Least Resistance Training Concepts
(LRTC)

Volunteers Training for Emergencies

  LRTC Emergency Response Team
TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Developing an Effective Regional
Large Animal Evacuation Program

Part Two

  Emergency Response Issues

This feature is a continuation of Part One.

As discussed in Part One, most regions do not have highly organized resources to respond to significant large animal evacuation needs. Most emergency planners acknowledge the need for such resources. Some animal control agencies even have limited large animal removal capabilities. However during serious emergencies, regular animal control officers may well be saturated with house pet calls. Many regions either formally or informally rely on stakeholders to handle large animal tasks, however their capabilities for operating successfully and safely are often somewhat of a mystery to incident commanders.

Except for a few rare exceptions, even the most organized of regions lack full interoperability between Incident Command, official animal agencies, auxiliary entities such as Search and Rescue and volunteer mounted units, organized non-governmental organization (NGO) large animal teams, and stakeholders. Limited interoperability can often be found, but fully effective integration of these various resources during actual major incidents is relatively rare.

Many agencies and entities will be working at their respective tasks at major
incidents. These activities must be coordinated and be part of an overall plan.

  What is Interoperability?

Interoperability (n) - the ability of equipment or groups to operate in conjunction with each other.

At field level, interoperability means that the various responders and their equipment can operate together compatibly in order to achieve the mission results identified by Incident Commanders. "Compatibility" is defined as the ability to exist or occur together without conflict. Thus the various elements, assets and operational procedures of any resource or entity allowed to participate in the response aspect of an incident must be compatible with the incident's operating system and the other responding elements present in order to be recognized as credible and reliable.

Examples of key interoperability aspects.

  • Understanding of and ability to operate within the parameters of the Incident Command System (ICS.)

  • The ability to communicate with (receive orders from, report back to) superiors during incident operations, along with knowledge of appropriate communications protocols.

  • Training sufficient to operate safely and reliably within an emergency's operational area.

  • Proper personal protective equipment for the anticipated mission.

  • Proper mobile assets (tow vehicles, trailers, loading panels, etc.) for the anticipated mission.

  • Understanding of Personnel Accountability Reporting (PAR,) which is a legal requirement in some states and an expected protocol in others.

  • Equipment compatibility with other responding resources and/or groups assigned to same or similar mission objectives.

People showing up with a cowboy hat and a rope and passing themselves off as horse experts may actually be horse experts. However that doesn't mean that these individuals are competent to work compatibly with other response elements at a complex emergency scene. Just one person whose conduct in an emergency is disruptive can impact the safety and performance of many responders. As a result, many incident commanders tend to keep spontaneous volunteer resources at a distance.

Non-credentialed rescuers are often not allowed to enter an emergency zone without some
official escort. Officers who are available to escort rescuers may often be in short supply.

  The Bigger picture

The reason for the development of the Incident Command System (ICS) was recognition that events will occur where local jurisdictions would require the assistance of outside resources. The creation of a standardized emergency operations system has resulted in the ability for resources from diverse origins to come together and function as coherent teams.

To be fully utilized, large animal responders must have sufficient training and knowledge to operate satisfactorily within the incident's command structure, and various teams and responders from different origins must also be able to work effectively with each other. Confusion and loss of control at large scale emergencies is dangerous. Responders need to be able to instill confidence in commanders that everyone working at the incident knows how to safely and effectively perform assigned tasks while maintaining connectivity with the incident command hierarchy.

Stakeholders and spontaneous volunteers also perform services at significant emergencies, most often at the early stages before the incident is organized and before law enforcement has established perimeters. While maverick operations can at times produce benefits, they also produce security concerns. If they are not part of the overall plan, they can also produce confusion.

Since many local incidents have the potential to become major events, it is important to consider the big picture when planning, organizing and training.


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