Year-end Report from BEARR Group to BCCA
Brian Wilkinson presented the following report to the BCCA meeting on January 9, 2023.
A REVIEW OF THE 2022 ACTIVITIES OF THE BROWNTOWN EMERGENCY RESPONSE & RISK REDUCTION GROUP (Otherwise known as the “BEARR Group”)
PRESENTED AT THE BCCA MONTHLY MEETING – Monday, January 9, 2023
BACKGROUND
The BEARR Group was established in 2021 by the BCCA to promote community action, build capacity, and provide advice and support to local residents and businesses in reducing systemic risks to the safety of the Browntown Community.
The Group’s work in 2022 continued to emphasize issues previously addressed in 2021 when we began the high visibility 911 Address Signs campaign, promoted the idea of bringing a Mobile Canteen for Emergency Responders to Warren County, presented a petition to Warren County Supervisors on the urgent need to improve internet access in Browntown, and promoted the involvement of BCCA members as volunteers in the South Warren Volunteer Fire Department (SWVFD)
HOW DID WE DO IN 2022?
HIGH VISIBILITY 911 SIGNS
At the beginning of 2022 this campaign was still based on a partnership between SWVFD and the BEARR group which was launched in June, 2021. That partnership, by the time it was terminated by mutual agreement in June, 2022 resulted in more than 120 signs being installed in South Warren and a net contribution to SWVFD reserves of slightly more than $2,200.
Since then our 911 signs campaign has been run as a BCCA initiative, with BCCA funding the cost of materials and all revenues accruing to the BCCA. We have used emails and targeted letter mailings to specific addresses and communities in Browntown to encourage people to consider installing signs on their properties. As a result we have succeeded in installing 49 new signs over a period of six months and received $1,235 in payments (including voluntary donations). After deducting the cost of materials, this has resulted in a net contribution to the BCCA of approximately $595. This campaign has been based entirely on voluntary efforts, with the bulk of the work being done by Chris Lewis (orders and production) and Alan Thompson (deliveries).
SWVFD VOLUNTEERS
The SWVFD continued to provide excellent emergency services throughout the year throughout our area. However, many Browntown residents who signed up as volunteers with SWVFD had significant disagreements with way SWVFD was run by its President in 2022. We are hopeful that things will be better in 2023 under new leadership.
MOBILE CANTEEN FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
In the Fall of 2021 the BEARR Group invited Dave Cooper and members of the (amazing!) Canteen Unit he runs with the Bridge Community Church in Warrenton to demonstrate their equipment and capability at the BCCA. At the time we were interested in the possibility of operating a similar unit out of the Browntown Sub-station. Jimmy Bonzano, the Warren County Fire Chief attended that demonstration and, having been suitably impressed, was able to come up with an alternative approach in March 2022, with the Bridge Community Church Canteen Unit agreeing to provide assistance to Warren County Fire and Rescue on an as needed and when available basis. This was a great solution that would not have happened without the groundwork done by the BEARR Group.
HIGH SPEED INTERNET/BROADBAND HOME ACCESS AND CELL PHONE COVERAGE
We continued during 2022 to monitor progress in implementation of the VATI high speed expansion in Warren County which requires the internet service provider All Points Broadband to work with state and local agencies and electric utility companies to provide high speed internet access to districts such as Browntown that have been plagued for years by unreliable service. Apparently (NVD, 09/08/22) construction of the fiber lines will begin in the second quarter of 2023 and continue through July 2025. This is a very slow rollout compared to other parts of Virginia and Warren County has so far done little to keep people informed about progress.
Lack of cell phone coverage in and around Browntown remains a significant risk factor re emergencies occurring outside of the home. It also is a significant constraint for visitors and especially for farmers, and contractors who work in the area. Recent developments suggest that there may be some interest by at least one phone service provider to offer such service. The BEARR Group was unable during 2022 to make any progress in this area of interest.
SELF-HELP HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMS
• STOP THE BLEED TRAINING: We were able to partner with the Warren County Fire & Rescue and the Browntown Baptist Church in running two programs in July and August. Both were fully subscribed and everyone who participated commented on the high quality of the two trainers and the value of the new skills and knowledge they acquired. We are grateful to Joanne Koszyk for taking the lead in organizing this training.
• CPR TRAINING: We also partnered with Warren County Fire & Rescue in July in offering a 4-hour cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training program for members of our community. We are grateful to Mary McLaughlin for taking the lead in organizing this training.
• FIRE EXTINGUISHER DEMONSTRATION: We had hoped to offer this program in November but had to postpone due to weather constraints. This program will now take place in March or April 2023.
ONLINE SUPPORT TOOLS
In November we launched a new website (BEARRGroup.com) and three new social media sites to provide easily accessible information on key community safety initiatives and issues and to enable people to order their high visibility 911 signs online. These sites are still in an early stage of development but we can already see positive results from this initiative, especially for ordering signs online.
BEARR Group Online
You can help to spread the word about the BEARR Group by “liking” and “following” our social media sites at:
Facebook: BEARR Group
Instagram: @bearr_group
Twitter: @bearr_group
WHAT NEXT IN 2023?
We are currently reviewing our priorities for the coming year and would welcome any suggestions about where we should focus our efforts to help KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
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