Hurricane Katrina Update

[Tony Blackwell]

First Responders Urged Not To Respond To Hurricane Impact Areas Unless Dispatched By State, Local Authorities

WASHINGTON, DC (August 29, 2005) -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response and head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), today urged all fire and emergency services departments not to respond to counties and states affected by Hurricane Katrina without being requested and lawfully dispatched by state and local authorities under mutual aid agreements and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

“The response to Hurricane Katrina must be well coordinated between federal, state and local officials to most effectively protect life and property,” Brown said. “We appreciate the willingness and generosity of our Nation’s first responders to deploy during disasters. But such efforts must be coordinated so that fire-rescue efforts are the most effective possible.”

The U.S. Fire Administration, part of FEMA, asks that fire and emergency services organizations remain in contact with their local and state emergency management agency officials for updates on requirements in the affected areas.

“It is critical that fire and emergency departments across the country remain in their jurisdictions until such time as the affected states request assistance,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison.

“State and local mutual aid agreements are in place as is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and those mechanisms will be used to request and task resources needed in the affected areas.”

Paulison said the National Incident Management System is being used during the response to Hurricane Katrina and that self-dispatching volunteer assistance could significantly complicate the response and recovery effort.

[Tony Blackwell]

FROM FEMA

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE UNITED STATES VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA

Our Nation is faced with the most catastrophic natural disaster in modern times, and we are calling upon the Nation’s fire service to aid the affected citizens and communities. This is the United States Fire Administration’s second request to mobilize members of the fire service within Federal guidelines.

The current need is for 1,000 two-person teams to serve as FEMA’s community relations representatives in response to Hurricane Katrina. Each department may offer more than one two-person team. These people will be deployed as a team, and we prefer that they know one another prior to deployment.

This request requires volunteer firefighters who are members in good standing in a community based volunteer fire department. The volunteer firefighter will be hired as a FEMA Disaster Assistance Employee with an initial appointment not to exceed 120 days. The rate of pay will be $23.41 per hour regular time and $29.59 overtime. They must be:

* Physically capable of performing manual tasks under severe conditions;
* Able to obtain a favorable suitability determination;
* Experienced in working with minimum supervision;
* Capable of living in austere, severe living conditions with minimal or no creature comforts for a period of at least 30 days;
* Are members in good standing in their department with an established record of recent emergency response and able to perform appropriately in a national response;
* Free of medical condition(s) that would prevent them from working in these conditions for this period of time; and,
* Able to work within the ICS, provide basic first aid, and follow orders.

The work is non-operational community relations focused activities that consist of direct outreach to persons in the affected areas. They will assist victims in understanding how they will go about the process of getting Federal assistance, distributing information, providing minimal first-aid, and taking reports. The work will be outside, exposed to the elements and will require significant walking.

FEMA will notify the Chief of Department, and selected applicants will be notified by their Chief of Department that they have been selected. NO ONE SHOULD DEPLOY WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE FROM FEMA. Selected applicants will report to a central location in the Atlanta, Georgia area for training and further deployment. Travel to the Atlanta, Georgia area will be per government authorization in a manner specified upon acceptance. Acceptance information will also cover lodging and other related expense reimbursement information.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application process is the exact same process as applying for a National Fire Academy resident course. Applicants will complete FEMA Form 75-5A (short form) general application which can be found at:

www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/about/attend/nfa-abt1c.shtm

In box 12a. “Course Code and Title” the applicant should enter “COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPLOYMENT”and “L282”. In Box #21, please fill in the names of BOTH team members. No other course information is required on the application, but everything else must be completed. Additional personnel information will be required upon acceptance. The application must be fully completed and signed by the Chief of the Department or the Chief’s designee. The application should be faxed to 301-447-1234. A scanned completed/signed application can be emailed to: [e-mail].

The department must submit two applications (one team). Single individual applications will not be accepted.

We will notify the first 1000 teams of their acceptance and process any additional applications in the event that they are needed in the future.

Submission of an application DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE TEAM HAS BEEN ACCEPTED. Acceptance is a second, separate process. The Chief of the Department or designee will be notified of the teams’ acceptance, and provided deployment information.

If you have any questions or need additional information you can find more information at http://www.usfa.fema.gov; email [e-mail] or call 301-447-7250.

INFORMATION FOR THE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT

Your signature on the application represents your approval of the activity and deployment of the applicant team, as well as confirmation of the following:

* The suitability of the applicants to perform the duties listed under the severe conditions listed above;
* They have passed a criminal background check and are able to obtain a favorable suitability determination;
* They are members in good standing in the department with an established record of recent emergency response and able to perform appropriately in a national response;
* They are familiar with and have demonstrated ability to work within the Incident Command System;
* They are capable of providing basic first aid and following orders.

The concept is that your team will be able to work independently under tough conditions, being provided only food, water and perhaps rustic shelter.

It is the responsibility of each team member to retain and submit receipts for other mission related expenses.

Submitting an application does not mean that the person is accepted. Acceptance is a separate process. Do not allow anyone from your department to deploy without official follow-up confirmation. That confirmation will provide specific detailed information.

If one member of the team drops out, then the other member of the team will either not deploy or be sent back home.

The Chief of Department will be notified of the teams’ acceptance and provided the deployment information.

INFORMATION FOR THE TEAM BEING DEPLOYED

Do not self-deploy. If you are accepted, you will be given specific further directions from your Chief of Department.

Each team should bring a basic medical jump kit (bandages, BP set) to provide minimal first aid.

You will be provided government ID in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

You will be deployed with another member of your organization as a team and will be working with that person for the duration.

Following are items which you must bring with you:

* sleeping bag;
* personal hygiene necessities:
* medications;
* insect repellent;
* sun screen;
* rain gear;
* flashlight and batteries.

We cannot guarantee that you will have a vehicle or a means to transport or store gear.

FEMA will provide you with FEMA shirts. Remember that you may have to carry with you everything that you bring for the entire time.

Finally, please ensure that members of your family can function without your presence for at least 30 days.

Any interested MCFD members should contact Chief Kalce ASAP.