InfoGram 4-11: January 27, 2011

This InfoGram will be distributed weekly to provide members of the Emergency Services Sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. For further information, contact the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) at (301) 447-1325 or by email at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov.

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HazMat Survival Tips

(Source: FireEngineering.com)

In an article found in FireEngineering.com, Steven DeLisi, retired deputy fire chief and a hazardous materials (HazMat) specialist, explained that despite considerable training efforts "some things may be out of sight and out of mind, but have the potential to catch you off guard when you least expect it." To minimize the possibility for unwelcomed surprises at the scene of an incident, he provided the following HazMat survival suggestions abbreviated by the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC):

• Contact your local emergency management official. This individual should have copies of material safety data sheets (MSDS) submitted by local businesses as well as information on the type and quantity of chemicals stored.
• Engage local public works officials. The public works department is a vital asset during any HazMat incident that involves migration of a chemical into storm water or sewer systems.
• Visit bulk chemical storage facilities. Most of these facilities are safety conscious, but when incidents occur they can quickly escalate into major events.
• Contact officials who operate local railroads and pipelines. Although major incidents involving railroads and pipelines are infrequent, they present a huge challenge to first responders when they do occur.
• Review emergency operations of cargo tanks. Coordinate with companies that operate various types of cargo tanks in the local community, including those that transport flammable liquids such as gasoline and fuel oil, corrosive liquids, and compressed gases (e.g., propane).
• Check the atmospheric monitor. If the apparatus is assigned an atmospheric monitor, ensure all personnel know how to use it correctly.
• Inspect the hazardous materials response trailer. Many fire departments have opted to place equipment for HazMat incidents on utility trailers, which occasionally sit neglected behind the fire station and may not be prepared for an incident.
• Review the current edition of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). Preparations for a HazMat event will be incomplete without an examination of the current ERG edition.
• Review NFPA 704, Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. This standard is taught during basic HazMat training, but requires a periodic refresher.
• Resolve to treat every incident as if it involves HazMat. Whether it's a vehicular rear-end collision, an EMS call for a medical emergency, or a trash fire, every incident has the potential to involve hazardous materials.

More information regarding HazMat issues and training can be found at the U.S. Fire Administration website.

New Disaster Preparedness Tool

(Source: Occupational Health and Safety)

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) recognizes that pre-planning is extremely difficult for an unknown number of casualties following a terrorist attack. Therefore, Emergency Services Sector departments and agencies could use a simple way to estimate realistic casualty figures resulting from catastrophic events.

According to Occupational Health and Safety, the Department of Homeland Security continues to support the development of the Electronic Mass Casualty Assessment and Planning Scenarios (EMCAPS) software. The EMCAPS model allows users to estimate casualties arising from the following types of attacks: biological (e.g., anthrax, plague, food contamination), chemical (e.g., blister, nerve and toxic agents), radiological (e.g., dirty bomb), or explosive (e.g., improvised explosive device).

"This tool is intended to allow plausible scenarios to be reasonably modeled to help planners better understand and assess preparedness and response capabilities needs. It is not intended to precisely model the physical behavior of threat agents or the outcomes of specific threat conditions."

Additional information for this resource can be seen at the National Center for the Study of Preparedness and Catastrophic Event Response.

Preparing for a Biological or Nuclear Event

(Source: Journal of Emergency Medical Services)

The January issue of the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS) contained an article regarding the unseen threats to the personnel and operations of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The co-authors suggested EMS agencies "review how often their planning encompasses emerging threats, such as biological and radiological/nuclear events, because intelligence experts believe potential terrorist attacks could involve these elements to some degree in the future."

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) noted the paper discusses a comprehensive systematic approach to manage a hazardous event. It states that when responding to either a biological or radiological event, always consider the following recommendations:

• Scene safety and assessment prior to arrival (via dispatch and on-scene reports), initial on-scene observations before exiting vehicles, and responder and bystander information obtained after exiting vehicles.
• Initial and continual patient assessment, decontamination, and treatment of all affected persons.
• Patient transport to, and advanced notification of, the appropriate treatment facilities, while ensuring contaminants are not sent to the hospital.

According to the co-authors, the systems approach to any hazardous event should be tailored to each specific condition with the "framework" of prehospital and in-hospital response. "The framework defines the characteristics and mechanisms of the response and recovery phase." Differences in the framework will influence emergency response planning, organization, training, equipment, operational procedures, and coordination requirements.

Fire Prevention and Safety Grants

(Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency)

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) ascertained there is still time to submit an application for the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. Applications for these competitive grants must be received by 4 February at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Projects can include arson prevention, sprinkler awareness, smoke alarm installation, burn prevention, and fire prevention public education.

Applicants who have questions regarding this opportunity should call the help desk at 1-866-274-0960 or send email to firegrants@fema.dhs.gov. Alternatively, see the Guidance and Application Kit (PDF, 581 Kb) for more information about the program.