After 9/11, emergency agencies must follow federal protocols during incidents

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Crystal Lake firefighter/paramedic Brian Marino examines the engine of truck No. 341 during the morning gear check Tuesday. (Lauren M. Anderson – landerson@nwherald.com)

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Shift change is at 7 a.m. at the Crystal Lake Fire Department. But to be ready in case an emergency occurred at 7:01 a.m., most firefighters arrive much earlier to prepare their equipment.

“The guys have taken on the responsibility of, ‘I need to get here ahead of time and make sure things are up and running,’ ” Deputy Chief Paul DeRaedt said. “Anything can happen at any given time.”

Being ready around the clock is nothing new for emergency agencies. However, since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, many fire and police departments have taken extra steps to ensure that they’re prepared if catastrophes strike.

Among the chief changes that have been implemented at local and federal agencies is that most have begun following the National Incident Management System, or NIMS. This is a set of federal guidelines that emergency officials up to the federal level are supposed to follow during major incidents.

“There’s certain positions that must be filled and certain procedures you must go through in order to manage [an] incident correctly,” said Barry Valentine, director of McHenry County Emergency Management Agency.

For example, most incidents – such as a building collapse – would have a command staff, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site. The command staff includes a public information officer, safety officer, and liaison officer who reports to the incident commander managing the scene.

Valentine said it was easier for outside agencies to assist in major incidents if local officials follow NIMS. Also, every official at a scene has a designated role and can work efficiently with others.

“If you go anywhere in the country, they would be running their disasters all the same way,” Valentine said. “The incident manager has some give and take, but it all basically has to fit a particular format.”

Since 9/11, many residents have sought to become more involved in emergency preparedness and relief.

In the northern region of the county, the Richmond Township Fire Protection District is leading the effort to create a Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT.

Residents who volunteer with CERT are trained in first aid, CPR, building construction, and other vital skills necessary during major emergencies. Volunteers receive a hard hat, vest, first aid kit and other emergency equipment during training, and are advised to help stabilize situations in their home and neighborhood before assisting with incidents at large.

“If there was a tornado that happened, a devastating snowstorm ... something that would be crippling to the community, ... we’d be able to use the support capabilities of [CERT],” Richmond Fire Chief Rick Gallas said.

Gallas said he wanted to launch CERT training classes in January 2010.

The Richmond Police Department already runs a Citizens Police Academy, which gives residents insight into the inner workings of police departments and officer life.

“We’re doing the best we can to educate our officers and citizens to be more aware,” Police Chief John Fryksdale said.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, many agencies received federal grant money for training and updated equipment.

Valentine said the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency has received about $400,000 in grants for training and equipment so far. Officers at the Spring Grove Police Department received free training in protocol, Chief Tom Sanders said.

To be eligible for federal funding or grants, emergency departments must keep up with NIMS training and other federal standards, Sanders said. Although it might seem tedious, he said, it’s the best way to make sure that departments that typically don’t handle major catastrophes are continually prepared.

“It’s definitely been helpful,” Sanders said. “If you don’t use it all the time, you have a tendency to forget it.”

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