National Joint TERT Initiative

National Joint TERT Initiative

Status of TERT 7 Interest 13 In development 5 Active TX AL NC SC FL

History of Mutual Aid for Dispatch First large scale / long term PSAP mutual aid used on a state level following Hurricane Andrew in 1992 Deployed under the Florida Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Program In 1993, developed into the formal PSAP mutual aid program now used in Florida

History of TERT In 2001, the North Carolina Chapter of NENA developed the first Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) program NC TERT program addressed PSAP-to-PSAP assistance Developed a model Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Emergency Management

History of TERT (Cont) Created a statewide PSAP database Deployment to Hurricane Katrina

Katrina TERT Deployment Problems encountered: EMA unaware of their own PSAPs need for mutual aid assistance PSAPs unaware of availability of mutual aid EMA at all levels unaware of the TERT program

Katrina TERT Deployment TERT program not identified as an established resource by EMAC PSAP mutual aid not addressed by DHS / FEMA Local / State government attempt to treat PSAP mutual aid differently than other first responder mutual aid Housing Travel Cost recovery Responder liability

Spin-off Benefits Gave TERT the opportunity to meet with DHS administrators Solutions discussed NIMS Credentialing NEMA - EMAC Office of Domestic Preparedness Funding Standardized Training

Disciplines Credentialed by NIMS Law Enforcement Fire Service & Hazardous Materials Emergency Medical Services Veterinary Medical & Public Health Public Works Search & Rescue Incident Management Public Safety Telecommunicators

NIMS credentialing criteria Specifying and standardizing roles and responsibilities Ensuring that personnel are properly trained and qualified Providing uniform certification programs to provide mutual aid nationwide Developing a documentation and database system for qualification, certification and credentialing Source: Kyle Blackman, NIMS Office

Typing of Resources Required for inclusion as a NIMS resource Identifies elements available for deployment Number / kind of personnel Skills Certifications Training Equipment Operation duration

Typing by Activation Level Resource Category Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce Communications Minimum Capabilities Component Metric Type I Type II Personnel Team Composition 49 Member Team 1 Team Leader 43 Member Team 1 Team Leader 6 Supervisors 6 Supervisors 42 Telecommunicators 36 Telecommunicators

Historical Duration of Deployment Field Operation PSAP to PSAP Less than 18 hrs to days Multiple days to weeks

National Joint TERT Initiative (NJTI) Collaboration between APCO and NENA Recognized by NIMS as sole source Develop consensus that has become a model for working on other issues

NJTI APCO Committee Members Co Chair Brent Lee NV Sherry Decker, ENP TX Natalie Duran FL Kurt Hardin WA Tim Hennessy, ENP CA Bonnie Maney FL Thomas Nudo - FL Dick Mirgon APCO Board Liaison

NJTI NENA Committee Members Co Chair Doug Edmonds, ENP IL Lisa Dodson, ENP TX John Haynes, ENP PA Steve Newton NC RD Porter, ENP MO Craig Whittington, ENP NC Ronald Bonneau, ENP NENA Board Liaison

Mission of NJTI Develop National Telecommunicator Profile for TERT deployment to satisfy NIMS Credentialing process Develop Typing of TERT Resource for use in EMAC resource guide Develop Deployment Training curricula for telecommunicators and team leadership Develop Tool Kit & Web Site www.njti-tert.org

Model Recommendations for TERT Deployment NJTI used NENA s original 2006 OID Draft document as starting point. What kind of skills might be part of the profile? Should EMD be included? Basic Law Enforcement Dispatch? Basic Fire Dispatch? Hazardous Materials Awareness? ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800?

Medical Fitness of Responders FACT During Katrina deployment by FEMA, there were no physical guidelines for field personnel. Returned nearly 25% due to physical issues. RULE Make sure all responders are physically able to deploy in adverse conditions.

Deployment Considerations Those being deployed MUST understand the environmental limitations they may be subjected to BEFORE they arrive.

Deployment Considerations Those being deployed must be resources, not additional problems.

In most major disaster situations basic living conditions (food, water, shelter) are not readily available. Deployment Considerations

Questions

NJTI Co-Chair Contact Information NJTI Co-Chairs Doug Edmonds, ENP Brent Lee NJTIChairs@NJTI-TERT.org