In case you have not seen this.
WASHINGTON � The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) has developed two new resources for emergency managers
and first responders to enhance mutual aid systems across the country and help
emergency response networks operate more effectively together.
"President
Bush, Secretary Ridge and I are committed to first responders," said Michael D.
Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and
Response. "The development of this common terminology for resources in emergency
response operations is necessary for effective mutual aid arrangements and
interoperability."
The new resources include The National Mutual Aid
Glossary of Terms and Definitions, which provides terms for equipment, teams and
personnel used in disasters, and, Resource Typing Definitions � I, which
organizes equipment and teams by functional category and 'types' them according
to capability and/or capacity. Functional categories by which the resources are
organized, include Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Systems,
Fire/Hazardous Materials, Health and Medical, Law Enforcement, Public Works, and
Search and Rescue.
'Resource Typing' is a term used by emergency managers
and responders to define the capabilities of a particular resource. For example,
the definition for an Urban Search and Rescue Team would specify the numbers and
kinds of professionals the team would require, the level of training and
certification they must have, the specific equipment needed by the team, and the
logistical requirements necessary to maintain the team.
Resource Typing
Definitions � I covers an initial 60 resources; it is anticipated that by the
end of FY 2004, a total of 120 typed resources will have been completed and
released. The glossary and resource typing definitions may be downloaded from
the fema.gov website at:
www.fema.gov/preparedness/mutual_aid.shtm.The
glossary and resource definitions are part of a Homeland Security and FEMA
initiative to support the new National Incident Management System (NIMS), the
nation's first standardized management plan that creates a unified structure for
federal, state, and local lines of government for incident
response.
FEMA's resource typing initiative will provide states and local
jurisdictions with a basis to type, inventory, order, and track federal, state,
and local assets. This will ensure that equipment and personnel deployed through
NIMS are compatible with those of neighboring jurisdictions that work together
through mutual aid agreements.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new
department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and
effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national
incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first
responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire
Administration.
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