FEMA REGION V INCIDENT MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAM (IMAT)

15 April 2009

INTRODUCTION What we are

Why we were created

What we do

Organization

Equipment & Capabilities

Missions, so far…

What to expect

WHAT WE ARE… One of 4 “Regional” teams (Atlanta, Chicago, Denton, NYC)

expected to respond to Level II (“Large”) and Level III (“Small”) events Supports one of 2 National IMATs (DC, Sacramento) in response to Level I

(“Catastrophic”) events

One additional Regional Teams (Kansas City) operational in 4nd quarter of FY09

15 member team organized by ICS principles

Expected to respond to any event (no-notice included) within 2 hours; Operational on scene within 12 hours of notice (CONUS) Forward Deployed Element (FDE)

Travel via IMAT vehicles (Excursion & Van), commercial means, military air/USCG

Operational Control and Day-to-Day oversight maintained by Regional Administrator (RA); Team Leader member of FCO cadre Activation determined by RA in consultation with IMAT Team Leader

WHY WE WERE CREATED…

Activated 1 May 2008 based on the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) of 2006 (Section 611)

Built on the Federal Incident Response Support Team (FIRST) concept and the Region V FIRST

To ensure uniform, effective, expedient Federal assistance to State, tribal and local authorities during disasters

To improve management of the Federal response to disasters using NIMS and ICS

WHAT WE DO…

Rapidly deploy to an incident, or incident-threatened venue, to lead a prompt, effective and coordinated Federal response

Establish and coordinate the federal response from an Initial Operating Facility, Branch or Division

Provide initial situational awareness for Federal/State decision-makers

Build and maintain pre-incident, a close working relationship with Regional, State, tribal, and local emergency management officials, allied agencies, and other Federal partners

WHO WE ARE…Team LeaderLarry Sommers

Team LeaderLarry Sommers

Operations Section ChiefEric Gentry

Operations Section ChiefEric Gentry

Planning Section ChiefJim Raymond

Planning Section ChiefJim Raymond

Logistics Section ChiefWilliam Wooten

Logistics Section ChiefWilliam Wooten Finance & Admin Section

Marcie Fewell

Finance & Admin SectionMarcie Fewell

Ordering Unit LeaderNeil Bradley

Ordering Unit LeaderNeil Bradley

External Affairs OfficerCassie Ringsdorf

External Affairs OfficerCassie Ringsdorf

Public Assistance Group SupervisorLouis Press

Public Assistance Group SupervisorLouis Press

Communications UnitLeader

Paul Casault

Communications UnitLeader

Paul Casault

Individual AssistanceGroup Supervisor

Randy Bartell

Individual AssistanceGroup Supervisor

Randy Bartell

Communications Specialist

Alberto Ornelas

Communications Specialist

Alberto Ornelas

Operations Branch Director

Ramon Davis

Operations Branch Director

Ramon Davis

Staging AreaGroup Supervisor

Paul Mungenast

Staging AreaGroup Supervisor

Paul Mungenast

Situation Unit LeaderMary Rhedin

Situation Unit LeaderMary Rhedin

Resource Unit LeaderBradley Ellis

Resource Unit LeaderBradley Ellis

Operations Tempo:Response Operations: 50% of year (~180 days)

Training & Exercises: 25% of year (~90 days)Home: 25% of year (~90 days)

EQUIPMENT & CAPABILITIES Personnel Gear/Equipment

“Go Kits” – storm case

Communications: Satellite phones, BGAN (portable satellite for voice/data), cellular STE (Secure Terminal Equipment), computer with wireless cards, handheld radio, etc.

All weather gear

Camera equipment

Basic office supplies

Other mission-related items

EQUIPMENT & CAPABILITIES Vehicles (Ford SUV [Excursion] and Van)

Communications: KVH Satellite (TV), VHF & UHF radio, HF radio, BGAN (portable satellite for voice/data)

Safety gear: hard hats, vests, etc.

Self-sustainable for 48 hours: tools,

generators, chainsaw,

tow chain, MREs, water,

chemical toilet

Office Supplies: copier/fax,

pens/pencils, paper, etc.

MISSIONS SO FAR… Indiana Flooding (DR1766), June 2008

Illinois Flooding (DR1771), June 2008

Republican National Convention, July – September 2008

Hurricane GUSTAV: Louisiana (EM3295), September 2008

Hurricane IKE: Louisiana (DR1792) & Texas (DR1791), September/October 2008

Wisconsin Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise, December 2008

Other: Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), Minnesota IEMC, New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) Working Group,

Ohio ICS exercise, etc.

WHAT TO EXPECT… Support the State EM

Upon request for federal assistance, in place within 12 hours

Technical expertise/advice (IA, PA, Logistics, Comm., other)

Set up “AT” the EOC, not “IN” the EOC, to work “hand-in-hand”

Short term stay – Focus on Response and build toward Recovery operations

Partner in obtaining Situational Awareness

Questions???

Eric Gentry, Operations Section Chief, Region V IMAT312-408-5354, eric.gentry@dhs.gov