Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum Round Table! Avagene Moore: As an IAEM member, I will be your moderator today. We are here to give you a sneak preview of the 47th Annual IAEM Conference scheduled for November 13-16, 1999, Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Louisville, Kentucky. ... Avagene Moore: See the IAEM web site for full conference information: http://www.emassociation.org/conference.html ... Avagene Moore: The link above is a live link if you wish to view the IAEM agenda ... Avagene Moore: Although the Round Table sessions are rather informal, order is essential to a meaningful discussion. When we are ready for questions or comments from the audience, I will give instructions that will help us conduct Q&A in an orderly manner. ... Avagene Moore: We are pleased to have a few of the scheduled IAEM Conference presenters with us today. For your information, IAEM received close to 90 abstracts to choose from this year. The Program Committee had quite a task in making their selection of speakers/sessions. ... Avagene Moore: As you will notice in the IAEM Conference program, the topics are timely and offer something for everyone this year. The IAEM Conference is truly a learning and networking opportunity for emergency management professionals. ... Avagene Moore: To start us off, we will take the conference on a day to day basis to give those who are new to an IAEM meeting a sense of the scope of the conference and the type of training, learning and networking available for the taking. The conference and exhibit officially open on Saturday November 13. However, there are two training events offered on November 11 and 12 for those who wish to go to Louisville a couple of days early. ... Avagene Moore: The offerings are: "Benchmarking Best Practices" and "Performance Measurement". These pre-conference opportunities are provided by Florida State University as part of its "Results-Oriented Government" program. Both classes run from 8: 00 AM to 5: 00 PM. CEUs and certificates of training are provided upon completion. Cost is $150 for each course --- register for both and save $25. ... Avagene Moore: On Saturday, November 13, 8: 00 AM - 12: 00 Noon, a Writing Workshop will be offered at no charge. IAEM Editor Shari Coffin and yours truly are the instructors. A 2-hour version was offered last year and the evaluations were very good. We have expanded the workshop to 4 hours this year. The goal of the workshop is to share tips to improve writing skills while incorporating hands- on writing exercises as part of the learning experience. A certificate of training will be given. ... Avagene Moore: Another free workshop on Saturday November 13, 8: 00 AM - 5: 00 PM: "Strategic Planning and Communicating with Elected Representatives" provided by the commonwealth of Kentucky. Training certificates will be awarded; class size is limited to 40 people. ... Avagene Moore: In order to give presenters plenty of time, I will not mention the topics and speakers of plenary sessions at this point. If we have time at the end of the session, we will cover those speakers. ... Avagene Moore: With us today, we have several of the presenters. I will call upon them as they are scheduled in the IAEM Conference program. First of all, we are pleased to have Diane Newman from the emergency management program in King County, Washington. Diane's presentation is titled "EOC Support Team, Emergency Management's Extended Family." Diane, will you please tell us a little about your proposed presentation? diane newman: Thanks, glad to be here. I'll be presenting about a volunteer group called the EOC Support Team. With me will be Gil Tumey, the founder of the team. Avagene Moore: Do you want to give us any details of the session, Diane? diane newman: We will discuss their inception, roles, how they remain motivated, their interaction with Search and Rescue and then field questions. This is an incredible group of people that have come together. I just stay out of their way Avagene Moore: Anything else at this time, Diane? diane newman: I'm not that quick a typist or thinker. How's that for a summary.... diane newman: Go ahead Avagene Moore: Thanks, Diane. ... Avagene Moore: Needing no introduction is EIIP's Technical Projects Coordinator, Amy Sebring, located in Corpus Christi, TX. Amy will be doing a presentation on "WEBEX: Successful Experimental Exercise via the Internet." Amy, if you will. Amy Sebring: Thank you Avagene. I will be on the conference program Sunday, November 14, at 3: 30 PM to talk about WEBEX. Amy Sebring: Last November we attempted our first online exercise as an experiment, and it was very successful. We had almost 80 people either playing or observing at one point last year. Amy Sebring: For info about last year's WEBEX, see http://www.emforum.org/webex/ Amy Sebring: We are going to plan a WEBEX II for this year, but we want to do it a little differently this time. Last year we used the fictional Central City, but this year, we would like to find a REAL community. Amy Sebring: We would like to use real plans and supporting information. We would also like to involve some regional coordination aspects, so we would like to find a State emergency management agency to play along as well. Amy Sebring: We will be putting out a request for players, and putting together an exercise design team over the summer months. We do not have an exact date for this event yet, but it will be sometime around November 22 which is after the IAEM conference. Amy Sebring: So at the conference I will talk about our first exercise, and the plans for the second. There is a summary of the first one available from the page I just put up ... Amy Sebring: plus it was in a recent IAEM bulletin.. Amy Sebring: One of the reasons I think this technique can be successful is that, judging by the reactions of our players, it is a lot of fun to participate. The time goes by VERY quickly. Amy Sebring: But it also is very realistic, and the challenges of coordination and communication are very true to life! So watch for an announcement in the not too distant future where we will be looking for a community to play. Amy Sebring: We will include some information about requirements, and if your community would be interested, let us know. That's it for now, thanks Ava. Avagene Moore: Thanks, Amy. ...j Avagene Moore: Bradford Billet, CEM, Deputy Commissioner, NYC Commission to the United Nations, is with us today. Brad's topic is "Plane Down --- The Family Assistance Center." Brad, give us a brief look at your session. bbillet: It is an PowerPoint presentation on TWA 800 family center, what we did right and wrong...the federal response em pros should expect bbillet: NYC has had 5 accidents in the last 10 years bbillet: prior to this position I was the dept director of NYC OEM bbillet: and was the operations director for the TWA 800 family center Phyllis Mann: Hi sorry I am back Avagene Moore: (Hello, Phyllis.) Brad, do you have anything else to add before we go to our next presenter? bbillet: I submitted this presentation abstract because , last year presentation gave out incorrect info. bbillet: no, thanks ...I must go ...have fun Avagene Moore: So we can look forward to you setting the record straight. Thanks. Brad ... Avagene Moore: Frank Lucier has joined us. ... Avagene Moore: Next we have Frank Lucier, President of North American Emergency Management (NAEM). Frank will briefly tell us about his presentation, "Why Aren't We Training Our Real Responders?" Frank, please share your topic with us. Frank Lucier: Good afternoon Frank Lucier: It is financially impossible to staff, on a day-to-day basis, fire and emergency medical departments for a worse-case- scenario. So by definition, a disaster is an event that overwhelms our ability to provide professional response. So why aren't we training our real first responders?.... Frank Lucier: It is financially impossible to staff, on a day-to-day basis, fire and emergency medical departments for a worse-case- scenario. So by definition, a disaster is an event that overwhelms our ability to provide professional response. So why aren't we training our real first responders?.... .. Frank Lucier: In every disaster in this Country, the people in the impact zone, the people at the epicenter, the people at ground zero are the first responders by default. They are there when the event happens and depending on the scope of the incident, may be the only responders of long periods of time. In disaster situations, civilians typically handle 80% of emergencies while awaiting the arrival of professional responders. What skills are we supplying them with?....... Frank Lucier: Our presentation will focus on developing and managing a successful Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program in your community. We will discuss the various ways the Teams are structured across the country, how to customize the training to deal with regional hazards, how to maintain Team skills and capabilities, and resources available such as FEMA (www.fema.gov/emi/cert/) and the Connection newsletter (www.naem.com/connection.html). We will also discuss experiences using CERT teams in a Avagene Moore: (Part of your last sentence was cut off, Frank.) Frank Lucier: in different parts of the Country. Avagene Moore: Anything else, Frank? Frank Lucier: I would be happy to answer any questions. Avagene Moore: I just heard someone discussing this last week, Frank. A researcher. Thanks Frank, we have one more presenter here.... Avagene Moore: Dennis Sullivan, CEM, CHMM, Environmental Operations & HazMat Manager, University of Louisville, is here with us to summarize his topic which is "Model Emergency Action Plans --- Will They Work in the Multi-Building Facility?" Dennis, please tell us about your presentation. dennis sullivan: My presentation is a study of using model emergency plans to prepare building emergency plans for about 150 buildings on our three campuses. The pitfalls, the benefits and my appraisal of the outcome. These buildings range from 24 people and offices to a thousand people and 50-60 multi-disciplinary labs with a variety of NBC hazards. Avagene Moore: Anything else, Dennis? dennis sullivan: I'm the emergency manager for the University, before that I worked for the County here. dennis sullivan: No, that's about it. Avagene Moore: Thanks, Dennis. Have I overlooked a speaker? If someone has joined us without letting me know in advance, please speak up now. We will be happy to hear about your sessions as well. Avagene Moore: Phyllis Mann, Chair of the IAEM Program Committee is here. Phyllis, would you like to comment on the conference agenda? Phyllis Mann: First I am no longer Chair, just the President elect. However the program looks great... Avagene Moore: (sorry about the mistake) Phyllis Mann: and I especially look forward to the pre conf. training Avagene Moore: Thanks, Phyllis, we mentioned that up front. Avagene Moore: As you can tell from our speakers today, there is a good mix of topics and perspectives here and we can all learn from these presenters. Imagine if you will how much more the conference holds for attendees --- there are at least another 12 to 15 sessions and presenters. ... Avagene Moore: One other special learning opportunity not covered by the registration fee will be available at the close of the IAEM Conference. "Business Continuity Planning for Emergency Management" will be offered on Wednesday November 17, 9: 00 AM - 3: 30 PM. This is offered by the Disaster Recovery Institute International at an additional cost of $125. Paul Thomas, CEM CBCP, will be the instructor. ... Avagene Moore: And now, if you have a question or comment for one of our speakers today or want to ask about the IAEM Conference, we ask you to please input a question mark (?) to the chat screen to indicate you wish to speak. Please compose your question but wait until you are recognized before sending your input to the chat screen. We will take questions/comments in order they appear. Please indicate to whom your question is addressed --- we are ready for the first question now. Avagene Moore: Does anyone have a question of one of the speakers? Or something about the conference itself? Amy Sebring: ? Avagene Moore: Amy, please. Amy Sebring: Diane, what does your EOC support group do briefly? Avagene Moore: ? diane newman: Their primary assignment is to help provide support functions any time we activate our Emergency Operations Center.. Audra Kunf: ? diane newman: They also help with Search and Rescue base camp on around 90 missions a year Amy Sebring: ? Avagene Moore: I wanted to comment on one of our speakers topics ... about training the real responders ... Phyllis Mann: Sorry I have an emergency got to run Avagene Moore: Last week, I was in a conference in Gatlinburg where a discussion group was led by a researcher.... Avagene Moore: Erik Auf der Heide of Atlanta GA .... Avagene Moore: He was making the point that research supports the theory that it is not the first responders that are the first responders ... Avagene Moore: and we are not heeding research data that supports this fact. Avagene Moore: Amy, you have a question. Amy Sebring: Just a follow up to Diane. Diane, do you have any information/computer specialists in your support group? diane newman: Yes. We have several who are very computer wise. The team is very diverse, with a couple folks who work at Microsoft. All team members are also HAMS even if they weren't interested before they join. Amy Sebring: great, thanks Avagene Moore: Audra, sorry I overlooked you in the line up. Please submit your question. Audra Kunf: Diane--who are your support group--and more specifically, please, what support functions do they fill? and where do they fit into ICS? Avagene Moore: ? diane newman: They are community volunteers, about 25 now. They perform Information and Analysis, communications, displays, and general clerical support needed during activations. Many times, they perform the lead role with county employees from other depts. doing the worker bee stuff Isabel McCurdy: ? Avagene Moore: Frank, my earlier comments were prompted by your presentation topic. Is your presentation based on your own experiences solely or is it backed by research from other disasters? diane newman: ? Frank Lucier: We will discuss CERT team activations to the floods in the Northwest and storms in Florida along with some personal experiences for the Loma Prieta eqk. Avagene Moore: (I see Mary Goodkind is here now. We will call on her in just a moment.) Avagene Moore: Isabel and Diane, if you don't mind, I will call on Mary to tell us about her upcoming presentation. Mary is from Argonne National Lab .... Avagene Moore: her session, "Operation Twister --- Planning a Mass Casualty Exercise." Mary? mary goodkind: Hello- I am happy to participate. mary goodkind: My session will describe a very large scale mass casualty exercise we staged one year ago. mary goodkind: I think others can benefit from our experiences in planning and controlling such a large event. Audra Kunf: ? Avagene Moore: Any other comments, Mary? mary goodkind: Well, we had 20 fire departments participate, so it was a good exercise of the incident command system. Thanks it. Avagene Moore: Thanks, Mary. Isabel has a question. Isabel McCurdy: Diane, what qualifications do individuals require in order to be part of the EOC support group? Do you provide training? diane newman: Our WEB page has more on our Support Team for those interested. www.metrokc.gov/prepare.. Isabel, support team members must be Search and Rescue qualified for base camp which includes basic survival, and several other classes. Avagene Moore: Diane, you have a question or comment please. Amy Sebring: http://www.metrokc.gov/prepare/ diane newman: SAR conducts an academy once a year. We offer training to this team quarterly, and they meet monthly. They often teach classes. All are amateur radio operators and offer training and testing. They set up their rules and bylaws and are a 501c3 non profit agency. Receive funds from donations. That's all Avagene Moore: Audra, you are next, please. Audra Kunf: Mary--were you involved with the recent tornado responses in Oklahoma? Avagene Moore: ? mary goodkind: No. Avagene Moore: Dennis, where are you in your planning process with the university? What type of involvement are you getting from those who need to be on the planning team? dennis sullivan: We have completed approximately 10% of our buildings and another 15% are in process. The response has been mixed. Avagene Moore: ? Avagene Moore: Mary, will your presentation include video or slides to demonstrate the exercise? Amy Sebring: ? dennis sullivan: A lot of departments thought we would come in and write their plan and plan the building for them. Our process is to lead them through the planning effort with the final product being a workable plan. Avagene Moore: (sorry I jumped in, Dennis.) dennis sullivan: Building occupants are the owners of the plans and they are responsible. Avagene Moore: Mary, are you having problems? Avagene Moore: Amy, go ahead with your question or comment, please. Amy Sebring: Dennis, have you been using or have you seen the planning package for universities developed in Wisconsin, I believe it was? Amy Sebring: (Sorry if that is a little vague.) dennis sullivan: No, I haven't seen that...we used models from the west coast...I'd be interested in that Amy Sebring: Ok, I will try to find the reference Dennis. Audra Kunf: ? Avagene Moore: Yes, Audra. Audra Kunf: Frank--your CERT program--did you use any west coast models for it? Avagene Moore: ? Frank Lucier: When it was started in San Francisco, there were only a couple of models, Los Angeles and Sunnyvalle... mary goodkind: I am getting messages, but don't seem to be sending. Frank Lucier: We combined the two and made the training portion more site specific... dennis sullivan: (sorry to jump...I must leave for a meeting, Thanks for the opportunity to speak with you) Avagene Moore: Brad, as a Deputy Commissioner to the NYC Commission to the United Nations, is your role primarily in the disaster management area or broader in scope? Would you like to expand on your job position? Avagene Moore: (Thanks, Dennis.) Frank Lucier: The maintenance part, there really were no models to use so we developed that from scratch. Avagene Moore: I think we have lost Brad. mary goodkind: OK, I'll try again. We got extensive TV coverage, and I will be showing some of that Avagene Moore: Thanks to everyone today ... Avagene Moore: We are almost out of time --- once again, you are urged to check out the IAEM web site for full information on registration, hotel reservations, deadlines, etc. Please see http://www.emassociation.org/conference.html ... Avagene Moore: Before wrapping up, we want to alert you to upcoming EIIP Virtual Forum events. Tomorrow, Wednesday May 26, 12: 00 Noon EDT, the Tech Arena proudly hosts Leo Frishberg for a demonstration of Cliffside software. ... Avagene Moore: Next Tuesday, June 1, 12: 00 Noon EDT ---- NOTE TIME CHANGE! --- the Round Table will be led by the State and Local Emergency Management Data Users Group (SALEMDUG). ... Avagene Moore: On Wednesday, June 2, 12: 00 Noon EDT, Roger Pielke will be featured in the Virtual Library. ... Avagene Moore: Look for details this weekend .... Avagene Moore: Our sincere appreciation to each of our IAEM Conference speakers today. Thanks also to you, the audience. We trust you will join us whenever you have the opportunity. ... Avagene Moore: We will formally close the Round Table now but you are welcome to hang around a few moments and express your thanks to today's speakers or to chat about anything you like.