October 20, 1999 Hazard Series Presentation

Special Events/Mass Gatherings
Contingency Planning and Incident Management

with

Stephen M. Borth
Training Specialist
FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI)

and

Special Events/Mass Gatherings Contingency Planning
Focus Group Members

SUMMARY

EIIP Classroom Online Presentation
Wednesday - October 20, 1999 - 12 Noon EDT

Special Events / Mass Gatherings
Contingency Planning and Incident Management

Steve Borth
Training Specialist, FEMA
Emergency Management Institute

The EIIP Virtual Classroom hosted Steve Borth, Training Specialist at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute and members of a focus group on Special Events/Mass Gatherings contingency planning and incident management. Seven discussion questions were posted on the background page (see below) and were the basis for the discussion.

EMI is developing training on Special Events Mass Gatherings Contingency Planning. Since most communities host an event or mass gathering of some type (parade, festival, etc) this project has the potential to have nationwide impact. The special events/mass gatherings training will focus on the need for a formalized interagency pre-event planning process. This training will be geared for communities of all sizes - everything from large events like the Olympics to small county fairs and local festivals. The discussion included members of the Focus Group but input was encouraged and welcome from the EIIP audience as well.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What was the process used in the pre-event planning for your special event?
   
   
2. Was there a formal written plan developed? If so, what was the format?
   
   
3. Was the plan used in response if required? If so, how did it go? Lessons learned?
   
   
4. Did you use the incident command structure in the plan/response and use the various reporting/planning forms?
   
   
5. What was the role of the emergency management agency in the pre-event, event, and post-event phase?
   
   
6. What would you do differently next time when it comes to planning/responding?
   
   
7. If you were designing training for folks involved in event contingency planning, what would the training "look like"? What delivery mechanism would be used? What topics would be included? What would be the length?

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STEPHEN M. BORTH

Training Specialist
Training Division/Preparedness Branch
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Emmitsburg, Maryland

Mr. Stephen M. Borth began his current duties at the Emergency Management Institute in April 1992. He is responsible for managing the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program course series and the EMI Incident Command System (ICS) curriculum. Mr. Borth is a member of the Training Subcommittee of the Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee (FRPCC).

Mr. Borth is currently a member of the FEMA Emergency Support Team (EST) and has worked a number of disasters in that capacity.

Before joining the EMI staff, Mr. Borth served as an emergency programs specialist with the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, DC. In this capacity he provided guidance to State and local governments regarding ingestion pathway planning. He also served as an evaluator in REP ingestion pathway exercises.

In 1987, Mr. Borth began his duties with FEMA as a FEMA management intern. From 1988 through 1991 Mr. Borth worked as a technological hazards program specialist in FEMA Region I. His duties in FEMA Region I included negotiating REP exercise objectives with State, local, and utility personnel; training REP exercise evaluators; reviewing State and local REP plans; and developing exercise reports and corrective action recommendations. Mr. Borth has participated in a number of response exercises and assisted in FEMA's disaster response activities.

In addition to his experience with USDA and FEMA, Mr. Borth has five years of secondary teaching experience.

Mr. Borth holds a B.S. in education and an M.A. in political science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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