The emphasis is to complete the “Windshield Assessment” as soon as possible

1. 
   Form 201 (Incident Map)
   
2. 
   Form 202 (Incident Objectives)
   
3. 
   Form 203 (Organization Assignment List) or Form 207 (Organizational Chart)
   
4. 
   Form 204 (Division Assignment List)
   
5. 
   Form 205 (Communications Plan)
   
6. 
   form 206 (Medical Plan)
   
7. 
   
   

The IAP should be strategic in nature and address the following issues:

1. 
   Objectives to be accomplished county-wide
   
2. 
   Command and control structures for the incident
   
3. 
   Personnel resource assignments
   
4. 
   Resource requirements, allocation, and management
   
5. 
   Communications and information management
   
6. 
   Incident Safety issues
   
7. 
   
   

Operational Periods-Operational periods should not exceed twelve hours.

1. 
   The initial IAP should address the first twelve-hour operational period. An updated IAP should be completed for the next twelve-hour operational period prior to the current IAP’s expiration. If the next operational period will involve the on-coming shift, then the new IAP should be completed by the on-coming Senior Battalion Chief and their staff.
   
2. 
   
   

Battalion Command Team Structure

The BCT should operate from the appropriate Battalion Headquarters station, or other physical location that provides sufficient working room, radio access, telephone access, and computer access, i.e., the Public Safety Command Vehicle. (See Position Description Sheets in Appendix E)

Department Command Team Structure

See Appendix E for Position Job Descriptions

When the threat of severe weather striking the county is imminent, or has struck the county, the Senior Battalion Chief has the authority to direct the Emergency Communications Center to do the following:

1. 
   Begin using “reduced response” dispatch protocols for Priority 1 emergency calls
   
2. 
   Suspend the dispatching of any Priority 3 emergency calls. The ECC will continue to enter the calls into CADS for assignment to the Battalion Command Teams.
   
3. 
   Suspend the dispatching of any Priority 2 emergency calls. The ECC will continue to enter the calls into CADS for assignment to the Battalion Command Teams.
   

When volunteer personnel respond to Signal 15 Bravo and Signal 15 Charley recalls, the officer in charge of each staffed piece of apparatus will notify the Battalion Command Team Planning Officer for their battalion of their available status. The BCT Operations Officers may deploy a staffed volunteer resource from a station that has multiple units to a station in need of resources. The career Officer-in-Charge of a station should utilize volunteer and career personnel in their station to achieve maximum staffing levels on all units. Split crews are an acceptable option, i.e., moving a career driver/operator to a volunteer unit that lacks a driver, increasing staffing on a career unit with volunteer firefighters, etc.

1. 
   Fire and Life Safety Division - Reinforces the North Battalion Command Team at Fire Station 16
   
2. 
   Training and Safety Division - Reinforces the South Battalion Command Team at Fire Station 14
   
3. 
   Fire Administration Staff (excluding Deputy Chiefs) - Reinforces Central Battalion Command Team at Fire Station 15.
   
4. 
   Maintenance and Logistics Division - Reinforces the Department Command Team.
   

Tac D - Information channel for use to communicate situational assessment information to Battalion Command Planning

Tac E - Available as a tactical channel
Central Battalion Tac Channels - F, G, H
Tac F - North Battalion Operations

Tac G - Information channel for use to communicate situational assessment information to Battalion Command Planning

Tac H - Available as a tactical channel
South Battalion Tac Channels - I, J, K
Tac I - North Battalion Operations

Tac J - Information channel for use to communicate situational assessment information to Battalion Command Planning

Tac K - Available as a tactical channel
Command Staff Tac Channel - O
Incident Safety
Personnel should be cognizant of the safety issues that can accompany severe weather. High winds, torrential rains, lightning, and hail present significant physical hazards to the public and responders alike.
High Winds

1. 
   When sustained winds reach 50 MPH all small vehicles (staff vehicles, ambulances, etc.) will be directed to cease operations and return to quarters
   
2. 
   When sustained winds reach 60 MPH all large vehicles (engines, trucks, crash trucks, etc.) will be directed to cease operations and return to quarters.
   
3. 
   Personnel should wear their helmet and eye protection at all times due to the potential for flying debris.
   

Torrential Rains

1. 
   Heavy rains can quickly turn local streams and creeks into raging waterways.
   
2. 
   Personnel should avoid driving through high water unless they are certain as to the structural integrity of the road surface.
   
3. 
   Personnel operating near moving water must wear the appropriate personal protective equipment and personal floatation device. Structural firefighting PPE is not appropriate and its use should be avoided when at all possible when working around moving water.
   

Lightning

1. 
   All incident operations should cease in any area where visual weather patterns indicate that lightning is possible, especially if lightning has been spotted in the area. Personnel should seek appropriate shelter until the danger has passed and the Incident Commander issues the order to resume operations.
   

Other Safety Concerns

1. 
   Downed utility lines
   
2. 
   Gas leaks
   
3. 
   Unsafe structures
   
4. 
   Hazardous materials
   
5. 
   Traumatized animals
   
6. 
   Heat stress
   
7. 
   
   

FEMA has established several State/National USAR Task Force teams throughout the nation. All US&R Task Force activities coordinate through the state Department of Emergency Services (DES) who serves as the primary point of contact for FEMA. A USAR Task Force is also a state resource which can be requested without a request for federal assistance. Each USAR Task Force team is comprised of 62 persons specifically trained and equipped for large or complex USAR operations. Each USAR team is able to deploy within 6 hours of notification and is self-sufficient for the first 3 days.

During the response phase of a disaster, it may become necessary to request the assistance of fire/EMS providers from outside the affected disaster area, in a mutual aid approach. The Senior Battalion Chief is responsible for authorizing the use of mutual aid assistance and executing prior approved mutual aid agreements.

Appendix B - Severe Storm Response Box for Worksites

1. 
   List of target hazards with potential for multiple casualty situations
   
2. 
   Map book of “Windshield Assessment” routes for the station
   
3. 
   Supply of “Snapshot Assessment” Logs
   
4. 
   Supply of “Windshield Assessment” Logs
   
5. 
   Supply of “Non-life Threatening Medical Record” Logs
   
6. 
   Copies of the “Impact Estimate Guide”
   
7. 
   2- Forms Clipboards
   
8. 
   A copy of the USAR “Structural Triage, Assessment and Marking System”
   
9. 
   Pens and pencils
   
10. 
    3-Cans of International Orange Spray paint
    
11. 
    
    

Appendix C - Situational Assessment Forms

1. 
   Status of Personnel