Domestic Preparedness
Overview | Purpose & Goals | Projects | Resource Links | Resource Documents
Domestic Preparedness Committee Minutes | Domestic Preparedness Committee (as of 06/15/09)
Comments Requested on Current Documents/Initiatives
NASEMSO Members Asked to Comment on Draft CPG 704: Operational Considerations During Pandemic Events (14 July 2009) NASEMSO has received a request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Preparedness Directorate to provide member feedback on its draft (Comprehensive Preparedness Guide) CPG 704: Operational Considerations During Pandemic Events.
CPG 704 was drafted to address a very specific gap in current guidance to State and local officials by providing recommendations on how to address the operational issues raised by pandemic events. The guide offers an outline of the possible functional impact that a pandemic event may cause. In light of this impact, CPG 704 identifies planning considerations for jurisdictions to reference while planning for a pandemic event. During a pandemic outbreak, government organizations must be able to maintain essential functions and services. CPG 704 identifies the elements of Continuity of Operations (COOP) and how a jurisdiction should take into account pandemic issues by using the COOP elements for pre-event planning.
While 704 does cross-reference other Federal guidance, this document does NOT nor does it intend to replace: guidance on writing pandemic plans, instructions on setting up vaccination clinics, medical instructions, or other public-health planning. The intent of this document is to aid the state and local emergency managers/responders to understand the operational environment.
Please provide comments to
Leslee Stein-Spencer, NASEMSO Program Manager, at Stein-Spencer@nasemso.org by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, July 17, 2009. Please note: DHS/FEMA has advised they will accept comments ONLY utilizing the attached Microsoft Excel Comment Sheet. Due to the extremely short turn-around, comments submitted in any other fashion will not be able to be accepted.
NASEMSO Members Asked to Comment on Draft TCLs (02/23/09) The Department of Homeland Security developed 37 Target Capabilities, which were published in September 2007. These TCLs set forth the priorities and outlined a systematic approach for preparedness activities across the prevention, protection, response and hazard mitigation mission areas. DHS/FEMA is now initiating and receiving recommendations for enhancing the TCLs. Listed below are the first 6 Target Capabilities that have been revised, and FEMA is seeking stakeholder review and comment. Comments received during this review will be incorporated into TCLs before the formal review occurs. Please review the draft TCLs, and submit your comments to Leslee Stein-Spencer at Stein-Spencer@nasemso.org by Mar. 15, 2009.
- Mass Transit Protection
- Multi-Agency Coordination System/Emergency Operations Center Management
- On-Site Incident Management
- Weapons of Mass Destruction/Hazardous Materials Rescue
- Draft User Guide
- Feedback Form (Excel)
- Master TCL Fact Sheet
Note: The current Target Capabilities List (TCL) can be downloaded here.
Overview
The EMS system plays a vital part in the emergency aspects of preparedness and response activities to a terrorist incident or natural disaster.
State EMS offices are generally charged in the state disaster response plan with the responsibility for coordinating the EMS response. Some of these responsibilities may include:
- Determining the availability of EMS resources for both in-state and Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) requests,
- Directing ambulances into needed areas, and
- Directing the flow and destination of patients evacuated from the event area.
NASEMSO provides technical support and resources to assist states in meeting the challenges of preparedness.
Purpose and Goals of NASEMSO and the Domestic Preparedness Committee
- Domestic Preparedness and Disaster Response
The EMS system plays a vital part in the medical aspects of response to a disaster, whether local or large-scale. State EMS offices are generally charged in the state disaster response plan with the responsibility for coordinating EMS response. Some of these responsibilities may include determining the availability of EMS resources, directing ambulances into needed areas, and directing the flow and destination of patients evacuated from the event area.
In many instances, while the state plan may identify such a role for the state EMS office, the legal authority to command these resources and the technological infrastructure necessary to assess availability and status of those resources is absent.
NASEMSO encourages states to attend to assuring that the role envisioned for the EMS office is legally and technically supportable, and that adequate resources are brought to bear to assure an optimal state of readiness.
- Domestic Preparedness for Terrorist Attacks and EMS
NASEMSO recognizes that all states and territories under the flag of the United States are at risk to acts of terrorism, and believes that the current medical response system for responding to terrorist actions is fragmented and disorganized throughout the United States. The threat of terrorism is an issue that should be addressed in a coordinated manner by federal, state and local response agencies. There is a need for the entire medical community to be aware, trained, educated and equipped to be able to recognize, respond and safely treat victims of terrorist attacks.
When federal agencies and national organizations provide special funds, training and equipment, or coordinate related planning, they should include state and territorial EMS offices for the purpose of planning, developing and coordinating the awareness, training and equipment needed by the medical community for recognizing, responding, managing and treating victims of terrorist attacks.
Projects
- NASEMSO 2010 Domestic Preparedness Survey (06/23/10)
- NASEMSO Executive Director Meets With DHS Regarding Concerns About EMS Funding and Other Issues (02/03/09) NASEMSO Executive Director Beth Armstrong, MAM, CAE, on Feb. 2 met with staff of the DHS Office of Intergovernmental Programs to review DHS interaction with state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) partners. The discussion addressed NASEMSO’s concern about homeland security funding for EMS, the federal ambulance contract and national disaster credentialing. See details about NASEMSO key homeland security areas of concern and an NASEMSO issue briefing on Activation and Reimbursement Concerns for EMS Disaster Response.
- Consensus Report: EMAC and EMS Resources for National Disaster Response (from the June 20, 2007 EMS Stakeholders Meeting in Arlington, VA) (02/26/08) download report
- NASEMSO Report: “State EMS Office Involvement in Domestic Preparedness Efforts, 2008" (12/04/08) download report
This report is based upon a follow-up survey to the NASEMSO 2007 Domestic Preparedness Survey. The object of the 2007 survey was to ascertain the extent to which state EMS offices are involved and included in federally supported preparedness efforts occurring at the state level. The 2008 Addendum is a follow-up effort aimed at gathering additional information on the utility and allocation of those funds as well as structural information on various protocols for preparedness. - NASEMSO Report: "State EMS Officie Involvement in Domestic Preparedness Efforts, 2007" download report This report is based on a survey of the 56 state and territorial EMS agencies, and is intended to ascertain the extent to which state and territorial EMS offices are represented and supported in ongoing multi-agency coordination for readiness and planning.
- NASEMSO Report: "Domestic Terrorism: Issues of Domestic Preparedness" (12/13/02) link to report This resource document addresses key EMS issues and components, which are required for the EMS preparedness and response to acts of domestic terrorism. At the present time, EMS systems are in jeopardy of "falling between the cracks" of federal initiatives for assuring the terrorism preparedness of public safety (fire and police) and public health. This document identifies the critical EMS resources that require immediate attention at state and territorial levels nationwide to assure the safety of EMS responders and strengthen their ability to respond effectively to acts of terrorism.
- NASEMSO: "Model State EMS Disaster Response Plan" (April 2002) link to model state plan
Resource Links
- Successful Preparedness Practices (ASTHO)As part of ASTHO’s efforts to highlight effective public health and health care system preparedness in the states, they collect useful practices for the state, territorial and local public health agencies. ASTHO encourages state health agencies to submit stories containing useful practices from real-life incidents that may assist colleagues in other states with their preparedness planning and response activities. Jurisdictions may directly post their useful practices to ASTHO's Useful Practices Web site using a template which will direct them through the process.
- Crisis & Emergency Risk Communications Training (CDC)This online Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication course stresses the fundamentals of CDC's Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC). The course has been designed to serve those who will perform crisis and risk communication and media relations in the event of a public health emergency. The target audiences include federal, state, and local public health professionals; healthcare professionals; emergency medical services professionals; preparedness partners; and civic and community leaders. (08/19/09)
- WMD, Emergency Management and Medical Web Sites - resource links compiled by the Yale New Haven Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response (01/14/09)
Resource Documents
- Guidelines for Mass Casualty Decontamination During a HAZMAT/Weapon of Mass Destruction Incident. Prepared by U.S. Army Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School and U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, December 2008. In the recent past terrorist organizations have used different chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) weapons to pursue their own agendas. In 1995, the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin onto the Tokyo subway system, killing 12 and injuring hundreds. In 2001, anthrax spores were sent through the U.S. postal service to U.S. senators, killing five postal employees and infecting 22 more. The increasing complexity and scale of these incidents suggest the possibility of a large scale attack with a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) causing thousands of casualties on U.S. soil. Since these attacks are difficult to prevent and may happen anywhere and at any time, mass decontamination is one of the key elements to managing the consequences of such an event, saving lives, and limiting the number of injuries. This document is intended to provide mass casualty decontamination guidance to both the military and civilian first responder communities.
- The following Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) Bulletins provides members of the Emergency Services Sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. These bulletins are provided for training and informational purposes only. Individuals are encouraged to contact local and/or state EMS and emergency management authorities for approved guidelines and procedures.
- EMAC EMT Additional Needs List (12-16-08)Following the deployment of ambulance resources to hurricanes in 2007 and 2008, several states were looking for a resource in the form of a checklist for individuals to consider for personal items. This is provided by the Domestic Preparedness Committee as a resource only.
- Joint Public Health – Law Enforcement Investigations: Model Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), developed by the Public Health and Law Enforcement Emergency Preparedness Workgroup, convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DHHS, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, USDOJ
- "Protecting Americans for the 21st Century: Imperatives for the Homeland," a white paper by the National Homeland Security Consortium." NASEMSO is a member of the consortium, which has established as its mission "to provide a forum of key national organizations through effective communication, collaboration, and coordination that positively promotes national policies, strategies, practices and guidelines to preserve the public health, safety and security of the nation."
- National Preparedness System Presentation: Current Prototype & Proposed Implementation Approach, June 2007
- Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, and Related Authorities FEMA 592, June 2007
- Congressional testimony by FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison, before the U.S.
Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee, Washington, DC, May 22, 2007 - Domestic Terrorism: Issues of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Preparedness 07-15-2005
- EMS Performance Measures 07-15-2005
- The National Preparedness System: Issues in the 109th Congress, CRS Report for Congress, March 10, 2005
- NASEMSO Performance Measures for State EMS Offices
Evidence-based performance measures provide guidelines for state/territorial EMS office use to gauge their progress in meeting function and national requirements of an integrated preparedness and response system. Download here - Domestic Preparedness Checklist
State/territorial EMS offices now have a checklist to assist them in a governor-declared emergency. This checklist includes identification of recommended federal, state and local plans as well as contact information that each state/territory office should have easily available to them during an incident. A CD with links to the federal plans was available at the NASEMSO 2006 Annual Meeting. Download here - Response Policy
A response policy has been developed by NASEMSO to assist a state/territory EMS director who is involved in a governor-declared emergency. The affected EMS director will have EMS state officials available to assist them either off and/or on site based on identified need. This policy is based on the success of EMAC during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Download here
Domestic Preparedness Committee Minutes
- Minutes of the Domestic Preparedness Committee minutes are posted in Members Only.