An Introduction to
STARRS
St. Louis Area Regional
Response System
STARRS Mission Statement
To help local governments, businesses
and citizens plan for, protect against,
and recover from critical incidents in the
St. Louis region.
Critical Incidents
All inclusive definition: natural and
man-made disasters, or intentional acts
involving chemical, biological,
radiological nuclear or explosive
(CBRNE) agents.
Federal Terrorism Funding
 Defense Against Weapons Of Mass Destruction Act Of 1996
– Also known as the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Amendment
– The possibility of domestic terrorism involving nuclear, biological or
chemical weapons is a significant threat to U.S. national security,
– The United States can only prepare itself for domestic acts of terrorism
involving nuclear, biological or chemical weapons by improving its
domestic response capabilities at the local, state, and federal levels.
Improvements are needed in equipment, training, national
coordination, multi-agency exercises, and disease-outbreak detection.
STARRS Funding
 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant.
– Provide financial assistance to 45 selected urban areas
to address the unique equipment, training, planning,
exercise and operational needs of large urban areas.
– Assist in building an enhanced and sustainable
capacity to prevent, respond to, and recover from threats
or acts of terrorism.
– Planning, Operational Activities, Equipment, Training &
Exercises.
UASI Grant
Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)
– Requires Regional Coordination
– Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Louis
City & St. Louis County in Missouri
– Madison, Monroe & St. Clair Counties in
Illinois
Funding Summary
Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)
FY 2003 through FY 2009
Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA), Office of Assistant Secretary of
Preparedness Response (OASPR)
Metropolitan Medical Response System
(MMRS)
St. Louis Area Hospital Donations
STARRS Summary
A regional non-profit organization in Missouri
and Illinois
A partnership with the East-West Gateway
Council of Governments
MOU with IEMA and ITTF in Illinois
Inclusive, multi-jurisdictional, public and private
Multi-disciplinary representation
STARRS Organization
STARRS Board of Directors – 20 members
– Robert Wylie, President
Chief of Cottleville, MO, Fire Protection District
– Dolores Gunn, MD, Vice President
Director, St. Louis County Department of Public Health
– Abraham Cook, Secretary
Franklin County EMA
– John Miller, Treasurer
Mayor, City of Collinsville, IL
STARRS Organization
Advisory Council – 24 members
– Gary Christmann, Co-Chair
City of St. Louis Emergency Management
– Don Schneider, Co-Chair
Belleville Memorial Hospital
– Hope Woodson, Vice Co-Chair
St. Charles County Health Department
– Chief Greg Render, Vice Co-Chair
Signal Hill Fire Protection District
National
Guard
Fire
Churches
Hospitals
FBI
Utilities
Heavy
Rescue &
Hazmat
Schools
Emergency
Operations
Center
EMS
Red
Cross
Others
MoDOT
& IDOT
Metro
Jefferson City, MO
Springfield, IL
Public
Health Police
Public
Works
Major Projects Summary
Emergency Response & Incident Support Teams
Virtual Emergency Operations Center
Patient Tracking System
Regional “Universal” I.D. for First Responders
Enhancing Interoperable Communications
Missouri/Illinois Hospital Mutual Aid Agreements
Major Projects Summary
ESSENCE Syndromic Surveillance System
Hospital Surge Trailers
Citizen Corps Councils
Development of a Regional Catastrophic Plan
Training & Exercises
STARRS Staff
Nick Gragnani, Executive Director
Hilda Adams, UASI Grant Program Management
Anna Giacomini, MMRS Grant Coordinator & Disaster
Human Services Committee
Eric Hammonds, Project Coordinator Law Enforcement & UID
Julie Grotemeyer, Hospital Grant Coordinator ASPR & UASI
John Whitaker, Project Coordinator Regional Plan & Hazmat Teams
Jane Suozzi, Administrative Support