A California civil grand
jury has recommended greater use of amateur radio in animal evacuation efforts
during wildfires and other emergencies. According to an account in the Lake County Record-Bee, the panel generally applauded the Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection (LEAP) program, but called for more phone lines to the county's animal control department, a Facebook page that would let animal owners coordinate ad-hoc animal transports and that "amateur radio operators who volunteer with LEAP already be utilized for their powerful radios."
Civil grand
juries in California
and several other states provide judicial oversight of local government
operations. According to the Lake
County government web
page, "the goal of the Civil Grand Jury is to … review the work of the
county, cities, schools … and other
local agencies to determine whether they can be made more efficient, effective
and responsive to the needs of our community."