Volunteer Toolbox
The success of the City of Orem Drill relies on the local leaders and volunteers who coordinate the communication relay. This toolbox provides the essential guides, reporting forms, and technical instructions needed to execute a successful drill and ensure every resident is accounted for.
Meeting information
Planning Meetings are held throughout the year and cover the fundamentals of the Orem City Drill. Since the content is consistent across all sessions, you only need to attend one. Please note that a separate Leadership Meeting will be held in September. All planning meetings take place at the Orem City EOC, located in the City Center Building (56 North State Street).
Orem City Drill – Leadership Training:
Date: Monday, September 14, 2026 from 6:30 – 8:00pm
Location: Orem Emergency Operations Center (EOC) – City Center Building (2nd floor)
Leadership Training Slide Deck – Click Here
This meeting is for all block captains, neighborhood leaders, area leaders, Ham radio operators, and anyone else interested in learning about the ins and outs of the Orem City Drill.
Leadership Role Forms
All reporting forms need to be downloaded and saved to your own computer/Google Drive prior to editing. I won’t share editing rights or it will change the original document.
Block Captains
To Do List For Block Captains: BEFORE Drill
Meet with your Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Specialist
- Work together to update block information.
- Review the Block Captain Instruction Sheet.
- Review lines of communication during a disaster.
Get to know your block
- Introduce yourself and the drill to any new neighbors.
- If you have an Assistant Block Captain, review your responsibilities during the drill and during a disaster.
Inform the residents on your block on the drill specifics.
a. Make copies of the flyers for distribution to EVERY household prior to September 18th.
b. Meet each household and pre-populate the Block Incident Tally and Reporting Form with names and numbers of people in each household.
c. Explain the drill and invite everyone to attend and participate.
d. Leave one flyer a few weeks before the drill and deliver a second flyer a few days prior to the drill.
Plan any social gathering or event for after the drill that makes sense for your block. Potlucks, BBQs, preparedness presentations, and/or emergency training. Have fun with it!
(Just a reminder… this drill is optional for all residents. If someone doesn’t want to particpate, then please just move on)
To Do List For Block Captains: DURING Drill
Sound an alarm of some sort at EXACTLY 6:00 pm
- Honk a car horn, use an air horn, or find some creative way to inform your block that the drill has started.
After the alarm has been sounded
- Block will gather at the designated meeting place.
- Elect a Block Captain if yours is not available.
- Check on all individuals and families in your block.
- Try to address any life-threatening needs (in an actual emergency).
- Block Captain fills out the Block Incident Tally and Reporting Form to take to the Neighborhood Command Center (pre-designated location).
- Runners (at least 2) take form to designated Neighborhood Command meeting place ASAP.
Block Captain Instructions
Block Captain Drill Form
Editable PDF Block Captain Incident Tally and Reporting Form – (Fillable once downloaded)
Block Captain Training Manual
Orem City Map
Neighborhood Specialists
Neighborhood Specialist Duties
- Divide neighborhood map into BLOCKS of between 6-10 homes.
- Recruit volunteer BLOCK CAPTAINS for each block.
- Attend city trainings and provide training to Block Captains and Neighborhood leaders.
- Communicate information from the city to your neighborhood.
- Promote the drill to all residents in the Neighborhood boundaries.
Neighborhood Instructions
Neighborhood Drill Form
Area Specialist
Area Specialist Duties
- Train Neighborhood Preparedness Specialists on the Block Captain program.
- Attend city trainings and provide training to your Area leaders and Communication Specialists.
- Promote the drill to all residents in the Area boundaries.
- Participate in planning the drill by attending all planning meetings (see calendar).
- Promote Block Captain/Leadership training on August 28th (see flyers on the “Publicity” tab on this website).
Area Specialist Instructions
Area Specialist Drill Form
Leadership Training
Leadership Training Information
Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Orem City Center Emergency Operations Center – 56 North State Street
This meeting is for all block captains, neighborhood leaders, area leaders, HAM radio operators, and anyone else interested in learning about the ins and outs of the City of Orem Drill.
Leadership Training Flyer
Communications, Forms, & Publicity
Communications
Runners Instructions
- Runners are assigned and used between every point of information collection.
- Runners must always go in pairs for safety.
- Runners can use any type of transportation that is available to them including: bicycles, motorcycles, horses, scooters, cars…use your imagination and get to where you need to be.
HAM Radio Operator Instructions
Please follow these instructions during an emergency situation to best facilitate the help and care people need and to keep communications level-headed and organized during chaotic moments. The City of Orem will activate the City Net during a crisis, and licensed ham radio operators are expected to follow the standard protocols, as outlined below.
During the Net, Orem City will listen for check-ins and status reports primarily from two sources: 1) stations specifically designated by Orem Areas to report status and condition, and 2) any station holding a valid ham radio license and who wish to check-in or practice their radio communication skills. This allows them to accommodate those who might become isolated from others with specific assignments.
Tune your radio to one of the City frequencies, as follows:
Orem City 145.770 MHz simplex
| NW Orem: 145.510 MHz simplex | SW Orem: 146.560 MHz simplex | NE Orem: 147.520 MHz simplex | SE Orem: 147.560 MHz simplex |
| Aspen Area | Cherry Hill Area | Canyon View Area | Hillcrest Area |
| Geneva Heights Area | Lakeview Area | Cascade Area | Lakeridge Area |
| Orem North Area | Orem Park Area | Heatheridge Area | Orem Area |
| Sharon Park Area | Sunset Heights East Area | Northridge Area | Sharon Area |
| Suncrest Area | Sunset Heights West Area | Orchard Area | Stonewood Area |
| Timpview Area | Windsor Area |
1. Listen for any instructions or announcements; do not interrupt any communication in progress.
2. If the Net is in progress, check-in or report your status when asked to do so. If you hear nothing, re-check your settings and feel free to transmit “Net Control, this is <call sign>”. Follow any instructions given to you by Net Control.
Remember: you are a facilitator, not a decision-maker unless you’re alone. Your job is to exactly communicate the needs and status of those who are directing your communications, not to make decisions regarding people, needs, and supplies.
Sample HAM Radio Check In Dialogue
Jane Doe: (Turns on her radio, turns to the simplex frequency, listens for a few seconds, hears nothing)”Net Control, this is <call sign>”.
Jane Doe: (Still hears nothing, pauses for 30 seconds) “Net Control, this is <call sign>”.
Orem City: “This is <call sign> at Orem City controlling. This is an emergency (or drill). Please stay on frequency until released by Net Control. Blah, blah, blah. If you have a status to report, please check-in now.”
Jane Doe: “This is <call sign phonetically>” (Important to say “This is”, and important to say your call sign phonetically)
Orem City: “Go ahead”
Jane Doe: “This is <call sign> reporting status from the <name> Area. We have seven of nine Neighborhoods reporting, with thirteen injured.”
Orem City: “Which Area is that again?”
Jane Doe: “<name> Area.”
Orem City: “How many injured?”
Jane Doe: “Thirteen.”
Orem City: “Copy. Have police and medical help been requested?”
Jane Doe: “Police, no. Medical yes.”
Orem City: “Copy. What’s your approximate location?”
Jane Doe: “1450 North 800 West, Orem.”
Orem City: “Copy. Please stand by.”
Net Control will then take further action or move on to the next station checking in. Notice the amount of redundant information being requested. Please do as Net Control asks, as many times as you are asked. It does a lot of good to practice patience at times like this.
If you have any questions or concerns (that we have omitted something, for example), please feel free to email ([email protected]) or call/text (801-368-1865) Noji Ratzlaff. There will always be numerous exceptions to this general protocol, especially during an actual emergency, so please be patient and flexible.
Lines of Communication
Communication Flyers
Reporting Forms & Guides
Block Captain Reporting Form & Instruction Sheet
Neighborhood Specialist Reporting Form & Instruction Sheet
Area Specialist Reporting Form & Instruction Sheet
Yard Sign Instruction Sheet
Yard signs will be available for pickup at the Leadership Training on September 16th. Please place yard signs in visible locations starting on Friday, September 20th and remove the signs by Friday, September 27th. Once you have removed the signs, please bring them back to the Public Safety Building (95 East Center Street) as soon as possible.