utilizing ahimts to manage recovery operations

Utilizing AHIMTsTo Manage

Recovery Operations

What’s this <Donkey> up to now?

What we will talk about…Traditional AHIMT DeploymentsDurability of the ProcessFidelity

Consistency Accuracy

IMT “Interoperability” Structure for Concurrent Operations Expectations and Variances in Operations Pitfalls / Lessons Learned

Context of this Presentation…

The Context…

Bastrop County Complex Fire

Regional Planning Philosphy…Planning is always focused on local

community needs“The needs of one community is the need of

all communities…”No single jurisdiction in our region can

handle a large-scale eventWe consider the expanded “Community”

Region thinks locallyLocal thinks regionally

Recovery – A Different Perspective

Elements

• Debris Management• HazMat• Public Health• Donation

Management• Volunteers

• Animal Support• CISM / Mental

Wellness for Responder/Victims

• Habitat Preservation and Conservation

Simultaneous AHIMT Response and Recovery Ops

Local, State, and Federal Assets Engaged Early for Response (Reimbursed) Traditional AHIMT Response 22 Days for 100% Containment Reimbursement Expected

Local Resources Initially Utilized for Recovery Ops Initiated 3 days into event Recovery Plan “Approved” 20 days after start – 2

days before 100% Containment No Reimbursement Expected for Local

Assistance

Recovery Operations - ProgressionOperations

Debris CoordinatorTDEM Need to

Order

Donations Coordinator

LocalNGO- Central TX

VOADShelter CoordinatorBCFS

VOAD CoordinatorTDEM-ordered

CISM/Victims Assistance

Bastrop Co SONeed order TDEM/FEMA

Livestock/PetCoordinator

Bastrop Co ACO/Local Rep

PWRTNeed to order

Overhead Team

HAZMATTCEQ

Local Rep

Sept. 11 Operations

Debris CoordinatorTDEM

Local Rep

Donations Coordinator

LocalNGO- Central TX

VOADShelter CoordinatorBCFS

VOAD CoordinatorTDEM

CISM/Victims Assistance

Bastrop Co SOLocal MHMR

TDEM

Livestock/PetCoordinator

Bastrop Co ACO/Local Rep

PWRTAwaiting

Overhead Team

HAZMATTCEQ

Local Rep

Sept. 12 Operations

Debris CoordinatorTDEM

Public AssistanceLocal

Shelter CoordinatorBCFS

VOAD CoordinatorTDEM

Victims Assistance Bastrop Co SOTDEM/FEMA

Donations CoordinatorBastrop CoState Rep

HAZMATTCEQ

Local Rep

Sept. 13

Damage AssessmentLocal Rep

Operations

Debris Management

Public Assistance

Debris Coordination

VOAD CoordinatorTDEM

Victims Assistance Bastrop Co SO

TDEM/FEMA

Donations CoordinatorBastrop CoState Rep

Habitat Preservation

Sept. 14

Damage AssessmentLocal Rep

Public Health

PWRT

Operations

Debris Management

Public Assistance

Debris Coordination

VOAD CoordinatorLocal

Victims Assistance Bastrop Co SO

Donations Coordinator

County Judge

Habitat Preservation

Sept. 15

Road & Bridge

Public Health

PWRT

Operations

Debris Management

Public Assistance

Debris Coordination

VOAD CoordinatorLocal

Victims Assistance Bastrop Co SO

Donations Coordinator

County Judge

Habitat Preservation

Sept. 16

Road & Bridge

Public Health

PWRT Animal SupportLocal

Recovery Operations - Leadership

Lessons Learned

New Language

New Language for Us!• “Preservation”• “Conservation”• “Restoration”• “Regulation”• “Mitigation”• “Cranial Copulation”

The Team…Leadership and Follow-ship

Elected Officials Team Members / Public Officials

Relevance of Previous Education No Assumptions Made on Training Educate in Every Interaction Teach the Process While Creating the Product

Consistency Creates Stability

Simultaneous Ops - 1

EMC = UC Continuity Coordination

EOC Recovery Operations In Tent “…down the hill…”

ICP Response Operations In Convention Center

Simultaneous Operations - 2

IAP vs. EOC OAP“Opportunities”

IAP vs. EOC OAP

WilcoTaskForce

WTF

Simultaneous Operations - 2

IAP vs. EOC OAP“Opportunities”

Simultaneous Operations - 2

IAP vs. EOC OAP“Opportunities”

Simultaneous Ops - 3“Opportunities”

Identification Titles Signs Vests Shirts…

Confusion of Roles…

Simultaneous Ops - 4

Environment Tent Response Apparatus Uniforms

It looked like response…

“Opportunities”

Simultaneous Ops - 5

Shared Resources JIC GIS Elected Officials Public Officials

“Incident Schizophrenia”

“Opportunities”

ProcessPlanning P and Schedules PostedRun the Meetings for the GroupNew Team Members Educated Prior to the

Meeting“We will meet you afterwards to

discuss…”Take the time to educate – without

distractionStuck to the Process…the plan would

change…

Accountability

Success / Opportunities

Keep It Simple

Take Home Messages

Integrate with Other TeamsWatch Nomenclature / AppearanceEducate…Educate…Educate the JurisdictionBe Patient as Learning OccursStop and Assess Progress with Other IMT

Leadership

Teamwork / Multitasking

Take Home Message

The Process is Enduring…the plan is variable

The Process is like a VW…

Take Home Message

Fidelity is Key Communication of Expectations is Critical Coordinate with “Counterparts”

Interoperability – Knowing the process and following it allows easy transition of personnel

How did we make this all happen?

The Jurisdiction• Mike Fisher Knows AHIMT Capabilities

– The Jurisdiction Was Better Prepared• Required Local (Regional) Involvement

Be Present for Mutual Benefits • Interested in Historical Value• Followed the Plan…and Planning

Process• Trusted the Team

In Closing

Recovery is about local control and guidance…identify who is the authority and who has the

responsibility…

Normalize Operations

Sometimes, the lessons are not easy...

“I have always enjoyed learning, I just don’t like being taught.”

Winston Churchill

Questions?

There’s no time to think when all hell breaks loose, but there’s plenty of time to prepare for it.Joseph Petro

U.S. Secret Service (Ret)