COURSE OUTLINE: This course will target Emergency Management best practices and the tools necessary for participants to build an effective and efficient Emergency Management program as an integrated division of the modern, comprehensive fire department as it relates to the governing agency, the private sector, and the public. Some emphasis will be placed on legislative directives at the Federal and State levels that affect local jurisdictions and can create compliance issues, some tied to funding. This course will also focus on the major tenets of Emergency Management with regard to standards and ethics, roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and participants, the Disaster Life Cycle, and an integrated approach beyond the daily operations of the fire rescue department. This will NOT include instruction or discussions on NIMS or the ICS, beyond tertiary mention if and when appropriate to the overarching material included in the curriculum. The topics and core competencies listed will be delivered for the purpose, among others, of designing and developing an integrated, comprehensive and cost-effective Emergency Management Program within the fire and emergency services. Given that most firefighters and mid-level officers have had little, if any, specialized education or experience in Emergency Management elements or issues, and few have had direct disaster experience beyond the daily operations within their jurisdiction, this course will provide a detailed set of core competencies, resources, and information that will assist the fire service leader in achieving stakeholder support toward implementation of the program.

It is important to understand that fire service leaders are best aligned to meet the myriad challenges in the formal Emergency Management arena, a theory based on the daily response capabilities intrinsic to the service, the use of an Incident Command Structure, an understanding of the most austere, real world environments, and the sheer number and variety of training subject matter that the fire service leader has experienced that the lay person has not. The very nature of fire rescue operations best lends itself to leadership in the Emergency Management program across the entire governing agency and its departmental boundaries, and lends credibility to the program in the private sector and throughout the public community due mostly to the fire service’s ownership of the public trust.

It is vital for fire service personnel at all levels to understand that a Comprehensive Emergency Management Program reaches far beyond the fire department or the fire service leader’s scope of experience as a career firefighter. It will be critical for the participant to take away a mission and vision that is based on the foundation of an “all-hazards, all phases, all actors”, whole community” approach with a particular focus on the most vulnerable populations in the community. Whereby command and control may be the governing methodology throughout the history of the fire service, the comprehensive Emergency Management methodology focuses more on communication and coordination, a difference that the career fire service leader may find challenging. This module is designed to overcome such barriers and to deliver the core competencies that will broaden the perspective of the participant toward a more integrated, inclusive and cooperative vision of the Emergency Management landscape.

The topics and core competencies listed represent some of the top issues being discussed and implemented in Emergency Management today. While these lists seem quite exhaustive, each issue will be discussed to the appropriate level to deliver the fundamental competencies for leaders to engage in the design, development and implementation of an

Emergency Management program within their department and for their jurisdiction. This module, however, should not be construed to be a certification or any other credentialing offering in the field of Emergency Management participants will be strongly encouraged to engage in, at minimum, an accredited certificate or higher education Emergency Management curriculum following completion of the module. The subject matter will include information from top leaders in the field of Emergency Management, open discussion among participants, experience(s) and idea sharing, and other materials.

COMPETENCIES: A participant will:

• Appreciate the value of the emergency management profession and its intrinsic importance within the fire organization and to the governing agency as a whole.

• Know and understand the accepted standards, ethical responsibilities and practices of Emergency Management professionals.

• Understand the methodologies of a Comprehensive Emergency Management Program.

• Possess fundamentals to achieve buy-in from superiors and elected officials to develop, fund, and deploy a dedicated emergency management program.

• Gain insight into funding and alternative means of funding a Comprehensive Emergency Management Program.

• Know the tenets of the Stafford Disaster Relief Act and other Federal Emergency Management/Disaster legislation, directives, and mandates.

• Understand how FEMA is structured and how that relates to your organization

• Understand the “Whole Community” approach to Emergency Management

• Know and appreciate the National Response Framework, the National Recovery framework and the importance of compliance with the frameworks at all levels of government.

• Understand the National Preparedness Goal and The National Preparedness System

• Possess valuable insights into Federal Disaster Recovery Assistance and reimbursement requirements and processes.

• Be able to define and conduct Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments within the home jurisdiction.

• Be aware of Florida’s emergency management structure, the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and the Fire/Rescue State Emergency Response Plan (SERP) and the requirements for the home agency under the plans

• Understand the Emergency Mutual Aid Compact (EMAC), how they relate to other states, and how resources can be deployed via the EMAC system.

• Be familiar with Florida Statutes Chapter 252 and 943, Florida Administrative Code Chapter 27P-2 and how those documents govern agencies with regard to compliance with the SERP.

• Be aware of and understand the State Warning Point, its components and operation.

• Be aware of emergency management grants and the grant application, management and audit processes.

• Know the four phases of the Disaster Life Cycle and key stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities throughout each phase.

• Appreciate and understand the need for a fully integrated approach to emergency management beyond the confines of fire and emergency services.

• Be able to identify key stakeholders in emergency management, their roles and responsibilities.

• Understand the role and purpose of an Emergency Operations Center, how and when to activate, and the internal operations of the room and staff.

• Gain an awareness of available technologies and software for the emergency management professional, including WebEOC©

• Gain an awareness of community warning systems and the elements that create effective, efficient and successful systems across diverse populations.

• Understand and appreciate the emerging role of social media in crisis response and recovery.

• Gain a fundamental knowledge of Continuity of Operations (COOP), Continuity of Government (COG), Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), and Pandemic COOP.

• Understand the unique challenges intrinsic to Pandemic Continuity Planning and how to prepare for pandemic effects on fire rescue staffing, services and operations.

• Be aware of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and appreciate the necessity for exercising to all levels, and the importance of compliance to the federal standard with regard to receiving federal funds.

• Appreciate and understand the power of developing public-private partnership and networking with customers, stakeholders, suppliers and alternative suppliers of vital resources to build a more resilient community.

• Understand the social dimensions of disaster and how they affect both organizations and individuals leading up to, and following a disaster.

• Be able to explain the concept of Social Vulnerability Reduction and the new paradigm of planning for the most vulnerable populations rather than the largest population.

• Be introduced to the concept of Expectations Management and the importance of defining realistic and unrealistic expectations both internally and externally, before, during and after a crisis event.

• Understand the concepts of Disaster Mythology and Disaster Fraud.

• Appreciate the need to incorporate emergency management concepts into the public education programs across the department and governing agency.

• Understand the need to plan for diverse populations including the vulnerable and ethnically diverse communities where language barriers and cultural norms prevail.

• Understand, appreciate and be able to explain the differences and the pros and cons between Command and Control versus Communication and Coordination in a comprehensive, integrated emergency management program.

13796 Harbor Creek Place Jacksonville, Florida 32224

Highlights Of Qualifications

Public safety leader with 49 years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility in the administration and operation of Fire, Law Enforcement and EMS provider organizations; managed organizations with over 1000 employees and budgets in excess of $100 million, with additional management experience in private sector safety organizations. Served 14 years at the Florida State EOC in ESF 4 & 9, with 10 years as Lead Emergency Coordinating Officer.

Managed diverse teams of multiple disciplines in disaster environments, named Commander of Task Force Florida, leading the Florida response in support of the State of Mississippi following the impact of Hurricane Katrina. This deployment of multi-disciplinary resources totaled over 6,000 responders from Florida. As Florida’s State EOC Emergency Coordinating Officer for Firefighting and Search and Rescue, managed response for the Florida State Emergency Response Team through over 20 major activations, including the 2004 & 2005 Florida hurricane seasons that resulted in 13 storms impacting Florida within 11 months, as well as dozens of other activations including wildfires, tornadoes and hazardous materials incidents.

Appointed by the Governor as a member of the Florida State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) for Hazardous Materials, the Florida Domestic Security Oversight Council and the Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council. Served as the Chairman of the Catastrophic Fire Prevention Task Force of the National Association of State Fire Marshals.

Skilled communicator; able to establish effective communication with internal and external customers, including political appointees and elected officials. Nationally recognized subject matter expert and established as an accomplished speaker on public safety operations and management issues. Co-author of the Fire/Rescue Emergency Response Plan for the State of Florida.

Designed, managed, and conducted HSEEP compliant exercises, including the Florida Governor’s Annual Executive Table Top Exercise, involving over 120 executive level local, state, and federal participants; served as designer, facilitator, and evaluator in several other statewide emergency management exercises; Managed catastrophic planning initiatives in several states; Certified as an Instructor III by the State of Florida, teaching various classes for over 25 years.

Provided Expert Strategic Advice as Subject Matter Expert (SME) on Emergency Preparedness and Response using 43 years of leadership experience in public safety, emergency management, and response to coordinate catastrophic incident planning initiatives across all levels of government, including local, state, tribal, and federal agencies including NGO’s, representing search and rescue, hazardous materials response, fire service, disaster housing, law enforcement, and public information professionals.

Involved, serving as the Chairman of the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation, and served as Chairman of the Florida Fire and Emergency Services Foundation and the Florida Firefighter Employment, Standards and Training Advisory Council.

Relevant Experience

 Administrative, management, instructional and command expertise in public safety and emergency management disciplines

 Managed metro fire-rescue response organization of over 1000 employees with a budget of $100 million

 Held state leadership positions in emergency management, including the State EOC Emergency Coordinating Officer for Fire and Search and Rescue during disasters; Commander of Task Force Florida, the multi-disciplinary response in support of the State of Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina which numbered over 6000 Floridians.

 Administered the statewide operations of the 250-member Florida State Fire Marshals Office, including Bureaus responsible for promulgation of the state fire and life safety code, a law enforcement agency responsible for fire and arson investigations, operation and administration of the Florida State Fire College, management of Florida’s mandatory fire protection licensing and certification programs, and the state forensic fire and arson laboratory

 Managed over $45M in Domestic Security grants for responder equipment and training

 Led the development of the BS degree program in Emergency Services Management at The University of Florida

 Administered agreements with private and public sector organizations for training opportunities

 Private sector management experience in related fields, including hazardous materials and safety

 Conducted, facilitated, and evaluated local and statewide emergency management HSEEP compliant exercises, plan reviews, and workshops

Employment History

Napoli Partners, LLC President (2009-Present)

Provides a wide range of public safety consulting services to government and private sector clients. These services include preparedness and response operations, disaster response and prevention planning, and development and delivery of workshops and exercises.

National Integration Center/ FEMA

Special Advisor on Public Safety and Mutual Aid (April 2012- August 2013)

Served as a Special Advisor on various projects including national mutual aid, use of georeferencing tools for emergency response, resource typing and credentialing.

IEM, Inc

Senior Disaster Response and Emergency Management Consultant (2006-2009)

Served as Lead State Planner to integrate local catastrophic planning efforts by state and federal planners; Facilitated development of resource matrices for Fire, US&R, Haz-Mat, Law Enforcement and other responders to determine required resources and identify shortfalls. Designed and delivered executive level and other HSEEP compliant functional exercises.

Florida State Fire Marshal (1996 to 2007)

As Director, administered the statewide operations of the 250 member organization, including Bureaus responsible for promulgation of the state fire and life safety code, a law enforcement agency responsible for statewide fire and arson investigations, operation and administration of the Florida State Fire College, management of Florida’s mandatory fire protection licensing and certification programs, and the state forensic fire and arson laboratory.

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Florida (1971 to 1996)

Held increasingly responsible positions in all disciplines of the organization, with administrative and operational experience. Varied executive level responsibilities, including training, education, labor relations, budgeting, coordination of programs involving all divisions, and interaction with other governmental agencies and private sector organizations. Supervised administration of workers compensation, health and safety programs and department standard procedures. Served as Interim Fire Chief, Chief of Operations and Chief of Training and Safety.

Additional Private Sector Employment History

Management positions in fire prevention code inspections for life safety compliance, consulting with industrial and governmental entities on safety procedures and equipment, and delivery of safety and hazardous materials training programs for various clients.

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Next Article

V. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

TITLE: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Highlights Of Qualifications

Relevant Experience

Employment History

More articles from this publication:

V. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

IV. RESPONSIBILITIES

PRINCIPLES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Appendix E: Standardized Targets

Appendix D: Scenario Chronology

Standardized Impact Definition

Standardized Impact Definition

Standardized Impact Definition

Appendix C: Standardized Impacts

This article is from:

ESLI - Emergency Management - June 15-16, 2023