EJCECS Functions:
Communications for City Events
- The Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival – This annual festival brings thousands of visitors to downtown Independence each Labor Day weekend. This is a great time for family members and friends to enjoy their time walking around taking in the many attractions. At times family members become displaced from one another. EJCECS volunteers assist CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members by providing communications between the Emergency Operations Center and the Lost Child Booth, located at the festival.
- Enchanted Forrest – Each October, near Halloween, thousands of visitors converge on George Owens Nature Park to walk thru the park with flashlight in hand meeting friendly storybook characters. The evening culminates in an old fashion hay wagon ride. EJCECS volunteers monitor weather conditions, assist with operations and emergency communications when needed.
Severe Weather
During severe weather EJCECS volunteers deploy to the Emergency Operations Center and key positions in Eastern Jackson County. Information reported includes rainfall, wind, hail size, lighting, cloud formation and other information needed by Emergency Management and the National Weather Service.
Damage Assessment
On a quiet Thursday evening during May 2008 at 5:15 pm, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued by the National Weather Service at Pleasant Hill. EJCECS volunteers were activated to serve as storm spotters. This watch was later upgraded to a Severe Storm Warning. While the storms appeared to weaken near 10:00 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a Hurricane Force Wind Warning at midnight for the Kansas City metro area. Previously activated EJCECS members began conducting damage assessment of Independence with reports back to the EOC of trees and power lines down and damage to businesses and homes. Other EJCECS members at the EOC coordinated this information for Emergency Management and city officials. Later Friday morning, four damage assessment teams were activated specifically to assess the damage after the storms had concluded.