Emergency Management: What is it?

Long post follows.
I am currently enrolled in college for the program of Emergency Management. Short version is FEMA work, disaster planning, helping to pick up the pieces after, and making sure next time whatever was hard this time will be easier the next.

To give an idea of some of the things I could be involved in I am posting one of my final papers.
It is an Emergency Operations Plan for a fictional boy scout ranch, for responding to a wildfire. The camp is based on the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

The file can be found here if you want to read it in a more normal fashion. Enjoy!

ASSIGNMENT: The following is an Emergency Operations Plan for the fictional Camp Wanagoyahu, a boy scout camp based on the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, New Mexico. No EOP for the Philmont Scout Ranch could be found or used, and data such as land area and camper volumes have been changed as well.

begin main plan here:::CAMP WANAGOYAHU, NM

BASIC PLAN

PURPOSE

The purpose of this emergency plan is ensure protection of life and where possible property in the event of a dangerous wildfire in proximity to the grounds of CAMP WANGOYAHU.

SITUATION:

• * Camp Wanagoyahu covers more than 100 square miles of land including mountains, forests, and plains.
• * Staff ranges from 50 to 500 persons.
• * Over 20,000 adult and youth scouts visit every year, with approximately 1,250 every week.
• * Adults are typically experienced scouts and make up approximately 200-700 of the weekly total. The remainder consists of scouts age 14-18 with varying levels of experience.
• * Though no requirements are made as t previous outdoor experience, physical qualifications are high before scouts are permitted to visit.

ASSUMPTIONS:

• * A wildfire can occur at any time, either by natural causes, man-made causes, or when a planned burn becomes out of control. A full scale evacuation of the camp may be called for at any time.
• * Assistance will be provided by local governments and contracted businesses. Additional resources are available through the state.
• * Camp Wanagoyahu maintains minimal fire fire fighting capabilities and will direct its resources to ensuring the safe evacuation and shelter of all scouts, staff, and resident families.
• * Camp Wanagoyahu will coordinate closely with the Colfax County Emergency Management Agency, the New Mexico Emergency Management Agency, the USDA Forest Service, as well as other organizations in preparing response plans, and mitigation efforts on camp property.
• * As the primary activity at the camp is hiking it must be assumed that 80% of scouts and 50% of the staff are on the trail or are at site camps.

AUTHORITY:

• * This EOP can be activated by the Camp Director. If the Camp Director is unavailable the order of succession is Assistant Camp Director, Program Director, Grounds Director, and the Logistics Director
• * The EOP will normally be activated only after consulting with local authorities concerning the hazard, including the Colfax Sheriff department, Colfax Emergency Management Agency, or USDA Forest Service. The plan may be activated without consultation if circumstances warrant, such as a wildfire beginning on or near camp property.

TRAINING AND REVIEW:

• * All seasonal staff will be trained in the duties they will perform if an emergency occurs. This training will take place in the camp setup month before campers arrive.
• * Information concerning emergency procedures will be distributed to visiting campers as part of their group information package (alongside trail itinerary, suggested equipment list, etc.) After arrival the unit will complete an additional briefing in emergency procedures.
• * Staff leaders are given checklists of tasks that need completed if an emergency occurs. These checklists are also posted in the area they primarily take place in (transport SOPs posted in the staging area, e.g.)
• * In the fall, following the primary camping season, a full review of this emergency plan takes place. Included in this review will be senior staff members and department chiefs. Local supporting agencies are invited to attend this review.

AGREEMENTS:

• * Fire departments in regions bordering the camp have been made familiar with access roads, trails, and water sources throughout the camp to speed their work.
• * Private transport companies normally used to bring visiting units from bus and rail stations to the camp have agreed to provide evacuation transportation.
• * Local scout councils have agreed to provide emergency shelter for visiting campers, staff, and residents.
• * Agreements have been made with the IT departments of local governments, and local media channels to provide awareness of the camp web site as a means to route information on scout units evacuated, and communication with units at shelter areas.
• * The medical air transport used in routine operations is involved in evacuation plans.
• * The Colfax county health department will arrange for a separate medical shelter if required and will provide ambulance service for medical evacuations if necessary.
• * The USDA Forest Service and Colfax county Sheriff department have agreed to directly contact the camp of sighted unplanned fires and of planned controlled fires.
• * Camp Wanagoyahu has agreed to follow New Mexico Emergency Management Agency guidelines for ensuring inter-operability of new equipment, especially communication equipment.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT:

• * Each trail unit (hiking or horseback) is given a first aid kit, radio with RFID tag, and information card. Included on this card is a summary of emergency procedures. See section on communication for information out the radio. A full map is already given to each unit which details locations of manned and unmanned campsites as well as trail access points and supply roads.

PRIMARY PLAN:

• * Given the severe nature of a wildfire, its capacity to change direction and spread rapidly, and the limited firefighting ability of the camp, the primary response shall be EVACUATION.
• * On sighting a fire, or being informed of one by agencies of authority, this plan shall be activated per the AUTHORITY section.
• * All staff, campers, and residents will be made aware that an emergency is taking place and an evacuation process begun (as detailed in the COMMUNICATION section below)
• * Once alerted campers are to proceed to the nearest trail access, supply road, or campsite. They will be picked up at these campsites, or on supply roads and transported back to base camp.
• * All campers and residents will move to the evacuation staging area. Those who arrived by their own vehicle may leave using them after all persons in their unit are accounted for. The same applies to resident families of staff. They will be given a pass for the main camp entry. All remaining units will form rows by unit to easily account for all persons. They will be directed to board available transport busses and vans. The driver of the bus or van will be given the gate pass for that unit.
• * Campers or staff who are at the medical building will be evacuated separately, and returned to their normal unit as quickly as possible.
• * See the STABLERY section for more information concerning cavalcade units
• * At the main entry gate each unit will provide a their gate pass. This provides a record that each unit is evacuated from the camp.
• * Personal transports will follow provided evacuation routes to safe areas. From here they may proceed to the Scout provided shelter camps, or if they wish local units may proceed elsewhere (such as home) Camp provided transports will follow evacuation routes to a safe distance from the camp, and will then proceed to Scout provided shelter camps.
• * On arrival to shelter camps, units will register at the gate. From here they will be directed to tents, cabins, or other form of shelter at the local camp.
• * Once all campers and resident families have been evacuated the staff will be evacuated in the same manner, the main gatekeeper being the last to board an evacuation vehicle. Staff will be housed as a location chosen with local agencies (such as the Colfax county Emergency Management Agency) in order to maintain close communication links with local agencies.
• * No person except authorized emergency responders may enter camp until the area is deemed safe for return by local authorities. At this point recovery assessment begins
• * Detailed information on staff duties follows in the FUNCTIONAL ANNEXES:

RECOVERY:

• * Upon receiving communication that the area surrounding the camp is safe for return, senior staff members and selected members of the Ground Operations teams will assess all base camp facilities and trails.
• * The assessment of the base camp will either 1) sufficient facilities exist for a return to normal operations or 2) insufficient facilities or supplies remain undamaged and the reminder of the camp season is to be canceled until repairs have been made.
• * The assessment of trails and site camps proceeds by stages. Each trail loop that is satisfactorily undamaged will be reopened for normal use. Damaged trails or portions of trails leading to damaged camps will be cordoned off until repairs are made.
• * Where possible, it is the desire of the camp to return to normal operations during the primary season, and for campers involved in an evacuation to continue their experiences at the camp.
• * Repair project that may qualify for scout volunteer hours will be posted on the camp web site. Eagle scout candidates are encouraged to contact the camp for needs that may be met by an Eagle level service project.
• * Camp administration will continue to consult with New Mexico DNR, USDA Forest Service and environmental agencies on managing re-growth and maintenance of affected areas.
• * Following an emergency period, whether or not the camp suffered damage, local agencies will be asked to participate in a brief review of the evacuation to identify challenges observed and to consider improvements that would increase the camp's capability to carryout it's emergency plan, and to lessen potential damage to the camp and grounds.
• * Scout units will also be asked to contact the camp with any observations or concerns about any facet of the effective implementation of the emergency plan.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR UNITS:

• * It is cordoned that units develop a group yell or signal to rally scouts. This signal should be unique to the unit.
• * It is also recommended that a bandana sized cloth bearing the units troop number, or other plainly recognizable device be kept on the leaders person. This may be tied to a tend pole, walking stick, or other object to use as a visual rallying point and identifier.

FUNCTIONAL ANNEXES:

• * Departments of the Camp Wanagoyahu staff are organized around the NIMS/ICS format, making rapid implementation of emergency plans possible as staff is already grouped by their emergency function.
• * During Routine operations staff are divided into Base Operations, Grounds Operations, Logistics, and Administration under the direction of the Camp Director.
• * When the emergency plan is activated both Base and Grounds operations become the Operations section. Logistics remains the Logistics section. Administration divides into the Planning and Finance/Admin sections, with the safety officer and liaisons and command staff coming from the Administration section as well.

INCIDENT COMMANDER:

• * The Camp Director will assume the role of incident commander.
• * The IC will authorize activation of the emergency plan.
• * The IC monitors all sections and assures plans are followed and that all campers and staff are successfully evacuated.
• * The IC will remain in contact with official authorities through personal communication or through the Liason.
• * The IC operates from the Emergency Operations Center. The EOC is housed in the Camp Headquarters, situated between the main entrance and the Base Camp.

PLANNING SECTION:

• * The planning section assists the operations section in determining which trails and site camps to evacuate first, based on information supplied by agencies such as the USDA Forest Service and NOAA.
• * The planning section maintains all unit itineraries to project approximately where on a trail each unit may be. This information is supplied to Operations.
• * The planning section determines the best arrangement of units for the available vehicles.
• * The planning section maintains an estimate of time to complete evacuation.
• * The planning section is housed in the Camp Headquarters
• * The planning section will map safe evacuation routes as determined from local authorities. They will further map routes from the safe zone to shelter camps. They will distribute these maps to Operations
• * The planning section will communicate with Operations and Finance/Admin how many units are expected to be sent to each shelter camp.

OPERATIONS SECTION:

• * The operations section is divided into two branches: Grounds Operations and Base Operations
• * The operations section chief is housed in the EOC, at the Camp Headquarters
• * GROUNDS OPERATIONS:

• * The grounds operations is divided into five groups: Messengers, Transportation, Site Camp staff, Stablery, and Fire
• * The Grounds Operations Leader is housed in the vehicle garage on Base Camp. All groups operate from this location except for the Stablery.
• * MESSENGERS:

• * The function of messengers is to ensure that all units on the trail have received the emergency warning. The only way to be absolutely certain that all units have received the warning is to walk or ride along all trails. Staff are given a section of trail between two access points (trail access, supply road crossings, campsites, etc.) They will communicate the emergency warning to all units they encounter and tell them which direction along the trail will bring them to a trail access sooner. The messenger will not remain with the unit but will continue to the access point. Messengers directed to more vulnerable trails and camps (closer to the wildfire) will typically ride horseback in order to cover ground faster. All messengers will travel in pairs as part of standard Scout safety policy.
• * Messengers will make attempts to communicate by personal radio to the Grounds Transportaion Group of the location of units.

• * TRANSPORTATION:

• * The Grounds Transportation staff will drive jeeps, truck, busses, and trail vehicles along supply roads, to trail access points, and directly to manned camps. They will pick up units and deliver them to an entry staging area at the base camp. Every attempt will be made to ensure whole are transported whole to the Base Camp entry staging area. An adult from every unit will transport each group of junior scouts. This may temporarily reduce adult/scout rations below standard levels.
• * When transportation encounters cavalcade units they are directed to tie their horses along the trail and board the supplied vehicles. The transportation contacts the Stablery group and lets them know the location of tethered horses. In some cases a cavalcade may be allowed to ride to the end of a trail if the trail they are on terminates near base camp or the stables.

• * SITE CAMP STAFF:

• * Site Camp Staff contacts Base Camp by radio to let them know which units are currently at a manned camp, and when units arrive from nearby trails.
• * Each manned site camp maintains one trail vehicle which will be used to evacuate remaining staff. Staff are to remain at the site until all attached trails have been cleared by messengers, or until the approaching hazard requires them to leave.

• * STABLERY:

• * The stablery is assigned with the collection and evacuation of all horses owned by the camps. Two staff member will ride to the location of tethered cavalcade horses and lead the line of horses to a main road, base camp, or the stables. Agreements have been made with local citizens and farms to supply sufficient horse trailers in an emergency. Remaining stable staff will assist in loading these trailers. If it is safe to do so staff may begin leading horse lines out of camp to meet trailers on route. A gate pass for these persons may be provided by the Grounds Operations Leader. The Ground Operations Leader will communicate such actions to the Operations Chief and the Main Gate attendant.

• * BASE OPERATIONS

• * Base operations include four groups: Security, Staging, Transportation, Fire.
• * The Base Operations Leader is housed in the Registration Office on Base Camp

• * SECURITY:

• * Security group staff is charged with checking buildings not involved in the emergency plan for scouts and adults. Once a building is empty it is locked, marked, and any utility connections are disabled. Base camp tents are likewise cleared.
• * Main Gate staff keep n account of what units are present in camp at all times, during routine and emergency operations. During an emergency no unit or staff is to leave without presenting a gate pass from the Base Operations Transportation group leader. On receiving a gate pass the gate keeper records which unit is leaving, and their destination shelter camp (or other destination for personal vehicles.) The gate guard than communicates this information with the Finance/Admin section and clears the unit to leave.

• * STAGING:

• * Staff will maintain staging areas marked Entry, Exit, and Local.
• * The Entry staging area is for scouts transported from the trails. They will not leave this area until the unit is completely accounted for, using headcount, sound offs, etc. Once accounted for the unit will move to either the Exit or Local Stalins area.
• * The Exit staging area is for unite that will be traveling to shelter camps. Units on base camp will line up in rows and complete a headcount to ensure no one was lost during movement on base camp.
• * The Local staging area is for units that will be traveling in personal vehicles. Again, a headcount will be obtained before the unit is given their gate pass. Resident families will use the local staging area. If a resident family is without personal transportation they may accompany units to a shelter camp until staff can be spared to transport them elsewhere.
• * At each transition a staff member will accompany units to help ensure no scout is lost.

• * TRANSPORTATION:

• * The Transportation group will direct the traffic of evacuation vehicles, both personal as well as vehicles destined for shelter camps. The transportation group leader, with the Base Operations leader, maintains close communication with the planning section. After performing a final headcount staff directs a unit to board a vehicle, gives route information and any other direction to the driver, and finally the Transportation group leader gives the driver a gate pass.

• * FIRE:

• * Limited defensive action may be taken to protect the base camp from fire. These actions include plowing a fire break around the perimeter of camp, spraying water on the roofs of buildings. Other actions maybe taken at the direction of local fire authorities.

LOGISTICS SECTIONS:

• * The Logistics section is composed of four groups: Communications, Medical, Food, and Grounds Support.
• * The Logistics section is housed next to the First Aid station, located on Base Camp.

• * COMMUNICATIONS:

• * The communications group maintains all equipment used for internal and external communication. This includes:
• * Phone lines, Cable lines, satellite dishes, radios designated for external communication, and the cell tower on Camp Headquarters.
• * Primary emergency siren, located on base camp. When in use a wavering "air-raid" signal during emergencies requiring immediate cover, such as a tornado. A repeating alert will be used for emergencies that require evacuation, such as a wildfire.
• * Main radio system for use on camp. Includes transmission to site camp radios.
• * All hand held radios and cell phones.
• * Site Camp sirens, radio repeaters, and RFID tracking equipment.

• * MEDICAL:

• * The medical staff will be trained in advanced first aid practices as well as CPR skills. Additional training as equipment permits (such as defibilrator training)
• * The Medical group maintains the first aid station and is responsible for communicating to Base Operations if scouts will not be rejoining their units.
• * The Medical group will transport non-vital medicines stored to shelter camps as needed.
• * Unless threatened the Medical group will evacuate close to last in case more injuries occur during the evacuation.

• * FOOD:

• * Food packaging is the normal function of the Logistics section. Thus a considerable amount of pre-packed trail type food is at hand. The food section will bring one box of food per unit to the Base Operations exit staging area. This food will accompany units to lessen the burden on shelter camps and alleviate immediate hunger of unit scouts.

• * GROUNDS SUPPORT:

• * The Grounds Support group ensures that the Grounds Operations group is equipped to perform their tasks.
• * This includes fueling and maintaining vehicles, checking radios for battery charge and operations, stocking first aid kits, and providing/maintaining additional equipment as needed.

FINANCE/ADMIN SECTION:

• * The Finance/Admin section includes six groups: The Public Liason, The Official Liason, Procurement, Claims, DATA/IT, Shelter.
• * The Finance/Admin section is housed in the Camp Headquarters.

• * PUBLIC LIASON:

• * The Public Liason communicates messages too and answers questions from local and national media, local scout units, and parents.
• * The Public Liason updates the IT team, or a representative of the National Scout council on what information to display on the camp web site.
• * The Public Liason maintains the information hot line set up for parents and units to call regarding scouts at the camp. Once units have arrived at a shelter camp, the Public Liason communicates this to a representative in the units home organization (typically at the council level), as well as how to contact the shelter camp.

• * OFFICIAL LIASON:

• * The Official Liason helps to communicate information between local, state, and federal agencies involved in managing the emergency, and the IC

• * PROCUREMENT:

• * The Procurement group is tasked with locating and obtaining additional resources. These are expected to be chiefly transport related, such as buses, vans, and potentially horse trailers.

• * CLAIMS:

• * The Claims group records information that may be required for future insurance claims by the camp, as well as information on unpaid services and equipment, such as transportation costs.

• * DATA/IT:

• * The Information Technology specialist maintains and updates the camp web site with current information on the state of visiting units, as well as working with the Logistics Communications group nd the Planning section on getting up to date information on the hazard, traffic information on evacuation routes and other data
• * Maintains critical digital records of the camp, updating off site records, and, upon evacuation, bringing a hard copy or portable digital copy of critical records.
• * As part of the Base Operations Security group task, the IT specialist secures and powers down any main servers or other sensitive equipment.

• * SHELTER:

• * The Shelter group communicates with local scout councils that have agreed to house scouts during an emergency. The group will alert shelter camps at the beginning of the evacuation, and as each unit is sent off to a shelter camp. If the shelter camps become filled the group will find additional shelter housing and update the record for that unit.

Sources Used:

BSA Cornhusker Council, General Emergency Plan, http://www.cornhuskercouncil.org/camp/boyscoutcamp/general/emergency.asp

Athens Amateur Radio Club, http://www.athensarc.org/scoutcamp02.asp

CSA Emergency Plan Action Plan Template, http://74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:vcCNoNxgf_gJ:scouttroop92.ca/scouts/Emergency%2520Plan%2520Action%2520Plan%2520Template.doc+scout+camp+emergency+plan&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

Troop 323, Camp Emergency Plan, http://lists.bsatroop323.com/pipermail/troop-bsatroop323.com/2008-June/000358.html

Philmont Scout Ranch, http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HighAdventure/Philmont.aspx

"In Wake of Tragedy, Area Scout Camp 'Prepared", SouthBendTribune.com

Camp Bayview User Guidelines, Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas

Tabletop Excercise Scenarios, Wisconsin Emergency Management Agency

State of Ohio Emergency Operations, Ohio Emergency Management Agency

Master County Emergency Operations Plan, Master County Oklahoma

Baby Boy!

We are parents again! Jessie gave birth to an 8lns 8oz 21 inch boy last night. His name is Aaron James Stevens. Jess is doing great and the baby looks perfect.

Prelude to temporal experiments.

Friday was great. Today was a great way to follow Friday. Not much happened but we all had an enjoyable relaxing day with each other here. Kids played, inside and out. Jess did some preparation for the baby, and spent time reading in the sun on the porch, and I took my first bike ride of the season (which I have been looking forward too since my last bike ride of '09.)

Also we completed an experiment.

I have a lot of silly ideas, Calviny ideas. The bike trailer was one such. Today I wanted to make spaghetti sauce from scratch. We want to get ready for the garden and as we don't eat that many vegetables we plan to make a sauce garden. But before we do we'd better make sure we have a recipe we like! We had to go shopping anyways and picked up all the necessary vegetables I won't touch in their recognizable form (pepper, onion, celery... yuck!) And then a funny thing happened. It must be some little studied property of tomatoes but as we began to dice and stir and cook time slowed down. I don't wear a watch so I was unable verify this but t leads me to believe that a series of temporal experiments may be in order, including making another batch of sauce.
Which, by the way turned out awesome. It didn't come out quite right so we added some store bought sauce but the veggies were great. We also diced up some garlic salt and toasted some 5-minute-bread. It... was... GOOD!

And all is well as the family sleeps.
CS

2010 Haworth refit

I am very fortunate (blessed even!) to have been given a set of metal overhead cabinets and metal bookshelves. These cabinets are cool by themselves but with the built in lights underneath they have solved my poor work lighting issue. Several of the ahm... creative building practices used when the garage was added to the house fixed my decision to stack two cabinets. This leaves them accessible without interfering with the lathe or overhead shelves (where the cabinets are now I had open plywood shelving before. Under the stacked cabinets there is still two feet of workspace between the cabinet and the workbench. The bookshelves were invaluable as they allowed me to store several tons of crap while I cleared the old shelves. Next step is to get all the tools hung back on the wall under the cabs and maybe to put the cabinet lighting on the overhead light circuit.
CS

On the history of memory.

I've shared this with a couple people lately but I thought its worth writing about.

I have clear memories of as far back as 3 years old. Not many of course, but I have many specific and detailed memories where my parents were not present and are not from pictures seen later or stories told about me. Many of them are from the 2-3 year old sunday school at Ganson St. Baptist Church where I grew up in Jackson, MI.

And it occured to me that my daughter is already well past that point. Caleb is closing in on the age that I remember from. From now on anything they do could become a lasting memory. Hanah still talks about the Christmas before last, and her 3 year birthday party, as well as other things from a year or more ago. It could be she'll still remember when she's thirty!

We've had a rough couple of days lately. We've all been sick, coupled uncooperative children who won't fall asleep before midnight, and have lost tempers more than once. These days too, could become lasting memories. Though I don't have many memories of bad days (truth is I don't think there were many bad days growing up from my childs eye view) its interesting to think that at such an early age events big or small may be carried around the rest of their lives. For my own part it is the remembering that has caused some of these early events to shape my life, as much or more than the events themselves.

CS

Synthesizing Vocabulary

My son is great. Why? Because he takes after me (ha!) No it's because he is following an old family tradition of making up words. Today he asked for 'cheeza' for lunch, which is Caleb speak for cheese pizza / cheesy bread / any combination of cheese and bread not resulting in a sandwich. True when googled cheeza is not an original word in the history of the English language, but it still counts here for us, and put big cheeza smiles on our face.
Our cheeza today was homemade pita bread (80% successful, next time will be better) stuffed with mozzarella.