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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | DECEMBER 2023 | 11 It's Oct. 19 at 10:19 am. e Great California ShakeOut has begun. e Sun Lakes' EOC (Emergency Operation Center) was activated and the EPAP Coordinators and Zone Captains, from each district, are organizing at their District's Command Post. Each Coordinator checks in with the EOC, via their FRS (two-way walkie talkie) radios, and instructs the Zone Captains to begin checking the homes, in their zones, for the "yellow card" in the residents' windows. is will let them know that all is well at these homes. Sounds simple, right? But there was much more to this drill than looking for the "yellow cards." At the EOC, Brian O'Grady and Dick Heitman monitored the FRS radios. ey communicated with the District EPAP Coordinators, Securitas, and EPAP Patrol. Candace Jenkins, EOC Incident Command and EOC Rover, Dick Spaulding, documented communications from the EPAP Coordinators and simulated dispatching help. EPAP Patrol, Chuck Chapman, simulated setting up the generators in the Main Clubhouse Bus Room, which would be available for those who required electricity for oxygen and/or other medical devices in the event of a power outage. Also, as outlined in the drill scenario… District 18 reported seeing smoke. First Responders were dispatched and issued an Evacuation Warning to residents on Bay Hill. Securitas Security Manager Michael Romero, Lieutenant Jonathan Roman, and two Securitas officers assisted first responders by going door-to-door to issue the warning and assisted with crowd control. Securitas asked EPAP Patrol to assist with unauthorized vehicles entering the evacuation area. Also, District 11 reported an injured resident. EPAP Animal Rescue were on patrol and responded to the residence because the injured person had a dog. Foxy was picked up and cared for while the injured resident received medical treatment. EOC Radio Crew kept tuned to all radio activity going on in and around the PASS area. Jeff monitored the HF Radio and Dave, on the UHF/VHF 2way, received communications from others outside of Sun Lakes, also participating in the drill. Brian and Dick H. continued communicating with the reporting districts. 20 out of 23 Districts checked in. ese contacts were crucial for the drill. It indicated we were able to communicate during an emergency. In 2008, ShakeOut began in Southern California as a drill designed to educate the public about how to protect themselves during a large earthquake. First Responders, medical professionals, and individuals in many industries continuously practice ensuring they are prepared for a potential emergency situation. To make sure Sun Lakes is also prepared, the EPAP Executive Team holds drills with our EPAP Teams and residents. Unfortunately, this year only 50 percent of our residents participated in the drill. Does this mean we are not prepared? No one knows the answer and we hope we will not have to find out, but we do know practicing is important. Being prepared WILL SAVE LIVES! ~ Janis Rice, EPAP PIO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Great California Shake Out - Was SLCC Ready? ank you to all our EPAP volunteers who donate their time and talent to make Sun Lakes safe!