Montana Disaster and Emergency Services Division newsletter

Montana State Library

3 0864 1004 9617 6

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STATE OOCUWEtffS^COaECTION

OCT 13 1983

MONTANA STATE LIBRARY
1515 E. 6fh AVE.

HELENA^ MONTANA

iRAKf I

59620 I

TTER

ADMINISTRATOR'S MESSAGE

What is lEMS? It stands for Inte-
grated Emergency Management Systems,
and is a method to reach the goal of
Comprehensive Emergency Management
(CEM).

The lEMS is an approach based upon
the premise that there are common func-
tions required in all emergency situa-
tions to protect the health and safety
of your citizens. These common func-
tions could include warning, communi-
cations, direction and control, recep-
tion areas evacuation and the provi-
sions for food, health and medical
support. Establishing the capabilities
necessary to deal with these require-
ments will provide a foundation on
which to build the specialized capabi-
lities for the unique requirements of
individual specific emergencies.

The primary goal for Federal Fiscal
Year 1984, is to complete all State and
Local Hazard Analysis, upon which the
lEMS system will be built.

The plan will be to build on the
foundation of existing emergency plans
and capabilities to broaden their
applicability to the multi-hazard
approach to CEM. It will also provide
the base for each of us to establish a
multi-year development plan; it will

U

P. 0. BOX 4789 (406) 449-3034

HELENA, MONTAMA 59604

OCTOBER 1983

VOLMUE X NUMBER I

implement existing emergency management
measures which are known to be effec-
tive and allows us to achieve the
overall goal of a Comprehensive
Emergency Management Program.

During October each of you should
receive from our office, interim FEMA
guidance on "Hazard Analysis for
Emergency Management", and later
through our district field represen-
tatives detailed guidance and
assistance for completion of this vital
primary goal for FY84.

NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM

State DES Office will have a new
phone system September 30th.
Administrative calls - 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday will
be 444-6911. State staff will have
individual numbers. These will be
distributed as soon as we have them.

The 24-hour Emergency Number will
continue to be 449-3034. After
September 30th, do not use it for busi-
ness calls. In December 444-6911 will
replace 449-3034.

New stickers with 444-6911 will be
distributed in December. For a time,
both 449-3034 and 444-6911 will be
answered on a 24-hour basis. Sometime
after the stickers have been distri-
buted 449-3034 will be discontinued.

-Homer Young-

CONGRATULATIONS!

KEVIN FENNER. Fallon County Coordin-
ator, Baker, was contracted by Wibaux
City-County Planning Board to do plan-
ning for them. Good work is visible a
long ways.

TOM BERSUCH, Fergus County Coordin-
ator, Lewistown, conducted a success-
ful plane wreck mock disaster involv-
ing many first responders. The re-
sponse was super, said Tom. It's
great how everyone wants to get involved
said Tootie Marks, Tom's able
assistant. These exercises are most
valuable to test plans and "See how
well the various agencies can work
together".

YELLOWSTONE RADIO CLUB conducted an
exercise based on an earthquake sce-
nario which "destroyed most of
Billings". The Hams are a valuable
asset to any local coordinator. These
were a credit to Jim Kraft's coordin-
ated effort for complete response.

GLORIA HEGGEN, Carter County D.E.S.
Coordinator has developed a unique
nuclear fallout pamphlet with an
excellent vehicle for its distribution
throughout her county. The pamphlet
consists of 4 pages describing fall-
out and its affects upon people; how
to protect yourself and family from
it; what actions schools will take;
and, the Emergency Broadcast stations
that will give out survival inform-
ation.

The pamphlet also describes ways to
make expedient shelters with a list of
things to take to home or public shel-
ter. One page is devoted to improvis-
ing shelters for farm animals.

The pamphlet is distributed to all
voters and phone holders throughout
the county with a cover letter by the
Board of County Commissioners.

Nice work Gloria! She probably
would send you a copy too, if you asked
for one.

■)=^::il:^I|i::s;:H

TEA I-I W 0 R K
Federal + State + Local

DEWELL DUO DUEL DISASTERS

Like a good road map that gets you to
your destination, good planning for
disasters will see you through to an ^
expedient conclusion. Good plans do not
just happen, they evolve from many hours
of work and meetings with those concerned,
involved or recruited to fill a needed
slot in the organization. State DES
adds it's applause to Norm Dewell,
Carbon County for the excellent training
in Emergency Medical Services provided
those citizens through Norms efforts.
Steve Dewell, Rosebud County is to be
commended too for his efforts in co-
ordinating an Emergency Mobilization
Plan for the Colstrip Area.

Sometimes it is hard to plan for a
disaster that has not happened as yet,
and, hopefully, never will. But, with
potentials all around us, it is nice to
be able to pick up that "Road Map", head
right for the heart of the problem, and
solve or minimize its effects upon
society.

*** WELCOME ON BOARD ***

Homer Young recently joined our State
Staff as a full-time Communications
Specialist. Prior to joining our staff.
Homer worked for four years as a
Communications Engineer for the State
Communications Division. His exper-
ience also includes eight years as a
broadcast engineer working for commer-
cial radio and television broadcast
stations.

Homer's duties will include providing
technical assistance to local govern-
ments in developing Direction and
Control Communications Systems and
completing Emergency Communications
Development Plans.

Homer is a native Montanan, born and
raised in Helena. He is married and
has two boys. His hobbies include
golf, reloading rifle and pistol
ammunition, and playdng base guitar.

************

NEW TRAINING COURSE

A CHANGING TRAINING CONCEPT

The Phase Courses will be replaced by
the Professional Development Series,
which is the culmination of research
and testing by the Emergency Management
Institute.

These courses are expanded to include
more emergency services managers. The
goal is to improve the skills of those
directly responsible for local disaster
operations. Much of the training is
workshop oriented. The Professional
Development Series will be taught in 4
- 1 week segments. The Series
Includes:

Introduction to Emergency
Management Course.

Emergency Planning Course.

Basic Skills in Emergency Program
Management Course:

Leadership and Influence

- Decision Making and Problem Solving

- Effective Communications

- Creative Financing

Graduates of the old Phase Courses
are encouraged to attend the new course
offerings. The Emergency Planning
Course is recommended for all involved
in disaster and emergency related
fields.

**********

WELCOME ABOARD

Recent additions to the D.E.S. family
are three new local coordinators. They
are: Jim Foster, Broadwater County,
Townsend; Vern Meyers, Meagher County,
White Sulphur Springs; and. Clay
Vincent, Hill County, Havre.

We welcome these good people to our
"Family" and congratulate them for
their appointments. They "got their
feet wet" a little bit at the Basic
Seminar in Helena, August 15-17. Their
responses and interest to the various
presentations affirm their belief and
dedication to the continuing needs and
diversity of the job of Local Coordin-
ator.

Next fiscal year, starting October 1,
1983, will mark the beginning in a
change to FEMA and FEMA sponsored
training. No longer will Region be
permitted to contract for training.
This will be the end of the Regional
Support Contract (RSC), which has been
OMNI Research and Training for Region
VIII for the last several years.

Next year the State DES Office's are
to assume the training previously con-
ducted by the RSC. It would be vir-
tually impossible for the states in
Region VIII to generate enough students
to attend the classes. What the
state's have done to satisfy the
training requirements is to enter into
a cooperative whereby our students may
attend classes sponsored by other sta-
tes and they in turn may send students
to our courses. The courses mandatory
to be taught have also been divided
amonst the states.

Next year, Montana will conduct an
Emergency Planning Course. This one
week course will be on how to write a
disaster plan. The course will be
taught in March of 1984.

Student reimbursement expense will be
paid out of the students home state DES
office. Those from Montana attending
courses sponsored by another state in
Region VIII, will be reimbursed at the
state allotted out-of-state per diem
and travel rate. Expenses at the
Montana sponsored courses will be reim-
bursed at the in-state rate.

A brochure including the Professional
Development Series and the RDO Course
dates and locations, will be prepared
by Region VIII, and forwarded this
fall.

Under the new concept, we will choose
the excellent capabilities of the folks
from OMNI Research and Training. The
positive side of the change will allow
us to continue to meet and get to know
our counterparts from the other states.

IT NOT ONLY CAN - BUT DID HAPPEN HERE

Nearly everyday we hear of a disaster
somewhere, many within our State. We
always seem to have that little niche
that says, "it's over there-that can't
happen here". Well, read on —

Saturday, July 9th at 7:30 p.m., a
tornado ripped through the countryside
North of Vida in McCone County, just 17
miles south of Wolf Point on Highway
13. The tornado came with such force
that it picked up a Ford Bronco and
slammed it into a field 660 feet away
killing one person and seriously injur-
ing another. Minutes later, the torn-
ado completely leveled all the build-
ings on a farm and demolished a mobile
home. No serious injuries there, but
the damage was unbelievable.

On July 17th a hail storm with base-
ball size stones ripped across an 80
square mile area of the southern part
of Wibaux County damaging buildings,
cars, mobile homes and machinery.
These are disasters that are hard to
predict, plan for or mitigate, but
prior planning may ease the aftermath.

Elaine Wittkopp, McCone County DES
Coordinator, reported that the good
Samaritan act seems to always shine in
disasters. Many neighbors, friends and
people came from as far away as
Glendive with truck to lend a hand to
those who fell victim to the tornado.
Statistics show that even in major
disasters with devastating effects upon
communities, rather than panicing in
disarray, people unite in concerted
effort to help one another. We have a
strong will to survive and will do so
even in a nuclear attack inspite of
what the doom sayers say.

Manmade accidents happen without
notice too, causing local DES coor-
dinators and first responders much con-
cern for safety and health of people,
and the protection of property such as:
A transformer ruptured spilling 5
gallons of oil containing PCB inside a
power sub-station at Whitefish; Oil
spilled into Salmon Lake in Lake
County; Several barrels of oil were
sprayed on a county road in Roosevelt
County as a result of an accident;
Several barrels of oil were spilled in
Rocker, Silver Bow County as a result
of an accident; A truck load of UREA
Nitrate spilled near Butte; 55 gallons
of crude oil spille^ in McCone County;
2800 gallons of road oil spilled near
Red Stone, Sheridan County; Thousands
of acres of range land blackened by
lightning caused fires in Eastern
Montana. **********

SEARCH and RESCUE (SAR)

On August 22-23, 1983, the Montana
Aeronautics Division hosted the semi-
annual meeting of the Western States
International SAR Advisory Council in
Helena. While the membership comes
principally from state agencies respon-
sible for air SAR operations, it in-
cludes representatives from ground
search organizations.

As a result of this meeting, we be-
came aware of a resource which has gone
under-utilized throughout a large part
of the state. Detachment 5 of the 37th
Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron
(ARRS), located at Malmstrom A.F.B., is
a multi-faceted organization which is
available to local sheriffs.

Trained flight crews include 2
pilots, a flight surgeon and EMT train-
ed personnel for the six "Huey" heli-
copters of the Detachment. While their
primary mission is oriented towards
military operations, "the secondary
mission of the Unit is search and
rescue (SAR), emergency medical evacu-
ation (civilian/military) in support
of national or local plans". "If at
any time a competent medical, law
enforcement or governmental agency
determines that search and rescue
support is required for a civilian
emergency, that authority may call the
ARRS Rescue Coordination Center (RCC),
which is located at Scott Air Force
Base, Illinois. The toll free number
for the RCC is 1-800-851-3051."

The above quotes came from the ARRS
Helicopter Information Sheet, which is
being reprinted and will be distributed
by this office to all local coordin-
ators when they become available to
us. This information sheet fully out-
lines policy and procedures for utiliz-
ation of this valuable resource at the

local level. - Jan Henry -
**********

John Nickisch joined the DES family as
the Coordinator for Rosebud County. We
welcome him to his new job and wish him
well .

SEARCH and RESCUE (SAR)

Recently Kim Potter, Flathead County
DES Coordinator, asked our office for
additional information on the call-up
system for use of the Coast Guard
Auxiliary. After a little research we
found another resource which locals may
not be aware of.

There are three Coast Guard "Flotil-
las" in the State located at Fort Peck,
Kalispell and Great Falls. Utilization
of this personnel and equipment by a
sheriff may be authorized by Bob Miller
Coast Guard Auxiliary Coordinator for
Montana at 449-2452 between 8:00 a.m.,
and 5:00 p.m., or through the 13th
Coast Guard Operations Center in
Seattle at (206) 442-5886 - 24 hours
a day.

Additional information on their re-
sources, availability and procedures
is available through our office or
Mr. Miller. - Jan Henry -
**********

DAM SAFETY SLIDE-TAPE PRESENTATION
AVAILABLE

Recently our office obtained a copy
of the slide-tape presentation "Dam
Safety-Who is Responsible", on a long
term loan from the Soil Conservation
Service. This 21 minute presentation
is accompanied by a short handout
brochure and is very well put together.

Since Montana has very weak dam
safety legislation, and since almost
every county has potentially dangerous
dams, this presentation could be used
to increase the awareness of the
problem by showing it to various groups
at the local level. If a "grass roots"
support can be established, the next
legislature might favorably reconsider
the GOOD Bill that the legislature
killed in 1983.

If a local coordinator is interested

in borrowing this presentation, they

should work through their District

Representatives in obtaining it.

- Jan Henry -

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES AVAILABLE

At a recent meeting of the Northwest
Air Search and Rescue Association, Drew
Dawson, State Emergency Medical
Services Bureau handed out a listing of
the air ambulance services in the
state. The lists include contact
point, information required, com-
[Hium cation^ capabilities, capacity,
qualification of personnel, on board
equipment, costs, etc.

Copies of these lists have been sent
to each District Field Representative,
so, if interested, local coordinators
should contact them for copies.

- Jan Henry -

NCP - JIM BERNET

In the last issue, I presented an
overview of the latest concept of
disaster planning; lEMS - short for
Integrated Emergency Management System.
In this issue, I will try to show how
this concept will be implemented in
Montana during FY 1984.

Our initial approach will be two-
pronged; a hazard assessment/vulnera-
bility analysis tool for all counties,
and a complete prototype plan for one
county (Lewis and Clark).

In the hazard assessment/vulnerabil-
ity analysis prototype, D.E.S. planners
will develop a format which will
provide to counties a standard, system-
ized way in which to accomplish the
assessment/analysis.

During the second phase, the proto-
type plan, we will, in conjunction
with Lewis and Clark County staff,
attempt to build a complete lEMS plan
which will address all hazards and
provide emergency responses for each
hazard.

As each element of this plan is
completed and refined, it will be
made available to all counties wishing
to use it. Hopefully, this will
provide the base format to enable each
county to eventually prepare a complete
and useful all-hazards evacuation plan.

THE VALUE OF A SMILE

It costs nothing, yet creates much.

It enriches those who receive, without ^

impoverishing those who give. "
It happens in a flash and the memory of

it sometimes lasts forever.
No one is so rich he can get along

without it and no one is so poor but

that he is richer for its benefits.
It creates happiness in the home,

fosters good will in business and is

the countersign of friends.
It is rest to the weary, daylight to

the discouraged, sunshine to the sad,

and nature's best antidote for

trouble.
And, if in the hurry and rush of the

day, you meet someone who is too

weary to give you a SMILE - leave one

of yours.
For no one needs a smile so much as

those who have none left to give.
-Author Unknown-

**********

ONLY THE BEST - G. DeWolf

Once, while delivering a speech on
"Honesty", C. L. Gilbertson told the
following story:

"When I was a boy, I was walking
along a street one day, I happened to
spy a cart carrying watermelons. I was
wery fond of watermelons, so I sneaked
up to the cart and snitched one. I
then ran into a nearby alley and with
mouth watering, sank my teeth into the
melon. No sooner had I done so,
however, than a strange feeling came
over me. Without a moments hestiation,
I made my decision. I walked back to
the cart, replaced the melon... and took
a ripe one!"

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Do you have or know of a 100 KW or a
150 KW Power Generator that is surplus
to your needs. If so, please call Orin
Olsgaard, Missoula County Coordinator
at 721-5700, Ext. 458. ^

***********

"A MATTER OF TIME - a comprehensive
guide to Fire Emergency Planning for
Board and Care Homes" (PB #83-139345),
is available for $12.00 from the Na-
tional Technical Information Service,
Springfield, VA 22161. Guidance for
nursing home and boarding house man-
agers to develop fire evacuation plans
is included in a new report from the
National Bureau of Standards. The
guide gives easy-to-understand advice
on how to select the most appropriate
combination of escape strateges. It
also includes nontechnical descriptions
of protection techniques, specific
suggestions for training staff and
residents using three types of fire
drills and how they should react when
a fire is suspected or discovered.

**********

Burlington Northern Railroad will
donate money to fire departments for
equpment they need but cannot afford
to buy. Life saving equipment such as
self-contained breathing apparatus has
a higher priority than more convential
items such as hose.

If you are interested write to: Gil
Thiel, Superintendent, Rocky Mountain
Division, Burlington Northern Railroad,
2718 Montana Ave., Billings, MT 59101.
The request should include a specific
description of the item wanted, the
price, a need for the equipment and the
plans the department has for the item
if acquired.

***********

HOW TO PURIFY WATER
(Using Household Bleach)

To purify clear but contaminated water,
use 2 drops of bleach per quart; 8
drops per gallon and 1/2 teaspoon per 5
gallons. If the water is cloudy just
double the amounts.

*******
I KNOW A GUY WHO'S NEVER SICK

No Germ Can Stand Him

INFORMATION YOU CAN USE

A yQTy useful reference for finding
out information on equipment is The
Thomas Register. This is a listing of
most manufactures in the United States.
If your local library has a reference
department they would probably have a
copy of The Thomas Register. If you
need technical manuals on surplus or
excess equipment such as trucks, gener-
ators, engines and the like you can
write to McClellan Air Force Base,
Sacramento, CA 95652, ATTN: MMSTA-Tech
Manual. Be sure to state in your
letter exactly what equipment you need
manuals for; giving serial numbers that
may be on the equipment.

**********

If you need a catalog on emblems used
by Civil Defense and Emergency Services
personnel, write to U.S. Uniform Co.,
Inc. 7123 Troost, Kansas City, MO
64131.

**********

If you need literature on various sub-
ject matter such as: Crime Prevention
? $2.50 per 100; Tornado Tips 0 $2.50
per 100; When Winter Comes 0 $4.00 per
100; Installing your Wood Stove Safety
@ $3.00 per 100; and others, write to:
Ohio Insurance Institute, P.O. Box 632,
Columbus, OH 43216

**********

State D.E.S. Office, Helena, has a good
supply of "Your Chance to Live" kits
consisting of: Five (5) film strips and
audio cassetts to aid in teaching Civil
Preparedness in the schools or however
you wish to make use of them. Call
State D.E.S. , and we will fill your
need to the limit of our supply.

***********

Missoula County still has sandbags
(feed bags) for sale at .13^ each.
This is the final offer. They will not
be available when these are gone. Call
Orin Olsgaard, D.E.S. Coordinator, at
721-5700, Ext. 458.

************

V

NOW HEAR THIS - YOU HORSE LOVERS

The Montana Supreme Court ruled that
certain dude ranchers may NOT keep
horses on their 10 acres of residential
property in the Sweet Grass Hills Sub-
division at Big Sky. It seems the
horses became a nuisance to neighbors
because they expelled gas in such a
noisy way that peace and quiet was
disturbed. It was argued before the
Bar that "these horses and their ensu-
ing resounding, egregious divestitures
of abdominal gas echoing through hills
and vales of this otherwise peaceful
area, closely akin to the point blank
discharge of a double-barreled shotgun,
have utterly no place in a quiet
residential hamlet".

**********

Montana Poison Control System

1-800-525-5042

Toll Free

An Emergency Medical Service Project of the Montana
Department of Health and Environmental Sciences

D.E.S. DIVISION - NEWSLETTER
Published Quarterly

Ted Schwinden
Governor

James W. Duffy
Adjutant General

C. L. Gilbertson
Administrator

The articles in this newsletter do not
constitute official policy.

VAN NEEDED

The Augusta Volunteer Fire Department
needs a van to haul equipment to fires.
The Augusta Department would pick up
the unit and would make minor repairs
if needed. If you have one excess to
your needs call Vernon Erickson at
562-3346 after 4 p.m., or write him at
Box 152, Augusta, MT 59410.

Disaster & Emergency Services
P.O. Box 4789
Helena, MT 59604