tbendick

From the FEMA Release "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."

Just a note. The FFs they are looking for now, are paid only. This is for all admin type stuff, taking reports and handing out info. For the most part they are not looking people with "skills" That is being done with the use of USAR and DMAT. As well as some local small request like LAFD sending a swift water team.

The only EMS teams I am aware that are going done are the DMATS.. Many EMS responders have called the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) asking how they can help other emergency responders and victims of Hurricane Katrina. NAEMT recognizes the importance of providing emotional, financial and professional support to the EMS crews in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, and issues the following responder guidelines: Do not self-dispatch to the scene. In accordance with the position of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, NAEMT urges EMS responders not to self-dispatch to areas 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. Coordination under the National Incident Management System is impossible when EMS responders are not part of an organized response team. Contact your local Red Cross office about volunteer opportunities. There is not currently an infrastructure in place to process individual EMS volunteers who want to help in the disaster area. Instead, NAEMT urges EMS responders to contact their local Red Cross offices to inquire about volunteer opportunities. Many local Red Cross offices are compiling databases of potential volunteers with specific skill sets. This is currently the best way for EMS personnel not currently affiliated with a medical response team to assist the disaster response effort. The following url goes directly to an online list of local Red Cross offices: http://www.redcross.org/where/chapts.asp. If and when new volunteer opportunities for EMS responders present themselves, NAEMT will post them on its Web site at www.naemt.org. If you are employed by a fire department, notify your chief if you want to be deployed to the hurricane scene. The United States Fire Administration has issued a call for responders needed for community service duties in the hurricane-affected areas. Responders must be: Physically capable of performing manual tasks under severe conditions; 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; 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. The current need is for 1,000 two-person teams. A department may offer more than one two-person team. These people will be deployed as a team, and the United States Fire Administration has expressed a preference that they know one another prior to deployment. This initial request is for full-time career firefighters that are employed by municipal government and sponsored by that municipality because of the way that salaries and expenses will be reimbursed. Members of volunteer fire and EMS departments are not being recruited at this time. If you are employed by a fire department, notify your chief if you want to be deployed to the hurricane scene. The United States Fire Administration has issued a call for responders needed for community service duties in the hurricane-affected areas. Responders must be: Physically capable of performing manual tasks under severe conditions; 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; 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. The current need is for 1,000 two-person teams. A department may offer more than one two-person team. These people will be deployed as a team, and the United States Fire Administration has expressed a preference that they know one another prior to deployment. This initial request is for full-time career firefighters that are employed by municipal government and sponsored by that municipality because of the way that salaries and expenses will be reimbursed. Members of volunteer fire and EMS departments are not being recruited at this time. Make financial donations to the NAEMT EMS Rescuer and Relief Fund. NAEMT established the EMS and Rescuer Relief Fund after 9-11 to collect money for the families of the EMS workers who died responding to the terrorist attacks. That fund remains operational, and funds collected at this time will be distributed to EMS responders affected by Hurricane Katrina. NAEMT urges anyone who is able to make a financial donation to send a check to the NAEMT EMS and Rescuer Relief Fund c/o the NAEMT Headquarters, PO Box 1400, Clinton, MS 39060-1400. Credit card donations may be made by calling (800) 34-NAEMT. Individual and corporate donations are welcome. NAEMT has pledged to cover the operational costs of the fund, permitting all donations to the fund to be distributed in their entirety. The money collected will be made available to EMS professionals who need help re-building their lives in the wake of the hurricane. No decisions have been made yet as to precisely when and how the funds will be disseminated. After 9-11, NAEMT disseminated $107,553 to assist the families of EMS workers who died in the line of duty while responding to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Offer emotional support through NAEMTResponds@aol.com. Because many EMS responders in the hurricane-affected areas are working around-the-clock under very stressful conditions, and because many of them also have suffered great personal losses, NAEMT urges EMS responders to offer emotional support through any communication methods available. Electronic messages of support may be sent c/o NAEMTResponds@aol.com. These messages will be posted on the NAEMT Web site (www.naemt.org), as well as forwarded to NAEMT Governors in the affected states for dissemination to local EMS responders. EMS responders are urged to use NAEMT communications channels to keep in contact with their EMS brothers and sisters affected by the hurricane. NAEMT is the oldest and largest association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics and other emergency medical responders. Its national headquarters are located in Clinton, Mississippi, and were temporarily closed immediately following the hurricane. NAEMT President Ken Bouvier and Past President John Roquemore, both from the New Orleans area, are currently serving their communities during the Katrina disaster. For more information or to arrange an interview, contact John Becknell or Lauren Simon Ostrow at (858) 456-8600. Further information will be posted on www.naemt.org as it becomes available

Well as we have all been hearing FEMA/DHS has started to mandate things. If you don't follow then you don't get any money from grants. One Example would be NYC going to the NIMS or as they call it CIMS. So here come the next step. No more 10-Codes. One side I like the idea, but on the other I love hearing 10-75 the box. Now talking to some people, I know they could care less and don't want to give up 10-codes. However I have had first hand experiance with problems from 10-Codes. August 2003 blackout, NYC called out for EMS mutal Aide and was sent many units from all over, NJ, LI, Westchester, etc. I met with every Mutal Aide ambulance they came into the city that day. Myself and an EMS Captain setup a staging area and then directed them to deploy to parts of the city. They were issued a radio set to the correct channel, NYC Map, Unit number and Cross Street locations. As well as quick rundown of Hospitals. When they started going into service, they looked just like any other unit on the CADS and some dispatchers didn't know they were M/A units. So as the night went on and the 10-codes were flying around the air, It made of a mess. "61D are 63?" "61D to dispatch what does that mean?" "61E reported 10-83" "What?" So as you can see 10-codes can be hard to work with. _______________________________________________________________ ASSOCIATED PRESS FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- In Virginia police-speak, a 10-50 means a motor vehicle accident. But head to Montgomery County, Md., and 10-50 becomes ''officer in trouble.'' Now the Federal Emergency Management Agency is recommending police and other emergency officials nationwide give up the varying numerical codes used to communicate quickly with each other, saying the shorthand can lead to confusion when different agencies respond to a disaster. In Virginia, the shift has met with both mild resistance and complacency. FEMA issued a directive in May involving an array of new training and procedures with which police departments across the country will have to comply. Part of the National Incident Management System directive involves phasing out the 10-codes -- or ''brevity codes''-- and replacing them with phrases like ''I'm at an accident scene'' and other standard language. ''It comes down to common terminology, plain language, plain English that everyone can understand,'' said Don Jacks, FEMA spokesman. ''It's the language that we use. If there's a bank robbery, we want the police to say, 'There's a bank robbery at First and Main' instead of, 'There's a 10-50'.'' FEMA hopes this will create a system by which all police and emergency personnel can understand each other and reduce confusion in emergency situations involving multiple jurisdictions. But Virginia State Police use codes, and will continue to do so until they get official word from FEMA to stop, said spokeswoman Corrine Geller. ''We've not received any directive or any kind of documentation from FEMA concerning the phase-out of the brevity codes,'' Geller said. ''The superintendent is aware of these recommendations (but) we'll continue to use them until we're notified by FEMA.'' The Virginia Department of Emergency Management uses plain English anyway, and isn't really affected, said spokesman Bob Spieldenner. Gov. Mark R.Warner has signed off on the FEMA requirements, promising the state will comply with the national standards. Jacks said FEMA recognizes changes won't come overnight, but that the agency wants police departments to at least make an effort. ''We want them to be working toward becoming compliant and becoming compliant is using common terminology, common language,'' Jacks said. ''We know they won't be eliminated by October 2006. But our goal is good-faith efforts to be able to change the way first responders communicate.'' Jacks said local police departments will not necessarily lose federal money by failing to comply with the new regulations. But when applying for grants next year, departments will have to note whether they're phasing out the codes. Those which are could have a leg up in the grant race, he said.

The only problem with this, is that you get customed to doing something everyday, it will stick. Just one example I can think of is with FDNY EMS and NYPD. Some units have a bad habbit of dropping part of the unit ID. Such as 50 Pct "Ida" Instead of saying 50Ida a lot of them would say O-Ida. Just like EMS units such as 16V saying 6Victor. One day 16V came up on citywide asking for help and said 6V, well 6V is in lower manhattan not harlem. So to say for units like these. I will use the full name when I need to or I will stop using 10-codes when I need to won't be easy. If Dept's decide to follow with this, I would say it would have to be all or none. With maybe some codes for key things.

Sq288_Hm1 There is a new Sat 6 which has already been completed.

Just got a 32 episode DVD collection for my Birthday. Have to say that I am amazed at how good the quality of the DVD's are. In total there are 8 DVD's in the set. Doing some looking around the net.. It looks as if these where made from the columbia releases. The offical Season one is due out this month. Not sure which online store she purchased it from. However here is link to the DVD's from one of the places I found. http://dvdavenue.tv/products.php?iProductI...CollectionID=79 Also comming out soon is the first season on DVD. Emergency Season One DVD

Satellite 1 is getting a new rig that is confirmed... Not sure what the reason is, could just be that the funding is there and now they can use old Sat 1 as a spare or reserve. http://www.ferrarafire.com/apparatus/in_pr.../2850/2850.html

A lot of the clips in the opening were shot at Engine 76/Ladder 22. Next time you look you will notice a bunch of the stuff from the qtrs.

Well it has happened all the FDNY information releated to 9/11 is now public. You can pretty much get it from any news website.

FDNY has now placed in service a Collapse Rescue Task force in each Boro. The Task forces are as follows. 1. Rescue 1, Collapse Rescue 1 with Ladder 25 2. Rescue 2, Collapse Rescue 2 with Ladder 132 3. Rescue 3, Collapse Rescue 3 4. Rescue 4, Collapse Rescue 4 with Ladder 116 5. Rescue 5, Collapse Rescue 5 One Task force will be assigned on the the initial report of structural Collapse and scaffold emergency. Two Task forces will respond to reports of Trench Cave-in, Major Structural Collapse, and 10-60's. Note. The Ladder 25, 116 and 132 are assigned to transport the collapse unit as they are stationed in the same house. Rescue 3 and 5 have the collapse units in quarters. Collapse Rescue 1, 2, and 4 are the new units from Ferrara. Collapse Rescue 3 is the old tractor unit. Collapse Rescue 5 is an old Rescue unit converted

Ferrara has begun production on FDNY's new Satelite units. You can follow along with the following units at this time. 2849 2850 2851 2852

FDNY has placed in service 10 Collapse PODS (Portable on Demand Storage) with 2 Mack transport trucks. The PODS contain shoring lumber, Metal and concert saw blades and a cutting table with templates. No tools are contained in the PODS. Collapse PODS are deployed as follows. POD 1 @ The rock with Roll-off 1. POD 2 @ Engine 332 POD 3 @ Engine 92 POD 4 @ Fort Totten POD 5 @ Ladder 79 with Roll-off 5. POD 6 @ EMS Station 4 POD 7 @ Ladder 102 POD 8 @ EMS Station 18 POD 9 @ Squad 270 POD 10 @ EMS Station 22 The Mack trucks have been designate Roll-off 1 and Roll-off 5. Roll-off 1 located at the Rock and Roll-off 5 located at Ladder 79. The Mack trucks are the same trucks used by sanitation for transporting Dumpsters and can be used as needed.

I'm a big fan of the Granite chasis, and these must look hot painted and lettered for FDNY. Seth, The PODS look like a dumbster with a roof on it. There are ten around the city for deployment. There are only two macks in the city. One at the Rock and one in SI.

Very few FDNY guys use the waist strap.. I know I am one of the few that does use. My reason is as stated above, If I go down I don't want to make it harder to get me out. I always try to get the new guys while they are on probation to keep using it. The hope being it will be like a seat belt and they would get to the point that it was second nature.

Take a look at your graphic card. The game needs certain cards, not any old card will do.. I have to pull my old AGP and pick up a G-Force to get it to run.

FDNY Unit 40Adam could be from EMS. But you have to look at context it's used in. If it's on the Manhattan freq, then it's 4A and 4C. Not sure how the Marshalls are numbered but that have some units that sound like pd numbers.

Is West Harrison still using a cross band repeater? If so what freq is it currntly on? I thought it was set to 453.925 but havn't heard anything on that. Thanks

Good deals right now is at Costco. $99 for 1gb 80X from Lexar or $109 from B&H $89 for 1gb Ultra II from Sandisk same at B&H From what I can find out. The Lexar is about 12mb/sec and Sandisk 9mb/sec Both these cards will hold up very well.

MERV 1 is parked under a overhang at Bell it's like an old taxi dropoff area thats not used anymore. Not the best spot for photos. It's located right next to the FDR However they changed the MCI matrix and have the MERV rolling on all 2nd's so you might be better getting them there. Listen to CW 1 and you will know if they are going. Also MERV 4 has been covering the Bronx. My old partner is driving MERV 1 now. Side note. EMS Bn8 is currenlty working out of trailers on the roof of a setback next to the ER. A good portion of the new building is now up on 26 street. Have to take a ride by it. It's suppose to look something like Engine 4 and Ladder 15 on South Street.

MERV 2 was in the Bronx. Now the Bronx has the MRTU.. MERV 3 is in Brooklyn. I kind of use the Rescue's to remember the EMS numbers. Rescue 1, LSU 1, MERV 1 and EMS Division 1 = Manhattan Rescue 4, LSU 4, MERV 4 and EMS Division 4 = Queens Rescue 5, LSU 5, EMS Division 5 = SI Bronx and Brooklyn are backwards LSU 2, MRTU, and if there was a MERV 2, EMS Division 2 = Bronx LSU 3, MERV 3, EMS Division 3 = Brooklyn

WolfEMT, I just tried that. It will show firehouse if it's on the map view that you are looking at. Also some of these map programs will show a firehouse coverage area. These are all administrative districts. For example Engine 65 covers 34/6av on the NW side. Victory Secrets being one of the locations on the corner. Complaints go to Engine 65 but Engine 1 is first due I believe. Engine 65 is 3rd due. mstrang1, You would need to get the box number for the address and then get the alarm assignment.

Some photos from a All Hands in Brooklyn. Hazmat responded for a few propane tanks that need to be removed from the building. Due to damage from the fire, the propane tanks were emptied using a control burn off. If anyone is interested there are photos of the entire process from setting up the burn off kit, to the burn. View Photos

Anomalyemt, The thought process here isn't about "Battalion Chiefs".. It's more about dividing the county into Battalion zones like the FD's have. Then from there you would have a Battalion Coordinator to respond within that zone to assist. No one is going into anyone's area anytime soon and taking over being the IC. It's your area it's your incident, end of story. "However I do believe that the current FD battalion chiefs would be the responsible parties if a situation should arise." Not sure what you mean here. Are you talking about County Fire Coordinators or local FD's Chief. Either way this discussion is about EMS. FD Chiefs are not going to be taking over EMS ops. Take lets say Valhalla.. FD doesn't have any EMS role, they don't do first responder and are not trained. Valhalla VAC would keep the role of IC for the incident. Even though the Medic might try to control things. The Medic would have say about patient care, but that's it. "Also as far as the county locating hazmat and MDU trailers at the FD's. It is their responsibility to do so" Don't think it's anyone's responsibility to do so. This is all grant money buying these things. "Furthermore a VAC would have no use for such equipment." 100% correct VAC's don't needed. But they need MCI trailers, tents, lighting equipment. Logistical units, etc. "Ems would be outside such hot zone, treating patients post decontamination." This is just one scenario, Hazmat, I am thinking more about day to day. Bus accidents, trains, plans, Buildings fires, etc. Hazmat is another story.

The EMS Taskforce isn't a Unit, like the Taskforces used by some FDs. A Task Force consists of three (3) BLS Ambulances, two (2) ALS Ambulances or two (2) additional BLS Ambulances and two (2) ALS equipped paramedics (two fly cars or one double fly car) and two (2) supervisors or senior line officers.. MCI LEVEL NUMBER OF PATIENTS *MOBILIZATION OF 1 Up to 10 one (1) task force 2 11-25 two (2) task forces 3 26-50 four (4) task forces 4 51-75 six (6) task forces 5 76-100 eight (8) task forces 6 100+ ten (10) task forces (plus additional resources as decided by the IC)