Regional Emergency Response Regional Emergency Response Advisors (RERAs)Advisors (RERAs)

Rick Rhodes & Jon ErwinRick Rhodes & Jon ErwinFlorida Department of HealthFlorida Department of Health

Richard_Rhodes@doh.state.fl.usRichard_Rhodes@doh.state.fl.usJon_Erwin@doh.state.fl.usJon_Erwin@doh.state.fl.us

READYRoad Map to

RERA HistoryRERA History• After October of 2001, it was decided that the Department of Health would After October of 2001, it was decided that the Department of Health would

field Disaster Planning personnel as well as Disaster Operations personnel field Disaster Planning personnel as well as Disaster Operations personnel while Logistics and Finance functions would be provided by Tallahassee.while Logistics and Finance functions would be provided by Tallahassee.

• This would provide planning expertise at the local level where it would be This would provide planning expertise at the local level where it would be most effective as well as on-call response capabilities that many County most effective as well as on-call response capabilities that many County Health Departments also needed.Health Departments also needed.

• From an Operations perspective, this decision meant that there would From an Operations perspective, this decision meant that there would always be a core group of Health Department personnel who would be always be a core group of Health Department personnel who would be trained in exotic specialties and would be available 24 hours a day for a trained in exotic specialties and would be available 24 hours a day for a wide range of response needs.wide range of response needs.

Planners? RERAs?Planners? RERAs?

• County Disaster Planners are charged County Disaster Planners are charged mostly with mostly with PlanningPlanning

• Regional Emergency Response Advisors Regional Emergency Response Advisors (RERAs) are charged mostly with (RERAs) are charged mostly with OperationsOperations

In Case of an Emergency In Case of an Emergency Break Glass…Break Glass…

Esc

ambi

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San

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Walton

Oka

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Washington

Bay

HolmesJackson

Calhoun

Liberty

Leon

Franklin

Wakulla

Gadsden

Gulf

Jeffe

rson

Madison

Taylor

Suwannee

Hamilton

Lafayette

Dixie

Col

umbi

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Gilchrist

Levy

Nassau

Duval

Baker

ClayUnion

Bradford

Alachua

Marion

PascoOrange

Seminole

St.

Joh

ns

Flagler

Putnam

Volusia

Bre

vard

Lake

Hernando

Citrus

Pin

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HillsboroughOsceola

Polk

Sum

ter

Charlotte

DeSoto

Lee

Collier

Hardee

Hendry

Highlands

Okeechobee

Indian River

Palm Beach

Martin

Broward

Miami-Dade

Monroe

Glades

Manatee

Sarasota

St. Lucie

Bruce MartinBruce MartinPensacola Regional Emergency AdvisorPensacola Regional Emergency Advisor

Sam MacDonellSam MacDonellTallahassee Regional Emergency AdvisorTallahassee Regional Emergency Advisor

Sandi CoursonSandi CoursonJacksonville Regional Emergency AdvisorJacksonville Regional Emergency Advisor

Ken SturrockKen SturrockTampa Regional Emergency AdvisorTampa Regional Emergency Advisor

David CroweDavid CroweOrlando Regional Emergency AdvisorOrlando Regional Emergency Advisor

Richard RhodesRichard RhodesFt. Myers Regional Emergency AdvisorFt. Myers Regional Emergency Advisor

George ColsonGeorge ColsonMiami Regional Emergency AdvisorMiami Regional Emergency Advisor

Who Do We Report To?Who Do We Report To?• Originally called “Regional Coordinators” and were out-posted Central Originally called “Regional Coordinators” and were out-posted Central

Office Personnel.Office Personnel.

• A couple of years ago, the RERAs were administratively moved to CHDs A couple of years ago, the RERAs were administratively moved to CHDs within our regions and our titles were changed from “Coordinator” to within our regions and our titles were changed from “Coordinator” to “Advisor”.“Advisor”.

• Most of the time, we report to our Regional Domestic Security Task Force Most of the time, we report to our Regional Domestic Security Task Force (RDSTF) Health & Medical Co-Chair. (RDSTF) Health & Medical Co-Chair.

• When the Governor declares a “State of Emergency” our command and When the Governor declares a “State of Emergency” our command and control switches to the Division of Emergency Medical Operations, Office control switches to the Division of Emergency Medical Operations, Office of Emergency Operations.of Emergency Operations.

What Do We Do?What Do We Do?

• Technical Advisors & NotificationTechnical Advisors & Notification• InterInter-agency & -agency & IntraIntra-agency field coordinators-agency field coordinators

– Department of Environmental ProtectionDepartment of Environmental Protection– Florida Department of Law EnforcementFlorida Department of Law Enforcement– Bureaus of Laboratories and Radiation ControlBureaus of Laboratories and Radiation Control– Federal, State and Local CoordinationFederal, State and Local Coordination

• Post-disaster Field CoordinationPost-disaster Field Coordination• Post-disaster Field Intelligence CollectionPost-disaster Field Intelligence Collection• HazMat Incident Response & ConsultationHazMat Incident Response & Consultation

Technical AdviceTechnical Advice

• HazMat SkillsHazMat Skills– Trained and Equipped to deal with:Trained and Equipped to deal with:

• Biological, Chemical and Radiological agentsBiological, Chemical and Radiological agents– PPE, Travel IR, Sampling kits, Radiation MonitorsPPE, Travel IR, Sampling kits, Radiation Monitors

• Crime ScenesCrime Scenes

• Emergency Management SkillsEmergency Management Skills– We work in County and Municipal EOCsWe work in County and Municipal EOCs

• Charlie, Katrina, Rita, WilmaCharlie, Katrina, Rita, Wilma

– Work in the State EOC and “forward commands”Work in the State EOC and “forward commands”• Charlie Command, Task Force Florida, Dennis MACCharlie Command, Task Force Florida, Dennis MAC

Field CoordinationField Coordination• Post HurricanePost Hurricane

– Work with both Federal and Local ESF-8 partnersWork with both Federal and Local ESF-8 partners• Working together has slashed request timesWorking together has slashed request times

– Insure mission request & completionInsure mission request & completion• Work with locals during all phases of resource requestsWork with locals during all phases of resource requests

– Provide communicationsProvide communications– Assist with Logistical Staging Area operationsAssist with Logistical Staging Area operations

• HazMat IncidentsHazMat Incidents– Work with local HazMat TeamsWork with local HazMat Teams– Advise CHD personnel if necessaryAdvise CHD personnel if necessary– Serve on the DEP Emergency Response TeamServe on the DEP Emergency Response Team

Examples…Examples…• CharlieCharlie

– First outside State personnel into DeSoto & HardeeFirst outside State personnel into DeSoto & Hardee– First ESF-8 personnel into Charlotte County EOCFirst ESF-8 personnel into Charlotte County EOC– Only communications asset available during the first 24 hours after Only communications asset available during the first 24 hours after

Charlie in Charlotte CountyCharlie in Charlotte County• Ivan PreparationIvan Preparation

– Worked with FEMA and Orange County to establish the “Super Worked with FEMA and Orange County to establish the “Super Shelter” at the Convention CenterShelter” at the Convention Center

– Established ourselves with the FEMA RNA prior to Land Fall in Ft. Established ourselves with the FEMA RNA prior to Land Fall in Ft. Walton BeachWalton Beach

• KatrinaKatrina– Assigned to “Task Force Florida” to establish and conduct Assigned to “Task Force Florida” to establish and conduct

operations out of Stennis NASA Centeroperations out of Stennis NASA Center– Advised Mississippi State Dept. of Health and MEMA on ESF-8 Advised Mississippi State Dept. of Health and MEMA on ESF-8

operations operations (First EMAC Mission of the storm)(First EMAC Mission of the storm)

Examples…Examples…• RitaRita

– Conducted most field assessments and resource Conducted most field assessments and resource requests throughout Monroe County within 4 hours requests throughout Monroe County within 4 hours after landfall.after landfall.

• WilmaWilma– Established a RERA in the Collier EOC 72 Hours Established a RERA in the Collier EOC 72 Hours

Prior to land fall to assist with coordination and Prior to land fall to assist with coordination and preplanning of possibly needed Health and Medical preplanning of possibly needed Health and Medical assetsassets

– Conducted Assessments from West to East Coast and Conducted Assessments from West to East Coast and assisted with resource requests.assisted with resource requests.

• A Majority of all RERA Hurricane A Majority of all RERA Hurricane Missions are conducted jointly with our Missions are conducted jointly with our Federal PartnersFederal Partners

• The only State agency to routinely do soThe only State agency to routinely do so

What About the Rest of the Time?What About the Rest of the Time?

• RERA duties vary from region to regionRERA duties vary from region to region– And RERA to RERA…And RERA to RERA…

• Assist in State and Local Planning as requestedAssist in State and Local Planning as requested• Assist in Design and Conduct of exercisesAssist in Design and Conduct of exercises• Teach classes on HazMat and ESF-8Teach classes on HazMat and ESF-8• Maintain inter-agency relationshipsMaintain inter-agency relationships• Maintain proficiency through classes and trainingMaintain proficiency through classes and training• Manage special projects as assignedManage special projects as assigned

– EMS PPE, Chemical Antidotes, SNS/CRI, Chempack, Med EMS PPE, Chemical Antidotes, SNS/CRI, Chempack, Med 82 radios82 radios

• Of course, we also attend meetings!Of course, we also attend meetings!

On a Quiet DayOn a Quiet Day

• Coordination and assistance in response to Coordination and assistance in response to events that may have potential impact on events that may have potential impact on public health (eg: mercury spills, incidents public health (eg: mercury spills, incidents requiring evacuations, etc...)requiring evacuations, etc...)

• Many of us serve as members of the RDSTF Many of us serve as members of the RDSTF in positions of responsibility such as in positions of responsibility such as Operations, Planning, LogisticsOperations, Planning, Logistics

On a Quiet DayOn a Quiet Day

• We are instructorsWe are instructors– Development of Rad Pager TrainingDevelopment of Rad Pager Training

– Development of Mark I trainingDevelopment of Mark I training

– ICS Certified Train the TrainersICS Certified Train the Trainers

– Some of us can teach “Response to Terrorist Bombing Some of us can teach “Response to Terrorist Bombing Course”Course”

• Some are members of the State Working Group Some are members of the State Working Group for Domestic Preparedness (SWG) and serve on for Domestic Preparedness (SWG) and serve on several committees within the SWGseveral committees within the SWG

On a Quiet DayOn a Quiet Day

• Serve on committees and councils such as:Serve on committees and councils such as:– State Community Health Surge CommitteeState Community Health Surge Committee

– Bio Watch Advisory CouncilBio Watch Advisory Council

– Local Hospital Evacuation CommitteesLocal Hospital Evacuation Committees

– MMRSMMRS

– Regional Planning CouncilRegional Planning Council

– Pan Flu plan Review CommitteePan Flu plan Review Committee

– Some were voting members for the Domestic Security Some were voting members for the Domestic Security Funding Session held each year.Funding Session held each year.

On a Quiet DayOn a Quiet Day• Develop and maintain systemsDevelop and maintain systems

– EMSystem SW Florida (System Administrator)EMSystem SW Florida (System Administrator)• Public SpeakingPublic Speaking

– Community GroupsCommunity Groups– SchoolsSchools– Other Local AgenciesOther Local Agencies

• Contributors to the writing of State Level PlansContributors to the writing of State Level Plans– SNSSNS– Pan Flu AnnexPan Flu Annex– EOPEOP– Regional CHIRPRegional CHIRP

Being A RERA Isn’t Just Sitting Being A RERA Isn’t Just Sitting Around…Around…

We Walk, Fly, Drive…We Walk, Fly, Drive…

……and look sharp doing it!and look sharp doing it!

Day to DayDay to Day

• Interpretation of State and Grant Set GoalsInterpretation of State and Grant Set Goals– TrainingTraining

• MeetingsMeetings

– County ProfilesCounty Profiles

• Position DescriptionPosition Description

Day to DayDay to Day

• Development of Job Action SheetsDevelopment of Job Action Sheets

• EquipmentEquipment– CommunicationCommunication

• What is What is reallyreally needed in a response vehicle needed in a response vehicle

– Information TechnologyInformation Technology– ResponseResponse– VehiclesVehicles

Day to DayDay to Day

• POC for Tallahassee OperationsPOC for Tallahassee Operations

• POC for Co-ChairsPOC for Co-Chairs

Questions?Questions?