A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO INCIDENT RESPONSE

1. A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO INCIDENT RESPONSE James G. Barnes, CHP Rocketdyne/Boeing

2. The Disaster Environment What do you do?

3. What do you do?

4. The Realities of Disaster ManagementThe “Rules” • The type of disaster than could occur at any time is unpredictable. • Where a disaster will occur is often unpredictable • How a disaster will unfold in geographic space over time is often unknown. • The type and distribution of injuries in space and time is often unknown. • Which elements of the EMS system or of supporting organizations (law enforcement for example) will be damaged, how they are damaged, and the resulting delay in their response is unpredictable.

5. The Realities of Disaster ManagementThe “Rules” • Self-organizing efforts by citizens, responders in the field, and other emergency organizations at the state, federal level, non-profit and private sector level will create unexpected communications paths and response structures • Information about the entire emergency disaster response structure or even parts of response (including how it extends across the community, city, operational area, the status and organization of the regional response, state response, and federal response) is incomplete. • Existing strains between organizations may be exacerbated. • Because of initial starting conditions, and varying resource demands, critical activity rates within and between organizations drive each other and the overall response in unpredictable and complex ways. From What Disaster Response Management Can Learn From Chaos Theory (http://www.library.ca.gov/CRB/96/05/over_2.html#Heading5)

6. LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL. . . .

7. The Citizen “Official” Responders Relief (Volunteer) and Support Organizations “Instant Service” Pre-Event The First Day Day 14 The “Golden” Minute The “Golden” Hour

8. Organizations Involved in Radiological Response • Local Government • Mayor’s office • Fire department • Police Department • Department of Health • Department of Corrections • Hospitals and Medical Facilities • Department of Sanitation • Human Resources • Local Red Cross • Transportation Companies • Public Utilities How many “Radiation Familiar” individuals are employed by all of these organizations combined???? Source: NCRP Report #138, p. 126

9. The Volunteer Paradox • Volunteerism is encouraged • If an event happens, volunteers will spontaneously converge to assist • “Converging” Volunteers can be a distraction because of: • Lack of or Inappropriate Training • Liability Issues • Worker’s Compensation Issues • Certification / “Trust” Issues

10. “Our resources are only as valuable as that relationship at the LOCAL level. We encourage each of our Salvation Armies to be involved at the local level; to have a relationship with disaster management, other voluntary organizations, and other non-traditional organizations that might have something to bring to the table during a disaster event. . . . That is what is key, is having those local relationships and involving them with local government so that when a disaster or some type of an event occurs, that the mechanisms are already in place and the names are already known so that when they need someone they can call on them by first name.” Source: Kevin Smith; Salvation Army (LiveResponse; March 27, 2002)

11. Becoming Active as A Volunteer • Individual Activities • Work with neighborhood associations (homeowners associations, churches, service clubs, chambers of commerce) • Enroll in and complete CERT training • Enroll as Red Cross volunteer • HPS Chapters • Contact radiation safety regulatory agencies (“needs and wants” assessment) • Contact Disaster Relief organizations and brief them on HPS capabilities (“first name”) • Sponsor a seminar/colloquium between HPS members and local disaster response agencies • Provide technical training to first responders, hospital staff, public agencies • Form a coalition workgroup with other radiation-related professions in the area