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BSA Bugle Summer Issue 2013

To download this issue as a PDF, visit www.mac-bsa.org/mac_news_bugle.aspx.

Scouts respond, ready and prepared

Spring 2013 ushered in extreme weather creating disaster areas across the world. Scouts want to respond with disaster relief. This is how a Cub Scout family did respond, and how a Boy Scout troop is preparing to respond for emergencies and disaster relief in the future.

On the afternoon of Monday, May 20, 2013 an EF5 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma with winds estimated at 210 miles per hour. Twentythree were killed and 377 were injured. This tornado was only one of several that had touched Oklahoma over the previous two days. The Dotterer family was planning to attend the Westmore High School graduation ceremony for their daughter Katelyn in a few days. Mrs. Melody Dotterer talked to their boys, BJ and Joe about what it would be like to go see the damage the tornado had left behind. The tornado passed between two high schools three tenths of a mile from Westmore High. I didnt want the boys to be shocked when we got there, stated Melody, Pack 83 Committee Chair. BJ Dotterer, a Pack 83 Webelos 1, felt the need to respond and help people in the disaster area. He first suggested he and his pack collect money and send it. But, after talking with his sister, BJ and his family decided to bring fresh water to the tornado survivors. Katelyn had said they needed water, The water treatment plant got hit. Tuesday, the Dotterers mobilized to collect and transport fresh water to Oklahoma. Mr. Larry Dotterer contacted the Mid-America Council with a request to send a message to families in the Council for donations of bottled water. The response was immediate and nearly overwhelming. Their garage filled up with 630 gallons of water, batteries, flashlights, baby wipes and toilet paper donations. The Council provided them the Cub trailer to transport the water to Oklahoma. The Salvation Army helped distribute the water to those in need. The Dotterers started on Tuesday and were back home again the next Monday.
List of those who donated water and goods.

Dotterer brothers with donations.

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Reflecting on their personal disaster relief mission, BJ told his father, Dad, this is the most important thing Ive ever done in my life. I would honestly like to say thank you to the Scout office, to coworkers, packs and troops and to everyone who helped, emphasized Larry Dotterer, Cubmaster of Pack 83 in Lewis & Clark District. Next the family plans to practice a tornado emergency home plan to be ready and prepared.

Boy Scouts preparing to respond

Troop 552 from Soaring Eagle District decided to add realism to the Emergency Preparedness merit badge. They planned and carried out a mock disaster drill complete with victims and emergency responders. Eighteen family members and friends served as victims complete with mock injuries and lots of fake blood. Omaha Firefighters and medics from Station #52 at 175th & Pacific Streets under the command of Battalion Chief Paul Kleffner arrived in a fire truck and a rescue squad with sirens screaming. Working side by side Scouts and responders began to triage the victims in the mock multiple car crash disaster. With triage completed, Chief Kleffner ended the drill with a thorns and roses session sharing with the Scouts what went well and what could have gone better and how to improve. We do mock triage annually, but never with the Boy Scouts before, said Chief Kleffner. This was a tough scenario. Eighteen patients would be difficult for us.

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Thorns and roses with Chief Kleffner and Scouts after completing mock drill disaster.

Not a Boy Scout himself, Kleffner smiled sharing memories of Scouting activities with his son. I enjoyed working with the troop today. These young men are doing exactly the right thing preparing for the future, stated Chief Kleffner. This was our inaugural event. We wanted to see how it would go, and plan to do another in the fall inviting other troops to participate, too, said Risa Zimmerman, adult organization leader of the mock disaster drill for Troop 52. We wanted the boys to get a feel of what it might really be like so they can truly be ready and prepared.