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Accurate Fire Response Areas: Accurate Fire Response Areas: Key to Effective Preparedness PlansKey to Effective Preparedness Plans

ESRI Homeland Security ESRI Homeland Security -- GIS Summit, Nov. 7, 2007GIS Summit, Nov. 7, 2007

Michael Waters –Vice President, ISOFrederick Brower – Manager, ISO

Michael Waters Michael Waters ––Vice President, ISOVice President, ISOFrederickFrederick Brower Brower –– Manager, ISOManager, ISO

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Emergency PlanningEmergency PlanningEmergency Planning

• All disasters are local events• National Response Plan provides the

framework to support rural and urban emergency operations

Federal level – sector specific lead agenciesState and Local level – responsibility varies

• Disaster response relies heavily on the fire service as the first responder

•• All disasters are local eventsAll disasters are local events•• National Response Plan provides the National Response Plan provides the

framework to support rural and urban framework to support rural and urban emergency operationsemergency operations

Federal level Federal level –– sector specific lead agenciessector specific lead agenciesState and Local level State and Local level –– responsibility variesresponsibility varies

•• Disaster response relies heavily on the fire Disaster response relies heavily on the fire service as the first responderservice as the first responder

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The National Mosaic of ProtectionThe National Mosaic of ProtectionThe National Mosaic of Protection

With authority goes legal responsibility

• Federal Government or Sovereign Body• State Government • Local Municipality• Local Special or Fire Districts• Independent Fire Departments

With authority goes legal responsibilityWith authority goes legal responsibility

•• Federal Government or Sovereign BodyFederal Government or Sovereign Body•• State Government State Government •• Local MunicipalityLocal Municipality•• Local Special or Fire DistrictsLocal Special or Fire Districts•• Independent Fire DepartmentsIndependent Fire Departments

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Fire Department FacilitiesFire Department FacilitiesFire Department Facilities

• Is it really a responding fire station?• What area does it protect?• What apparatus does it house?• What is its readiness?

No longer in service Social clubMuseumOther business

•• Is it Is it reallyreally a responding fire station?a responding fire station?•• What What areaarea does it protect?does it protect?•• What What apparatusapparatus does it house?does it house?•• What is its What is its readinessreadiness??

No longer in service No longer in service Social clubSocial clubMuseumMuseumOther businessOther business

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Times Are ChangingTimes Are ChangingTimes Are Changing

The Dynamics Of Change• Response areas• Areas of growth• New Fire Stations• Closed Fire Stations• Consolidations

The Dynamics Of ChangeThe Dynamics Of Change•• Response areasResponse areas•• Areas of growthAreas of growth•• New Fire StationsNew Fire Stations•• Closed Fire StationsClosed Fire Stations•• ConsolidationsConsolidations

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Mutual AidMutual AidMutual Aid

• Aid defined – mutual and automatic - routine• Regional and State Compacts• Concerns

Workers Compensation insuranceLiability protectionFunding and tax issuesIncident CommandInteroperability of resources

•• Aid defined Aid defined –– mutual and automatic mutual and automatic -- routineroutine•• Regional and State CompactsRegional and State Compacts•• ConcernsConcerns

Workers Compensation insuranceWorkers Compensation insuranceLiability protectionLiability protectionFunding and tax issuesFunding and tax issuesIncident CommandIncident CommandInteroperability of resourcesInteroperability of resources

““You canYou can’’t delegate legal responsibilityt delegate legal responsibility””

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Delivery SystemDelivery SystemDelivery System

• Define the coverage area Who is responsible and respondingSeamless integration into dispatch protocolDocumented in NIMSIntegrated response to major incidents

• GIS planning and response resource solutions

Fire Stations, apparatus, staffing, water supply

•• Define the coverage area Define the coverage area Who is responsible and respondingWho is responsible and respondingSeamless integration into dispatch protocolSeamless integration into dispatch protocolDocumented in NIMSDocumented in NIMSIntegrated response to major incidentsIntegrated response to major incidents

•• GIS planning and response resource GIS planning and response resource solutionssolutions

Fire Stations, apparatus, staffing, water supplyFire Stations, apparatus, staffing, water supply

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Water SupplyWater SupplyWater Supply

• Complements fire department response –from the routine to wide-scale incidents

• Major component of protection envelope• Disasters require water supply for fire

protection– Wildland fires– Wind and flood events– Hazardous Materials or WMD incidents– Other natural and man-made disasters

•• Complements fire department response Complements fire department response ––from the routine to widefrom the routine to wide--scale incidentsscale incidents

•• Major component of protection envelopeMajor component of protection envelope•• Disasters require water supply for fire Disasters require water supply for fire

protectionprotection–– Wildland firesWildland fires–– Wind and flood eventsWind and flood events–– Hazardous Materials or WMD incidentsHazardous Materials or WMD incidents–– Other natural and manOther natural and man--made disastersmade disasters

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Response Planning Baseline - Fire GrowthResponse Planning Baseline Response Planning Baseline -- Fire GrowthFire Growth

Standard Time/Temperature Curve – ASTM

Flashover at 1,000° F

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The Big Picture –Fire Stations

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Texas Fire Station Locations

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Texas Fire Station Locations with Response Areas

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Houston Metro Area

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Houston City Area

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Houston and Postal Area

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Fire Response Areas

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Florida Fire Station Locations

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Florida Fire Station Locations and Response Areas

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Orlando Metro Area

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Orlando City Area

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Fire Response Areas

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California Fire Station Locations

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California Fire Station Locations and Response Areas

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San Diego Metro Area

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San Diego Metro Area 2007 Wildfires

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SummarySummary

• GIS is a powerful tool to:– Identify and locate fire responders– Determine the correct fire responder that

has legal responsibility

• GIS is a powerful tool to:– Identify and locate fire responders– Determine the correct fire responder that

has legal responsibility

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SummarySummary

• An accurate and full understanding of how fire resources are organized is necessary to make informed planning decisions

• GIS tools can facilitate documentation and operational assessment for planning purposes

• Keeping information current is crucial to maintaining effective capabilities

• An accurate and full understanding of how fire resources are organized is necessary to make informed planning decisions

• GIS tools can facilitate documentation and operational assessment for planning purposes

• Keeping information current is crucial to maintaining effective capabilities

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Insurance Services Office, Inc.

Vice President Michael Waters (201) 469-2471mwaters@iso.com

Manager Fred Brower (301) 270-3438fbrower@iso.com