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Verbal Comment - Mark KatzHISTORIC LOS GATOS MONTE SERENO DISASTER AID REPONSE TEAM (D.A.R.T.) With only Volunteers, DART has been helping our community since 1978, over 40 years! This 501(c)3 Non -Profit Organization was initially formed by concerned citizens like Mike Wasserman and Joe Pirzynski (both who later became mayors of Los Gatos). As a valuable resource to the communities and the Los Gatos -Monte Sereno Police Department, DART provides assistance to minimize the drain on police resources. DART is involved in many ways; assisting with searches for missing seniors and children, evidence collection, crime scene security, traffic control and emergency situations to name a few. DART also supports town events and activities, like the Holiday Parade, Halloween, Great Race, Fiesta De Arts, Girls on the Run, Eat Drink Los Gatos, and Cat's Hill Bike Races. Throughout the year, we are organized and trained to provide a myriad of services including first aid, safety, searches and traffic control. A few of our past contributions to our community are: • DART provided round the clock logistical and security assistance to the firefighters at the Vasona Fire Camp during the disastrous week of the Lexington Fire. • After the main shock of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, DART manned the emergency operations center and augmented the Police Department, contributing more than 1000 person hours of support. • DART maintained an early warning network for Creekside residents and monitored potential flood damage during winter storms while packing Sand Bags. • Our Traffic Control has included protection to the public against downed, live electrical wires, downed trees and even accident safety. • Our Dive Team assisted in the Search and Recovery efforts of drowning victims and evidence searches in Vasona Lake, Lexington Lake and other nearby water bodies. • DART has gone out on numerous searches for people and/or evidence for crimes as well as murder victims. • DART included members of CARDA, whose wonderful dogs have led us in searches both in remote and urban areas as well as Dive Team searches. • On our walking/hiking trails, DART offers a presence watching for any unusual circumstances. • DART supports the community events, whether it is 9-11 remembrance or a town picnic. We have and are prepared to provide support during natural disasters or other significant events, whether it is First Aid, Triage, Building Damage Assessment, Traffic Control, Assisting in the Emergency Operations Center, or whatever else is needed. We employ our Specialty Teams when requested by the LGMSPD at an event or a disaster. One of the services that our talented Volunteers provide, is teaching local communities, whether it is the Scouts, CERT, Soccer Teams or community members. DART worked with the LGMSPD to teach the initial CERT training. This required tailoring the course materials to fit the time constraints established for the classes. In order to serve our community, we utilize a set of essential skills for both urban and rural environments. Skills are taught by DART Instructors. Some skills the whole team trains on; such as CPR/first aid, incident command, search theory and field skills such as land navigation. Other skills are for our specialized teams that train above and beyond the essential skills in order to perform our missions in more diverse environments. Our Specialty Teams include: • Advanced Emergency Medical Treatment & Care • Disaster Assistance and Survival • Technical Rope Rescue • Wilderness Survival • Scuba Diving • Bike and ATV (Transportation) • Emergency Radio Communications (Ham) • Traffic Control & Safety • Other Emergency Skills pertinent to effective Search & Rescue • Currently reviewing a remotely piloted aircraft (Drone) team to enhance our search operations. • At points in time, we had CARDA members, which used their dogs to help us search for people, evidence and cadavers. All of our volunteer efforts are made possible through donations for all the equipment and supplies that we use to perform our emergency assistance missions. DART provides our community with thousands of volunteer hours each year. As a volunteer organization we must fund raise in order to acquire the equipment that is needed for the team. Without these donations the team would not be able to do all that we do. Because of amazing donations this year, we will be able to accomplish much more for our community. We are so grateful and appreciative for the following generous donations. Our old trailer finally gave out, and was replaced this year, by an amazing donor, the Sereno Group 1% for Good Program. You will soon see a safe and effective command trailer thanks to Sereno Group Real Estate. To help with the interior trailer outfitting, readying us for events and disasters, we are thankful for the donations of the City of Monte Sereno, the Town of Los Gatos, CM Property Management, Mike Wasserman, John and Rose Simmons, and John Lochner. For Donations email infoAlgmsdart.orq or call Steve Trolan at 408.887.1020. And, if you would like to be part of our amazing team, email info(lgmsdart.orq.