Mike Feyder, Mountain Disaster Preparedness president, discussed his organization at the Thursday, Dec. 8, Mountain Emergency Services Committee meeting.
Established in 1986, MDP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting emergency preparedness awareness to community members in Idyllwild, Pine Cove and Mountain Center. Members provide supplies and maintain eight Disaster Aid Stations throughout greater Idyllwild. Importantly, MDP acts as a liaison with governmental agencies to coordinate volunteer response.
At present, according to Feyder, MDP has 850 active non-dues paying members. Financial support is provided through donations and grants from a variety of organizations, including the Idyllwild Community Fund, Rotary International, Pine Cove Property Owners Association and Riverside County 3rd District supervisors (formerly Jeff Stone and currently Chuck Washington).
MDP acts through its various arms: its 140 Community Emergency Response Team-trained volunteers, its DAS units, its radio communication network, including idyllwildemergency.com, its medical team headed by Dr. Richard Goldberg, and its Red Cross members, trained in opening and maintaining shelters, shelter feeding and logistics.
The eight DAS units throughout Idyllwild stock communication devices, first-aid supplies, search and rescue equipment, and generators and lighting equipment to be used by MDP volunteers during emergencies.
MDP radio communications include an FCC-licensed radio network with two repeaters, both emergency and medical frequencies, 40 radios and 6 HAM operators (members of Mile High Radio Club).
Its medical unit has 35 trained volunteers, 12 core members, including Goldberg and skilled nurses, first-aid capability at its eight DAS units and an advanced treatment facility staffed by the core medical group at Idyllwild Pines Camp.
IdyllwildEmergency.com keeps the community at large up-to-date on emergency information through MDP’s website, email and cell phone subscriptions, Facebook and Twitter. Idyllwild Emergency has satellite communications capability and can keep the world informed of Hill situations.
MDP meetings are open to the public and are held at the Idyllwild Library Community Room at 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month.