EDITORS: SHEILA HALL AND TERRY SWANSON
August 2007
REGION V ANNUAL TRAINING
Danville , Indiana
June 20-22, 2007
Over seventy team members and guests attended the Region V
Annual Training Session at the Danville Armory and
These groups provided a comprehensive and informative training for the team.
Opening Remarks
Region V Command Staff
Dr.
Frank Saul (Region V Commander) led the team in a moment of remembrance for
teammate Gabe Hensley of
The following is a copy of Gabe’s
I had never deployed before Katrina and I just
wanted you to know that the training we had in
I am very proud of what we did in
Gabe Hensley
Jan Simons (Region V Training Officer) reviewed the agenda for the training weekend: classroom session with a series of speakers, simulated morgue operations, review and discussion of morgue operations, and updates from Command Staff.
Earthquakes: A Primer
Konrad J. Banaszak, PhD & LPG
This presentation was a thorough introduction to understanding earthquakes: where they occur, how they are measured, and what to consider when they do occur.
Dr. Banaszak explained that the Midwest would experience
aftershocks, which are more violent in magnitude than
Earthquakes are measured with three seismographs, detecting and recording vertical and horizontal movements of the ground. These seismographs trace “P waves” (Primary), “S waves” (secondary), and “L waves” (slowest wave, which causes surface vibrations). Severity of damage is not only based on the intensity of the earthquake, but also the condition of the ground or foundation where buildings stand.
The speaker listed some of the main earthquake hazards: ground shaking, differential ground settlement, soil liquefaction, ground displacement, floods, and fires.
NDMS Update
Millard “Buddy” Bell
Mr. Bell addressed questions and concerns by members, regarding the HHS (Health and Human Services) background checks, new badges, uniforms, budget, and training.
Indiana Department of Homeland Security
David Perkins, Operations Director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Perkins explained State Preparedness and the need to develop coordination between Federal, State, and local resources. He also described the Indiana DPMU, including the composition of the Indiana DPMU Team.
DMORT DPMU
Mike Gedert, DMORT DPMU
Mike Gedert updated the team on the status of the three DMORT DPMU’s. He reviewed the importance of maintaining equipment and inventory, in order to assure readiness of the DPMU’s. Mike introduced the team to the new DPMU Forms, relevant to the accountability, condition, and status of equipment, utilized during a deployment.
Victim Identification Program (VIP)
Gregory Klimetz, Family Assistance Core Team (FACT)
Mr. Klimetz discussed the history of VIP, the challenges with this program, and the updates made to it, in association with the development and advancements in forensics. He illustrated the organization of the FACT Incident Command System (ICS),
The following is a list of significant updates to VIP: Filemaker 8.5 Version (upgraded from 6.0), true relational database structure, complete conversion of old VIP database, more versatility in working with other software, easy EXCEL or PDF reporting, tables allow for faster searches, picture import capability, more secure options and access privileges, same easy interface, record tracking, web-enabled with appropriate security, and streamlined export protocols.
New Madrid
Phillip Roberts, Senior Planner, State of Indiana
New Madrid
Planning
Mr. Roberts emphasized the importance of improving response capabilities for a catastrophic earthquake event and related hazards in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), including a plan to coordinate response and recovery efforts for Federal, State, and local agencies. He commented on the need to incorporate key lessons from the Hurricane Katrina response, the Southeast Louisiana Catastrophic Hurricane planning, and previous earthquake response and recovery actions.
Simulated Morgue Operations – Mock Earthquake
The highlight of the training was a mock mass fatality earthquake disaster at the Danville Armory: this realistic drill included a number of “unexpected” scenarios, which enabled participants to realize that not all disasters are alike and always be prepared! To further the realism, MRE’s (Meals Ready-to-Eat) were served for lunch.
The scenario of the simulation was an 8.0 Earthquake of the
New Madrid Fault Epicenter – Tristate:
All team members and representatives from participating agencies were required to obtain and wear mission-specific photographic identification badges for security purposes.
A fully functional portable morgue based on the Federal DPMU’s – the Indiana Department of Homeland Security DPMU – was assembled. Mock deceased victims were transported from refrigerated trucks to the temporary morgue, where post-mortem examinations were simulated. Trackers moved bodies through the various morgue stations, where findings were carefully documented: Admitting, Photography, Personal Effects, Radiology, Pathology, Anthropology, Dental, Fingerprinting, and DNA.
A separate area in the armory housed the VIP (Victim Identification Program) data entry team. Combined data from the temporary morgue and FACT (Family Assistance Core Team) are entered into the VIP database and used to match the deceased with the proper identity.
On the final day of the training, Jan Simons presented a comprehensive recap of the drill. This included explanation and results of the “unexpected” scenarios: mental health issues, aftershock situations, personal safety and accountability for all team members inside and outside of the morgue, team member cooperation, and overall team awareness of your surroundings at a deployment. DMORT Leadership, Morgue Section Leaders, and other participants also offered comments on their learning experiences.
Most memorable
moments of the training simulation:
Julie’s simple makeshift aftershock motion sensors and warning devices
Brad’s “crack” (in the wall), with further expansion by Shawn Wilson throughout the day
Hew Simons’ arrival with a huge semi
truckload of “bodies” with more on the way from
Brent Hartley’s meltdown equaled
by Terry and Sheila’s “fight”
Mike Frost never leaving his post at lunchtime
Dave Walters’ infamous response to the question: “Are you a Structural Engineer?”
“No, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night!”
Jack Horbal’s exercise-ending
accidental “destruction” of the $7000 NOMAD handheld X-ray unit
Updates from Command Staff and Special Guests
Dr. Frank Saul reviewed the new “DMORT Standard Operating Procedures” as they relate to the “DMORT NTSB Standard Operating Procedures” and the “National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) Mass Fatality Plan.”
David Hunt (Region V Deputy Commander) updated the team on the DMORT V Recovery Team.
Sue Atwood (Region V Administrative Officer) reviewed team time sheets and form changes.
Carl Adrianopoli (Emergency Coordinator Region 5) updated the team on field management in response to an emergency. He informed the team that Rear Admiral Vanderwagon is in charge of the Incident Response Coordination Team. This team will take over Field Management issues, Logistics, and Communication on a rotating basis during deployments.
Marc Poulshock (VeriChip Representative) described VeriChip – an implantable or attachable Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchip. Mr. Poulshock explained the benefits and potential application of VeriChip during a DMORT mission.
THE COMMANDERS’ AWARD FOR MERITORIOUS
SERVICE TO REGION V
The contributions of the following Team
members and others were acknowledged with the Commanders’ Award:
Jim Adams Dave Hunt Hew
Simons
Marcia Adams Karen Hunt Jan Simons
Buddy
Helga
Sharff-Bell Denise
Murmann Dave
Walters
Kelly Cissell Bob Nicola,
Sr. Geoff
Wells
Scott Davis Jim
Offrink
John Williams
Leslie Eisenberg Dave Perkins Shawn Wilson
Todd Grisier Mike Pratt
Mike Frost Patty Pratt
Jack Horbel Tim
Schmidt
Congratulations on a job well done!
Dave Hunt, Dr. Frank Saul, David
Perkins, and Brad Targhetta
Dr. Frank Saul, Brad Targhetta, and Jan
Simons
Brad Targhetta congratulates Rev. Jim Offrink on his
award
Region V attendees applaud Jan
Simons for her significant role in organizing the
Congratulations to Dr. Jim Adams - our new Region V Logistics Officer
and
Dave Walters - our new Region V Safety Officer
Special thanks to: Dr. Gary
Berman for providing photographs from the training
Dr. Jim Adams for
providing us with DMART supplies
Geoff Wells for providing
the team with radio/ flashlights
Hendricks Regional Health
for allowing us to use their meeting room
Indiana Department of Homeland Security
The Staff at the Danville Armory for
all their assistance
Towne Air Freight for the use of their tractor trailer during
our
simulation scenario
Tripp’s for the evening retreats
EDITORS’
NOTE:
The staff of the
“Voice of V” needs your help in developing articles of interest and relevance
to Region V. Please submit anything that you think would be appropriate to our
editors at:
Sheila Hall: halls @infantwelfare.org
Terry Swanson:
robertaswanson@msn.com
