AllRisk Lessons Learned

1
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUT Initial Briefings, The National
  Response Plan, FEMA Mission Assignments,
  Delegations of Authority, Agency
  Administrators Direction, Area Command Letters
  of Expectations, ESF-4 assistance/direction, etc.
  ALL are non-existent, inconsistent, untimely,
  nor is there any Institutional Memory.

2
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• The involvement of multiple branches of the
  military, law enforcement, Corps of Engineers,
  foreign consulates, CDC, Secret Service, FEMA,
  etc. requires adjustments of the Incident Command
  System (non-traditional use) for inclusion into
  the information flow and management of the
  incident. The management of volunteers,
  donations, and contributors of services must be
  included into your ICS organization.

3
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• An extensive search for all stakeholders and the
  formation of a Unified Command, Multi-Agency
  Coordinating Group, Single-Point-Ordering, and a
  fully inclusive functioning ICP, are necessary
  for the safe, efficient, and effective management
  of the incident.

4
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• All-Risk incidents, especially humanitarian
  assignments, are relationships among all
  stakeholders, agencies and service providers,
  takes a significant amount of time and effort.
  Critical mission objectives cannot be developed
  utilizing traditional wildland fire timetables.

5
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Mobilizing short team configurations (33) and
  the limited ability to utilize trainees, places
  the team in a very vulnerable situation when
  managing a 24/7 All-Risk incident, especially
  during humanitarian operations. Mission
  Sensitive not Time Sensitive.

6
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Challenges addressed by traditional team
  configurations and/or short teams do not allow
  for highly productive teams (HROs) in these
  highly complex environments. Teams with members
  from All-Risk agencies (Fire Departments, Law
  Enforcement, EMS, Emergency Management, Agencies,
  etc), have the necessary skills and experience
  for managing complex urban incidents. Highly
  diverse, experienced and adaptable interagency
  teams can perform at a very efficient and
  effective level.

7
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTIncident Management Teams transitioning
  with multiple Area Commands and Emergency Support
  Functions (ESFs) during their assignment.

8
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• The personality of the team is as important as
  the expertise. Effective relationships and
  partnerships with local emergency and service
  providers will avoid duplication and will rein-in
  the rumor mill.

9
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Medical operations must be Branched,
  coordinated and managed by local expertise
  (Hospital, County Medical Board, Health and Human
  Services, City/State, etc.).
• Incorporation and utilization of USAR, DMAT, and
  military assets must be included in our training
  and dispatch organizations.

10
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Above-all, provide leadership and protect your
  mission (Agency Administrator) and Team. Never
  assume that the system(s) in play know and/or
  understand the situation and/or incident.

11
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Teams must recognize that the local jurisdiction,
  while providing expertise to the incident, may
  eventually lose capacity in delivering the broad
  array of services to their constituency.
  Basically, they may not know what they dont
  know. The team must recognize the potential,
  order the appropriate resources and assist where
  necessary. The team may be engaged in providing
  some services until capacity can be regained.
  Sprint vs. Marathon.

12
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Mission Creep can become a major problem, but
  with little direction and knowledge of the
  incident by an overloaded system, it may be the
  only way you can get things done. Manage the
  Creep!

13
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Law enforcement/security issues are rampant in an
  All-Risk incident. Controlling ingress/egress,
  identification (I.D.s) of volunteers,
  responders, service providers, medical personnel,
  etc. Hurricane Katrina/Rita was a modern day
  Ellis Island. Drugs, prostitution, alcohol,
  and gang activity were prevalent. Sexual
  predators, impersonators, people not even
  connected to the event will show-up.

14
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTTommy Franks Initial Reports from the
  Field are Usually Inaccurate. Initially, a lot
  of time and energy concerning emergency and basic
  care was spent responding to rumors and
  inaccurate information..

15
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Pre-incident, invest in or acquire early into the
  incident a comprehensive processing software
  program and identification system.

16
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTArea Command never briefs the Incident
  Commander, doesnt provide any expectations to
  the team and fails to visit the ICP and
  associated facilities.

17
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTTeam member(s) unfamiliar with
  economically challenged cultures with a history
  of limited health opportunities.

18
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Never believe you are completely in charge or in
  total control!

19
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• Dont think Big,
• think
• HUGE!

20
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• You may not be in charge of any response,
  mitigation, rescue and/or recovery operation.
  You may only facilitate lodging, the distribution
  of food, supplies and water to workers and/or
  victims. IMTs strengths lie within the Incident
  Command System that efficiently organizes people,
  equipment, groups and supplies. You may have the
  opportunity to organize the work and the workers.

21
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTNothing is going wrong on your incident.

22
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• All-risk incidents require extended transitional
  periods. The transition must be well planned and
  executed efficiently. Failure to manage an
  effective transition will cause problems with the
  two IMTs, Agency Administrator(s), and Area
  Command. Remain professional, define
  expectations, and adhere to a strict schedule.

23
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTThe incident will run smoothly and
  well be able to get what we need now that the
  Incident Management Team has arrived.

24
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTYouve been ordered as a Short Team to
  an All-Risk incident that has any of the
  following Presidential Disaster Declaration,
  homes evacuated and/or destroyed, structure
  protection in place, multiple jurisdictions/
  agencies involved, USAR activated, DMAT providing
  services, FEMA declaration, etc.

25
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTYou have good communications because the
  radio system has arrived, all radios are cloned,
  and the repeaters are in place.

26
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTFEMA has given you a Mission Assignment
  with a multi-million dollar budget.

27
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• You manage things, you lead people!
• Appropriate safety oversight and the facilitation
  of mitigation, may be elusive throughout your
  incident.

28
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTVolunteers are a majority of your
  workforce and are integral in serving food,
  providing medical care, and other services to the
  clients.

29
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• WATCHOUTPresident Bush has directed that you,
  the Secretary of Health and Human Services needs,
  the Lieutenant Colonel requests, the Mexican
  Military is arriving tomorrow self contained, a
  new FEMA Mission Assignment is on its way,

30
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• The emotional effects of an All-Risk incident can
  have long-lasting consequences on team members.
  Its not over when you leave and go home, since
  the images keep on playing and re-playing in your
  mind and throughout the media.

31
All-Risk Lessons Learned

• As a leader, the selection of diverse expertise,
  providing appropriate expectations, and
  addressing the potential of managing an array of
  All-Risk incidents, are essential elements in
  developing a Highly Reliable Organization (HRO).