360
Russell C. Coile
that none of the other 11 cities in Monterey County had ever
participated in the States's annual exercise on the fi rst Tuesday
in April, and our County had never participated. Twice
in ten years the Monterey County Grand Jury investigated
earthquake preparedness in the county. Each report gave a pat
on the back to Pacifi c Grove for its readiness and a stern letter
to the other cities asking why they were so unprepared. Our
City Manager supported me every year when I recommended
that we participate.
The Mayor issued a proclamation declaring April 1997 as
Earthquake Preparedness Month in Pacifi c Grove. The State's
earthquake exercise was at 10:30 am on Tuesday April 1. An
alternate emergency operations center (EOC) was activated by the
City Manager/Director of Emergency Services since the scenario
(which I had prepared) had the Community Center heavily
damaged by the earthquake. Harry Robins, Monterey County
Operational Area Emergency Manager and Barbara McPhail,
Governor's Offi ce of Emergency Services, Coastal Region
participated as observer/evaluators. Members of the City's
Disaster Council, including PG&E and Chamber of Commerce
representatives participated. Amateur radio operators in the
EOC communicated with amateurs at the City of Monterey's
EOC, Carmel Red Cross, Community Hospital, Salvation Army
and Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station. Pacifi c Grove
Boy Scouts served as pages to deliver messages inside the EOC
and assisted with EOC registration and security.
After exercise play ended, Mark Carbonero, Radio Station
KOCN, gave a briefi ng on the introduction of the new FCC/
FEMA "Emergency Alerting System (EAS)" which has
replaced the old Civil Defense "Emergency Broadcasting
System (EBS)." Roger Ince, Monterey County Red Cross, gave
a talk on Red Cross plans for providing mass care and shelter
for earthquake victims in Pacifi c Grove.
Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station had an
earthquake damage evacuation exercise and pretended that
one of their marine biologists was missing. The Monterey
Bay Search Dogs went into action and found the missing