March 18, 2006
Art Jordan, Glenn Schultz, Jake Weber, Chris Long, Sharon Fisher, Darrell Monroe, Brooks Hanford, Sarah Jordan, Jim Peters, David Brinkmann, Doyle Wenzel
Next SARVAC Meeting: May 2006 at the Washington State SAR Conference
Everyone at the meeting introduced themselves to the group.
Acceptance of the minutes. Brooks Hanford moved and Doyle Wenzel seconded to accept the minutes as written. The motion passed unanimously.
Chris Long reviewed the training mission information that he sent out earlier to all the Department of Emergency Managements in the state that request Training Mission numbers.
This is the second email he sent to clarify his first:
There still seems to be some confusion about what is needed in section 9 of the Training Mission Request form (EMD-079) with regards to the plan reference and the training outline. These are two separate requirements of WAC 118-04-280. Thus, having the local CEMP on file with the state does not meet the WAC requirement of having a training outline or curriculum attached to the EMD-079 or on file. This confusion is probably the result of both references being listed in section 9 of the form. We'll fix the form in the next edition but in the mean time:
The first sentence of section 9: "This training specifically conforms to what plan?________________________ Annex_________Tab_________." Refers to WAC 118-04-280 (3) which states in part:
" All training shall conform to local comprehensive emergency management plans. The request for training event number shall cite those portions of the plans, annexes, appendices, and tabs which specifically address the activities for which emergency workers are being trained...."
The second sentence of section 9: "Curriculum or outline on file with the state: [Yes] [No] " refers to WAC 118-04-280 (4) which states:
" A training course curriculum, plan of instruction, or course outline shall accompany the training event approval request. If that particular curriculum, plan of instruction, or course outline will be used as a standard, recurring course of instruction, then the requesting local emergency management agency may number and title that curriculum, plan of instruction, or outline, keep it on file with the state, and refer to that number and title when requesting a training event approval for the same training in the future. Training event number requests for a series of training activities also shall include a schedule with proposed subjects, dates, times and locations."What constitutes a "...training course curriculum, plan of instruction, or course outline..." ?
At a minimum, a training course outline should consist of a statement on the purpose and nature of the training (i.e., "A practical field exercise in day and night land navigation.") and the training objectives or subjects being trained (i.e., "Day and night use of the compass, map orientation, navigate a two mile overland course, etc.") Of course, as with other WAC requirements, local jurisdictions' requirements may be more "extensive and detailed ...to meet local needs." So, if the local DEM or SAR coordinator is concerned that units may not be doing an appropriate amount of planning for their training they could require more detailed lesson plans, etc.
One idea worth considering is the use of standard ICS forms. The ICS 201 could be used to document planning for most classes while the full set of Incident Action Plan forms (ICS 202-206) would cover all the bases for more extensive field training and exercises. We would also be doing concurrent training in NIMS ICS whenever we train. ICS forms can be downloaded from http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/forms/icsforms.htm .
Chris Long
SAR Program Manager
Emergency Worker Program ManagerUnits sending in training requests should assume that there is nothing on file from previous years. If a training will be reoccurring, then that MUST BE STATED on the initial request. Only those training requests that specifically state will be reoccurring will remain on file with the state.
In addition, Chris shared about the new requirement for NIMS and ICS training. This requirement has to be met in order to get Homeland Security Grants. For information, check the FAQ (Frequently Answered Questions) site, which is directly accessible form the NIMS Homepage at www.fema.gove/nims. Chris advised not waiting until the last minute to get training. Plan ahead.
The following is from NIMS Alert, March 7, 2006:
Who has to take NIMS and ICS training?
All federal, state, local, tribal, private sector and non-governmental personnel with a direct role in emergency management and response must be NIMS and ICS trained. This includes all emergency services related disciplines such as EMS, hospitals, public health, fire service, law enforcement, public works/utilities, skilled support personnel, and other emergency management response, support and volunteer personnel.
Entry Level and first Line, Single Resource, Field Supervisors must meet the new requirements by September 2006. Middle Management-Command and General Staff must meet the new requirements by September 2007.
Training materials for ICS 100 and 200 can be downloaded from the FEMA website www.training.fema.gov under independent study. The tests can be taken on line and results back to you between 24-48 hours.
If you have had training within the past five years and you have documentation, you don’t have to be trained again, but it is recommended that you do.
Chris also shared information about the Washington State SAR conference. There will be PreConference workshops lasting 2-4 days. In addition, Don Cooper will offer an Advanced Search Planning Course the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday after the conference. It will be held at Camp Murray in Bldg. 116. The conference itself should be great with many good instructors and trainings being offered.
The 2007 Washington State SAR Conference will be held in Pierce County. Plans are being finalized for the conference.
No one has confirmed, to date, to host the 2008 conference. It takes about 2 years to plan, so the host county(s) needs to be decided upon soon. Chris asked SARVAC in September 2005 to come up with a process for selecting the host county for the annual SAR conference. Sharon will draft a letter and send it out by email to the SARVAC board members.Chris wondered if we are getting to the point where the conference is getting so large that it is beyond the capability of one county to host it. It may take a coalition of counties, using a formal process with a contract/agreements, to host the state conference in years to come.
Having a location that has the infrastructure for a conference may be a necessity. Having to supply the water, electricity, sewer, etc., as Skamania County did several years ago, makes an already huge task even more difficult. In addition, the number of people attending could be higher in a structured location like a fair grounds.
These are issues that need to be discussed to ensure the future of the state SAR conference.
The latest bimonthly WASARCA meeting was held March 16. With most people attending coming from the west side of the state, it was decided that the majority of the meetings should be held on the west side. The next meeting will be at the SAR conference, there will be a summer meeting in Leavenworth, and the Sept. and November meetings will probably be at Camp Murray.
Art Jordan is still working to have SAR volunteers recognized as First Responders under the Homeland Security definition.
Dues notices were sent to the SAR Coordinator in each county in Washington. The date for 2006 dues to be paid was listed as April 15.
Art has contacted County DEM directors and he asked each one for the SAR resource information for his/her county. The information will be made available so that networking and training opportunities between counties can be maximized.
Current balance: $1277.20.
Checks out: $500 to King County for the WA SAR conference, mailing and copying expenses $26.31
Pierce and Grays Harbor Counties paid their yearly dues. After the checks clear, the balance will be $866.89.
Chelan had that SARVAC stilled owed $250 for registrations for the 2005 conference. Sharon asked for specific information about this be sent to her and she will p
Thanks you to Doyle Wenzel for making suggestions for changes to the SARVAC website. Noel made the changes.
DEM offers trainings every year that would be beneficial for many SAR volunteers. The difficulty is that most are offered during the week at Camp Murray. For volunteers, weekends are probably better and it would be more cost efficient if the trainings could be held in different regions.
Elections for the President, Treasurer, and a Member-At-Large were held. Brooks moved and Doyle seconded that the secretary cast a unanimous ballot for those currently in these positions. It passed unanimously and Art Jordan, Sharon Fisher, and Darrell Monroe were elected to 2 year terms (3/2006-3/2008).
There were no award nominations for Senior or Lifetime SAR Volunteer of the Year Awards. The secretary will mail a reminder letter to each member county’s contact person. The nominations will be emailed to all Board members and votes will be emailed to Doyle Wenzel and Sarah Jordan for counting.
Doyle e asked if SARVAC would take the lead in requesting that the state set aside 1 or more frequencies dedicated to SAR. As of January 1, 2013, all radios must be changed to narrow band. This will affect almost all public service frequencies. He also asked that it be possible to use portable, low power repeaters during missions.
Brooks moved and Sharon seconded that a letter be sent to Chris Long about the need for specific frequencies for SAR and frequency pairs for repeaters. It passed unanimously. Doyle will send his ideas to Art and Art will send the letter to Chris Long.
Yakima: There were 3 searches in January. Four missing juveniles were located cold, but otherwise in good condition in a disabled vehicle north of Yakima. Two snowmobilers lost on Darland Mountain southwest of Yakima were found by other snowmobilers and made it out on their own as the search was beginning.
A missing 3-year-old was located near the town of White Swan early on the morning of January 19th in good condition. He was located with the help of a Thermal Imaging camera, loaned by the Yakima County Fire district 5, in a brushy drainage that had been searched twice before. Searchers included personnel from SAR, YSO Deputies, Granger PD, and Yakama Tribal Police and over 100 untrained citizen volunteers.
Yakima County SAR assisted Klickitat County in locating a downed aircraft and recovering 2 deceased occupants. The Cessna 182 was reported missing on a night cargo flight from Wenatchee and was located about mid-morning the next day.
The Yakima County SAR academy started February 15 with 15-18 students. It will continue for 8 Wednesday nights and 4 Saturday sessions and end on the weekend of April 23-24.
Two SAR members attended the WSDOT-AD Orientation Class in Pasco. Among other items discussed was the increasing likelihood of using ground teams to search for downed aircraft.
Kitsap: Great deal of activity, most of it in evidence searching. There have been 6 missions since November including helping with the recovery of a diabetic person in Mason County.
Snohomish: 19 incidents since January 1, 14 of them in February. Four involved recovering deceased individuals. Two were climbing on ice, without crampons, and fell to their deaths. There were some turn-arounds and vehicles stuck in the snow.
Cowlitz: Several turn-arounds. Assisted in an unsuccessful Skamania county search for a downed aircraft. Went to an out-of-county search in Grays Harbor. Searched for 2 people missing from a group of 5 after walking out from their vehicle that had gotten stuck in the snow.
Pierce: 9 missions. Several unsuccessful searches were held for a missing 10-year-old girl. Participated in out of county searches in Grays Harbor and Kitsap counties. Snowmobile certification and a helicopter training were held, too.
Pierce County also has a new Mobile Operation Command Center that contains state of the art technology. Hopefully it will be available for display at the state SAR conference.
SARVAC‘s mailing address
Any information you would like to see announced, may be addressed
to SARVAC‘s web manager.
Noel McRae, a life member of Cowlitz County Search and Rescue Team, has agreed
to be the webtech.
For information about the site you can contact the webtech at webtech@wasar.bizland.com
Chris Long [the State SAR Coordinator of WA]
can be reached at the web address: c.long@emd.wa.gov,
WA-SAR.net: www.wa.gov/wsem.