A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO
INCIDENT RESPONSE
James G. Barnes, CHP
Rocketdyne/Boeing
ARSCE 2002; WPM-A.4
1
The Disaster Environment
What do you do?
ARSCE 2002; WPM-A.4
2
What do you do?
ARSCE 2002; WPM-A.4
3
The Realities of Disaster Management
The “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.
ARSCE 2002; WPM-A.4
4
The Realities of Disaster Management
The “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)
5
LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL. . . .
ARSCE 2002; WPM-A.4
6
“Instant Service”
Pre-Event
The First Day
The “Golden”
Minute
The Citizen
ARSCE 2002; WPM-A.4
Day 14
The “Golden”
Hour
“Official”
Responders
Relief (Volunteer) and
Support Organizations
7
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
Source: NCRP Report #138, p. 126
How many
“Radiation
Familiar”
individuals are
employed by all
of these
organizations
combined????
8
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
ARSCE 2002; WPM-A.4
9
“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)
10
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
11