Chester County Employee Graduates from FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute

Emmitsburg, MD- Heather Morgan, Training and Exercise Coordinator for the Chester County Department of Emergency Services graduated from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Emergency Management Basic Academy at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) on September 18, 2014. 

EMI has created the National Emergency Basic Academy to produce a comprehensive curriculum that provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to support the unpredictable challenges in the field of emergency management. 

Morgan completed the five courses in the Basic Academy that includes Foundations of Emergency Management; Science of Disaster; Planning: Emergency Operations; Exercise Design; and Public Information and Warning.  To graduate, she fulfilled a total of 167 hours of training.   

The Basic Academy is the first phase of FEMA’s new Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP).  The EMPP curriculum is designed to be a lifetime of learning for emergency managers and includes three separate, but closely related, training programs. The National Emergency Management Basic Academy is a gateway for individuals pursuing a career in emergency management. The National Emergency Management Leaders Academy is designed for emerging leaders and mid-level managers who lead emergency management programs and want to advance their skillset. The Executive Academy is designed for senior-level executives who are responsible for making decisions that have a significant effect on prevention, protection and mitigation policy or the management of disaster response and recovery.

This past week, Heather received a citation from the Commissioners for her continued dedication to ensure the safety of Chester County citizens.

Amy Kate Amer

Community Outreach Coordinator

Chester County Department of Emergency Services

DES Employee wins Award for his Map 2nd Year in a Row

Award given at International Conference       

West Chester, PA – At the ESRI International Conference held in San Diego, CA, this past July, Dave Sekkes, Emergency Planning Coordinator for DES was honored with a first place award for Best Analytic Presentation. 

As a part of the ESRI International Conference they offer a Map Gallery.  The Map Gallery consists of 13 categories and provides an opportunity for conference attendees to share GIS work by showcasing innovative printed maps. 

Dave received the Best Analytic Presentation.  This judges entrants on communication of the problem/project to be solved; presentation of the analytic procedures; relevance of the problem-solving methods to the analysis – complexity and logic of analysis; and, integration of cartographic principles with analytic processes. 

For his submission, Dave performed an analysis of the 164 emergency warning sirens that have been strategically placed throughout the three-county Limerick Generating Station Emergency Planning Zone. 

In the event of a siren failure during an emergency at the Limerick plant, local fire companies will perform what’s known as “route alerting” as an alternative means to notify the public.  Dave utilized GIS to explore updating the route alert sectors in order to optimize the efficiency of the response to a siren failure.  The study found that 40% of the Emergency Planning Zone had redundant siren coverage and the drive-times to alert the public could be greatly reduced by focusing the alerting to those areas without redundant coverage. 

This is the second consecutive year that Dave has won an award for his maps at this conference.  Last year, Dave won a first place award for Best Data Integration where he examined the Marsh Creek Dam inundation zone using new building footprint software.

Dave utilizes the GIS to provide analysis and mapping support in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during activations and to the department as a whole during daily operations.  Additionally, Dave provides technical support for department IT initiatives.  Dave has worked with GIS at Chester County since 2002 beginning with the Health Department and joining DES in 2008.

This past week, Dave received a citation from the Commissioners for his continued award winning maps.

Amy Kate Amer

Community Outreach Coordinator

Chester County Department of Emergency Services

Director's Report - November 2014

For the month of November, 2014:

Emergency Telephone Calls - 21, 827

      728 Per Day

Fire Incidents - 889

EMS Incidents - 3,124

Police Incidents - 26,547

Voice Radio Project:

-Of the 27 tower sites we will be using, we have completed the legal and financial process at 21 sites and have released these sites to Harris for their work to begin.

-Site construction has begun at 17 sites.

CAD Project:

-Data and response stream input continues

-Responder input (Police, Fire and EMS) for Mobile Data configuration continues

-New request for additional interface with Knowledge Center

-Investigating new enhancements for capabilities

Training Facility:

-Construction continues at the Tactical Village.  Last month the Drill Tower and Burn Building structural work was completed.

-Design meetings for the firing range with architect, facilities and emergency responders continue.

-Last month we hosted 1,506 people at 71 events.

Tactical Village Construction pictures can be seen on our website at www.chesco.org/des 

Director's Report - September 2014

Telephone Calls for the month - 23,883  796 per day
Fire Incidents - 814
EMS Incidents - 3,344
Police Incidents - 28,103

Voice Radio Project:
-Of the 27 tower sites we will be using, we have completed the legal and financial process at 20 sites and have released the sites to Harris for their work to begin.
-Site construction has begun on 15 sites.

New CAD Project:
-Data and response stream input continues.
-Responder input for Mobile Data configuration continues
-New request for additional interface with Knowledge Center
-Investigating new enhancements for capabilities

Public Safety Training Campus:
-Construction continues on the Tactical Village.  The Drill Tower fourth floor has begun and the Burn Building upper floors completed.  Visit our website for pictures - www.chesco.org/des
-Preliminary design meeting for the firing range was held with the Architect, County Facilities Department and emergency responders.
-Last month we hosted 1,861 people at 62 events.

SE PA Regional Task Force:
-188-portable Honda Generators were distributed to 38 municipalities' public works departments and emergency management agencies throughout the County.  These generators were ear marked to assist municipalities in keeping their traffic lights operational during large power outages.  The following municipalities received these generators:
Atglen Borough                                              Schuylkill Township
Birmingham Township                                   South Coventry Township
Caln Township                                                Spring City Borough
Charlestown Township                                   Tredyffrin Township
City of Coatesville                                          Uwchlan Township
Downingtown Borough                                   Valley Township
East Bradford Township                                 West Chester University
East Brandywine Township                            West Bradford Township
East Goshen Township                                    West Brandywine Township
East Whiteland Township                                West Caln Township
Honey Brook Borough                                     West Chester Borough
Kennett Square Borough                                  West Fallowfield Township
London Grove Township                                 West Grove Borough
Malvern Borough                                              West Pikeland Township
New Garden Township                                     West Sadsbury Township
North Coventry Township                                West Vincent Township
Parkesburg Borough                                          West Whiteland Township
Penn Township                                                  Westtown Township
Phoenixville Borough                                        Willistown Township

Director's Report - June 2014

Telephone calls - 24,480 for month -- 816 per day
Fire Incidents - 829
EMS Incidents - 3,260
Police Incidents - 28,155

Voice Radio Project:
-15 tower sites have been released to Harris for their work to begin
-Tower strengthening has been completed at Pocopson and Government Services Center sites
-We are exploring options regarding a microwave system router obsolescence issue.

CAD Project:
-Data and response stream input continues
-Working with EMS to utilize AVL responses for 2nd due
-Responder input for mobile data configuration continues
-Continuing to work on interfaces to replace Glynare paging terminals

Public Safety Training Campus:
-Construction continues at the Tactical Village.
     -Second floor of Drill Tower completed
     -Foundation for Burn Building has been started
     -Block walls are being erected for the Admin Building/Outdoor classroom
     -Work continues on the garages


Submitted by
Acting Director John Haynes

Director's Monthly Report - April 2014

Telephone calls - 23, 322 / 724 per day
Fire Incidents - 921
EMS Incidents - 3,268
Police Incidents - 27,502

Voice Radio Project:
-Of the 23 tower sites where we will be leasing space, we have completed the legal and financial process at 6 sites and have released the site to Harris for their work to begin.
-Tower strengthening has started at Elverson.  The next two towers to be strengthened will be Pocopson and the Government Services Center.

New CAD System:
-Data and response stream input continues.
-Working with Fire and EMS to utilize generic responses to streamline transition.
-Responder input (Police, Fire and EMS) for Mobile Data configuration continues.
-Currently working on interfaces with reporting systems and Locution to replace the Glynare paging terminals.

Training Facility:
-Construction continues at the Tactical Village.  Last month the Drill Tower ground floor was completed, rebar started to be installed for the Burn Building, the footers were poured for the Administrative Building/Outdoor Classroom, and work continued on the garages.
-The Request for Proposal for the Law Enforcement Firing Range was issued on 3 April 2014.  The proposals are due back by 16 May.  A group of emergency responders will review them before they are submitted to the Commissioners.
-Last month we hosted 1,683 people at 80 events.

SE PA Regional Task Force:
Last month the Task Force funded equipment was issued to Chester County entities:
-Taser Axon Digital Video Camera Recorder Kits
-Zistos under door camera
-Crisis Negotiation phone kits
-QuickSilver Incident Response Sampling Kit for the Hazmat Team
-CC Intermediate Unit received security equipment.

Public Safety Training Campus Update

April, 2014

Want more practical training?  Well you're in luck!  The tactical village is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2015;  it will include various streets and building fronts, a burn building, a drill tower, confined space and trench rescue props, a vehicle rescue area, a drafting pit, a liquid fuels fire simulator and other props.  Construction began in March, 2014. Construction pictures can be seen on our website;  www.chesco.org/des 

An indoor state-of-the-art law enforcement firing range is currently in the design and planning stages.  Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016.

Want more training?  Check out upcoming courses at destraining.chesco.org 

Advanced Technology Updates

April, 2014

Voice Radio Project

Manufacturing of the Harris infrastructure components has been completed and was finalized with a successful acceptance test being executed at the Harris Customer Integration  Center. During this acceptance testing the entire system was staged as it will be deployed in Chester County.  Over 75 tests were performed on the system and its features.  The long and arduous process for site acquisition continues, with measurable steady progress being made.  The project team continues to work diligently on leases with tower owners and land owners for the space required to host the County's new radio equipment.

As this site acquisition progresses the sites are then turned over one at a time for Harris to begin the construction phases of the project.  To date, antennas and lines have been installed at the Octorara tower site, and construction is well underway for the new tower at Chester County's Public Safety Training Campus where a new alternate 9-1-1 center will be located.  In the coming weeks several more sites are slated to move from the acquisition phase to the construction phase.

Harris recently hosted several radio demonstrations for the Chester County responders at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus.  These product sessions were held in an effort to begin familiarizing responders with the new equipment they will be using.  These sessions provided everyone with an opportunity to see the new products that will soon become an essential part of each responder's communication equipment.  These sessions were very well received by all and generated some good questions and discussions amongst the groups.

Computer Aided Dispatch System

The data and response stream input continues.  Police information has been completed.  The CAD group continues to work with Fire and EMS organizations to utilize generic responses to streamline the transition.  Responder input (Police, Fire and EMS) for mobile data configuration continues.

The new CAD system will give Telecommunicators in the 9-1-1 Center better tools to expeditiously and efficiently process 9-1-1 calls and dispatch emergency responders.  It will also provide better means of requesting and communicating with other resources.  The Emergency Responders will be receiving new Mobile Data Computer software, Intergraph's Mobile for Public Safety (MPS).  MPS will include the capability to receive real time event information, GIS mapping, vehicle location with GPS routing to emergencies, and advanced situational awareness.

The new Integraph CAD System is expected to go live in 2015.

More information on both projects can be viewed on our website - www.chesco.org/des

Directors Report for March 2014

Telephone Calls - 21,703 -- 700 per day
Fire Incidents - 869
EMS Incidents - 3.230
Police Incidents - 27,816

The Emergency Operations Center was open for 19 hours over the night of 2/3 March for a potential ice storm that went south of us.

Voice Radio Project:
-Of the 18 tower sites where we will be co-locating, we have completed the legal and financial process at 9 sites have released the sites to Harris for their work to begin.
-Construction has commenced for the new tower at the PSTC.
-Demonstrations for the emergency response organizations of the new portable radios and mobile radios were well received.

CAD System:
-Data and response stream input continues.  Police information is completed.
-Working with Fire and EMS organizations to utilize generic responses to streamline transition.
-Responder input (Police, Fire and EMS) for mobile data configuration continues.

PSTC:
-Construction started at the Tactical Village on 24 March
-We continue to work on the request for proposal for the architect for the Law Enforcement Firing Range.
-Last month we hosted 1,564 people at 65 events.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force:
-The 2014 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) allocation for the region will be about $18 million  Of this, about $1 million will be available for projects for Chester County.

Director's Report - February 2014

-Telephone Calls - 25,086
    896 per day
Fire Incidents - 1,495
 EMS Incidents - 3,667
Police Incidents - 27,017

Comm 1 was deployed once to support the West Brandywine Police Department in a search for a missing person.

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was open for 10 consecutive days to deal with the winter storms.

Voice Radio Project:
-Of the 18 tower sites where we will be co-locating, we have completed the legal and financial process at 6 sites and have release the 6 sites to Harris for their work to begin.
-On 24 and 25 February, DES and Harris completed the 75 discrete test sequences associated with the Factory Acceptance Test Procedure that confirms that the system infrastructure was built as specified in the design.

New CAD System:
-Data and response stream input continues.  Police have been completed.
-Working with Fire and EMS to utilize generic responses to streamline transition.
-Responder input for Mobile Data configuration continues.

Public Safety Training Campus:
-Although the weather precluded any physical work on the Tactical Village, the general contractor, Cadwell, Heckles & Egan, conducted scheduling and coordination meetings with the other contractors and South Coatesville Borough officials.
-The Federal Transit Authority has released the $3.7 million of Federal funds for the Law Enforcement Firing Range.  The next step will be to complete the procurement process for an architect to design the range.
-During February the Campus hosted 715 people at 27 events.

Missing Person -West Chester Area

West Chester resident, 64 year old Danny Rosa has been missing since December 29^th – last seen going into his apartment on Church Street in West Chester.  

A missing persons report was filed with the West Chester Police Department, a social media campaign to locate Mr. Rosa has thus far proved unsuccessful, and numerous calls to his family members, friends, local shelters and hospitals have also proved unsuccessful. 

Anyone who may know of the whereabouts of Danny Rosa is asked to contact:

West Chester Police – 610-696-2700

Mr. Rosa’s Power of Attorney – 610-344-9835

Chester County Department of Aging Services – 610-344-6350

Director's Report for December 2013

During the month of December;
Telephone Calls;  22,703 / 732 per day
Fire Incidents:  911
EMS Incidents:  3,286
Police Incidents:  25,535

Comm 1 and the Incident Support Team were deployed to assist Uwchlan Township for a barricaded subject.  Subject was taken into custody with no injuries to anyone.

Advanced Technology Projects
-Rebanding:  We are successfully operating on the rebanded channels and the project is expected to be complete in February 2014.
-Voice Radio Project:  Continuing to finalize leases for the 19 sites that we lease tower space.  Work continues on the site construction drawings.  Approval was made on the Factory Acceptance Test Procedures that will be conducted in February.
-New CAD System:  Data and response stream input continues which is a slow process.  The CAD team is working with ACD Telecom and Intergraph to find a solution.

Public Safety Training Campus
-There is a protest against the award of the Tactical Village contract to Fire Training Specialties.  We are working with Procurement, Facilities and the Solicitor to resolve the issue.
-Still waiting on approval from the Federal Transit Authority for funds for the Firing Range.

SE PA Regional Task Force
-The Task Force is concentrating on finalizing the paperwork with PEMA on the 2011 and 2012 Homeland Security grants.