Mounted search and rescue

["IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

Title: Fw: First Responder Community letter

A state animal rescue team (SART) is the FEMA response to the animal problems after Katrina.  All risk emergency plans require a disaster relocation plan for both companion animals (cats, dogs, other household pets) and livestock.  There should be county/parish level organizations as well (CART).  However, in most cases these are not equipped or envisioned as emergency response groups and may not have a dispatch system (pagers) or continuous training in response to disasters, fires, or transportation accidents.  They may be VOAD agencies but not first responders as fire, EMS and police are.

 

The PDF attached is from FEMA and advises against self dispatch. The minimum ICS training required for a federal dispatch is 800, 700, 100, 200, which are on-line.  This job will probably require extensive command and control experience at the site level and 300 and 400 would be recommended.   There are two resource request mechanisms in place—the usual federal system where the Governor requests assistance and a Stafford Act defined disaster is declared and the newer EMAC system where any locality can enter into an agreement with any other locality for mutual aid. The latter does not involve federal resource tracking and may result in nearby resources not being used while resources from thousands of miles away being called (as calling NYPD units into New Orleans after Katrina).  The dual system defeats the rationale for having a single command structure envisioned by NIMS for the disaster.

 

Unfortunately, if they are still looking for places to go they have failed in their primary mission-- to be prepared to evacuate.

 

If anyone is interested in ICS/NIMS training it is available for free both on-line and classroom through the state level EMA who is charged with implementing NIMS.  As an authorized instructor I have the student manuals on CD as well.

 

Irv Lichtenstein

 

 

 

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From: Jackson, Michelle R (DPS) [mailto:MJACKSON@montcopa.org]
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 2:04 PM
To: Jackson, Michelle R (DPS)
Subject: FW: First Responder Community letter

 

Please see attached message from the Director of FEMA about Hurricane Response in the Gulf area.

 

It should be noted that last the PA EMS Strike Team left for the Gulf Coast last night after being assigned a EMAC/Mission number.  Among them were:  Goodwill - Pottstown, Lower Frederick, Second Alarmers and Trappe and a Support vehicle from Montgomery County DPS.  The Montgomery County Strike Team is being lead by team leader Scott Mickalonis and the support vehicle driven by Carl Flack.  Each ambulance is staffed with 4 Paramedics/EMT's.  We wish them a safe journey and return!

 

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