What Pathfinders Can Do to Prepare for a Severe Weather Emergency

A weather system west of Gillette, Wyoming moves toward town. As the hour progresses, the weather severity forecast increases. Sirens sound across town. The storm intensifies and finally explodes over the Cam-Plex as the Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC) announces high winds and hail descending on the Pathfinder Camporee. Emergency personnel from Gillette and Campbell County rush to the scene. 

First responders as well as the Campbell County Health Department and off duty medical personnel arrive. They tend to the injured scattered across the field. They work to carry the wounded long distances in quick litters or slide them toward the triage area on tarps. The ERCC continues to monitor and support rescue activities.

Each year, the city of Gillette and Campbell County live-practice emergency response scenarios to prepare the agencies tasked with public safety and emergency response. Planners design the drills to mimic real-world scenarios and test the systems to learn what works and identify opportunities for improvement. This year, they chose the Pathfinder Camporee for the mass casualty event scenario.

Planning for emergencies and medical response has been underway for a long time. David King, Campbell County Emergency Services Agency Coordinator, adds “Plans are in place, the responders are trained, and everyone will work for the best possible outcome for the Pathfinder and general public.” 
Here are takeaways from the exercise.

1. Prepare your club for an emergency.

   • Designate meeting points, procedures, and communication methods if club members become separated during an emergency.
     • How will your staff account for your club members during and after an event?
     • What plans are in place for a camper(s) taken to the hospital for treatment.
   • Prepare for methods of communication other than cell phone. A storm could damage cellular equipment or the network could be overwhelmed by call volume.
   • Review the emergency information provided on the camporee website. 
   • Involve your members in a table-top exercise. Talk through club plans for an emergency. 

2. To expedite treatment and help emergency responders, all Pathfinders and staff must carry their medical information and minors need their consent to treat forms. Make sure the forms include:

   • The name of the Pathfinder Club.
   • Contact information for the camper’s Pathfinder club leadership at Gillette.
   • The camporee website has medical information forms and further information.

3. Pay close attention to the weather and communicate with the camporee leadership.

   • Sign up to receive emergency text messages directly to your phone during the camporee. Visit www.camporee.org/about/safety.
   • Bring a battery powered radio and tune into the camporee FM station or other local FM and AM radio stations for weather forecasts.

4. Emergency responders are the person’s most informed of the full context during an adverse situation. It’s critical to precisely follow their directions.

5. The camporee website provides excellent information and resources for emergency planning. Review the information and download the forms.

   • Weather information for the camporee
   • Camporee checklists

6. For additional safety preparedness and health information.

   • Listen to the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee podcast with Adventist Risk Management, Inc. and the camporee medical leadership team.

Everyone involved with the emergency response exercise hopes for wonderful weather and an incident-free camporee. However, if needed, a team of skilled emergency professionals, experienced in working together during critical events, have practiced and are prepared to spring into action to provide help as quickly as possible. And Pathfinders, if you see a first responder during the camporee, thank them for the preparation they have done to keep you safe.