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2005
The implementation of Homeland Security efforts
in response organizations: Monroe County, New
York case study
Heather M. Savage
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Rochester Institute of Technology
The Implementation of Homeland Security Efforts in Response
Organizations:
Monroe County, New York Case Study
Heather M. Savage
2005
Graduate Thesis submitted in Partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in
Environmental, Health & Safety Management
Department of Civil Engineering Technology,
Environmental Management & Safety
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY
Approved by:
Maureen S. Valentine
Maureen Valentine PE, Department Chair
Jennifer L. Schneider
Jennifer Schneider Sc.D., CIH, Thesis Advisor
Date
The Implementation of Homeland Security Efforts in Response
Organizations:
Monroe County, New York Case Study
I, Heather M . Savage, prefer to be contacted each time a request for reproduction of my thesis is
made. If pennission is granted, reproduction will not be for commercial use or profit. I may be
reached at the following address:
Date:
5/oWo)
Signature of Author:
Heather M. Savage
Acknowledgements
I
would
who not
like to thank
everyone who assisted me with
only provided information
me support
throughout my
years
in
on
the
research
this thesis. This includes
topic, but
graduate school.
also
to
everyone
everyone who gave
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List
of
Tables
List
of
Figures
iv
v
Abstract
1.0
vi
Introduction
1.1
1
Statement
1.3
of Topic
Significance of Topic
Reason for Interest
1.4
Definition
1.5
Monroe
1.2
3
5
Terminology
County Demographics
Monroe County Fire Department Demographics
1.5.1
2.0
2
of
Literature
2.1 Past Issues in
2.1.1
2.2
Emergency Response
11
Volunteer Department Concerns
12
Homeland
2.2.1.1
Terrorism
2.2.3
Weapons
14
15
Security
Homeland
2.2.2
Security Advisory System
of Mass
Destruction
25
Nuclear/ Radiological
27
2.2.3.2
Biological
28
2.2.3.3
Chemical
30
Integrating Current Response Initiatives
32
34
2.3.1 NBC Delta
2.3.2 Terrorism
and
Applicable Legislation
36
2.3.2.1 Legislation Prior to 9/11
36
New/Updated Guidelines
2.3.2.2
38
Methodology of Research
3.1 Research
41
42
Strategy
44
Results
4.0
17
22
2.2.3.1
2.3
3.0
8
10
review
New Response Concerns
2.2.1
5
7
4.1
Differences in Findings
4.1.1
City versus Town
4.1.2
Volunteer
versus
44
44
Career
4.2
Similarities in Findings in
4.3
Positive Findings
all
45
Departments
46
47
11
5.0
Analysis
6.0
Conclusions
6.1
and
49
Discussion
53
Recommendations
r..
56
I
Bibliography
Appendix A: Questionnaire
on
Emergency Response for an Emergency
or
Disaster
rv
Appendix B:
Emergency Responder Interview Notes
in
VI
List
Table 1:
of
Tables
Everyday HAZMAT Incident vs. NBC Terrorism Incident
Table 2: Monroe
County Fire Departments broken down by Battalions
Table 3: Awareness level
Table 4: Monroe
9
33
requirements
County Emergency Responder Interview List
Table 5: Departments Represented in
4
42
43
Study
IV
List
of
Figures
Figure 1 : New York State Graphic
Figure 2: Homeland
Figure 3:
Security Advisory System
Probability versus Impact for a WMD attack
Figure 4: NBC Delta
8
22
26
35
Abstract
The
biggest
change can
events of 9/1
now
from 9/11 have
events
be
readiness
has
1
be
was a
huge push
at
readying
attained.
preparation of each
of desire.
changes
There
are
responders
and
that the
to the
at
new
the form
Interviews
Analysis
area
and
literature
and
made some
attack, it
still
goal of
prepare responders
western
has
from the interviews
pretty big
a ways
to
steps
go
response
However, it
successful.
and mental
The
purpose of this
both physically
while
and
effects of 9/1
Comprehensive
offire
the
western
responders
and
Words: 9/11,
New York local
a
terrorist
from every
Emergency Response/Preparedness, Terrorism, Physical/Mental
Preparation, Responder, Homeland Security, Fire Departments, Monroe County, New
York.
VI
at
completed.
department.
Key
in
study.
departments,
in preparing emergency responders for
in successfully preparing
1,
research
the framework for the
Monroe County, New York were
that
can
from lack of funding
New York due to the
shows
to the
emphasis on terrorism
representing the three different types
within
Perhaps the
fully preparing each responder
review was completed and provided
town levels from
of the results
has
county level in
with responders
both the city
attacks.
a product ofpreparedness.
Homeland Security initiative have been
of a
for future
Emergency Responder and these factors range
Emergency Response is
the local
society.
many factors preventing the physical
study was to determine if the initiative to
mentally
in American
community that the initial
response
has turned into complacency
been
many
in the Emergency Response field. The initial
throughout the
seen
not yet
to lack
seen
prompted
1.0
Introduction
There have been many
changes
have been prompted by the terrorist
sets over
in the emergency response/civil
events of 9/1
1. The
shift
and
the way that
we
look
at each and
every emergency
small chemical spill considered just another routine event.
have had to
responders
to
change
responding to
now
of the push
multi
terrorist
attack on
agencies
to fund
destruction,
to ready
America's
things
such
equipment
Experience is the
incident. It
respond
to
allows
an
responding to
an
the
an
America,
soil.
and
its
as well as
that
to have the
to
a
emergency
cat out of the
can
be
gained
billions
of dollars
terrorism
tree"
a
terrorist
process
terrorist incident.
to response
event and
responding to
and
an
safely
they must have while
response
to
terrorist incident is very unlikely to
through education and training.
awareness
of another
and weapons of mass
best through first hand
case of terrorism, since a
gained
for the possibility
necessary to successfully
providing the thought
destruction, they will have the
a potential
respond
skills
training in the
to
of this,
a responder can possess when
responders with education and
respond
provided
as new education classes on
greatest asset
has to be
Because
No longer is
Security (DHS) has been in the
responders
The DHS has
incident. Experience
experience
of Homeland
that would be used to
incident however, in the
occur,
culture and mind
casualty terrorist incidents.
responder
incident
event.
their roles from the traditional "get the
The newly developed Department
forefront
in political
fields that
the past four years have prompted
many changes in the way Americans live
their lives
role
service
By providing
areas of terrorism and weapons of mass
level necessary to successfully
and
safely
The
new
training concept of the NBC Delta has taken effect and involves
combining the already used
biological
and nuclear
still practiced
with
the
terrorism. Response
today in the new
to those standards; the
standard
that
physical response changes
procedures
operating
must now
concepts of
that
chemical,
were utilized
procedures
relating to terrorism
new concepts
responder must also change.
on
the
methods of response with
in the
past are
(SOP), however in addition
are now
take place, the
being included. Along
mindset of the
By changing the mindset of the emergency responder based
newly developed curriculum, training
and decision-
making capabilities,
a more
effective response will occur.
1 1
Statement
.
of
Topic
This study will
to Fire Department
related
initiative to
are at
the
within
ready
examine
Monroe
and
level they
for
should
County, New York to
be
can
be
the background
related
and
to
at.
see
for responding to
well as
the
new
an
emergency
Homeland
as
Security
terrorist incident in order to see if responders
The study will take
place at
the county level
specifically if responders in the county
overall response community.
additional response concerns
future. This study
to 9/1 1 as
another
then relate findings to the
determine
provide
response concerns
response prior
prepare responders
readiness
the
that
need
to be
Also, this
study will
examined and addressed
other jurisdictions around
are
the country and
in the
will
techniques necessary to complete a similar study in another
jurisdiction.
Current
idea
of
procedures
"non-accidents",
preserving
a scene
or
for responding to
terrorist
for investigation
emergencies add
activity.
This
and new
hazards that
equates
to
the new dimensions of the
new procedures
exist
that
for
were not prepared
for
and
taken into account for in the
past.
In
order
to benefit from the
place
it first becomes necessary to
order
to allow the new response procedures to be
how to
change
curriculum
focus
the mindset
included
will
the
and
examine
be looked
at and
9/1 1
abilities must change
productive.
Also,
includes the
new
to 9/1
response prior
training in place,
1,
needs can
be implemented into the traditional
A
standards
to those
analyzed
This
what
is
being done
and
paper will
how the changing
comparison of the new
being utilized within Monroe County will be completed
to further determine
the
current response needs
and
response system.
in
an examination of
including the changing perspective of the responder,
after
in
responders'
decision-making abilities of the responder.
three areas: traditional emergency
on
how the
new procedures
if determined,
and
the
results
to be
what needs
done.
While the term
focus
of this
volunteer
primary
Emergency Response
study will deal strictly
level,
as responders
responders
to
an
with
generally includes
fire department response
in the fire field
emergency
are
situation.
primarily in
Despite the
readiness, the emergency response community is still not
mentally too adequately
Significance
1.2
Events
prior
to 9/1 1
since
were
of
attack
the
result of a
new
respond
at
and
police, the
both the
career and
command and are
recent emphasis on
the
terrorism
fully prepared physically or
to a terrorist situation.
Topic
its
A new focus
became the
successfully
9/11 have taken
response scene opened
an accident.
and
fire, EMS
eyes
on a new meaning.
terrorist attack,
focus
it wasn't
to the possibility that not
on weapons of mass
Although
until
few
major events
9/1 1 that the emergency
all emergencies are
destruction that
of emergency response.
a
could
This had the
be
used
the result
in
effect of not
a
of
terrorist
only
opening the
started
the
eyes of all citizens
development
federal level
to the possibility
techniques
of new
and worked
of an non-accidental
emergency, but
for response that began
and procedures
downward to the individual responding
in place
and what needs
As
to change
even
since
9/1 1 it becomes
are several new
terrorist related event then to the traditional hazardous
the
changes also allows
change and
becomes
the
for the ability to
how to begin to successfully
possible
to
to
9/1 1
see what
the
and
has
changed
further.
in table 1 below, there
shown
possible
the
agencies.
By examining the way that emergencies were responded to prior to
new response procedures
at
also
make changes
goal of a successful response
evaluate
dimensions in responding to
material
how the
accomplish
if such
incident. Examination
responders'
abilities need
this. Once this
in procedures that will be
a situation were
to
a
can
successful
of
to
be determined, it
in accomplishing
ever arise.
Table 1
Everyday HAZMAT Incident
Event
vs.
NBC Terrorism Incident
*HMI
characteristic
Greater Agent
Early
*NBCTI
X
Deliberate Attack
X
Toxicity
X
Hazard Identification
X
Potential for Mass Casualties
X
Need for Mass Decontamination
X
Excessive risk to
X
responders
X
Scene Preservation/Investigation
Major
coordination with
Federal/State/Local
agencies
Health care facilities quickly overwhelmed
Secondary devices that target responders
*HMI
-
Hazardous Materials Incident
*NBCTI
-
Nuclear/Biological/Chemical
(SBCCOM)
Terrorist Incident
X
X
X
X
1.3
Reason for Interest
This topic is very
incident to be looked
have
responders
at as an accident
arrived and
that may appear to be
intended
not
one.
a
as
responder'
Despite
s
all
the
typical
If this is so,
only put the
property.
applicable to our current times.
it
pre
9/1 1
view
Investigation
emergency
responders are
on
still
that is
surface
on
9/11,
often
can
then
a
the
incident
typical response may
also numerous other citizens as well as
take for granted that
the hardest
will not
properly trained
determine what, if anything
until
an
risk, but
this topic
is,
may actually have been
the
the changes that have been made thus
procedures.
also
at
that
emergency
an
determined to be
was
lives
stages of response,
an
determination has officially been made,
accident on
including fire, police and EMS
This is due to
cause
in the early
No longer is
on
an
far, many responders
incident is
element
to
still an accident.
change
in
response
only lead to the determination if
responding to
be done to improve the
acts of terrorism,
but
will
current state of emergency
response.
1.4
Definition
Awareness-
of
Terminology
Vigilance in observing
or alertness
in
drawing inferences
from
what one
experiences.
Biological-
livestock
used as
Biological
and crops.
weapons, are
agents are organisms or
The three basic
bacteria,
toxins that can kill or
groups of biological
viruses,
and
agents,
incapacitate people,
which would
likely be
toxins.
Chemical-
Chemical
warfare agents are poisonous
have toxic
effects on
people,
animals or plants.
vapors, aerosols, liquids
or solids
They can be released by bombs,
that
sprayed
from aircraft,
boats,
or
vehicles,
or used as a
liquid to
create a
hazard to
people and
the
environment.
Emergency Response
release area or
departments,
or
etc.) to
federal
and
NBC
Delta-
likely to result, in potential safety
of weapons of mass
destruction
and response capabilities of
local,
agencies.
The term
only utilizing the
used
to describe the change in emergency
standard response
(N), biological (B)
Nuclear-
is
local fire
individual, or a community.
Reducing the consequences
-
or
results,
by enhancing the preparedness, protection,
state,
nuclear
by employees from outside the immediate
an occurrence which
an
Homeland Security
not
response effort
by other designated responders (i.e., mutual aid groups,
health hazard to
incidents
A
-
Radiological
stored or transported.
response
procedures, but also includes the
and chemical
that includes
concepts of
(C) terrorism.
accidents can occur wherever radioactive materials are
In
laboratories, industries,
addition
major
to
nuclear power
highways,
plants,
railroads or
hospitals,
shipping
used,
universities,
yards could
be the
research
site of a
radiological accident.
Protective Measures
or
-
Specific
increase its ability to
a non-terrorist
incident
take to
reduce
its vulnerability
during a period of heightened alert.
respond
Standard Disaster Preparedness
for to
steps an organization shall
-
Techniques
and methods used
to respond and prepare
such as a chemical spill or a natural
disaster.
Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP)
a particular
Terrorism-
incident
or event
Terrorism is defined in the Code
unlawful use of
force
or coerce a
government, the
civilian
as
objectives."
political or social
Weapon
of Mass
past
has been
of Federal
the way that
Regulations (28 C.F.R. Section
and violence against persons or
population,
International,
Destruction (WMD)
significant number of people,
the
governs
is handled.
"the
.85)
A written policy in place that
-
-
assiciated with such
A type
things
any
as
also
of
persons or groups can attain this.
of weapon
but
thereof, in furtherance
segment
domestic
or
civilians
usually
or
property to intimidate
that is designed to kill
potentially military
a
personnel.
In
explosives, however nuclear, biological
and chemical weapons are now of additional concern.
1.5
Monroe
Monroe
shore of Lake
County Demographics
County and the City of Rochester (Figure 1)
square
Amtrak
and
miles) is
Conrail,
Boston, Philadelphia,
community (Monroe
accessible
on
the
south
through the Greater Rochester International
the New York State
is located within 400
the
located
Ontario, in the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. The area
(663.21
and
are
Thruway,
and
the New York State Erie Canal. It
miles of major metropolitan areas such as
and
Cleveland. Rochester/Monroe
County, 2005).
The total
New York
City, Toronto,
County is a four-season
population of Monroe
City of Rochester population is 219,773.
Airport,
County is
735,343
Fieure 1
New York State Graphic
http://www.growmonroe.com/orgl66.asp?orgID=166&storytypeid=l&storyID=1765&
1.5.1 Monroe
County Fire Department Demographics
Monroe County has 19 towns, 10 villages and the city of Rochester (Table 1).
There
are
40 Fire Departments that
Rochester. There
There
combination.
or paid
only
Department,
There
are
three categories
are
the
of departments: career
the
volunteer
only,
County that
plus
City of
only
are considered
and
career,
these include the Greater Rochester International Airport Fire
City of Rochester Fire Department and the Ridge Road Fire Department.
twelve
combination
departments consisting
of both career and volunteer
twenty four volunteer only departments (Monroe County Fire Wire, 2005).
purpose of this
departments
broken up into five Battalions
three departments in Monroe
departments,
members and
For the
are
are
since
the
study,
career
departments
characteristics of these
will also
departments
include
combination
are most
like
career
only
departments.
There
both
are
currently approximately 3700 fire fighters in Monroe
volunteer and career members.
500 city Firefighters.
This includes 3200
members at
County including
the town level and
Table 2
Monroe County Fire Departments broken down by Battalions
Battalion 1
Battalion 2
Battalion 3
Battalion 4
Battalion 5
Laurelton*
Barnard*
Brighton*
Airport**
Henrietta*
Point Pleasant
Brockport
Bushnell's Basin
Bergen
Honeoye Falls
Hamlin
East Rochester
Chili
Rush
Hilton
Egypt
Churchville
West
Lake Shore
Fairport
Clifton
Morton
Fishers*
Gates
Ridge
Saint
Culver*
Paul*
Sea Breeze
Union
Hill*
Chili*
Webster
North
Greece*
Mendon
Mumford
West Webster
Ridge
Road**
Penfield
Scottsville
Spencerport
Walker
City of
Rochester**
Key
Volunteer
Only
*Combination
**Career
Only
Pittsford*
Brighton*
2.0
Literature
Terrorists
review
can strike
anytime,
anywhere.
dams
and
could
be targets. Homeland security in rural
livestock, trains
reservoirs, crops,
security in America's largest
First
responders
from
firefighters
to
rely
of counties surveyed
respond
to
a
professionals.
to
save
lives
no
limit
as
that
homeland
areas who must protect
face many response
challenges.
departments
In
large
fact,
over
5,000 people.
with scarce resources.
said
half
Many
Fewer than
they are prepared
(First Responders, 2005).
of defense
in any terrorist
casualties after a
respond
range of terrorist
about
city
include local police, firefighters,
prepared states and
Facts
attack
a terrorist attack
capability to
best
important
resources
attack
and
is the first
responder
emergency medical
Properly trained and equipped first responders have the greatest potential
and
responding to
as
among the
by the National Association of Counties
bio-terrorist
which
is just
communities outside
upon volunteer
America's first line
community
areas
are
protect small or rural communities of fewer than
of these communities
10%
highways
cities.
geographic areas with small populations
of our
and
Crop dusters, power generating plants,
terrorist attack.
vary widely
to terrorist
attack
localities do
across
using
Currently,
the country.
our capabilities
Many areas have little or
weapons of mass
destruction. Even the
not possess adequate resources
threats we face.
First Responders (The White House, 2003):
10
for
to
respond
to the full
There
750,000
Local
1
are over
million
departments have
including about 436,000
186,000
There
of which
approximately
are volunteers.
police
Sheriffs"
firefighters in the United States,
an estimated
556,000 full-time
employees
sworn enforcement personnel.
offices reported about
291
,000
full-time employees,
including about
sworn personnel.
155,000 nationally registered emergency medical technicians.
are over
2.1 Past Issues in
Emergency Response
The function
of the
fire department is to
protect
lives
and
property from fire
other natural and man-made
hazards (The White House, 2003). The primary focus
training
the fire department
and response within
prior
to 9/1 1
an
accidents,
integral
medical
part of the
calls,
and code enforcement.
Each
on
was on seven major areas:
fire suppression, fire prevention/education, hazardous materials,
vehicle
and
rescue
of these
fire service, however in today's times there
are
operations,
job duties
the
motor
remain
added areas of
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction which were often unheard of areas in many
departments
prior
to 9/1 1
Future terrorist
.
attacks can
hopefully be prevented by the work of law
enforcement officials and various government agencies.
of catastrophe
is very
made or natural
similar
to contingency planning
disasters. Proactive
realistic
drills
efficient
manner, using
will allow each
and
undertaken
for
other
types
of man-
integrated planning, coordination, training,
community to
available
Preparing to respond to this type
respond
Federal, State,
11
and
to these events in
Local
resources.
an
and
organized,
Disaster
preparedness
for NBC threats is termed the NBC "Delta", meaning difference
and emphasizes
preparedness
that
training for NBC
WMD is in
addition
about
disaster
$20 billion in the budget went to homeland security and
combating terrorism. A total
of
$10.6 billion was dedicated to homeland security out
the initial $40 billion in emergency funds appropriated
the 9/1 1 terrorist attacks, the President has
Security. In turn, the 2003 budget
request
strategy of homeland security, focused
airport and
border security,
to $37.7 billion (World
four key
aftermath of
the Department of Homeland
areas:
chemical,
bio-terrorism,
intelligence,"
improved
on explosives and arson
mention of the possibilities of nuclear,
In the
of
"nearly doubles funding for a sustained
on
and
by Congress.
since created
Policy, 2002). Prior to 9/1 1
terrorism tended to focus
the
emergency
up from $19.5 billion
response needs as
they related to
incidences with very little if no
or
biological
attacks.
Volunteer Department Concerns
2.1.1
One
exists
standard
change,
(Southern Illinois, 2003).
Prior to 9/1 1
response,
to
or
of the major concerns
today is
volunteer
the fact that 73
departments
2005 ). This
number
with a
only,
percent of departments
total
of approximately
in the United States
800,000
members
has declined by approximately ten percent
Fire Departments fall into
unpaid
faced by response departments in the past
one of three
several
different impacts
Volunteer firefighters
emergencies, terrorist
are
are
strictly
(National Fire,
the
past
ten
years.
categories, paid, or career only, volunteer, or
and a combination of both career and volunteers.
the department has
over
and still
and
The difference in
implications.
the first line defenders against
threats, hazardous
materials
12
status of
incidents,
fires, medical
trench collapses, high
and
low
angle
country.
there
and other
rescues,
types
Volunteer firefighters
were
of specialized rescue
43
protect
approximately 815,500
in many
communities across
percent of the country's population.
1996,
firefighters in the United States. Of the
volunteer
31,503 fire departments in the country, 89
In
the
percent are all or
mostly
volunteer
(Fire
Summit, 1996).
There
career
different
are several
departments that
past within volunteer
areas within
are a cause
The
-
still exist
today,
has increased by
Training
for
Volunteers
-
about
live fire training. There is
nor
is there
Equipment
equipment.
stay
ten percent
are required
and
-
on
top
This is
over
by federal
the
not
standard
mention of such
-
no
mandatory
only
This is usually due to
Volunteer departments
training
departments however it is
existed
in
in the
day concerns.
fire fighters has declined
five
to
the trend for
service
years.
attend annual refreshers
in terrorism
pathogens
or
(BBP),
WMD thus far
issues in already mandated training.
Volunteer departments
current with
class
aren't seen
of modern
opposite
past
that
in hazmat, hazardous communications, blood borne
classes
Funding
service
number of new volunteer
by about ten percent over the past five years.
which
fire
volunteer
for concern. These issues have
departments, but
Recruitment/Retention
the
often
have
difficulty obtaining updated
funding concerns.
often
do
and equipment.
sometimes
not receive
Grants
the necessary
are available
difficult for
funding to
for volunteer
small volunteer
departments to
adequately apply for them.
Management
-
There is
often
departments. This is due
issues
often
with
the
management
in volunteer
times to the increase in responsibility level and
13
time commitment. There is
volunteer
fire
service.
Response time
Due to the hectic
-
schedules most people
difficult to
get
assistance.
The fact that many responders do
the required number
of personnel
five
the problems
major concerns
have
years
today. Modern
changed
concerns not
seen
in recent
of preparedness where
response
large
part
from
in
live
to
times
for
a call
to the fire department
close
Emergency Response departments throughout the
what
only include the
needs
natural and man-made
face in
new concerns of
years which make
also
it difficult to
not
only
affects
have been
a
into
account
to ensure their
In
order
terrorism, but
still
include
bring responders to the level
the community
largely on experiences
own
a potential
safety
and
attacks.
This
served
by the
gained
This is due in
from responding
a scene could
means
that there
are several
terrorist incident that responders must take
the safety
of their
One distinction between responding to deliberate
responders.
they currently are
largely under anticipated in the past.
determined terrorist
dimensions to responding to
disasters is that
what
disasters, which may not be an accurate predictor of conditions
new
natural
to
directly affects each and every responder in the field.
because they have been based
responders could
they were prior to 9/1 1
they should be. This
organization, but
Responder
to
not
respond
often
New Response Concerns
The
past
to
have, it is
time.
also creates a concern over response
2.2
properly training leaders in the
often a problem with
become
an
to heighten the physical and
14
fellow
attacks and
intentional hostile
psychological
responders.
responding to
environment
for
outcomes, terrorists may
deliberately target emergency response capabilities including the responders themselves
as well as
their equipment. For example, terrorists could well
specifically intended to harm first
commonly
Employing
used
for this purpose, but
attack against
The
new
Department
to emergency
response
to follow in
of Homeland
order
to
situations.
achieve
new
threats to
will
be better prepared to
2.2.1
chemical,
first responders
emergency response has begun to
such
other weapons might
be
further
are
employed as well.
biological, toxin,
might
Explosives
or radiological agents
in
confuse a coordinated
(Heritage, 2003).
response
to
secondary devices
responders and civilian onlookers.
small amounts of various
the secondary
use
the
set
Security as well as updated legislation in
the new standard for responder
preparedness and
They also have provided the blueprints for departments
new minimum standards of response.
responders as well as
the
new changes and
recognize possible
terrorist
By recognizing the
initiatives in place,
responders
events and provide a safer response
instances.
Homeland
Homeland
Security hasn't always been an item of concern to both the American
government and
February
Security
the
citizens.
was not until
the
1993 did homeland security become
Trade Center bombing
thinking
It
about
which
attacking U.S.
Arthur P. Murrah Federal
killed
attack on
an
item
six people was
national
the World Trade Center in
of immediate concern.
The World
the first indication that terrorists
territory. Two
years
later the demolition
of the
Building in Okalahoma City made homeland security
unavoidably important to the country
(Watson, 2002).
15
were
Homeland security
terrorist activity
of
can
be defined
any kind from
(Watson, 2002). This includes
legislation
and new
The terrorist
homeland. It
on notice
was a new
not
limited to
form
strengthen
struck at
of total war
in the
age of
Security Office was
works prior
to the attack. Soon
of Pennsylvania
November
that starts
In
8, 2001 "The
with
January 2003,
newest cabinet
the
homeland
to
terrorist
prepare
attacks within
with executive
office
security missions. The
the implementation
detect,
and
it put
and
that
American
accelerated
(Heritage,
after
by the
all
2003). At the heart
security.
events of 9/1
a
The
1, but was
the attacks, President George W. Bush
Thomas Ridge to be the first director
has
Americans
new means are
is the idea of homeland
stated
in his
responsibility to
the Department of Homeland
States from terrorist threats
efforts
of the
address
protect our
of
to the
nation
citizens,
and
security."
department. This
new national
coordinate
government
being established, new
terrorism,
the security of the homeland
needs
the U.S.A.
personnel.
the very heart
homeland defense (Watson, 2002). As President Bush
on
homeland, in our case,
dangerously vulnerable
in emergency response
former Governor
active movement to prevent
new agencies
to emergency
given
Homeland
creation of the
already in the
is
aggressive,
occurring in the
September 1 1
that the United States is
of the new changes
asked
and
training being
attacks of
urgently needed to
ever
as an
has
Security became the nation's
several objectives and
mission of the
of a comprehensive national
or attacks.
The Office
for, prevent, protect
against,
and
agencies,
state and
16
will
at
respond
the
to,
and
the forefront
be to
strategy to
coordinates
the United States (The White
departments
Office
is
15th
develop
secure
executive
of
and
the United
branch's
and recover
from
House, 2003). The Office will work
local governments,
and private
entities
to
the adequacy
ensure
of the national
preventing, protecting against, responding to,
attacks within
that strategy
the United States
as
necessary (The White
Department
objectives of the
1
Prevent terrorist
.
attacks within
It
for
an
the homeland
seeks
government and
attacks
that do
the changing threats in
federal,
to inform
to
This
state and
system
ongoing
and
and
the
local to
is intended to
national
for new
response policies
members.
create a common
discussion
facilitate decisions
private citizens at
attached as shown
for developing,
occur.
America, it is necessary for
allow
about
appropriate measures
five threat levels included in this
publicly
from
One way that the
has begun to disseminate information is through the Homeland
context and structure
levels
the United States.
information to be disseminated throughout its
Security Advisory System.
response.
goals and
Security are to:
and recover
remain copasetic with
government
confront
to
Security Advisory System
response agencies
and procedure
are
of Homeland
or
and coordinate revisions
House, 2003). The three main strategic
Minimize the damage
emergency
that
periodically review
3.
to
detecting, preparing for,
recovering from terrorist threats
Reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism.
order
federal
and
2.
2.2.1.1 Homeland
In
and will
strategy for
home
the
system and each
threats
to different levels
of
(The White House, 2003). There
has its
in figure two below. The U.S.
nature of the
that should be taken in
appropriate
and at work
vocabulary,
own set of preparedness
Attorney General is responsible
implementing and managing the system and the decision whether to
announce
consultation with
threat
the
conditions
is
made case-by-case
Secretary of Homeland
Security. In
17
by the Attorney General in
January 2003, it began being
administered
in
There
published,
are no
way to tell
coordination with
times
newly-
objective criteria
formed Department
for these threat levels,
of Homeland
and
thus
Security.
no objective
the currently announced threat level is accurate.
whether
The threat level has
orange six
the
stood at yellow
for most
of its existence.
It has been
raised
to
(Wikipedia, 2005):
September 10
-
September 24, 2002,
around
the first anniversary
of the
September
11,2001.
February 7 February 27, 2003, near the
-
Hajj. Intelligence
reports suggested
"apartment buildings,
March 17
action
April
-
hotels,
16, 2003,
end of the
the possibility
and other soft or
around
the
Muslim
religious
holiday
of terrorist attacks against
lightly secured
beginning of U.S.
and
targets."
Coalition military
in Iraq.
May 20 May 30, 2003,
-
Qaida has
attacks
entered an operational period
in the United
December
large-scale
August 1
21, 2003
-
States."
-
Jersey, New York,
worldwide, and this may include terrorist
citing intelligence information suggesting
holiday season.
10, 2004, for
and
of a car or
the
Community believes that Al
Tom Ridge
January 9, 2004,
attacks around
-November
possibility
"The U.S. Intelligence
specific
financial institutions in northern New
Washington, D.C., citing intelligence pointing to
the
truck bomb attack, naming specific buildings as possible
targets.
18
The threat levels
Homeland
1
.
and
accompanying information for responders
Security Council
condition
is declared when there is
terrorist attacks. Federal departments and agencies
in
defined
by the
and are:
Low Condition (Green). This
general measures
are
addition
a
should consider
low risk
the
of
following
to the agency-specific Protective Measures
they
develop and implement:
1
.
2.
Refining and
exercising
Measures;
and specific preplanned
regularly
assessed
for
reasonable measures are
In
of terrorist attacks.
previous
assure
that
vulnerabilities
all
facilities
or
agency Protective
condition
addition
and regulated sectors
to terrorist attacks,
taken to mitigate these
Guarded Condition (Blue). This
risk
department
and
Institutionalizing a process to
are
2.
Protective Measures;
Ensuring personnel receive proper training on the Homeland Security
Advisory System
3.
as appropriate preplanned
and all
vulnerabilities.
is declared when there is
a general
to the Protective Measures taken in the
Threat Condition, Federal departments
and agencies should consider
following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective
Measures that they
1
.
develop
and
implement:
Checking communications with designated emergency response or
command
2.
will
locations;
Reviewing
and
updating emergency response procedures;
19
and
the
3.
Providing the public with
any information that
its ability
would strengthen
to act appropriately.
3.
Elevated Condition (Yellow). An Elevated Condition is declared
significant
risk
the previous Threat
the
general measures
develop
implement:
1
.
and
in
addition
to the Protective Measures taken in
and agencies should consider
to the Protective Measures that
they
2.
Coordinating emergency plans as
3
Assessing whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the
.
4.
Implementing,
as
of preplanned
appropriate with
of terrorist attacks.
previous
Threat
In
addition
following general measures
1
.
and
appropriate, contingency and emergency
in
when
response plans.
there is
a
high
to the Protective Measures taken in the
Conditions, Federal departments
Measures that they will
nearby jurisdictions;
Protective Measures;
High Condition (Orange). A High Condition is declared
risk
a
Increasing surveillance of critical locations;
further refinement
4.
addition
Federal departments
Conditions,
following
will
In
of terrorist attacks.
there is
when
addition
to the
and agencies should consider
agency-specific
the
Protective
develop and implement:
Coordinating necessary security efforts with Federal, State,
enforcement agencies or
any National Guard
forces organizations;
20
and
local law
or other appropriate armed
2.
Taking additional precautions
alternative venues or even
3.
Preparing to
execute
alternate site or
4.
5.
at public events and
cancellation;
contingency procedures,
dispersing their workforce;
Restricting threatened facility access to
such as
Under
Condition
addition
are not
intended to be
sustained
for
a severe
risk
agency-specific
a
of terrorist
Severe
substantial periods of time.
previous
and agencies also should consider
to the
an
essential personnel only.
circumstances, the Protective Measures for
to the Protective Measures in the
departments
addition
most
moving to
and
Severe Condition (Red). A Severe Condition reflects
attacks.
possibly considering
the
Threat
In
Conditions, Federal
following general measures in
Protective Measures that they will
develop
and
implement:
1
.
2.
Increasing or redirecting personnel to
address critical
Assigning emergency response personnel
mobilizing specially trained teams
3.
Monitoring,
4.
redirecting,
5.
Closing public
or
or
and
pre-positioning
resources;
constraining transportation systems;
and government
21
emergency needs;
facilities.
and
and
Figure 2
Homeland Security Advisory System
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/200303 1 7-8.html
2.2.2
Terrorism
Terrorism is defined in the Code
as
"the
of Federal
unlawful use of force and violence against persons or
coerce a
government, the
civilian
objectives."
political or social
assistance
from State
and
population,
Federal
agencies
international. This distinction refers
origin of the
of the
individuals
Murrah Federal
the attacks
attacks
of
any
not
to
operating
segment
where
within
and
the
.85)
or
thereof, in furtherance
may
of
receive
the existing Integrated
often categorized as
domestic
or
the terrorist act takes place but rather to
for it. For example, the 1995
Building in Oklahoma City was
were
property to intimidate
communities
Terrorism is
or groups responsible
September 2001
in New York
or
When terrorism strikes,
Emergency Management System (FEMA).
the
Regulations (28 C.F.R. Section
international in
an act of domestic
nature.
bombing
terrorism, but
Before the September 1 1
Pentagon, most terrorist incidents in the United States have
22
been bombing attacks,
involving detonated and un-detonated explosive devices,
Throughout the years, terrorists have looked to increase the
the
has the level
gone
the
psychological
is
impact
of planning and
from the typical
years
gas
fire bombs (Federal Emergency, 2003).
and pipe and
as well as
tear
availability
explosive
As terrorist
of weapons
device to the
that
can
funding has increased,
be
utilized.
recent concern of Anthrax.
only to the public, but to
of specific concern not
responding to incidents
of their attack.
number of casualties
Terrorism, January 27-29, 1975: Puerto
bombed
Wall Street
the U.S. Department
Islamic terrorists
claims
of
World Trade Center
Center in New York
Rican
bar, killing four and injuring 60;
Weather Underground
and
The
shift over
of varying nature.
Domestic
dead
Attacks have
responders who are now
Significant United States terrorist incidents include (Department
a
so
responsibility for
of
State, 2004):
nationalists
two days
an explosion
in
later,
a
the
bathroom
at
State in Washington.
Bombing, February 26, 1993: The World Trade
City was badly damaged when a car bomb planted by
exploded
in
1,000 injured. The
Umar Abd al-Rahman,
an
an underground garage.
men
carrying
Egyptian
out
the
The bomb left 6
attack were
cleric who preached
people
followers
of
in the New York
City
area.
Bombing
of
Right-wing
Federal
the Federal
extremists
Building
in Oklahoma
City, April 19, 1995:
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols destroyed the
Building in Oklahoma City with a massive truck bomb that killed
23
166
and
on
injured hundreds
American
more
in what was up to then the largest terrorist
attack
soil.
Empire State
Building
fire
gunman opened
Sniper Attack,
tourists
on
February 23,
at an observation
1997: A Palestinian
deck atop the Empire State
Building in New York City, killing a Danish national and wounding visitors
from the United States,
gun on
Argentina, Switzerland,
himself. A handwritten note
punishment attack against the
Terrorist Attacks
into
a
suspected
field in
gunman claimed
was
a
President Bush
the
and
attacks
Cabinet
prime suspect and
that
detected
killed 3,025 U.S.
officials
international terrorism. In the
against
Attacks, October-November 2001 : On October 7
evidence
building where
a
Prevention
that the
Florida
aftermath of
Terrorism.
the U.S. Centers
(CDC) reported that investigators had
deadly anthrax bacterium was present in the
man who
Discovery of a second anthrax
Federal Bureau
indicated
they considered the
the attacks, the United States formed the Global Coalition
and
A fourth
high-profile target in Washington,
Pennsylvania. The
a state of war with
for Disease Control
was a
World Trade Center. Soon
by a third hijacked plane.
struck
southern
that Usama Bin Laden
Anthrax
this
Palestine."
of the
to be bound for
citizens and other nationals.
United States in
of
by the
France before turning the
U.S. Homeland, September 11, 2001: Two hijacked
on
thereafter, the Pentagon was
crashed
"enemies
into the twin towers
airliners crashed
hijacked plane,
carried
and
died
case
of Investigation
of anthrax on
triggered
a major
(FBI). The two
24
October 5 had worked.
investigation by the
anthrax cases were
the first to
appear
in the United States in 25
mail received
Washington
Congress.
2.2.3
a
of
of
Senate
such weapons within
chanced as
Biological
are a new
and/or
says
the
the threat
and
of
biological
mail
to hurt
attacks on
the mind
and
society,
the
the United
invoke terror,
use of the
concept was mentioned.
The few historical
Atomic bomb
Today however,
of the use of such a weapon
weapons
States, the concept of weapons
of many responders.
has become
were what
this has
all
have moved to the forefront
training in the emergency response fields. Is
attack
inevitable? A report
that it is. The report said, "It is not a
released
matter of
too
of the
a
by the U.S.
of
uses of
Americans
drastically
Nuclear,
real.
American
terrorist
mind and
chemical
Senate Subcommittee
IF, but rather WHEN such an event
Many of the terrorist groups of today appear more
will occur.
people and
act."
not on
Chemical
focus
through the
Mass Destruction
destruction was
envisioned when
Majority Leader Tom Daschle and other members of
send anthrax
Prior to 2001 terrorist
mass
in
appeared
Attorney General John Ashcroft said in a briefing on October 16,
terrorist
Weapons
Anthrax subsequently
by television networks in New York and by the offices in
"When people
it's
years.
and more
likely to utilize
destruction."
weapons of mass
The
use of chemical,
biological,
magnitude as well as a varied
probability
attack.
figure
of an attack
The probability
and
the impact
and nuclear weapons
likely hood of occurrence.
by a specific medium
of a specific attack
of an attack
have
varied
levels
of
Figure three illustrates the
and compares
it to the impact
of such an
happening increases from left to right on the
increases
as you go up.
25
Figure 3
Potential Probability vs. Impact
BIOLOGICAL
AGENT
NUCLEAR
WEAPON
i
IMPROVISED
NUCLEAR
DEVICE
f/
M^
J
CHEMICAL AGENT
OR TOXIC
INDUSTRIAL
CHEMICAL
POTENTIAL
RADIOACTIVE
MATERIAL
IMPACT
PROBABILITY/LIKELIHOOD
(SBCCOM)
As illustrated
by the figure, the probability of an event such as a nuclear weapon
being used in an attack is low;
high. The probability
of such a weapon
of a
is high
however the impact if such
biological
agent
being used in an attack is high,
can
be
concluded
from the figure
response preparedness as well and can give responders an
responding
meant
to cause
likelihood
or
should go
response
to be
and
used
is
the impact
as well.
The information that
and
a weapon were
into preparing for
a potential
training to only focus
impact, but to
on
the
can
help prioritize
idea of what level
of planning
terrorist attack. The figure is
weapons with
educate responders on all potential
not
the greatest
typed
of weapons of mass
destruction.
The figure implies that
responders need
biological incident
as well as
Chemical
have the
weapons
to be
more aware and
the fact that the impact of such
next greatest
probability
26
ready to
an event
of occurrence.
is
respond
to
a
extreme.
This
should
lead to
investigation
of how
be taken if such
to safely respond to
incident
such an
as well as
the steps that
should
to occur.
an event were
2.2.3.1 Nuclear/ Radiological
Nuclear weapons
life,
as well as
types
devastating and long-term effects on human and animal
the environments in
of weapons
enriched
produce
they are utilized. These
to make because the critical
uranium,
weapons are not
which
hard to
are
come
by,
and are
a nuclear power plant.
a one-megaton explosion
in Detroit,
nuke"
which
hands,
and
is
the
a nuclear
"Suitcase"
weapon small enough
and
as
of all
plutonium and/or
to
produce.
there is
a
highly
Nuclear
possibility that
worst-case scenario simulation estimated
to
a million
flatten
weapon, material,
bomb
to fit inside a
Nuclear weapons
are
the
which
is
all
tons
of
buildings
TNT,
could
kill
1.7-mile
within a
most
know-how that
very
to
used
in
that
must
fall into the
a
terrorist
an
unlikely
choice
be taken if a nuclear weapon was
attack.
the
make a nuclear weapon as well as
for terrorists. Despite
a possible choice of terrorists and responders must
effects and procedures
could
compact and portable nuclear
unlikely weapon to be
characteristics of the materials used
fact, they are
a
or
suitcase.
difficulty in obtaining the materials make them
this
expensive
the hardest
(Fox News, 2003). Nuclear weapons include: Atom bomb, Hydrogen bomb,
"Loose
The
One
equivalent
250,000 people, injure half a million more,
wrong
very
elements,
themselves the only threat in this category
terrorists may target
radius
nuclear
are
be
ever
aware of their
to be
utilized
in
an attack.
Radiological Weapons
kill through radiation only
(RW) are basically a nuclear-weapon variant designed to
as opposed
to blast or
27
shock.
No
such weapons are
believed to
exist at
the present
evidence
that
time,
although recent reports
indicate that UN inspector's
Iraq was working on radiological weapons prior to the Gulf War (Center for
Defense, 2004). The radioactive materials for radiological weapons
products,
plutonium and other actinides
create economic
evacuations,
damage that would be
The three basic
shielding.
from
Offensively,
produced radioactive nuclides.
mass
uncovered
chaos,
civilian nuclear
could
reactors,
or
radiological weapons could
or
be fission
artificially
be
used
to force
occupy territory, avoiding the infrastructure
created with a nuclear explosive.
ways
Responders
to reduce
need
to be
utilize proper protection while
radiation exposure are
through time distance
and
aware of the signs of a possible radiation attack and
responding to
a suspected
incident.
2.2.3.2 Biological
Biological
are
agents are
invisible to the human
times
amounts could
from widely
be
available
research or obtained
2004). Biological
basic
Potential Viral
influenza,
which
agents such as
chemical
devastating effect.
soil or
agents are
biological
lethal
pathogens,
from
pharmaceutical
produce
most
used with
tasteless,
which
dispersed in
-
animals and
and
or even a
procured
easy to
an aerosol
cloud,
to thousands
weapon, meaning that
Biological Weapons
may be
infected
both cheap
industry
and when
Weight-for-weight, they are hundreds
eye.
than the
more potent
odorless,
of
even small
can
be
produced
for legitimate bio-medical
humans (Center for Defense,
obtain.
In effect, any nation with
a
facility such as a brewery has the capability to
weapons.
agents
include smallpox,
yellow
fever,
equine encephalitis and
may be genetically modified to increase their
anthrax, meloidosis,
pneumonic
28
plague,
effectiveness.
and glanders
Bacterial
have incubation
periods of between one and
five days
Toxins include botulinum toxin,
death
of animals or
of nerve
gasses,
potential
without swift
treatment.
resulting in
which produces an acute muscular paralysis
humans; ricin, derived from castor bean plants whose lethality is that
and mycotoxins which produce
of the
intentional
is, in some ways,
chemical
usually fatal
skin
nausea, vomiting,
irritation
and
fatalities (Center for Defense, 2004).
The threat
weapon
and are
release, for
In the case, for
far
which
instance,
use or even accidental release of an airborne
more
one of the
frightening to analysts and researchers than that of a
there may be known
of a mutated or
hemorrhagic fever, there may be
no
specific antidotes and counter-measures.
genetically
known
engineered strain of Ebola or some
effective
particularly virulent bio-agents, for
common virus
biological
treatment.
By genetically combining
instance, with a rapidly and easily spread
like the flu, the terrorist may be
able
to
cause
the
airborne spread of a
deadly bio-toxin.
Infectious disease
place without
community,
people
any immediate
until after
a
slowly
the incubation
developing,
highly contagious,
important that
and
and are
responders
be
that
recognition on
had been infected. To further
involve
are
scientists point out
hard to
to
the
is
emergency
hundreds
matters,
a
or medical
or even
biological
recognize cluster of
thousands
extremely ill patients,
illness.
29
reason
to
who
It is extremely
recognize signs and symptoms of potential
there is
of
release could
at a wide-spread number of locations.
agents and respond with extreme caution whenever
an
deadly pathogens could take
part of the
over and
complicate
found
able
period
a spread of
suspect
biological
the
cause of
2.2.3.3 Chemical
Chemical
weapons
to their relative low
CIA
report
too difficult for
terrorist groups
of
chemical
of such weapons.
weapon
first
for
a
lack. These
terrorists thrive
high degree
One
effective
than
or
in
discredited
manufacture was
biological
weapons
production
advantages
to the terrorists
who use
them.
other words exhibit qualities which
advantages
include the limited capability
of
anti-
frightening image and the overall efficiency
also
terrifying nature
they have been
considered
been
criticized and
employed often when
factor
Ever
of chemical weapons.
since
ridiculed by civilians
unconventional, uncivilized, and
the
and
even gruesome.
describing terrorists.
In
general
of their activities and chemical warfare exhibits a
factor. Therefore, the
groups'
casualties.
that
of the aspects which make chemical weapons such an appropriate
off of the shock
The final
inflict
have
of shock
many terrorist
argument
technical obstacles than does the
many
weapons, their extremely
They've been
adjectives
The
due
detecting such weapons, the low cost and low technology required to
use of chemical weapons
These
unique,
terrorist is the name
soldiers alike.
(Godber, 2001).
bomb"
heroin.
advantages are
conventional weapons
poor man's atomic
production of chemical and
use of chemical agents offers
Many of these
"the
terrorists to
attacks raises no greater
of chemical narcotics or
develop
most
"concluded that the
for multiple casualty
The
long been considered
cost and ease of manufacture
chemical weapons are
when a
have
use of chemical weapons
"enhance"
may
images.
advantage offered
These
by chemical weapons is their enormous
weapons are
extremely
conventional explosive weapons
30
cost effective and
40 times
ability to
more weight
(Godber, 2001). The overall efficiency of
a chemical weapon agent combined with
frighteningly inexpensive, undetectable,
There
dependant
direction,
are numerous
on a number of
means of
weapons can
kinds
and other
generally dispensed
to
can range
skin
weather
conditions,
can
as
from
or
be dispensed
skin,
aerosols, liquids
near
and
as
liquids,
blood agents,
or vapors.
immediate failure
survive,
and
given proper
all of which can
which are
respiratory
of the
gases and
vapors,
The symptoms,
of the
irritation, headaches, heart palpitations
convulsions
wind
factors (ABC News, 2004). Some
They include nerve agents, blister agents and choking agents,
be taken in through the eyes, lungs
agent,
purity,
their effectiveness is
and people exposed can sometimes
treatment and antidotes. Chemicals
aerosols.
and
weapons,
factors, including age,
kill,
make a
and efficient weapon.
of chemical
dissemination,
take hours to
the previously mentioned advantages
inhaled.
They are
depending on the
or nervous
system,
respiratory difficulty, vomiting
or
lead
and
(ABC News, 2004).
As is in the
case of biological
and symptoms of chemical agents.
weapons,
responders need
to be
aware of the signs
They need to have adequate breathing protection when
dealing with symptoms of an unknown origin. A chemical or biological attack or incident
won't always
be
immediately apparent given the fact that many agents are odorless and
colorless and some cause no
must
be
alert
to the
Droplets
immediately noticeable effects or symptoms. Responders
possible presence of agents.
of oily
Unusual dead
or
Unusual liquid
film
Indicators
on surfaces
dying animals in the area
sprays or vapors
31
of such an attack
include:
Unexplained
green
odors
(smell
of bitter
almonds,
kernels,
newly mown
hay or
grass)
Unusual
Victims
or unauthorized
spraying in the
or patterns of illness
Low-lying clouds
possibly colored,
or
convulsions,
inconsistent with natural disease
fog unrelated to weather;
clouds of
dust;
or
suspended,
particles
People dressed unusually (long-sleeved
wearing
area
displaying symptoms of nausea, difficulty breathing,
disorientation,
shirts or overcoats
in the summertime)
or
breathing protection particularly in areas where large numbers of people
tend to congregate,
such as subways or stadiums
Integrating Current Response Initiatives
2.3
In
has
peach
a
direct
Protection
of an
most
communities, the effectiveness
correlation
of
lives,
to the
property,
skills of the
minimal
loss to life, property,
framing,
and
The
opened our eyes
emergency
only
proportions, but
wasn't
response
and
specialist.
where
the impact
speedy recovery with
to the vulnerability
also opened our eyes
there before. NBC
training
the local level
system
environment, is a result of comprehensive planning,
1
not
at
effective response and
Emergency, 2003).
attack of such
that
begins
exercising (State
events of 9/1
response
and
emergency management
local emergency management
and environment
emergency is first felt. A prompt,
of the
the
32
U.S. to
an
to a new dimension of emergency
training has become
additional
of the
an
knowledge it
integral part
of
requires responders
to
possess as shown
responders.
table,
This takes
ideas
with new
skills
in table two
skills and
and concepts
part of the new minimal standard of
knowledge the
that
are relevant
(OSHA)
to
responder
already has
to NBC threats. As
based
can
and
be
training for
builds
noted
upon
the Occupational
Safety and
standards
for responding to
a
not required
it
from the
on
are
and relate
incident. NBC training is
materials
be
the responder already possess
Health Administration
to the
should
hazardous
by legislation however, it has been added
training curriculum in many departments.
Table 3
Awareness Level Requirements for Emergency Responders
OSHA Requirement
Knowledge
Understand
already have
X
Understand NBC
X
Understand
risk of NBC agents
X
Understand
outcomes of NBC
what
HAZMAT's
Understand
you
NBC Delta Requirement
Knowledge
need
you
to have
agents
are
risk of
HAZMAT's
Understand
outcomes
agents
Recognize
a
HAZMAT
X
Recognize
X
Identify the NBC agent
an
NBC
release
release
Identify HAZMAT if
possible
Determine
need
for
Determine
X
Understand
level
for
need
additional
resources
additional resources
Understand
X
awareness
awareness
level
roles
roles
(SBCCOM)
The
biological
second most
agent
is that
pressing
problem
of identification.
involving a terrorist release of a chemical or
As is the
case
hazardous-materials accidents, the first priority in the
involves ascertaining the
released.
It is only
perimeter can
after
in most
common
management of the
identity and physical properties of the
the product
be established,
industrial
substance
incident
that has been
identity can be ascertained that an effective outer
neutralizations plans
33
formulated, decontamination
entertained, emergency medical treatment
procedures
plans
made,
and environmental
preservation precautions taken.
The primary functions that must be
The
consistent.
actions
"Size-up"
1. Incident
that
and
must
performed at
any toxic
release remain
fairly
be taken will generally involve:
assessment;
2. Scene Control/establishment
of perimeter(s);
3. Product Identification/information gathering;
4.
Pre-entry examination and determination/donning of appropriate protective clothing &
equipment;
5. Establishment
of a
decontamination area;
6.
Entry planning/preparation of equipment;
7.
Entry into
a contaminated area and rescue of victims
8. Containment
of spill/release;
9. Neutralization
of
spill/release;
10. Decontamination
11. Triage
12. BLS
(as needed);
of ill and
of victims/patients/rescuers;
injured;
Care;
13. Hospital/expert consultation;
14. ALS
care/specific
15. Transport
16.
antidotes;
of patients
to
Post-Entry evaluation
17. Complete
appropriate
examination of rescuers/equipment;
stabilization of the
18. Delegation
hospital;
of final clean
incident/collection
up to
responsible
of evidence;
party;
19. Record-keeping/after-action reporting;
20. Complete
analysis of actions/recommendations
to
action plan.
2.3.1 NBC Delta
The NBC Delta (Figure
4) is not just an illustration used to depict the variation or
difference in NBC training, but
also can
be
used
34
to describe the
change
in thinking
as
well.
The fact that
constant alert.
programs
(MIRP)
on
for
This
new
heightened
responders.
and
One
A
program, The
resulted
in new
and
to be
on
improved training
Military Improved Response Program
and
technical investigations centering
terrorist incident. Such
a potential
needs of first responders
efforts
in the
have
produced
areas of:
decontamination,
detection,
Firefighter clothing
Positive
has
research, workshops,
addressing the
Mass casualty
Chemical
such
awareness
responders
improving the capability of civilian emergency responders to safely
effectively respond to
valuable products
forces
attack can occur at anytime
conducted scientific
enhancing
and
NBC
an
protection against chemical
pressure ventilation as a mitigation
template for
generic response
an
incident
agents,
tool,
involving biological weapons.
Figure 4
NBC Delta
,
NBC Domestic
Preparedness
Jjjj^
^
Jjj^
NBC DELTA
Emergency
Management
Existing
Preparedness
Training
911 Operations
Law Enforcement
,
_
FirefiBhlino
EmerBency
MeojcalCaref
http://www.arkhospitals.Org/disaster/power_point_presentations/l.%20NBC%20%20Introductions.ppt
35
2.3.2 Terrorism
Applicable Legislation
and
Legislation is the
where
it
gets
standards
done. As far
that
place prior
driving force behind what gets done, how often it gets done and
need
to be
as
met
to 9/1 1 focused
this includes
emergency responders, legislation
in
on
order
training
response needs.
Legislation in
day to day situations that a responder would likely face,
fire, rescue, medical
and
in legislation prior to 9/1 1 ; however it
updated and more specific
to stay proficient in
provides
fire
codes.
There
was mention of terrorist situations
wasn't until after
9/1 1 that legislation became
to terrorism.
2.3.2.1 Legislation Prior to 9/11
During the mid
1980's the
new
buzzwords in emergency response legislation
were:
SARA (Superfund Amendments
Authorized the
and
establishment of the
Reauthorization Act) Title three
-
Emergency Planning and Community Right-
to-Know Act (EPCRA).
EPCRA
to
help
(Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act) designated
-
local
chemical
communities protect public
health,
safety,
and
the
environment
from
hazards.
OSHA (Occupational
HAZWOPR
-
Set
Safety and Health Administration) 29
new guidelines
NFPA (National Fire Protection
necessary for
responders
for the training
Association) 472
to terrorist incidents.
36
CFR 1 9 1 0. 1 20,
of hazardous materials.
-
Established
competencies
These
guidelines
were
This legislation
was
the
case with
Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Act
as
after
his
Branch
of
on
its
to this statute,
to serve
as
the
foundation for which
established.
for
acts of terrorism.
raised grave concerns
of the
Congress
using WMD
in the mind
United States
to get accurate
and
arrangements and preparation
which set
government
passed
against
of
in place
a
(Burke,
to
prepare
Senator Sam Nunn
the threat
states
that "the threat
Preparation must take the form
lines if deterrence
legislation that
the federal
of
effort
to
prepare
called
of terrorism
help to local
and prevention of such
first
incidents
for mandating training
of
of terrorist attacks.
on preparedness
issues
convincing information from the Executive
for terrorism. Senator Richard Lugar
Lugar-Domenici Act
Act, both
for the Olympics. These hearings led
long-term
the
2000). The
domestic
response
increased threats. The Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Act has led to the development
programs
began
the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction
1996, Senator Nunn held a number of hearings
staff was unable
federal
training in hazardous materials incidents
and effects of terrorists
to the preparedness
In the spring
preparation
and
reducing the threat
1996 Atlanta Olympics had
Georgia
and established
hazardous materials, in 1996 the federal
legislation for the
new
aimed at
would come
training and legislation would be
terrorism
passing
kind for emergency response
of their
that departments had to follow for
(Burke, 2000).
As
the first
as was
government provided preparedness
training.
37
is
and
founder
real and we must
the
issues
Instead
and
of domestic
be prepared.
be
on
of providing
case with
the
of the Nunn-
responders who will
fail."
directly
the front
terrorism
hazardous materials,
money to
conduct
the necessary
2.3.2.2 New/Updated Guidelines
2002 NFPA 472
This
new guideline provides essential guidance
terrorist activities
and weapons of mass
identifies the levels
and
covers
materials
competencies
branch officers, hazardous
specialist employees.
to hazardous materials
for first responders
at
the
This
materials
branch safety officers,
edition places new emphasis on
criminal/terrorist
activities,
Anticipating potential targets
Indicators
of general
Actions to take
cover
Specialized weapons
Health risks
Chemical
Tools for
in
a
at
watch
for;
activity is suspected;
incidents;
destruction,
with coverage of:
of chemical/biological warfare
indicators
agent
activity;
safety briefing;
of mass
agent
Biological
activity to
criminal/terrorist
when criminal/terrorist
Preserving evidence
Items to
with revised requirements addressing:
for
agents;
of criminal/terrorist
activity;
indicators;
detecting and identifying warfare agents;
Limitations
of military chemical/biological protective
38
and other
responding to incidents
resulting from the following:
General
awareness
level, hazardous materials technicians, incident commanders,
the operational
hazardous
the
dealing with
destruction. Revised for 2002, NFPA 472
of competence required of responders
incidents. It specifically
level
for first responders
clothing;
Assessing responder risk for each class of rescue;
Decontaminating large numbers of people;
Radioactive materials,
with specialized requirements
for:
Understanding the types of radiation and radiation terms;
Health hazards
of different
types
of radiation;
Recognizing radioactive materials packaging;
Measuring radiation;
Understanding the effects of time, distance,
and
shielding from radiation;
Controlling the spread of radioactive contamination;
A
new annex on competencies
for the technician
with a radioactive material
specialty
2002 NFPA 473
This
new guideline provides vital guidance on response
weapons of mass
destruction. NFPA 473 identifies the levels
Emergency Medical
Services
injuries for basic life
materials.
to incidents
Additions
Indicators
Indicators
requirements
support and advanced
This just-revised 2002
service response
cover
involving
of competence required of
(EMS) personnel who respond to hazardous materials
incidents. It specifically covers the
setting.
to incidents
life
to
reduce
accidents, exposure, and
support personnel
edition places new emphasis on
in the
pre-hospital
emergency medical
involving weapons of mass destruction and radioactive
key topics including:
of criminal/terrorist
of criminal/terrorist
activity
with chemical
activity
39
with
agents;
biological agents;
The importance
Application,
Priorities
of
use and
for
of care
Removal
body substance isolation at incidents;
limitations
of
body substance isolation protective clothing;
chemical vs. radiological contamination
of victims relative
to
exposure and contamination
patients;
concerns;
Communicating to a receiving facility on the amount of decontamination
before transport
accomplished
This
essential edition also
includes
lifesaving actions vs. taking time
on removal of outer
The
necessary to
responders
guide
for responding to
how the
in place mandating
This leaves departments
As is
WMD
was
terrorism,
their
with
terrorist incident
regulatory in nature,
similar education
own
for local
discretion when it
for
are
will
aren't required
training
available, it
to the local departments
40
be
at
nor
is there any
responders.
comes
to
what
they offer
until regulations are put
the level
to take the
comes
The downfall
flexibility in the content of such
hazardous materials,
every responder
they should be because they
or state agencies
a potential or
mater.
or until current mandated classes are updated
not
education classes and
at
are not
classes and also allows
the case
for terrorism education,
content on
brand-new protocol
education of responders gets accomplished.
current regulations
classes.
and a
for
in that, like the NBC Delta training, they provide the tools
however is that they
and
of considerations
for full decontamination,
of these guidelines
for terrorism
discussion
clothing only in decontamination for radioactive
new guidelines available
very helpful to
new
in place
to include
of education and
classes.
Like many
training
other
from the top down from the federal
3.0
Methodology of Research
Research
literature, laws
of applicable
through
was completed
published research.
information for the basis
Phase two
in two different
and regulations
phases.
study project.
was completed
Interviews
both the city
at
and
consisted of pre
readiness of
through interviews
town levels from
determined
emergency responders
with
structures around a questionnaire
advance of the
provided
departments
are
they feel
staying
on
the
determined that due to the length
on
educated and
the fire
County, New York.
the
current state of
taped and notes
A) which was
given
were
taken based
Questions
to the
responders
on
were
responders
in
members of the various
has been done to determine if their
new changes and needs of the
of service
service prior
departments, career and
how to better prepare
the commanding
with
on what
current with
Monroe
be done better in the future. Command members
can
information
(Appendix
information
of fire
were completed via email.
interviews. Discussions
departments
any thoughts
were audio
Two interviews
given.
within
leaders in the response field
areas of interest such as
and
in the future. Five personal interviews
the information
was gathered
background
applicable
from fire departments representing the two different types
volunteer,
one consisted of a review
in place. Such information
This information provided
of the
Phase
field
were chosen
and what
because it was
they had, they could provide more in depth
to 9/11.
Also,
command members are
trained than the entry level fire fighter and have
more
usually more
information
available
to them.
The information
Trends
were
based
gathered was compared and contrasted and
on similarities and
differences
41
trends
were noted.
by municipality of department as well
as
type
were
of department.
drawn
After trends
were
noted, information
was
analyzed,
conclusions
and recommendations were made.
3.1 Research
Strategy
Qualitative information for this study was
research on past
literature in the field
and
gathered
in two different ways, through
by conducting interviews with members of the
response community.
In
order
to
community, detailed
concerns as well as
In
Monroe
order
current needs and concerns of the
emergency
response
research was conducted on past and current
emergency
response
evaluate
the
the
new
Homeland
to determine the
County, research was
Security Department.
current state of readiness of emergency responders
conducted with
Fire Departments throughout Monroe
the
assistance of seven members of various
County (Table 4).
Table 4
Monroe County Emergency Responder Interview List
Name
Current Rank
Department
Mark Audino
Lieutenant
Henrietta FD
James Comstock
Battalion Chief
Henrietta FD
Russel Merrick
Captain
Rochester FD
Mark Strzyzynski
Captain
Rochester FD
Daniel Wimer
Life Member/Past
Egypt FD
Captain
William Haines
Sam DeRosa
Chief
Deputy
Coordinator
42
in
Bushnell's Basin FD
Monroe
County
Special Operations
An
analysis of recent and past response needs and concerns were
compared and contrasted and
notes were
trends
Interviews
were audio
taped
and
later detailed
taken (Appendix B). The different jurisdictions were chosen so that
comparisons and contrasts could
department
noted.
evaluated,
as shown
be
based
made
on
the
location,
city
or
town,
of the
in table five.
Table 5
Departments Represented in Study
Department
Type
Municipality
of
Number
of
Members
Department
Population
Served
Bushnell's Basin FD
Volunteer
Town
74
volunteer
10,000
Egypt FD
Volunteer
Town
63
volunteer
10,000
Henrietta FD
Combination
Town
career/80 volunteer
49,000
Rochester FD
Career
City
Interviews
25
of involvement
Confidence/apprehensiveness in the
Knowledge
of new
on
training
on
since
9/11
how to better prepare
an
organization
training concerns
Noticeable differences
Career
250,000
in emergency response
Confidence/apprehensiveness in responding to
Thoughts
career
were conducted with predetermined areas of interest such as:
Current level
Thoughts
500
responders
versus volunteer concerns
43
emergency
responding
situation
4.0
Results
Upon
completion of the
information that was
and
different in
department.
positive
based
Trends that
on
were noted were
the municipality
of the
both
current areas
that
need
to be improved
many trends in the
see
similar
department
Along with current trends that were noted, results
in
some areas
as well as
of the
the type
interviews
of
also
upon as well as some
findings.
Differences in Findings
There
factors,
the
others
many different
yielded
4.1
gathered.
interviews it became possible to
were
noted
in the findings that depended
the type of department, whether it is
department,
4.1.1
differences
whether
City versus
Level
on
a paid or volunteer and
two different
the municipality
of
it is located in the city or town.
Town
of responder education
education and readiness at
Training concerns
Information
-
higher level
of
the city level.
City shows
-
attained showed a
a
higher level
of
training than do
the town
departments.
Level
level
of confidence
of confidence
Russ Merrick
we would
be
in responding to
of the
able
in responding to
Rochester
a
a
terrorist incident
-
Significantly higher
terrorist incident in city responders. Captain
City Fire Department
to handle any situation,
44
"I feel
confident that
including a terrorist attack.
scale event we wound need outside assistance which
department."
states
is the
case with
With
any
a
large
Personnel
concerns
departments
at
current needs.
still
City is content with number of on staff personnel while
-
the town level
Even though
feel that they
are
report not enough personnel on staff to
the
city has
a greater population
adequately staffed to
then do
meet their needs while
handle
towns, they
the towns do
not.
Equipment availability
available to
the
4.1.2
handle
most
Education
and
be
versus
Training
for
to
such
an
incident
greater
then
equipment.
are required
to
attend specified classes
level for WMD training. Volunteers
are not mandated
to
-
Career departments train much more
frequently than do
departments.
provided
additional
enough equipment
instances. At the town level for
Funding for education, training and equipment
is
time has
of WMD education.
concerns
volunteer
given
Career departments
-
awareness
have any level
any
Career
concerns
the
at
at
fire, it has insufficient
normal structure
Volunteer
The city
-
-
Funding for career departments
by the city and township that the department is located in and
funding is provided for by the state
departments is
sufficient
to have
and
federal
government.
Funding
updated equipment and provide
training
all members.
Retention
Also
of members
a concern
comes
-
because
Volunteer
awareness
partly through being
Jim Comstock
of the
concern since
is
gained
a member
for
the personnel numbers are low.
through experience and experience
a number of years.
As
stated
by Chief
Henrietta Fire Department, "The biggest difference is that
45
career
firefighters tend to have
they will
attend a much
Management Concerns
levels
and
4.2
-
Management is
obtained
not as adequate as
all
were several similarities
service."
in
order
to
attain
increasing
it
could
be.
Departments
that
from the interviews. Similarities
results without regard
crucial
by the nature of their job
Leadership training at the volunteer level was
Similarities in Findings in
There
because
larger number of calls for
to stay current.
determined to be
more experience
can
be
noted after examination of the results
are areas of concern
to municipality or type
that
produced
the
same
of department.
Training Issues
for the
Training should target the needs
all"
fits
approach.
exposure should
Chief Haines
should
for sure;
don't
we
of Bushnell's
be mandatory for
departments
have
need
various
the
region and should not
same
all
on
their
"one
a
size
of
locations,
of skills and/or resources.
training that
a
Basin states, "Some type
departments. Based
degrees
have
One thing is
fire department in Washington DC
needs."
While there
classes
is
do
are more
not
training programs
adequately train responders
difference between
a
Not
enough
hands
on
there for WMD
and are not
and
terrorism,
challenging
enough.
the
There
learning and being able to do.
training
Inadequate instructors
the
out
and
available.
too low
of standards
areas.
46
for being
considered
"trained"
in
Reestablishment
of
Complacency
Thought process is that 9/11
something that large for the
was such a
mindset
large
to be
on
scale event
that it has to be
terrorism.
The complacency is back in emergency response
and
that further opens the door
for terrorism.
Risk
still as
high
as was prior
The community is
to 9/11
still at as much
risk
as well as responders as
they were prior to
9/11.
If terrorists tied up the
the
response
More
equipment
in
several
different
communities
simultaneously
community would be in trouble.
plans need
to be designed
blueprint to follow in
and
implemented giving
responders more of a
specific situations.
Asking responders to be proficient in yet another area while still keeping them
trained in their everyday duties. Too much with too little personnel.
4.3
Positive Findings
There
yet where
we are
it
were a
should
few positive
be,
results
there are many
that illustrated though responder readiness is not
advancements
that
can
be
seen
to date that
show
moving in the right direction.
Terrorism
provided
and
WMD training
classes are
readily
available
through Monroe County. This fact was noted
interviewed.
47
to every responder
by each person
Words
such at
response
WMD
and
terrorism have become
due to the huge push
community.
since
Chief Jim Comstock
growing from
not ever
9/1 1 to
common place
in emergency
prepare responders as well as
of Henrietta points out
that "The
the
training is
hearing the mention of terrorism or WMD, to now where it
is starting to become the
standard.
We
are
including WMD in firefighting
class."
essential
While
every responder is
at
percentage are now then can
be
not
the level
seen
of awareness
in the
past prior
emergencies
more
fear
More
funding and
since
Department
A
section
against
.
Weapons
NBC agents,
be done to
fire
added
of Mass
to recruit
This is due to
level
prior
of whom and what
and
training through the
Destruction: Awareness in
an awareness
how NBC
protect
more enthusiasm and
may be targets for
new section
concepts
recruit
learned
will
It is
is
48
order
to
Defense
bring new
an
now
This
in
time.
class
what are
and what can
included in the mandatory
state
introducing the concepts of
as with most
over
NBC attack,
emergency responders
sufficient
however
be lost
state entitled
becoming an active member.
to
agents will affect
them. This
terrorism and WMD to the
the
.
in tune to
Security.
fighting recruit class curriculum.
updates
to 9/1 1
are more
of the
grants are available as a result of the establishment of the
has been
includes topics
prior
larger
9/1 1
of Homeland
firefighters to
then
a
to 9/1 1 Dan Wimer
Egypt Volunteer Fire Department stated, "Responders
responding to
they should be,
things,
without adequate
5.0
Analysis
and
If one thing
overall not at
Chief Bill Haines
comes
be taken from the
and also
of the
results of this
ranks
due to
a
complacency that
exists
This trend
be
can
seen
will ever occur
in
in our district from
as a
terrorist situation, I feel
tend to the
majority
was
need
safety in mind,
complacency that
not occur.
a
not
to
just
able
on
it
get
alarms me at
involved
members respond
situation and go
fire,
this
alarms
Lieutenant
by stating "As
result, however
or medical
the incident for
to
recognize
getting to the
terrorist event
scene of an emergency.
scene
to be
the lack
When
what
it was
until
a vast
possibly it
leaving.
in for
that are
an
Both
making my
own
volunteers rush
they often forget about
of these
a safe response can
truly ready to respond to
emergency,
thing in mind,
respond
By having the
in their community,
of responders
a call comes
station.
terrorist event and
with responders and after
scene with one
back to the
signs of a
scene and
and get so enthused that
to the
the
will not occur
After conducting interviews
observations
supported
That
that point their safety would be in jeopardy.
Responders
with
a terrorist.
a naive
that the department has the skills necessary to
confident
of members would not recognize
and at
of
that "When it
There is
career and volunteer alike.
actual result of the situation such as a
too late
stated
departments'
all
to a lack
in emergency response.
our response.
Mark Audino from the Henrietta Fire Department further
far
responders are
attributed
Bushnell's Basin Volunteer Fire Department
that nothing
me."
study it's that
they should be. This fact can be
to terrorist situations, I am very concerned about
in the
ness
should
the awareness level
training
education,
Discussion
what can
safety.
the
to the
Career
I do to remedy the
thought processes need to be changed
to include not only can I get involved on the scene, remedy the situation quickly and go
49
back, but what can I do to make
sure a safe response
fellow responders. This thought
process
Present results from this study
number one concern
is first necessary to
takes
develops from
should not
place
experience.
be taken lightly. Personal safety is the
among emergency responders. In order to
up best
ensure responder
safety, it
be
achieved
bring them to a minimum of an awareness level.
through the application of the recommendations in emergency
Sam DeRosa,
for myself and my
This
departments.
response
Deputy Coordinator of the Monroe County Fire Bureau,
can
summed
this
point
by stating "Education and training should be the most immediate priority.
Education
awareness."
plus
Department
responder
training
equals
of Homeland
is experience,
results of this
similar results would most
found from
readiness.
Captain
made
to the
to be
of continual education and
training,
educated on
or
updating
the issues
current
training.
annually
of terrorism and weapons
destruction.
Though the
counties
in the form
of mandated annual
mandated classes responders need
of mass
to be
recommendation was
Security it would be that the key to changing the mindset of the
which can come
Weather it be in the form
If one
other
locations
study were
obtained
likely be obtained anywhere in the
would
be
This is because Monroe
most
likely to
Dan Wimer
County, New York,
country.
show a greater
lack
In
fact,
results
of responder
County is considered to be one of the most up to date
in the country for its emergency response
of Egypt
from Monroe
states
and preparedness programs.
"Overall in Monroe
the best in NYS. This is due to availability
County emergency response is
of education and
50
Past
training for
responders."
Results
municipality
show a
difference in departmental
department
of the
and also
concerns
based
on a
due to the difference in type
difference in the
of department.
City versus Town
Differences in
results can
be
Number of available
available at
factors
attributed to
personnel
any time
of day.
The city has
-
Funding
availability
town departments. The main
a
large
number of responders
A large majority of town departments do
adequate number of personnel available
volume.
such as:
given
especially
the
not
have
an
increasing call
City departments receive more funding than do
-
thing that this provides to them is
additional
personnel.
Equipment availability
city departments have
number of personnel
Volunteer
can
hand in hand
be
awareness
mandatory
to
utilize
the
to factors
attributed
training
any
given
time
and
The
the
equipment.
-
Career
such as:
staff have
completed while on
education or
Funding differences
-
career and volunteer
mandatory terrorism
and
WMD
duty. Volunteer departments have
no such
training requirements.
Career departments
funding than do volunteer departments.
volunteer
with personnel availability.
more equipment available at
Training requirements
of
goes
Career
versus
Differences
This
-
receive a
Grants
significantly
are
departments, however writing a
has to learn how to do
and
that is
51
equally
grant
sometimes
greater amount
available
to both
is something that
difficult.
a
Management
concerns
are volunteer
departments
Time
commitment
are not.
This
and
Career departments
issues
-
and provide
Career
are managed more
staff are paid
take
for their time
while volunteers
education classes
take. The mandatory requirements for volunteers
therefore it is difficult to
Personnel issues
-
recruitment and retention of members.
less"
the
continue
to battle
With the growing
need
for
are
and career
problem are
to provide financial reimbursement to
departments. Ways that have been
providing retirement
they might
already
fairly
the
past
issue
of
in emergency
is further increased
suggested
volunteers
compensation and
52
with
concept
more members
in volunteer
credit as well as
that
mandate more education.
Volunteer departments
response of "do more with
effectively then
better training for its leaders.
often prompts career staff to
otherwise not
high
-
to solve this
in the form
of a
tax
tuition reimbursement.
6.0
Conclusions
history of humans it can be seen in several different instances that
Throughout the
With this in mind, fire
learning and growth occurred as the result of devastating events.
professionals must
challenges.
learn from the tragic
Though the wake-up
events of
call of 9/11
is
9/11
and anticipate
exceptional
represents concerns which will always exist at a
lesser
in its
future
firefighting
magnitude and
impact, it
day to day level in the world of
firefighting.
Terrorism is
terrorist
events
not a new concept and
create a
lasting impact on society.
doubt that
an event such as
9/1 1
event will
occur, but when,
where and
event requires
everyday response to
therefore
events of
the
will occur again.
an emergency.
how it
to
responder
pose a much greater
events are
responders.
prepare responders and
and
the
America for
new
a
shows
future terrorist
been
attained
in
each and
most
if another terrorist
Responding to
than is
a potential
required
deliberate in
not
without a
for
normal
nature and
have
an awareness
risk.
responders are not yet at
the level
Security Department's initiative to
attack.
Of all the
important is that
every emergency
53
not
common
through first hand interviews with
Homeland
determined from this study the
is
responders and citizens at
in the field from western New York, that
not
certainly not the last
If responders do
responders'
they should be based on 9/1 1
question
need more skills
This study provides information that
level has
are
With this in mind, it is
will occur.
Terrorist
risk to
The
level to terrorism they put themselves, their fellow
conclusions
9/1 1
America will face in the future. One thing that terrorists have in
is that they strive to
terrorist
the
results
found
and
an overall awareness
response organization.
This is
due to the fact that society has
respond
case.
to
an attack such as
that America is
a pre conceived notion
that
September 1 1
seen on
Emergency Response has a long way to
go
to get to the
Along with society's overall perception of our current
was such a
large
given
any
time
The complacency that
truly be ready to
Prior
and
still exists
not
to
a
terrorist
attack
on
if the
has
information
response
is
areas need
preparing
quite a ways
attained
not
to go to
Results
get
to
where
completely
to be further
responders
response
at
the level to
provided
provided
the
billions
any scale, large
that
or small can
respond.
need ever arises.
and preparedness
of this
not
it
where
evaluated and enhanced
for future
in emergency response
study
substantiate past studies
currently
should
on
at
that
the level that is desired
be in every department. The
with
destruction
of dollars
guidelines
for
it
could
to
be. Recommendations
ensure
the
eventual success
as
to
what
in
attacks were made.
departments
and weapons of mass
has
such as
by this study supports the hypothesis of the study in that emergency
The recently developed Department
providing
the fact that 9/1 1
through this study, this study focuses
have determined that responder preparedness is
and still
attack on
something
the
it is truly ready.
to be aware of this and ready to
training
research completed
on preparedness.
strictly
point where
not at all
today needs to be done away with if responders want to
has been done
though that parallels
response,
terrorist
and responders need
respond
research
a
however this is
state of readiness,
scale event responders can not conceive of
occurring in their town. The fact is that
occur at
when
fully prepared to
of Homeland
Security (DHS) has been
the tools necessary to begin
education and
training in local departments The DHS
to varying jurisdictions for
such classes.
The
problem
54
implementing terrorism
is
education purposes and
not
how many classes
are
has
being
made
available, but how many responders
problem
has been
however there
The
are a
few
in the
training
and
past
other ways
education and
this issue
classes, increase
can
be
addressed.
to
add
terrorism
amount of hands on
organizations
to have
more
agencies
to
increase,
emergency preparedness
framework for response to future
training, quality of
plans
and
for response
in place to
prepare responders
for
a
future terrorist
only physically prepare the
doing research for this
study there
attack at
responder
importance to this topic. That is the
readiness.
Training needs to be
the level
Getting each responder to
education and
However, it is
Responders
of
increased
training
the
and
has
but
will also
not
concept
need
to be
aware
can
that merely
mentally
framing does not
point
level that
having the
that
55
that
should
equal
receiving
responder.
can
be
of
be
attained
acceptable.
equals overall readiness.
education
during this
in the right direction. Classes
them. While
number of responders
is
study
County has not brought each and every responder to
made some steps
prepare
adequately prepare the
minimum
found
to adequately
Providing adequate framing
level is the starting
is the
were
that
only in the
that it
push
that was brought to light which is
awareness coupled with preparedness
Some promising things that
Monroe
so
awareness
training
any level.
was one concept
particular
training but also
provide a
events.
The emergency response community needs to increase the
through
into
concepts
frequency of training, increase amount of inter-organizational training to
for communication with various
will not
training. This
by mandating training at the departmental level
main points of the recommendations are
mandated education
already
allow
solved
receiving the
are
often not good enough.
show
that
an awareness
although
level, that it
are now offered on a regular
basis to
responders and at the
County level equipment is available as well as many individuals
trained specifically to respond to
there
they just have to
Future
to be
larger
be done
research could
on
the topic in
standard.
from within the
fashion
resources are
a
larger
should
be
and
and
research
from
a
how to better prepare
on
completed to see
study have been implemented
this study
number of responders
Ideas
county.
as
that time. If future
be implemented in response
A follow up study
made as a result of this
similar
of responders at
done, it would be beneficial to interview
number of departments
up to
At the county level the
be brought to the local level.
responders are presented and should
not
event.
detail any changes in the preparedness
could
was
now
terrorist
a
organizations
if the
that
are
recommendations
the effect, if any
they are
having on the department.
6.1
Recommendations
Consideration
1. Education
responder
must
-
be
Terrorist
in the field
and volunteer
level
to the
given
and
following potential remedies in the following areas:
WMD
classes need
regardless of the
need
to be brought
possibility that they may be the first to
Awareness
comes
through
annual update classes are
a
fire department
similar
event
will
in nature to
education.
type
at
potential
made available
of department.
least to
respond
Responders
an awareness
to
level
each and
on
since
a scene of potential
both the
every
career
there is a good
terrorist activity.
of required
by regulations in many of the day to day calls
including hazardous materials training,
terrorism situations, the difference
is intentional. Therefore, the
to
Education for firefighters in the form
already required
handle
to be
is very
being that a terrorist
new concepts of terrorism and
56
which
WMD
could
be
the already mandated classes. This
combined with
mandatory training
2.
Training
comes
time commitment
Terrorist incidents
-
to response operations.
be especially
incident
for
would call
be
completed at
interactions
at a scene.
responders will
involved,
The
an
important
in place
and
happening, preparedness
successfully
incidents
it
when
a proactive mindset and
areas
that
a
and
terrorist
fire
training
will
have
a
"one
size
emergency
fits
approach.
response
is
good
readiness and responder safety.
pre-planning
and
the
effort amongst all of the
even
if a terrorist
psychological
improve emergency response
occur.
departments
attack was
impact
and preparedness will not prevent a
incident does
all"
following through with education and training for
increase in response
While planning
certainly justify the
yet more
ensure productive communication and
With proper plans in place,
management when an
Training in the
aspect of any
safety would be increased
minimized.
materials
decontamination, hazard awareness
responders'
be
hazardous
the individual department level. Inter agency
will require a massive
and more.
for
part of the volunteer.
concerns.
serves and should not
most
lead to
need
Training should be determined to fit the needs of the community
Having plans
preparation.
Preparation
-
safety
least annually to
for which the department
3. Preparation
at
the
are not unlike
such as mass
be done
on
the
They require the responder to have
aware of individual
suppression should
should
and
will alleviate
of the
to occur,
incident
terrorist incident from
and consequence
The task is time consuming, but the
means when an effective response
carried out.
57
to a
could
mass
emergency is
end will
4. Growth
-
Fire
emergencies.
capabilities
that posed
commanders must
Extreme
events
to large
scale
including terrorist activity require greater command
must
be
extended
beyond
by a typical residential fire in a private dwelling or in a multi story building.
professionally
professionals
-
training provided to
Terrorism in the
If nothing else, the
possible on our own soil.
usually due to
accomplished
only through
command chiefs
a
by
required areas.
perspective
somewhere else.
be
command capabilities can
administered course of
in the
5. A changing
a
respond
than presently exist. Incident command capabilities
An increase in incident
is
be better trained to
past
events of 9/1
Responders
also need
has been something that happened
1 have
to
get
shown
rid
of the
that terrorism is in fact
complacency
which
is
dealing with so many day to day calls and realize that each and every call
potentially dangerous
situation and respond
of their surroundings.
58
by being more proactive and more
aware
Bibliography
ABC News. (2004). Types
of Chemical
Weapons: A Horrific Battlefield Legacy.
<http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/wtc_chemicalweapons.html>
Audino, Mark. Personal Interview. Friday April 8, 2005.
Burke, Robert. (2000). Counter-Terrorism for Emergency Responders.
Lewis
Publishers, New York, NY.
Comstock, James. Personal Interview. Monday April 4,
2005
DeRosa, Sam. Personal Interview. Monday April 4, 2005
"Devil's Brew in
Detail."
Center for Defense
and
International Security Studies.
(2003).
<
http://www.cdiss.org/bw.htm>
"Disaster Planning, Weapons
of Mass
Destruction
and
the Trauma
Center."
Southern Illinois Trauma Center. (2002).
<http ://www. siumed. edu/trauma/newsletters/sitcnl020 1
.pdf>
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (2003).
<http ://www.fema. gov/hazards/terrorism/>
"First
Responders."
Department
of Homeland
Security. (2005).
<http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0197.xml>
Godber, Austin. (2001). Terrorist use
of Chemical
Weapons.
<http://www.uberhip.eom/people/godber/research/cwpaper.html#intro>
Haines, William. Personal Interview. Friday April 8, 2005
"Homeland
Security Advisory
System."
Wikipedia. (2005).
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_Security_Advisory_System>
"Homeland
Security Presidential
Directive."
The White House. (2003).
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020312-5.html>
"Increases in
Military Spending and Security Assistance
since
9/1 1
World
Policy Institute. (2002).
<http://www.iansa.org/documents/2002/spendingdod91 1
.doc>
Merrick, Russel. Email Interview. Monday April 4, 2005
Monroe County Fire Wire. (20051
<http ://www.mcfw.com>
"NBC
Delta."
Arkansas Hospital. (2002).
<http://www.arkhospitals.Org/disaster/power_point_presentations/l.%20NBC%20
%20Introductions.ppt>
Development."
"Planning and
Monroe County. New York. (2005).
<http://www.growmonroe.com/orgl 66. asp?orgID=l 66&storytypeid=l &storyID=
1765&>
"Preparing Responders to Respond:
in the 21st
Century."
The Challenges to
Emergency Preparedness
The Heritage Foundation. (2003).
<http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/HL812.cfrn>
Scott,
Gary."
A Call for
Action."
National Fire
and
Rescue Magazine. (2005).
<http://www.nfrmag.com/current/feature3.asp>
"Significant Terrorist
Incidents."
United States Department
<http ://www. state, gov/r/pa/ho/pubs/fs/5902
II
.htm>
of
State. (2004).
Soldier
and
Biological Chemical Command
Preparedness
(SBCCOM)
(1999). Emergency
Training CD.
State Emergency Management Office (SEMO). (2003).
<http://www.nysemo.state.ny.us/TrainingHome.htm>
Strzyzynski, Mark.
Email Interview.
Sunday April 3,
2005
The National Volunteer Fire Summit. (1996).
<http://www.nvfc.org/firesurnmit.html>
Watson, Cynthia A. (2002). U.S. National Security. ABC-CLIO, Inc. Santa
Barbara, CA.
"Weapons
of Mass
Destruction
Handbook."
<http://www.foxnews.eom/story/0,
Fox News. (2003).
2933, 76887,
00.html>
Wimer, Daniel. Personal Interview. Thursday March 3 1 2005
,
Ill
.
Appendix A: Questionnaire
1) Describe
yourself, your
Who
are
on
Emergency Response for an Emergency or Disaster
Organization
and your community.
and what work experience
you,
do
you
have that relates to emergency
response?
Is
your experience at
How
confident
the career
or volunteer
level?
do
you
feel
about
do
you
feel
about your organization
responding to
an
emergency
situation?
Terrorist
situation?
How
confident
situation?
What do
Terrorist
you
feel
responding to
an
emergency
situation?
are
the biggest threats to the community? To emergency
responders?
Are
your assets sufficient
to
meet
What is the
population of the
How many
are
2) Describe
in
your
community
department
your assessment of
What is
the threats
your assessment of local
your
and on at
the response to
you
have?
department
serves?
any given time?
an emergency situation.
emergency
response and
training
at the present
time?
How
prepared
is
your
department to
respond
to
a major emergency?
the necessary plans,
personnel and equipment ready?
Has the
an
response
3) Describe
programs
anticipated
threats.
to
in
emergency
place
to help
changed since
911 (physical
Does it have
or mental)?
prepare your emergency responders
rv
for the
What types
of
training programs
or classes are available
that
you
know
of and are
they readily available?
Has training
Is
everyone
4) Thoughts
on
changed since
in
your
money)
should
versus
if so how?
response
be the
on
the
new
training?
prepare responders.
most
Should WMD training be
Career
and
department up to date
how to better
Which emergency
91 1
Volunteer
improvements (for example, education, equipment,
immediate
made
priorities?
mandatory in
concerns and
all
thoughts
departments?
(funding, training,
ability, etc.)
or
Appendix B:
Mark
Emergency Responder Interview Notes
Audino, Lieutenant
Henrietta Fire Department
Friday April 8, 2005
1400-1515
1) Describe
yourself, your
Who
are
you,
Organization
and your community.
and what work experience
do
you
have that relates to emergency
response?
Mark Audino, BS in Fire Science AS Fire Protection Technology,
Certificate NFA
o
Is
your experience at
o
How
12
yrs
the career
career, 5
confident
do
you
or volunteer
yrs
LT, 18
feel
about
level?
year volunteer
responding to
an
emergency
situation?
Terrorist
situation?
o
How
to both. Same skills required to respond to both and very
confident in skill level and ability to handle situations.
Confident,
confident
situation?
o
do
you
Terrorist
I feel very
feel
about your organization
responding to
an
emergency
situation?
confident
that my
organization can respond
successfully to
a
typical emergency situation. As far as a terrorist situation, I feel confident
that the department has the
the
situation such as a
fire,
skills
members would not recognize
was
What do
too late and
you
feel
are
at
that
necessary to tend to the actual result of
result, however a vast majority of
or medical
point
the incident for
their safety
the biggest threats to the
what
would
it was
until
possibly it
be in jeopardy.
community?
To emergency
responders?
o
Cornmunity
responders.
proper
What
o
are
-
Lack
of experience, commitment and education of
Responders
hands
on
-
Same thing, lack
of
experience,
training.
the demographics
of the
community
you serve?
39.5 sq miles, 40,000 residents, 250, 000
Thruway.
day time.
of the
Are
education and
your assets sufficient
to meet the threats
VI
you
have?
1 5,000
RIT, 20 miles
Sufficient to handle
o
daily
"bread
butter"
and
incidents (single
residential
medical, MVA's). Would require mutual aid if a large scale
were to occur.
fire,
2) Describe your
What is
assessment of
the
to
response
your assessment of local
event
an emergency situation.
emergency
response and
training at the present
time?
o
Mediocre
How prepared is
at
best due to
your
a
very poor
department to
training program in place.
respond to a major emergency?
Does it have
the necessary plans, personnel and equipment ready?
The
o
equipment and
departments,
Has the
o
response
Yes. We
things
to
an
emergency
called upon
changed since
if there is
safety in
civilians and
into
3) Describe
programs
anticipated
threats.
Has training
91 1 (physical
mind.
Now
or mental)?
you
look
at routine
to the event. More aware
an ulterior motive
On top of the terrorist nature of 91 1 another factor to take
is the fact that had the towers withstood the impact of
in
place
for the
responders.
to help
changed since
have been significantly less for
We can take from that fact to take
of casualties would
consideration all
911
the factors involved in
of
an
incident.
prepare your emergency responders
and
for the
if so how?
No, day to day training has remained the
available on
What types
is there, however like most
in the event of an incident
consideration
more
o
be
always responded with
and question
the planes, the amount
the
of the man power
mutual aid would
of surroundings.
into
majority
same.
There
are new classes
terrorism and WMD.
training programs
or classes are available
that
you
know
of and are
they readily available?
o
WMD
classes and terrorism classes are available at
the state and county
level.
Is
everyone
o
in
your
department up to date
on
the
new
Some training has been offered, however not
training?
all responders
them.
4) Thoughts
on
how to better
Should WMD
prepare responders.
training be made mandatory in all departments?
VII
have taken
o
Yes
at
least
shouldn't
at
it be
the
awareness
level.
Safety is at stake so therefore why
made mandatory.
Which emergency response improvements (for example, education, equipment,
money) should be the most immediate priorities?
o
Education,
personal awareness and safety.
Career versus Volunteer
o
concerns and
thoughts.
training versus level of experience which
mandatory training requirements.
Level
or
of
vm
goes
hand in hand
with
James
Comstock, Battalion Chief
Henrietta Fire Department
Monday April 4, 2005
1430-1515
1) Describe
yourself, your
Who
are
you,
Organization
and your community.
do
and what work experience
have that relates to emergency
you
response?
Battalion Chief Jim
o
and
Is
your experience at
29
years
in the fire
service as a
firefighter
the
level?
career or volunteer
8 Volunteer, 21 Career
o
How
Comstock,
EMT.
confident
situation?
do
Depends
o
feel
you
Terrorist
on
about your organization
the
an
emergency
event.
Very confident in routine daily situations
situation.
including major fires.
terrorist
responding to
situation?
Plans
Not
are
confident
in responding to
in place for
Post Office Bio-detection
specific
system and
terrorist
an unexpected
events such as
therefore there is
the
more confidence
responding.
What do
you
feel
are
the biggest threats to the community? To emergency
responders?
RIT, due to
o
the
number of
foreign
students
(beliefs, traditions)
as well as
the nature of some of the contents of the laboratories. Also another soft
target is the
large
mall and
the Post Office.
volumes of traffic at given
Thruway and other highways have
times
and
tankers
traveling
at
higher
rate
of speed.
What
o
Are
are
the demographics
Population
of 49,000
firefighters
on staff and
your assets sufficient
o
of the
Equipment
wise
personnel on at
responding to
2) Describe your
What is
to
you serve?
including RIT campus.
There
are
25
approximately 80 volunteers, 50
meet
the threats
you
given
time and
career
active.
have?
yes, personnel wise there is
any
an
community
a problem.
Only six
career
undetermined amount of volunteers
incident.
assessment of
the response to
your assessment of local
an emergency situation.
emergency
time?
IX
response and
training
at
the
present
Response is very good especially at the county level with the Hazmat
team. The training is growing from not ever hearing the mention of
o
terrorism
or
WMD in
Including
How
prepared
is
WMD,
your
to
now where
firefighting
department to
it is starting to become the
standard.
essential class.
respond
to
a major emergency?
Does it have
the necessary plans, personnel and equipment ready?
Tough to
Personal
is that to
a regular incident the
department is very prepared. Planning needs to improve. Equipment wise
the department is very prepared to respond to an emergency.
o
Has the
answer.
response
to
Initially yes
o
an
emergency
somewhat, but
opinion
changed since
911 (physical
or mental)?
after, the complacency has
since about a year
returned.
3) Describe
programs
anticipated
threats.
Has training
in
changed since
Yes it has
o
changed.
different kinds
What types
to help
place
of
of
911
prepare your emergency responders
and
WMD
training programs
if so how?
was not
training in
for the
dealt
before 911,
with
now
there
are all
departments.
response
or classes are available
that
you
know
of and are
they readily available?
Classes
o
Is
everyone
your
the county level.
department up to date
on
the
new
training?
No, especially on the volunteer side
o
4) Thoughts
in
available at
on
how to better
prepare responders.
Should WMD training be
o
Yes.
made
mandatory in
They should require
all
departments?
firefighters to have
a
determined
amount of
training.
Which emergency response improvements (for example, education, equipment,
money) should be the most immediate priorities?
o
More money set aside for education programs. Equipment is always being
updated (SCBA). SAFER grant putting more career firefighters on staff.
Federal spending
more at
going to primarily be to
Career
or
versus
Volunteer
the local level since that's where the response is
an
incident.
concerns and
X
thoughts.
Volunteers have the
career staff has
career
firefighters tend to have
their job
need
option of responding
they
to any
given call while
the
to respond to everything. The biggest difference is that
more experience
will attend a much
to be more
larger
aware of the possible
responding to.
XI
because
number of calls
severity
of an
by the nature of
for
service.
incident they
Both
are
Russell Merrick
Rochester
City Fire Department
Monday April 4, 2005
1310-1415
1) Describe
Organization
yourself, your
Who
are
you,
and your community.
and what work experience
do
have that
you
relates
to emergency
response?
I
o
Is
Captain Russel Merrick in the Rochester Fire Department
am
your experience at
I have
o
How
over
confident
do
the
30
career or volunteer
years of experience
you
feel
level?
(12
volunteer
responding to
about
an
& 19 career)
emergency
situation?
Terrorist
situation?
I feel
o
confident
that we
terrorist attacks. With
is the
which
would
a
large
be
able
handle any situation,
any department but the initial
case with
including
scale event we would need outside assistance
response we could
handle.
What do
you
feel
are
the biggest threats to the community? To emergency
responders?
Hazardous Materials
o
a
big
threat to the
cause a
What
concern
over
your assets sufficient
I don't think
o
meet all
handle
2) Describe your
What is
to
Preplanned
events such as a
systems pose
terrorist
event
responders.
the demographics of the community you serve?
220,000, just
o
Are
are
large
being transported over the road and rail
community.
the
500
to
members
meet
anyone can
in the department.
the threats
you
have?
say they have the right amount of supplies to
incident, however we are in a good position to
needs of and
most all
incidents.
assessment of
the
response
your assessment of local
to
an emergency situation.
emergency
response and
training at the present
time?
o
How
Both the city
prepared
is
and
your
county
are
department to
very
aggressive
respond
to
the necessary plans, personnel and equipment
XII
in training
and preparedness.
a major emergency?
ready?
Does it have
Yes
o
As
-
stated
above,
we are
aggressive with our
very
training
and
preparedness.
Has the
response
I'm
o
not
an
sure;
3) Describe
programs
anticipated
threats.
Has training
to
in
emergency
everyone
handles things
to help
place
changed since
changed since
911
a
911 (physical
little differently.
prepare your emergency responders
and
challenging
What types
of
for the
if so how?
Not really, this country has been gearing up for
o
or mental)?
years
to take on new and
event.
training programs or classes
are available
that
you
know
of and are
they readily available?
Several Weapons
o
Destruction (WMD) training programs are
Command, Haz-Mat and all the basic firefighter
Actually, today you can find a lot of specialty training courses on
available,
classes.
just
Is
everyone
in
any topic.
your
department up to date
on
the
new
training?
Yes
o
4) Thoughts
about
of Mass
incident
on
how to better
prepare responders.
Should WMD training be
o
made
mandatory in
all
departments?
Absolutely
Which emergency response improvements (for example, education, equipment,
money) should be the most immediate priorities?
o
While money is
funding we
always
the
driving factor for any agency.
would not be able to put
on
the
training drills,
Without the
purchase
equipment and operate efficiently.
Career
o
versus
Volunteer
There
are pros and cons
the firefighter's
concerns and
to both sides of this issue. It all comes down to
skills and
departments that
thoughts.
knowledge. I have
would put a career
XIII
seen some volunteer
department to
shame.
fire
or
Mark
Strzyzynski, Captain
Rochester Fire Department, Quint/Midi 6
Sunday April 3, 2005
1600-1715
1) Describe
yourself, your
Who
are
Organization
you, and what
and your community.
do
work experience
you
have that relates to emergency
response?
My name is Mark Strzyzynski.
o
with a
I am a Fire Captain / EMT- Instructor
department. 20 years of experience working in
fire companies within the cities most drug infested areas.
career
city
extremely busy
Is
your experience at
o
How
career or volunteer
level?
Career level
confident
situation?
o
the
do
I feel
far
as
FEMA level
you
about your organization
feel
responding to
an
emergency
situation?
confident we can
however
What do
feel
you
Terrorist
keep
our rescuers safe
as mitigation and
recovery
during the initial response
we will need a
lot
of state or
assistance.
are
the biggest threats to the
community?
To emergency
responders?
o
Chemicals
a quick
What
o
are
stored
back up
response provided
the demographics
200,000
day
people
staff of
I don't believe
why there is
2) Describe
a
a
top
threat. Lack
of
300,000
you serve?
citizens and employees
24/7
and officers on
duty
the threats
have?
with a
during the
total
500.
to
meet
local jurisdiction
you
will ever
have
That is
sufficient assets.
National Response Plan (NRP).
your assessment of
What is
are a
by the county departments.
community
living in city,
your assets sufficient
o
of the
time. 100 Firefighters
department
Are
& transported within city limits
the
response
your assessment of local
to
an emergency situation.
emergency response
and
training
at
the
present
time?
o
Our
system
is OK we
Response System
EOC has
always
started
early with the Metropolitan Medical
(MMRS) which mandated training and planning.
been up to date
xrv
and
proactive,
you can attribute
Our
this to
Monroe County's proximity to a nuclear power plant and
plans from that can be
easily changed to all hazard plans.
How
prepared
is
your
the necessary plans,
We
o
department to
are repaired on paper
MCI
of over
personnel
a major emergency?
the
required
Does it have
personnel and equipment ready?
(ERP) and equipment for fire / haz-mat / tech.
However
rescue are good.
an
to
respond
all
50
we
patients.
lack basic EMS MCI
(Body bags,
the city plans for the most
until state and
departments
federal
part of
as
far
to handle
as
being on our own for a while
Due to the large quantity
resources arrive.
the city
outside
equipment
back boards
of small
"semi"
career
we can't count on volunteer or
departments.
Has the
response to an
For
o
emergency changed
few months, however we
9/11.
a
since
911 (physical
could not maintain
the
or mental)?
vigilance associated
with post
3) Describe
programs
anticipated
threats.
Has training
o
place
help
to
changed since
911
prepare your emergency responders
and
for the
if so how?
No
What types
of
they readily
o
in
training programs
In emergency
to
or classes are available
that
you
know
of and are
available?
personal
services
safety
available, in my
and
training is
the
fitness. There
the best
opinion
most
important
part of our job next
variety of classes
the National Fire Academy/
are a wide
are at
Emergency Training Center in Emmetsburg, MD. The tuition and
paid by the government with the exception of food. Most classes
National
housing
are
Is
2
everyone
o
4) Thoughts
Yes
on
weeks
in
your
long and
outstanding both in instructors
department up to date
all of our members
how to better
have
on
the
received
and content.
new training?
up to date training.
prepare responders.
Should WMD training be
o
are
made
mandatory in
all
departments?
Yes
Which emergency
money)
should
response
be the
most
improvements (for example, education, equipment,
immediate priorities?
XV
or
o
We
need
to train to
meet
the
new
NIMS
standards
to
allow
any major
incident to function properly and safely. This also allows for a seamless
transition when the NRP is implemented. Agencies have to stop being
stand alone and work with all others.
Career versus Volunteer
o
concerns and
thoughts.
No Comment! !
XVI
Daniel
Wimer, Life Member and Past Captain
Egypt Volunteer Fire Department
Thursday March 31, 2005
1610-1655
1) Describe
Who
yourself, your
are
Organization
and your community.
and what work experience
you,
do
you
have that relates to emergency
response?
o
Dan Weimer 30
current
also a
Is
life
safety
How
All
o
do you feel
Quite
o
1
in both
confident
.
do
you
Terrorist
for the department.
the
level?
volunteer
level.
responding to an emergency
training in the area?
about
of
situation?
Terrorist
terrorist
areas.
feel
91 1
a
about your organization
responding to
an
emergency
situation?
capable of
since
at
Department,
rank of captain was
in responding to a regular emergency, on a scale of 1-10, a
incident I personally have a confidence level of
I have had WMD and terrorism training in the capacity of taking
as a
maybe
90%
officer
Highest
confident
classes
situation?
is
the Egypt Volunteer Fire
and social officer.
career or volunteer
What is your level
9.5. As far
How
the
of my experience
confident
situation?
Past line
training
and
your experience at
o
yrs experience with
member.
lot
handling
anything,
of new volunteers
through experience.
10%,
a
9
on a scale of
have joined
or again a
1
1-10. That is because
and you gain
on a scale of
1-10
knowledge
confidence
in
responding to a terrorist incident for the overall organization.
What do
you
feel
are
the biggest threats to the
community?
To emergency
responders?
o
2
terrorist attack point due to their availability
numbers at different times. The lack of training on certain topics
malls pose
and mass
poses a
the possibility
threat to
as a
responders as well as
the response time and numbers to an
incident.
What
o
are
the demographics
of the
community
you serve?
a mix of level flat ground houses malls markets. South side,
lane roads, far away houses from the road. 2 malls. 10,000 in the
fire district. 63 members in the department. 25 active. Over the past 5 yrs,
North
hills
side
had
single
mainly
since
911,
active
membership has
XVII
almost
doubled in the department.
Are
your assets sufficient
o
to
the threats
meet
you
have?
Department has A rating according to insurance institute to responding to
is the highest. Physical assets are sufficient to meet
normal emergencies which
the needs, personnel assets can be an
2) Describe your
What is
assessment of
the
response
your assessment of local
issue
to
depending on the time of day.
an emergency situation.
emergency response
and
training
at the present
time?
Overall in Monroe
o
Battalion,
How
prepared
is
Egypt is
which
to availability
County emergency response is the best in NYS.
your
department to
the necessary plans, personnel
Very well prepared to
o
dependent. 6am-6pm
Has the
response
better then
are more
prior
one of best
training for
respond
to
in the
county.
This is due
responders
a major emergency?
Does it have
and equipment ready?
respond
to
a normal emergency.
Time
of
day
causes a concern.
since
911 (physical
or mental)?
in tune to responding to emergencies and is much
This is due to more enthusiasm and more fear
to 91 1
.
911.
since
3) Describe
programs
anticipated
threats.
What types
of, is
to an emergency changed
Responders
o
a part
of education and
3rd
of
in
place
to help
training programs
prepare your emergency responders
or classes are available
that
you
know
for the
of and are
they readily available?
o
Classes
Has training
o
are available on a
changed since
Basic
everyone
o
in
your
they
no
mandatory
are offered
if so how?
training
department up to date
on
on
Occasional
mention of
the topics.
the
new
training?
Not up to date. Too many mandatory training. One terrorism drill every
other year. Terrorist training takes the back burner to other training.
Difficult to
4) Thoughts
and
when
Firefighting training hasn't really changed.
terrorism, but
Is
911
voluntary basis
on
how to better
Which emergency
money)
ask volunteers
should
with
less time.
prepare responders.
response
be the
to do more
most
improvements (for example, education, equipment,
immediate priorities?
XVIII
or
o
FF
retention program or compensation program
on
board.
added
24
o
members
week
basic FF
class could
be
extended and
terrorism
made
mandatory in
all
departments?
mandatory can you have? Already a lot of mandations for
training. Incorporate terrorist training concepts in HAZMAT training since
both have similar concepts and concerns to responders and teach the
How
much
mindset of
Career
trained
to
Should WMD training be
o
keep
Funding seems hardest to get. Training and awareness should be
made a priority.
be
to
versus
recognizing issues before getting
Volunteer
concerns and
thoughts,
Volunteers may not take a voluntary
an incident and training concerns.
XIX
or
on
the
scene.
any other thoughts
class on
terrorism. Response time to
William Haines, Chief
Bushnell's Basin Volunteer Fire Department
Friday April 8, 2005
1000-1110
1) Describe
yourself, your
Who
are
Organization
and your community.
and what work experience
you,
do
you
have that relates to emergency
response?
Current District Chief Bill Haines with over 30 years of experience in the
fire service with Bushnell's Basin. My work experience as being a
o
teacher
being
and
at
working
an
General Motors has had
responder.
emergency
and practiced risk management
a profound effect on
I have developed
and
been
people
skills, learned
in making field
schooled
decisions.
Is
the
your experience at
o
How
All my
career or volunteer
experience
confident
do
you
is
feel
the
at
about
volunteer
level?
level.
responding to
an
emergency
situation?
Terrorist
situation?
o
I
am expected
me
hand is
Being
it
do
you
face. I
of our
single
that for
feel
terrorist situations.
be the biggest
can
would attempt
about your organization
confidence
will
calls,
best
one reason or
that
know
reason
to orchestrate the
to
show calmness and
naive ness
in the
terrorist. That
you
feel
responding to
an
emergency
I
another, are
are
ranks
to do and will do the right
am needed at emergencies
response
responding to
our organization when
what
safely
to terrorist situations, I am very
What do
for what it is
situation?
I have every
The
situation
for the individuals I lead. With any luck, the response for the
be the same whether it was an accident or terrorism.
Terrorist
95%
the
responder would
confident
situation?
responders will recognize all
recognize
a command officer can
leadership
first
to
able
hurdle
it
was rarely ever dangerous. Terrorism on the other
I
something have had first hand experience with and I am not
should and
not
that emergency
certain
o
common
everyday
emergency and I think I do. Even at some of the ordinary events that I
have responded to, I have outwardly exhibited a confident air when I
wasn't absolutely sure of what I was doing would work. My experience
told
How
to demonstrate confidence at the
out of the
ordinary
and efficiently.
thing
is the 5%
about
as well.
of the calls
and need
leadership
However, when it comes
there is a
district from a
concerned about our response
that nothing
will ever occur
in
our
alarms me.
the biggest threats to the
responders?
XX
community?
To emergency
I think the biggest
o
accident
most realistic
involving
a
threat to
hazardous material.
tendency to happen when least
community such as ours is the
These types of events have a
a
expected and most vulnerable.
responders, the biggest threat is fitness to do the job. Year
health
What is the
firefighters
population of the
9- 1 0,000 at
o
Are
culls more
any
o
By and large,
yes.
situation.
time.
to meet the threats
We
you
have?
the most
can manage
likely scenarios. No
department can manage the worst tiling that can happen
we have a mutual aide system throughout the area.
2) Describe
your assessment of
What is
year, the
serve?
community you
given
your assets sufficient
then any other
For the
after
the response to
your assessment of local
and
that
single
is why
an emergency situation.
emergency
response and
training
the
at
present
time?
o
Local
lot
response
is very good. Short
the volunteers in
of
of experience,
talented. For Monroe
County,
What has to be
being career firefighters who
our area are
the potential
very
get a
professional and
training for fire departments is
is that what is being offered doesn't
necessarily reflect on the training level of the individual departments. The
extent, to which a department trains, is determined by the department
itself. We still have departments that only train once a month, while a
very
good.
department
Also,
We
such as
to the
are
point
realized
ours, trains 47 out of the possible 52 Monday's a
is how
blessed with
good
some
the trainers
very
effective
are within
year.
the department itself.
trainers, but that isn't the
case
for
every department.
How prepared is
your
the necessary plans,
o
Our
respond
of
Does it have
membership over a running five years is about 74. On
from as few as five to as many as 45 depending
of the call. We are prepared to respond to
nature
and the
we range
day
beyond the
surround
it
"natural"
and request assistance.
department would be
place
fire
a
two
response
to
test
of the
emergency
available.
however,
the
The
on
the
event were
do
would
to
be to
the specialized
challenge
for
our
We do have
plans
the plans are very generic
same.
changed since
XXI
we could
command structure.
emergencies are ever
an
incidents. If the
Fortunately for us,
is readily
for large-scale emergencies;
since no
related
emergency, the best that
assistance we might need
Has the
major emergency?
personnel and equipment ready?
weather related/natural and most
go
to a
average
responses,
time
department to
911 (physical
or mental)?
in
The
change since 911 has not been the response, but the preparation. We
have been receiving training to help us recognize the "new
o
emergencie
from the state
'levels of
federal
and
alert'
mentality has
3) Describe
programs
anticipated
threats.
Has training
o
in
But the
can prepare ourselves.
actual response
likely changed.
not
place
We have been inundated with the
government.
that we
so
to help
911
changed since
and
if so how?
The training has swung from the
training
standard
to terrorist
suppression to responses
for the
prepare your emergency responders
activities and
effort of
fire
individual safety,
or
save yourself.
What types
of
they readily
o
The
training programs or classes
training has
I term the
as
come
practical
knowledge
and
are available
that
you
know
of and are
available?
to
us at
two levels. The first type
kind. This is the type that
kinds
or awareness of the
Anthrax Awareness. The
the introduction
other
of
training is what
gives us a practical
of threats.
Included
of NIMS and re-emphasis
be WMD
would
type has been the command
effort such
in Incident Command. All
of
these are readily available.
Is
everyone
o
in
your
department up to date
No. We have
mandatory.
awareness
not made
the new
on
the
new
training?
training classes
attributable
However the overwhelming majorities
level. Our department's
is that
are
we
trained at least to
an
first have to
properly react and because
is very technical in nature, our best resource is the
recognize the situation exists
most of the response
attitude
to 91 1
before
we can
teams in the county that have trained.
4) Thoughts
on
how to better
prepare responders.
Should WMD training be
o
made
mandatory in
all
departments?
be mandatory for all departments. Based on
their locations, departments should have various degrees of skills and/or
resources. One thing is for sure; we don't need the same training that a fire
Some type
of exposure should
department in Washington DC
for the
region and should not
needs.
have
a
The training
"one
size
fits
should
target the
needs
all"
approach.
Which emergency response improvements (for example, education, equipment,
money)
o
should
The
be the
most
most
immediate priorities?
immediate is
important,
cannot
money.
be had
Education
without
xxn
and
equipment, though
the dollars to fund them. The
or
improvement necessary for the future is the
vulnerable and
that
prepared responses
to
realization
emergencies
that the US is
is
a
way
of
limiting
the impact.
Career
o
versus
One
Volunteer
concerns and
thoughts.
has to be corrected and that is that somehow, it is believed
that career departments are better then volunteers and that combination
concept
departments have it
because the
all.
The
came about
high that the community had to
duty. By their nature, career departments (with notable
exceptions/big cities),
are staffed to manage
still require assistance when
typically from
some
departments
number of alarms got so
paid staff on
staffed so
advent of career
that
the
'big
volunteer companies
they
cases, the
funding
run of the mill calls and
one'
that
comes along.
surround
can get enough people
favors the
the
career
only
put a
for the
That
assistance
is
them. Volunteers are
once
departments,
in
a while alarm.
while
In
in others, the
community favors the volunteer. Training is what you
of it. Responsible departments train incessantly, regardless of their
affluence of the
make
staffing type. The biggest difference is that career firefighters tend to have
edge in experience, which is both a good and bad thing. The
the
breeds complacency, which is deadly. Combination
departments are probably the worst idea ever developed. On paper, they
sound reasonable. The reality is that the politics that is generated between
experience
the two
and on
components
is
often so negative
that the
the fire grounds is not conducive to
XXIII
climate
having
in the fire
station
a good organization.
Sam DeRosa,
Deputy Coordinator Special Operations
County Fire Bureau
Monday April 4, 2005
Monroe
1330-1430
1) Describe yourself,
Who
are
your
you,
Organization
and your community.
and what work experience
do
you
have that
relates
to emergency
response?
I
Deputy Coordinator Sam DeRosa, Firefighter in Monroe County for
23 in the Gates Fire Department as Chief, Captain and Safety
Officer. Worked full time for RG&E as the Emergency Manager for 12
years. Instructor for the County Fire Bureau for 18 years.
o
am
26
Is
years.
your experience at
Both
o
How
the
career or volunteer
level?
career and volunteer experience at
confident
do
you
feel
responding to
about
the town
an
and
county levels.
emergency
Terrorist
situation?
situation?
Never truly feel 100% confident, I feel I can make a decision, for the good
or bad, but each situation is different and requires different things. Since I
o
have
not
had to
confidence.
What do
you
feel
respond
to a terrorist incident it is hard to
Terrorism really is
are
a culture shock
to the
assess
my
response community.
the biggest threats to the community? To emergency
responders?
The
o
need
for the
towns that
are
use of resources at
assisting
prior
What
to arriving
Yes,
County has
to a
scenarios.
community
you serve?
approximately 800,000
meet
The county has
the threats
you
people.
have?
fully stocked and ready to
SOP'S for many different
enough inoculations for each person in
available
need ever arises.
your assessment of
What is
to
of the
wide scale situation as well as
the county if the
2) Describe
to be the
community.
the county has three WMD trailers
respond
seem
or
on scene.
your assets sufficient
o
to the
the demographics
Monroe
o
Are
are
times
town,
The biggest threat to emergency
tends to be over-reactive responses, or the lack of pre planning
prevalent concerns
responders
the same time as in the same
others as well as response
the
response
your assessment of local
to
an emergency situation.
emergency response
time?
xxrv
and
training
at
the present
There
o
needs
thinking
How
prepared
to be
is
more
proactivity in
response
then reactivity. More
less doing.
and
your
department to
respond
to
a major emergency?
Does it have
the necessary plans, personnel and equipment ready?
The county is very ready and prepared for a major emergency. There are
plans in place as well as the equipment, and personnel
ready to respond to
o
any
Has the
given situation.
response
Life
o
as a
to
an
human in
mentality has
of
before,
3) Describe
programs
anticipated
threats.
Has training
o
emergency
in
general and
changed and
we now
place
have to
to
changed since
Yes training has
help
911
things
as
roll over
the
on
is
we never would
emergency
and
changed.
emergency
What types
they readily
o
of
for the
if so how?
The days
of a
firefighter operating on the
of a Hazmat responder
The days
it
used
Training for a tanker
to be a maximum. That type of
included in the training for every aspect
training programs
in
and
terrorism
your
or classes are available
of
that you know of and are
classes available.
department up to date
on
the
new
training?
have to be up to date in order to remain part of the
county response team. As far as the town level, no each responder is not
up to the minimum standard of where they should be. We have a long,
The county
on
responders
go.
how to better
prepare responders.
Should WMD training be
o
have imagined thinking
response.
long way to
4) Thoughts
The
County fire instructors are now going to the different agencies around the
county and providing training to bring responders at least to the awareness
level, mainly at the battalion level. There are a variety of WMD, Hazmat,
everyone
o
changed.
available?
NEVIS,
Is
has
responders.
premise of plug and screw are over.
now
or mental)?
prepare your emergency responders
now a minimum when
methodology is
as a responder
certainly
premise of squirt and screw are over.
operating
911 (physical
changed since
made
mandatory in
all
departments?
Absolutely, Hazmat training used to be the minimum training in
departments. Nowadays WMD training
XXV
should
be the new
minimum.
Which emergency response improvements (for example, education, equipment,
money) should be the most immediate priorities?
o
Education
+
Training
and
=
training
This is
a
be the
most
immediate
priority.
Education
Awareness
Career versus Volunteer
o
should
concerns and
thoughts.
huge issue. Career departments
and volunteer
departments
going to have to work together at some point. Training availability
be equal to every department as well as overall awareness of the
responders
or
in the department.
XXVI
are
should