PPD-8 replaces HSPD-8

After the events of September 11, 2001 President George Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8 better known as HSPD-8: National Preparedness.  HSPD-8 established national initiatives that develop a common approach to preparedness.  It described the way Federal departments and agencies will respond.  It required the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate with other Federal departments and agencies and State, local, and tribal governments to develop a National Preparedness Goal.

On March 30, 2011 President Obama announced Presidential Policy Directive-8 (PPD-8) would replace HSPD-8.  PPD-8 was designed to address the areas HSPD-8 missed, such as recovery.  The “directive is aimed at strengthening the security and resilience of the United States through systematic preparation for the threats that pose the greatest risk to the security of the Nation, including acts of terrorism, cyber attacks, pandemics, and catastrophic natural disasters.”  It also incorporated the concept of “Whole of Community”. 

“Whole of Community” recognizes that our preparedness is a shared responsibility of all levels of government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and individual citizens.  As a whole we are stronger.  To read more about the “Whole Community” visit: http://www.fema.gov/about/wholecommunity.shtm

PPD-8 also established targets:

·         Within 180 days, develop and submit the national preparedness goal.

·         Within 240 days, develop and submit a description of the national preparedness system

On March 30, 2012 the first annual National Preparedness Report will be delivered to the President.

Recently, Donald “Doc” Lumpkins of FEMA gave a webinar on the status of PPD-8.  You can view his presentation and hear the questions that were posed of him by visiting: https://ahcusaorg.box.com/s/ayia93cvhqx9dbndu6mx.  If you just want to see the slides, and no audio of the presentation, they are attached as a PowerPoint to this blog.

Note:  If Windows Media Player gives you an error that it cannot play the presentation because it is missing the “Codec”, you can download the codec by going to https://www3.gotomeeting.com/codec?Portal=www.gotomeeting.com.  Click “Install GoToMeeting Codec” and once it installs click Play in Windows Media Player.

As more information is developed on PPD-8 we will share the information with you.

Web Resources:

PPD-8 Website: www.fema.gov/ppd8

National Response Framework: www.fema.gov/nrf

National Incident Management System toolbox: www.fema.gov/nims

National Disaster Recovery Framework: www.fema.gov/ndrf

National Incident Management System on-line training: www.training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp

Link to Power Point Presentation:


http://www.chesco.org/des/lib/des/emergency_management/dhs_ppd-8_overview_and_outreach_briefing_20120113.pptx

Emergency Mangement Division holds Quarterly Training

The first Quarterly Training of 2012 focused on a review of an incident that occurred back in August.  This incident involved a power outage at one of our community hospitals.  The commercial power was disrupted and then the back-up generator failed as well.  Like many incidents, the first few minutes of this incident set the stage for how the rest of the incident would play out.  The initial response was from the fire department and thanks to their quick thinking and excellent prioritization they were able to keep life-sustaining equipment, such as ventilators, powered through the use of their generators.  Additional ambulances were called in case of the need to evacuate.  Additional fire apparatus were called to get longer power cords to reach further distances in the hospital.  The local Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC) arrived and began coordinating efforts.  There were three lessons learned from this incident.

The first lesson learned was the importance of communication.  Without clear communication between the EMC, the fire department and DES this incident could have grown to be much worse.  The second lesson learned was the importance of having the hospital staff trained in Incident Command.  This lesson applies to more than just hospital staff but to all healthcare personnel.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers a short, on-line course on the Incident Command System.  All healthcare workers should take this course.  It can be found by going to: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100HCb.asp.  Additionally, Phoenixville Emergency Management, in cooperation with the Department of Emergency Services, is offering this course in a classroom setting in February.  For more information on the course contact Tony Przychodzien at 610-344-4555 or tprzychodzien@chesco.org.  The morning will focus on ICS and the afternoon will be presented by Exelon Emergency Preparedness focusing on healthcare facility’s roles and actions during a fixed site nuclear emergency.

The third lesson learned was the importance of knowing your resources and that was the other topic discussed at Quarterly Training.  Tom Grace from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Surge Medical Assistance Response Team (SEPA SMART) gave a presentation on their capabilities.  The SEPA SMART is an organized, trained and equipped group of volunteers that can bridge infrastructure gaps at healthcare facilities or provide surge assistance.  The SEPA SMART responded to the hospital power outage and provided critical equipment and assistance ensuring we would not need to evacuate the hospital.  They have responded to countless other events.  If you are interested in learning more about SEPA SMART, or interested in volunteering with them, visit them online at http://www.sepasmart.org/.

National Westher Service Winter Weather Advisory

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 5 PM EST
SATURDAY...

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 5 INCHES...ALONG
  WITH UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION AFTER MIDNIGHT...
  FALLING WITH VARYING INTENSITY INTO SATURDAY MORNING. THE SNOW
  WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN BEFORE
  PRECIPITATION ENDS DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...AREAS OF SLIPPERY DRIVING AND WALKING...ESPECIALLY ON
  UNTREATED ROADWAYS AND SIDEWALKS. MOTORISTS NEED TO USE CAUTION
  WHEN DRIVING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES...WHERE ICY SPOTS CAN
  EASILY DEVELOP.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

DES Employment Opportunities

The Chester County Department of Emergency Services has 2 Job Opportunities open.  (1) Equipment Manager and (2) Training and Exercise Coordinator.  If you are interested in applying please go to http://www.chesco.org/ and click on Job Opportunities.  

County to Embark on Point in Time Count for 2012

On the night of January, 25th Chester County will complete the annual “Point in Time Count” project for 2012. Chester County is part of the national and statewide effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of this initiative is to determine the number of persons currently experiencing homelessness in Chester County on a given night. This includes individuals and families who are sheltered in emergency shelters and transitional shelters, as well as unsheltered individuals on the street or in places not meant for sleeping. There are several purposes for collecting this data, including the need to report figures to receive federal funding as well as gaining  up-to-date information of those currently experiencing homelessness. The night is also a way to conduct outreach, to connect persons with existing services, and to increase awareness around the issue of homelessness.

The unsheltered street count will take place in two shifts (7:00 – 10:00 pm and 3:00 – 6:00 am)  and focus on five regions of the county. This will require building on past years’ success by increasing our volunteer recruitment and regional coverage efforts. The street counts will be specifically take place in both urban centers and rural areas including Phoenixville, Spring City, Northern Chester County, Coatesville and suburbs, West Chester and townships, Malvern, Paoli, Exton, Downingtown, Kennett Square, Avondale, West Grove, Oxford, Nottingham, Elverson, Atglen, and Parkesburg and surrounding areas in these regions.

The Point in Time Count is part of  Decade to Doorway’s: The Community’s whitePlan to Prevent and End Homelessness in Chester County which was recently adopted by the Commissioners.

For more information, please contact, Michele Carney, Point in Time Count Project Manager/AmeriCorps*VISTA, at the Chester County Department of Community Development at chescopit@gmail.com or at (610) 344-6263.

Rebanding Training Cancellation Notice

To All Emergency Service Providers:                                               January 4, 2012

The next planned training for the re-banding project was set for February.  This training is cancelled.

This cancellation is due to delays in the re-banding project brought about by issues with the emergency button on the EFJ collar microphones and with Sprint/Nextel.

The issues with Sprint/Nextel are administrative.  S/N seeks to find common ground to move the project along a different path which could free up the frequencies they will get at the conclusion of the re-banding project.  There is no resolution to their proposal at this time.

We hope to be able to restart training and deployment of equipment in very near future.

Michael J. Spirito
Deputy Director for Technology Support
Chester County Department of Emergency Services

Task Force Equipment Manager

Dennis Dougherty, Chester County's Task Force Equipment Manager  has taken a position with Immaculata University.  Congratulations to Dennis !!  Until a replacement is found, contact Bob Kagel or Tony Przychodzien for questions or concerns about equipment.