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Community Safety/Security eNewsletter * September 2009

September 2009 Update

Welcome to the September 2009 Issue

Probably the most important thing this month is that we're not going to be taking credit card orders much longer, so if you want to pick up one of our multi-packs, now would be the time to do it. We will let you know where to get individual books and will update the website by the beginning of November. Having said that - do you like the new look? Still trying to find the right combination of community concerns and business/regulatory information to make this useful for you. Feedback is always requested. One thing not in the newsletter this month - for those of you worried that the Chemical facility security program was expiring tonight, the Continuing Resolution will continue to authorized it.

As mentioned last month, you can find me on twitter here and on facebook here.

Hope that you have a great month! Stay safe!

-Stephen

From the Editor's Desk

Stephen is taking care of the editing until we can find a new editor. If any of you are interested, please contact him at: stephen.melvin@oursafetowns.com.

Guest Article

Ten Steps to a Great Little Exercise

If you want to have a successful exercise, and we all do, then it has to be designed, hence the FEMA phrase: “exercise design” course. However, I like the phrase “exercise development” better, for design denotes engineering and engineers are not the most people-friendly folks and exercises are all about people. Exercise development, on the other hand, alludes to a natural growth process and to something we call progress, and those are the keys to having a great little exercise. Great big exercises should be built from and and on the foundation of our great little exercises. It ain’t rocket science, but it is logical. So here are the ten steps that I have found to be the most efficient and effective keys to successful and fun exercises.

Never bring in a canned exercise, one of those designed by some consultant or other outside entity. Remember, it’s not about “design” but about “development.” However, after your team has done a series of self-developed, home-grown exercises, they might want to be “tested” by outsiders with their “canned exercises,” but that’s a much later step in the whole, long exercise process and should never, ever be a first, second, or third step in the process.
Explain these few terms, early on, to all potential players: drill, tabletop exercise, functional exercise, and field/full-scale exercise. Everyone cam come up with on-line official definitions for these, but I have found confusion reigns because of non-technical use of these similarly-sounding terms. I like to simplify things and say, “for our purposes,” we will use these words with these definitions.

Drill: An in-house, agency only, practice of specific skills. These are practice sessions for agency employees performing day-to-day duties. Remember, there’s no use exercising if agency employees can’t perform their jobs well.

Tabletop Exercise: Around a real table, maybe with a few props, gather all involved response agency reps to do a walk through of how the exercise should work out. Design flaws, timing sequences, enhancements, etc., should all become evident to these skilled responders.

Functional Exercise: We will work on one ‘function,” say communication. We might test different radio systems to see if they are compatible. We might check on the digital/analog interface problems. We might see if data is flowing horizontally between agencies, vertically inter-agency, and between levels of government. It is possible to test several critical functions simultaneously.

Field or Full-Scale Exercise: Far down the line, much later than one usually finds them, should be our local, full-scale, field exercises. Far, far too often we see failed exercises (this never should happen!) because our—or some—simple ten-step process wasn’t used and people get discouraged; time, energy and money were wasted; and no one comes to play next time because some previous exercise experience was so, so bad.

This is not a “test.” Get rid of the old para-military words and concepts that came from the old “civil defense” era when the Department of Defense was the lead “exercise” agency. Tests only work in agencies with chains of command, uniforms, badges, perhaps weapons, and where punishment is a management tool. We who love developing exercises to improve performance in use a different vocabulary.

Practice: Not a test, but an opportunity to practice those skills needed to succeed during emergency incidents in a controlled, well-developed environment.

Coaches or mentors: Not evaluators (grade-givers), but skilled professionals who are there to interact, coach and help us get better at what we do. We should have our best people be coaches, for they need the “practice” the least.

Learning: Not grades from disinterested evaluators, but help, insights and training opportunities facilitated by well-meaning, well-skilled supervisor types.

Fun: Not funny, not giggly fun, just good, clean fun. A feeling of a job well done. Excellence. Personal growth. Pride.

Get the right players on the team. Hey, this is your town, your hospital, your fire department, your community. You know who the right players are. Official policy may say it has to be position holders, suits, or elected officials. Common sense and experience says it’s STP, the “same ten people.” Agencies have to be represented by people who can get the best participation and response from their agencies. And all agencies that will be involved as “lead” agencies in a real incident absolutely will have to come to the table. This means getting the right players takes good time management skills, face-to-face meetings, and some politicking. You need to do what it takes to get as close as you can get to an All Star Team.
Use a local problem that really, truly needs solving. This is the reason canned exercises hardly ever work, for they are designed around someone else’s, usually a consultant’s, favorite problem. Your development team, with reps of the key lead response agencies and organizations (be it school, co-op, railroad, hospital, etc.), has to find a real, local, serious problem that needs their attention. That way it’s an easy sell. Remember, good exercises need to be aggressively marketed to agency personnel and the public.
Give everyone some real work to do. A key to good management is the realization that everyone comes to work to “work.” Boredom may kill more exercises than anything else. You have to keep good agency folks busy: fire, law, EMS, public works and public health personnel don’t have time to waste. Neither do personnel from volunteer organizations, private industry, schools, etc. If a particular functional group will have no role to play, either don’t bring them to the table, or find some active and necessary “support role” for them to perform. But never, ever, have good hard working responders just sitting around!
Have a short and sweet debrief, that day or soon thereafter. Have the lead agency go first, then next most involved agency or organization. What went well, what needs improvement? I have found they’ll be harder on themselves than any IC would have been. Remember, it’s about developing a great team to solve real problems, not about fault finding, grades, punishment, etc.
Have a BBQ! Seriously, I learned this from a pipeline company that wanted to make sure that all the players left feeling that a good time was had by all. And they did it all across the state. They told me it was done through their community relations department and was the best use of money their safety people could think of. Another hour of stress free team development was added to every exercise. I have seen pizza parties work well too. And I have seen homemade cookies do wonders at a debrief. Feed them and they will come—and they will stay!
Communicate well, often, and over many media. Your players, and their people, are all busy folks. After all, you don’t want slackers, right? So tell them what’s going on, ask them if they want e-mail alerts, text messages, interoffice mail, real mail, phone calls, etc. Or all of the above! Have someone dedicated to exercise-related communications, probably an incident commo type or an office support person who cares. This is a key function and you need a reliable, self-directed person to drive this basic exercise operation.
Let people know what’s going on. By people I mean other agencies, people at the state, the feds, the public. Use your ICS PIO types, after all, they should care, they should have the requisite skills, and they will be the ones doing the public relations work and the public information dissemination during the exercise. Public support for response activities is critical for long term success and will be especially effective if a full-scale field exercise is imminent.

Naturally there are more things you can do, but if you just don’t forget any of these ten simple steps you will be far more successful than if you just wing it or use an exercise design system that does not fit your hometown, local needs.

In the News

NIMS and Use of Plain Language

The use of plain language in emergency response is a matter of public safety, especially the safety of first responders and those affected by the incident. It is critical that all local responders, as well as those coming into the impacted area from other jurisdictions and other states as well as the federal government, know and utilize commonly established operational structures, terminology, policies and procedures. This is what NIMS and the Incident Command System (ICS) are all about—achieving interoperability across agencies, jurisdictions and disciplines.

NPS Center for Homeland Defense and Security Announces Third Annual Essay Competition

The Center for Homeland Defense and Security (www.chds.us) is seeking entries for its Third Annual Essay Competition. The competition carries a $1,500 prize for the winning entry and the writer will be invited to the Center’s campus for its annual Forum. This competition strives to stimulate original thought and analysis on issues in Homeland Security and Homeland Defense. The competition is open to anyone with an interest in homeland security issues.

POLICE INVESTIGATE DEATH OF WOMAN FOUND BURNED IN PARKING LOT

IRVINE, CA (September 8, 2009): Irvine Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the victim who was found deceased and burned in the parking lot of a closed business early Saturday morning, September 5, 2009. The victim is described as an African American woman in her early 20's, approximately 6' tall and 150 pounds.

Secretary Napolitano Announces H1N1 Preparedness Guide for Small Businesses

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has joined Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen Mills and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Influenza Division Deputy Director Daniel Jernigan to announce a preparedness guide to assist small businesses in planning for the H1N1 flu.

Outbreaks of H1N1 flu are occurring now across the country and will likely coincide with the return of seasonal flu this fall and winter. The preparedness guide offers small business employers tools and information to help them plan for and respond flexibly to varying levels of severity of an H1N1 outbreak-which may lead to increased absenteeism, and, if the outbreak becomes more severe, may include restricted service capabilities and supply chain disruptions. Additional preparations may be necessary if a more serious outbreak evolves during the fall and winter.

Employers are encouraged to put strategies in place now to protect their employees and their businesses in advance of the fall flu season. Included in the preparedness guide are tips on how to write a continuity of operations plan, steps for keeping employees healthy, frequently asked questions about the 2009 H1N1 flu and a list of additional resources that employers can access online.

For more information and to view the preparedness guide, visit www.flu.gov

Overheated catalytic converter caused fire

September 20, City News Service - (California) Authorities: Overheated catalytic converter caused fire east of Temecula. An overheated catalytic converter was blamed today for a 300-acre wildfire that is expected to be fully contained, but not before burning a dozen structures and prompting evacuations east of Temecula, a Cal Fire captain said. The Vail Fire began around 3 p.m. Saturday near state Route 79 and Sage Road, in the brush-covered hills between Temecula and Aguanga. Investigators believe an overheated catalytic converter from an unknown vehicle started the blaze because pieces of the converter were discovered where the fire started, said a Cal Fire-Riverside County Captain. The fire destroyed six residential buildings, two travel trailers, one motorhome, three outbuildings, eight vehicles, and two boats, the captain said. Authorities had clamped down on access to the burned and unburned areas east of Vail Lake. State Route 79 was closed on the west at Vail Lake Road and on the east at Juni Hills Road, and "no one gets by except emergency vehicles," a CHP dispatcher said. Cal Fire and Riverside County used an early warning system to advise 500 residents of evacuations during the fires, the captain said. Some residences along Route 79 between Anza Road and Sage Road were evacuated, affecting 50 to 100 people, but about 200 campers and employees at a resort at Vail Lake Village & RV Resort were told to stay put. Source: http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-09-20/news/authorities-overheated-catalytic-converter-caused-fire-east-of-temecula

Recent and Upcoming Events

Recent Events

2 Sep: Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate Unveil New Ads to Encourage Emergency Preparedness

Debut of Public Service Advertisements Helps Launch National Preparedness Month

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today joined with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate and the Ad Council to launch a new series of Ready Campaign public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage all Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies, kicking off September's National Preparedness Month.

"Preparedness is a shared responsibility that begins with the American people," said Secretary Napolitano. "These public service advertisements highlight the simple steps everyone can take to prepare for disasters, enhancing the safety and security of our country."

"Emergency response is a team effort, and the most important member of that team is the public," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "The truth is, the more the public does now to prepare, the better we can respond in the future. That's why we are launching PSAs, encouraging Americans to visit Ready.gov and learn how they can do their part to prepare." Read more at: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=49437

20 Sep: Overheated Catalytic Converter Caused Fire

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-09-20/news/authorities-overheated-catalytic-converter-caused-fire-east-of-temecula

Upcoming Events

19-23 Oct 2009: 26th Annual Virginia Hazardous Materials Conference and Expo
If you have not registered for the 2009 Virginia Hazardous Materials Conference and Expo, the early registration rates expire on Thursday, October 1st. If you are dealing with budget and travel restrictions, we are offering single day registrations as an alternative. Several pre-conference courses still have available seats but those are filling up as well.

We're very happy to report that through our Scholarships and Grants Program, inclusive of the Walt Sivertson Memorial Scholarship and the Norman S. (Norm) McTague Annual Conference Attendance Scholarship, we are able to fund conference attendance for 10 VAHMRS members from 6 hazmat teams within the Commonwealth, provide an equipment grant, and support three college scholarship requests from members and departments spread across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Overall, nine separate hazardous materials response organizations benefited from this year's scholarship and grants funding.

The 2009 Virginia Hazardous Materials Conference and Expo is just three short weeks away - register today.

Hampton Convention Center, Hampton, Virginia

www.virginiahazmat.org

20-22 Oct 2009: Mid-Year National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials
Mid-Year National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials (NASTTPO)
Meeting with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Western Regions' Emergency Prevention and Preparedness Conference / Regional Response Team Meeting.
Tuscany Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
For registration and agenda go to:
http://www.nasttpo.com/home/

11 Nov 2009: San Diego Infragard Chapter Meeting
The next meeting of San Diego's Infragard Chapter will be on 11 Nov 2009.

14 Nov 2009: Durham Tech Mass Shootings Planning and Response for Public Safety (MSPR)

4-hour Planning & Response Course for Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, Emergency Management and School/College Officials

It appears that the “bad guys” (criminals and terrorists) are more determined, violent and heavily armed than ever before. Crisis situations such as mass shootings, terrorist and criminal attacks are occurring with alarming frequency. These events can occur on college/university campuses, school grounds, the workplace or other public locations.

Public safety agencies must adapt to the changes in society so that appropriate delivery of emergency services is ensured in a crisis. Responder’s safety is paramount during these types of events! Course will cover the following topics:

Threat Assessments/Threat Groups
Pre-Incident Planning
Multi-Agency Response
Command Considerations
Scene Safety
“Lessons Learned”
Resources for Planning & Training

Date and Location: Saturday, November 14th, 0800-1200, Orange County Emergency Management, Training Room,

510 Meadowland Drive, Hillsborough, NC 27278 (for directions go to www.mapquest.com)

Registration: To reserve a seat please contact briggsc@durhamtech.edu no later than Nov. 10th with name and agency.

STUDENTS MUST BE A MEMBER OF A PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY OR SCHOOL/COLLEGE SYSTEM TO ATTEND AND MUST HAVE PROPER I.D. AND/OR UNIFORM.

Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) Learning Series Fall 2009 Offerings

The Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) Learning Series continues in the fall of 2009 with a fresh lineup of one-hour Web-based seminars providing expert presentations on the tools, trends, issues, and best practices for infrastructure protection and resilience.
Series offerings are available free of charge and designed for CIKR owners and operators and officials with responsibility for risk, security, and emergency management functions.
To learn more, click here.

What Lies Ahead

Stephen has developed a Continuity of Operations Presentation based upon the principles in “A Plan for Homeland Security.” For information, please contact us at: info@oursafetowns.com.

Beginning 1 November of this year, we will discontinue credit card sales through the oursafetowns.com website. We will be moving all book sales, audiobook sales, etc. to other outlets. Stay tuned next month for pointers to the new outlets. Hopefully, this move will allow us to concentrate on more products and less administration. As a result howver, if you would like to order one of our multi-packs, you should do so in the next month. You can access our shopping cart here.

If you are interested in working with us directly to make your community, business, or agency safer, please contact us at: info@oursafetowns.com.

See you next month!

Useful Information

Bombs/Bomb Response/Suicide Bombers

This program contains a 100+ slide PowerPoint resource packed with information. It contains an overview of explosives and bombs, provides examples of various kinds of each. It informs public safety personnel what to look for when on calls so that they might recognize bombs and their precursors. It details ways in which agencies can respond to bomb threats and bombing incidents. It describes ways to interdict suicide bombers and minimize loss of life. The entire program is at the practical level for front-line responders, and it does not veer off into interesting but academic areas. The program was reviewed by a Technical Review Committee consisting of experts in homeland security, police special operations, and the fire service from across the nation. The program includes more than a dozen open-source documents full of information on handling all aspects of this kind of event, from communications to HAZMAT to tactics.

http://www.ffsupport.org/training.html

GLOBAL STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT, 2009: AMERICA'S SECURITY ROLE IN A CHANGING WORLD

The National Defense University has released its 2009 Global Strategic Assessment. The full text can be downloaded here:

http://www.ndu.edu/inss/index.cfm?secID=8&pageID=126&type=section

Institute for Business & Home Safety Disaster Safety Monthly

There is a new Journal being published by the Institute for Business & Home Safety Disaster. The current issue can be read here.

Safety Tip

Private Sector Preparedness Tips of the week from FEMA:

9/8/09

Understand when to evacuate or shelter in place, and establish a system for communicating instructions to your employees and customers. Make sure to plan how you will communicate with people who are deaf and hard of hearing, or who do not speak English. Visit www.Ready.gov/business

9/15/09

Learn ways to protect people, business property, and building structures and prevent business loss from a natural disaster. Find training and resources at www.fema.gov/privatesector/training.shtm

9/22/09

Private Sector Preparedness Tip of the Week: Make hand sanitizer available to employees and customers to reduce the spread of illnesses like H1N1 flu. Visit http://www.flu.gov/

E-mail Stephen