helicopper

From: IAEM Headquarters 201 Park Washington Court Falls Church, VA 22046-4527 www.iaem.com Contact: Dawn Shiley-Danzeisen IAEM Communications Manager Shiley@iaem.com Direct: 571-481-8657 NEWS RELEASE IAEM-USA Calls for Restoring FEMA to Independent Agency Status November 19, 2008 (Overland Park, Kan.) The U.S. Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA) is calling for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be restored to its former status as an independent agency reporting directly to the President. IAEM-USA also urges that the Director be designated as a member of the President’s Cabinet. This position was adopted by association’s leadership during IAEM’s 56th Annual Conference attended by more than 1,500 emergency managers. “We adopted this position with a unanimous vote of our Board of Directors,” said IAEM-USA President-Elect Russell Decker, CEM. “This is the right time to do the right thing.” Numerous experts in emergency management and homeland security – including former FEMA Director James Lee Witt – have suggested that now is the time to remove FEMA from the bureaucracy within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “FEMA can regain its status as one of the most successful and admired federal agencies, as it was early in this decade, but it will take a concerted effort from the new administration, support from Congress, and participation from stakeholders at all levels,” said Witt. “The first, and probably most important, step is to immediately begin the process of moving FEMA out of the Department of Homeland Security.” IAEM-USA believes that mixing the DHS mission of preventing future terrorism events and the FEMA mission of disaster consequence management (mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) has significantly detracted from both missions. The re-establishment of FEMA as an independent agency reporting directly to the President, with a Director designated as a member of the President’s Cabinet, would allow federal, state and local government partners to better serve the American public during future disasters. The fundamental division of work would return to the paradigm of crisis management (protecting the nation by preventing and catching those who would commit an act of terrorism against the United States) and consequence management (dealing with the impact of any disaster – whether natural, technological or terrorism-related). IAEM-USA believes that a nimble, strong and independent FEMA with strong state and local partners would greatly contribute to the safety of our citizens and the resiliency our communities. The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) has more than 4,200 members including emergency management professionals at the state and local government levels, tribal nations, the military, colleges and universities, private business and the nonprofit sector in the United States and in other countries. Most of our members are U.S. city and county emergency managers who perform the crucial function of coordinating and integrating the efforts at the local level to prepare for, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from all types of disasters including terrorist attacks. Our membership includes emergency managers from large urban areas as well as rural areas. IAEM has consistently promoted the goals of saving lives and protecting property during emergencies and disasters since its founding in 1952 as the U.S. Civil Defense Council. ### Released for publication/duplication - not restricted by copyright.

Both the Town of Greenburgh and the Westchester County DES sponsor a technical rescue team. Both teams are comprised of members from different disciplines so you may try contacting them. I think you would have to be the member of some agency to be covered by insurance while operating on the team but they will be able to tell you officially. Good luck!

Here's some evidence for the DA, huh? STORY: http://www.cbs8.com/stories/story.146612.html VIDEO: http://www.cbs8.com/flv/video_pop_hd3.php?...p;cat=undefined

Barry, Thanks for the info. What would be the impact on a municipalities ISO rating if they had no ladder company and inadequate staffing on their remaining apparatus? Do you have any links directly to the ICMA standards or ISO criteria for staffing?

Uh, I don't mean to rain on anyone's inaugural parade or anything but with regard to videos posted on youtube - do we know the source is actually providing accurate information, objectively, without bias or "spin"? It is a tremendous resource and reviewing a candidate's speech to hear his/her words in context is one thing but all these "informational" videos that reference laws (like the assault weapon ban) have to be taken with a grain of salt unless you know and can verify the information presented.

Just out of curiosity, if most are understaffed and FDNY and YFD are overstaffed what do you consider appropriate staffing?

Isn't it true that the airbag capacitor can still hold a charge, therefore still be considered a threat, even if the battery is disconnected? From a law enforcement perspective, try to avoid "cutting" anything until you have the opportunity to confer with the PD on scene - there may be evidentiary considerations! Obviously, some things may need to be done immediately in the interests of safety but, in most cases, you still have time to find out if the accident is going to be investigated as a crime scene.

I renew my previous comment on this subject. Do we have any idea what the heck he meant in that speech? We don't know if he means the national guard, the existing agencies such as DHS/FEMA/CERT/MRC/etc., a completely new creation or what. As for political discussions, this is more of a policy discussion than a political one so I'm in favor of keeping it. If people start bashing the people and not the issue then this topic will have to go. Keep smiling guys, we've got four years to figure out what he means, right? This is the quote that is generating all the debate:

That's great in a single jurisdiction with a single agency (or a couple of agencies) involved but the original question asked about multi-jurisdictional or multi-agency events where there are multiple white helmets or black fords with tinted windows on scene. With a large scale fire operation, how do you know who the IC is when there are 10 white helmets milling about? As for lights being lost/blending in on the scene, as an incident grows and perimeters are properly established the need to leave all the lights going on all the vehicles decreases. Someone really ought to walk around and start shutting them off so everyone doesn't go blind. And you're right, the only thing worse than having to play "where's Waldo" looking for the IC is trying to figure out which ICP is the ICP and which IC is really the IC when they set up three command posts at the same incident.

And White Plains.

Yes, the "status" and location of the female passenger does create some more "interesting" questions.

I've seen mention of this in a couple of threads now and was wondering if anyone can elaborate on what it is, how it is staffed/equipped, what they're doing, etc? Monticello to Goshen is like a 45 minute ride, isn't it? How does the team cover such a vast area with those kinds of response times? How did they arrive at these three FD's for the team? Thanks in advance for any input.

Speed "may" have been a factor? Ya think? It takes a tremendous amount of energy to roll a vehicle of that size FOUR times. For it to be operating at such a speed for a "test run" is irresponsible and may prove to be reckless. I wonder how the fire department's insurance company is going to view the $500K loss during a "test run". There but for the grace of God... Thankful nobody was killed is right. He's been driving the ladder truck since he was 17? What's up with that? What training requires the operator to be speeding along during a test run of the apparatus?

Has anyone been able to find out exactly what he means by "civilian security force" or are we all just speculating?

From the OFPC training catalog: Shouldn't be construed as a replacement for real police officers or as an alternative to calling them!

Yes, they are unarmed peace officers. They are not police officers, nor are they present to perform primary law enforcement functions such as protecting other first responders, intervening in law enforcement matters, or securing a premise at the conclusion of fire/EMS operations. There are a multitude of reasons to call the PD in addition to the "possible threat to EMS or FD". What training does the fire police have in preventing looting? Come on, are you really suggesting that you wouldn't want the PD to respond to a scene where an allied emergency service forced entry into/onto private property? NYS Criminal Procedure Law Article 2.10 regarding fire police "squads": Training requirements for fire police as peace officers: NYS Criminal Procedure Law NYS General Municipal Law 209-C: I can't find any mention of anti-looting training or equipment for the prevention of looting?

Vehicle purchases are usually a capital project and come from a different budget funded by bonds, not directly by the tax levy. Might be just semantics, but it is a different source of funding and part of a long-term capital budget process not the year to year operating one. Sure might be an issue of they don't have the people to staff the new vehicles, though. This is only one example of the belt tightening going on across the country and I agree wholeheartedly with those who think this is only the beginning!!!!

According to the article, it is being modeled after or is revising the existing diesel idling law which is as follows: Section 873.1317 of the Laws of Westchester County: Until someone can post the actual legislation as it relates to the new amendment/section it is really impossible to know what is realistic or (un)enforceable. That said, I bet it will be enforceable when you respond to the post office/deli/gas station/etc. for the stolen vehicle complaint and the victim reports that "they left their car running for a few minutes while they ran inside". How's that for adding insult to injury. Here's the complaint number for your file 1 report and a ticket for leaving your car running!!!!

Hypothetical Situation: You encounter a patient who is conscious and a candidate for transport to a trauma center. You request a medevac but the patient states that he/she does not want to go in a helicopter (for whatever reason, fear of flying/heights, claustrophobia, recent medevac accidents, etc.). In fact, they become more agitated at the prospect. What would you do?

Are you sure? I'm almost certain that Suffolk County PD has jurisdiction - you guessed it - in all of Suffolk County. They may not staff the eastern end of the island very much because of Town PD's but they do have jurisdiction there. Anyone from the island lurking about???

This is my point exactly. Some people tend to glamorize the use of a medevac and have department apparel emblazoned with images of the helicopter or catchy phrases boasting about how often they use them. All to often, patients receiving the extremely expensive air ambulance ride are discharged the same or very next day. This isn't what the use of medevacs is all about. I think the decision making tree for the use of medevac needs to be tightened up a bit so that there is less "questionable" use of the service. This makes it safer for those involved and keeps the valuable resource available for when they are actually needed.

And the police have sergeants, lieutenants, captains, and a chief or commissioner. I don't walk in off the street to criticize the way you conduct yourself in your office. Some do. Then exemptions shouldn't be written into the law - but again that's the fault of the legislators not the cops or others who use those exemptions. Sometimes they do get tickets and fined. It all depends. Every police involved accident (in my department) results in an internal review regardless of criminal or VTL charges and disciplinary charges may be brought against an officer if the review panel deems it warranted. It doesn't require gross negligence for that to happen. Some departments are even more strict (and yes, some are much less strict). Good for you! I wish everyone did. And my point is holding them accountable between elections. Assault? Come on, really? There are plenty of discussions that question the actions of police/fire/EMS on this board and it isn't an assault. If you want to criticize the PD for something substantive, have at it. I'll probably agree with you. I just think the cell phone argument is a waste of time - we can agree to disagree on that point. I just presented my opinion, nothing more. I've been a volunteer and know that there are pitfalls in the system - but that's no state secret! I think we should all be advocates for the right system instead of defenders of an ailing one just because we're volunteers. A heart attack is serious and doesn't care if the person treating it is a volunteer or paid and a fire will kill a volunteer just as fast a career guy. We all need to get over the "volunteer defense" and start recognizing problems as problems in need of a solution.

Does anyone stand outside your office and scrutinize your every move? Does anyone tell you that you're typing too fast or spent too much time on a coffee break or at lunch? Do people stare at you in your office and question whether or not you're completing an important contract or surfing the 'net? Do people see you standing with a colleague and accuse you of being lazy or incompetent or shirking your responsibilities? Does anyone care if you're on the phone with a client or your wife? A police car is a cops office for eight hours a day. He/she basically sits in a fish bowl enabling all of their critics (and apparently many members of EMTBravo) to judge them and criticize them for using the phone or driving too fast or going through a red light. Can a cop use his or her cell phone while driving? What possible difference does it make to you? If a cop has an accident while going through a red light or speeding without being enroute to a call, it's on them. Unless they hit you what possible difference does it make? Given that today is election day, it only seems appropriate to ask: Do you scrutinize the actions of your elected officials half as much as you do your local police? Glass houses everyone, glass houses! If you live in one don't throw cell phones!

He's retired now so if he's doing it anymore it isn't on PD time.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-...0,2489470.story This suit is being brought by another fire chief - an unusual twist to say the least. What does everyone think of this?