Emergency Response

A new version of MARPLOT is available at http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/cameo/marplot.htm What’s changed in MARPLOT 4.2.3? Fixed the Go to Address feature which was using a discontinued web service.  It now uses a MapQuest API. Updated the Topo basemap layers, which are web mapping services (WMS) provided by other organizations. Minor changes and bug fixes…. Membership Required You...

A new revision (dated March 13, 2013) to the CHLOREP Bulletin related to modified C-Kit application instructions now titled “Modified Emergency Kit “C” Application for Certain Dual Valve Systems” is now available. This revision accounts for the completion of the NextGen service trial, a new dual valve design model that will soon be available for…...

Area plans are often brought into action when facilities are unable to handle spills on their own. Under the authority of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, EPA initially established 13 Areas covering the U.S. and convened Area Committees comprised of federal, state, and local government agencies to prepare contingency plans for the designated areas…....

An Incident Commander’s responsibility is to assess or “size-up” the emergency situation to get a good understanding of the problems, issues and concerns and to achieve the needed situational awareness. If the incident is going to grow to where a Unified Command structure is required, it is often helpful to write down the problems that each…...

This is one of the top emergency response questions we receive each year.  It seems there are some facilities that feel the Incident Command training their personnel receive in their 16-hr Operations Level and 24-hr Technician Level training qualifies those personnel to be an Incident Commander.  The question is… is the training offered in these…...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to require the filing of a premarket approval application (PMA) or a notice of completion of a product development protocol (PDP) for the following class III preamendments devices: Automated external defibrillators systems (AEDs), which includes the AED device and its accessories (i.e., pad electrodes, batteries, and adapters)…....

On a daily basis we respond to a variety of emergencies, most of which have become fairly routine. Of course, reaching that level of competence takes a lot of training, exercises and actual events. We have to constantly guard against complacency to ensure safe and effective operations. However, the extraordinary events — such as tornados, earthquakes,…...

WARNING!  This post may offend some, but it is 2013 and to have house fires today with NO WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS, well someone needs to get offended.  That 4-year old little girl DESERVED better and I will not relent to political correctness when we are KILLING our children because we have misplaced responsibilities!   This…...

This FREE four-part webinar series is brought to us by the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and provides information on the roles and responsibilities, health and safety considerations, and practical application of skills for Incident Safety Officers (ISOs).  This is a GREAT series for personnel working within an Incident Command structure who may be called upon to serve…...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the leading organization representing the volunteer fire and emergency services, recognizes that many departments may have difficulty adopting these standards in their totality. The reasons for this are varied and may include factors such as limited resources or unfamiliarity with the standard. Small volunteer departments may face additional challenges…...