In the sense used in this document, an emergency response organization assists in local emergencies/disasters within the first 72 hours after occurrence. Disaster relief organizations (such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc) typically deploy after 72 hours have elapsed. The Lawrence County Sheriff's Auxiliary is an emergency response organization which deploys as soon as possible upon activation and remains in the field to assist in the transition to disaster relief as normal services and mechanisms begin to cope with the problem.
As soon as possible means "a call plus driving time". The goal of the organization is to have on-call members to the scene of a major (local) occurence in less than an hour, with further volunteers activating over a 12-48 hour period according to need. The only way that this can happen is if we are prepared well in advance. This is accomplished by having ready-to-go personal kit which will contain what we need to deal with a crisis: a Go-Bag and an Extended Field Bag (EFB). The Go Bag contains the tools and supplies a volunteer requires to spend 12-20 hours in the field (until headquarters can activate, billets can be prepared, and a supply line is put in place). The Extended Field Bag carries the volunteer out to 72 hours and then with additional rations and supplies from the unit, indefinitely.
Both bags must be packed and on-hand at all times. It is often appropriate to have them in the trunk of a vehicle so that they are accessible at home and at work. They should be in a form where they can be carried when necessary to hike to a work area or to an encampment (remember that first-in volunteers may not have the benefit of cleared roads). The two bags are separated so that they can be carried together if necessary or that the EFB can be easily dropped and the Go-Bag carried. The Go Bag is clearly marked with an orange tag and the EFB with an blue tag. This makes it easy for a volunteer to arrive at a staging area and drop the bags in two piles for transport to the work site and the field headquarters or billets, respectively.
The contents of the personal kit are in addition to whatever kit is required for a volunteer's specialty, such as radio equipment for a communications specialist, medical kit for a field medic, etc.
Every effort must be made to ensure that personal kits are ready and complete. The Quartermaster shall maintain spares of critical supplies and equipment, but if volunteers arrive unprepared, at best it slows down the effort and at worst it puts the unit in danger.