The
Team
Known as the "Vital Link," the Santa Clarita Emergency Communication Team (SCECT) is registered as a civil defense organization under the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES). The team's primary purpose is to supply emergency communications for the City of Santa Clarita. Members, who are volunteer amateur radio operators, take an oath to supply their talents and equipment in times of crisis. In the Santa Clarita Valley, this team also works closely with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Henry May Newhall Memorial Hospital, the Valencia Industrial Association, local radio and more. The "Vital Link," connects the City and the County during and emergency, and provides a uniform communications plan.
Applicants must pass a background check by the
Sheriff's Department before being issued County and City identification
cards, and must attend training classes. Members of the team participate in weekly nets, monthly meetings, and also take part in drills to sharpen emergency communications skills. Members are also issued a City ID card.
There are more than 100 local members in the
Santa Clarita Valley trained in emergency preparedness. In coordination
with the City's emergency management team, members of the Emergency
communication team maintain a level of readiness so they can respond
at a moment's notice.
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Clarita Fire Watch
The Santa Clarita Fire Watch program is designed to prevent
or reduce the number of fires by activating patrols. With
the increased number of citizens residing in urban/wildland
areas there is a greater threat to human life, loss of property
and damage to the environment from devastating fires. The
primary function of the fire watch program is to provide
local authorities information during critically fire weather
conditions. Another benefit of the patrols is deterrence
of fire through visibility of the program and the associated
patrol activities. The area of Santa Clarita Fire Watch
operations is limited to the City of Santa Clarita, neighboring
unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, and the Angeles
National Forest.
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School
Emergency Communications Plan
The School Emergency Communication Plan is designed to help local
school districts provide better communications during a large-scale
emergency, with the installation of antennas at each school and
district office. This antenna system includes the ability to operate
both inside and outside the building. The antenna can be used
with district radios, cellular phones and amateur radios. This
plan goes into effect if all other means of communications are
down, unreliable, or overloaded.
1994 Northridge Earthquake
Only minutes after the January 17th earthquake hit, local team
members were manning radios in the Emergency Operations Centers
of both the Sheriff's Station and City Hall. With phone lines
down, and cell phone sites inoperable, emergency stations were
set up at Fire Station 73, the Red Cross, Henry Mayo Hospital
and most shelters. A link was established between the Santa Clarita
Valley and the Sheriff's Emergency Operations Bureau in Los Angeles.
From dispatching 911 calls, to coordinating communications for
injured hospital patients and water truck deliveries, the Santa
Clarita Emergency Communication Team members worked for hours
on end to help the community during this crisis time.
The Santa Clarita Emergency Communications Team provides communications for the following community events:
AMGEN Tour of California
City of Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival
City of Santa Clarita Emergency Expo
City of Santa Clarita Emergency Exercises
City of Santa Clarita Marathon
Santa Clarita 4th of July Parade
For more information, contact Brad Marckwardt,
City Radio Officer at (661) 254-4600
