a successful exercise.
rain events are scarce, a once-per-
week watering schedule should be Golf carts and grandkids: Say NO!
sufficient.
Many grandchildren will be in our com- one under the age of 16 and/or anyone
munity for the spring break holiday, without a driver’s license to drive a golf
and there will be a temptation to allow cart. Please, DO NOT let grandkids get
them to drive a golf cart. It is against behind the wheel; Georgetown police of-
the law and extremely dangerous for any- ficers may issue you a ticket.
12 | SUNRAYS MARCH 2017 ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG