MERA Supervisors Training Hazardous Materials Response Hazardous Materials

MERA Supervisors Training Hazardous Materials Response

Hazardous Materials Incident • Purpose –Establish standard communication methods using the MERA system during a Hazardous Materials Incident

Hazardous Materials Incident • Procedure – The incident is dispatched by the appropriate dispatch agency • The appropriate Control (D 2, E 2, F 2, G 2, or H 2) and Command Talkgroups (Command D 5, Command E 5, Command F 5, Command G 5 or Command H 5) will be assigned at the time of dispatch • The Tactical Channel appropriate for the jurisdiction will be assigned (D 4, E 4, F 4, G 4, H 4) to responding fire units

Hazardous Materials Incident • Procedure Continued: – Establish Unified Command between all appropriate agencies (Law, Fire, DPW, Haz Mat Team) • Establish initial exclusion zones • Establish evacuation priorities • Make appropriate notifications including response of Marin County Hazardous Materials Response Team • Apply appropriate ICS organization

Hazardous Materials Incident • Procedure Continued: – Unified Command shall use the jurisdictional Command Channel (Novato Command, San Rafael Command, Central Command, Western Command, Southern Command) • Permits all stakeholders to share information and resource ordering via a unified Command Channel – Patching of the Fire, Law, DPW and ICS MERA Talkgroups allows for continued scanning functionality already programmed into the radios

Hazardous Materials Incident • Hazardous Materials Team response: – On-call Haz-Mat Team Leader will contact the IC via cell phone or on the designated MERA Command Channel – All components of the Team will be dispatched to the incident • SMFD will deliver HM 1 to the Incident Commander and will use the assigned Control Channel during the response – Team Leader will receive a situational briefing from the IC upon his/her arrival – Haz-Mat Team will fill the role of Hazardous Materials Group Supervisor in the ICS structure

Hazardous Materials Incident • Haz-Mat Team communications – Team members will communicate with the Haz. Mat Group Supervisor via the Team’s UHF portable radios – The Haz-Mat Group Supervisor will provide a UHF radio to the IC and will remain in close proximity of the IC in order to facilitate directions from the IC, through the Haz-Mat Group Supervisor, to the Entry Team members of the Haz-Mat Team

Haz-Mat Scenario • A 911 report is received by NPD reporting Muriatic Acid jugs stolen from a parked vehicle and spilled into the street at three separate locations along Tinker Way. Neighbors report off gassing of the spilled liquids. • First responding units from NFD and NPD report at least three spill locations over a two block radius. • Initial actions are taken to isolate the area, shelter residents in place, establish initial exclusion zones, and requesting the Haz-Mat Team • Unified Command is established with NFD, NPD, and DPW participating

Haz-Mat Scenario • What Talkgroup will be used for Command? • What Talkgroup will DPW use for its role in this event? • How will communication with Entry Team members occur? • What is the role of Unified Command in this scenario?

Command Tactical • Unified Command personnel will use the jurisdictions Area Command Talkgroup • Law, Fire, and Haz-Mat tactical personnel may use agency’s Tactical Talkgroup – Coordination and tactical direction is still given by the Unified Command team • May consider the use of an ICS Talkgroup to consolidate all tactical communications among the assisting agencies

Hazardous Materials Incident Command Structure and Flow of Communications Initial Structure Marin Comm Tinker IC Unified Command Suppression Group Law/Evacuation Group Public Works Group/Branch Command is using Novato Command (D 7). This allows for NFD and NPD field resources, as well as Marin Comm and NPD Dispatch, to share command communications. Communications between field personnel is accomplished on the agencies assigned Tactical Channels (D 4, NPT 1)

Hazardous Materials Incident Command Structure and Flow of Communications Haz-Mat Team Included Marin Comm Tinker IC Unified Command NV CMD Suppression Group Law/Evacuation Group Public Works Group/Branch TAC D 4 NP 4 DPW Haz-Mat Group UHF Entry Team Haz-Mat Group Supervisor will communicate with Entry Team Members via their UHF portable radios. The Haz. Mat Group Supervisor will provide the IC with a UHF portable radios and will remain next to the IC during entry procedures. UHF Decon Unit UHF/TAC D 4

Hazardous Materials Incident Key Points – First Responding personnel are responsible for initial protective actions – Unified Command is the key to successfully integrating multiple agencies into the containment, control, and mitigation of the incident – Area Command Channels shall be used to facilitate command traffic – Field personnel filling tactical roles shall used the assigned MERA tactical channel specific to their agency • A MERA ICS channel could be substituted at the direction of the IC – Haz-Mat Group Supervisor shall communicate with Entry Team members via the Haz-Mat Team’s UHF radio system while in direct proximity of the IC