How to prepare for working an all-hazard assignment

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina ripped through Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida last year, a woman waited patiently in line for a few bags of ice, a couple bottles of water and whatever else they were handing out at the point-of-distribution (POD) site located just outside Waveland, Miss. Florida Division of Forestry Senior Forest Ranger Jason Long, along with his co-workers, was called to the site to help distribute various commodities at the POD to any survivors who could reach the site. Long spoke to the woman waiting in line, who told him she had not only lost her home and most of her possessions, but also the few things she had left from her son, who had just died while serving in Iraq. "It was the way she said it that made me ask her to pull over and speak with me a minute," Long says. As the woman told her story, Long realized she was genuinely despondent. She told him she couldn't go on living. Long summoned his supervisor who in turn called an EMS unit to transport the woman to a facility for proper care.

PHOTO GLENN SPEIGHT Wildland firefighters provided much-needed assistance to the devastated Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina, and you'll be called upon again soon, so make sure you're prepared.

Long was just one of hundreds — perhaps thousands — of wildland fire personnel who responded to Katrina and did everything they could to help out. Some called them heroes, but every wildland firefighter I've met who traveled to the hurricane-ravaged area was just glad to be there. I witnessed firsthand their desire to be a part of the response effort because I was there too.

Wildland to the Rescue
As a wildland firefighter, many people think what you do is nothing short of miraculous (OK, maybe "crazy" is a better word because you head into the forest when it's on fire). How many times have you seen signs tacked up in a community you helped save from wildfire pronouncing you  a "hero" for saving their homes? A bunch, I'll bet. But you're also a first responder, and as such you're asked to respond to all-hazard assignments more and more often these days.

On recent all-hazard incidents along the gulf coast and in Florida, wildland firefighters performed a multitude of tasks: They ran logistical staging areas where literally hundreds of 18-wheelers arrived and were shuttled in and out on a daily basis; they handed out desperately needed commodities to tens of thousands of storm victims; they ran base camp operations for thousands of emergency services workers in Mississippi and Louisiana; and they provided incident command and control advice for local governments. In short, wildland firefighters responded to Hurricane Katrina, this country's greatest natural disaster, in an exemplary fashion.
 
Ready State
So what's the safety message here? As a wildland firefighter and a first responder, you possess characteristics that are considered highly valuable commodities during times of disaster: You respond quickly in an effective, highly trained fashion, and you make order out of chaos better than anyone. Because of this, you're going to be needed again — and sooner than you think. No crystal ball here; it's just experience telling me. Maybe it'll be another hurricane, maybe something else. The point: Get ready. Be ready. Stay ready.

If you don't "feel" ready, start by getting the proper training. Take all those ICS/NIMS courses you've been thinking about or have been told you need. Visit the Department of Homeland Security Web site, and take the IS 700 ("National Incident Management System, an Introduction") and IS 800 ("National Response Plan, an Introduction") classes, which are free and available online at www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/.
 
 Get in and stay in good physical shape. It's no secret that many of us are graying, and each passing year creates more of a challenge to stay in shape, so start with an annual checkup with your physician. Establish a sound nutritional plan to help keep you in your target zone. Develop a fun and well-rounded aerobic and strengthening program that you can follow year round. And make sure your immunizations are up to date, especially for tetanus (it shouldn't be more than 10 years since your last one) and hepatitis B.

Some of you may not have ever been out on a wildfire before, let alone an all-hazard assignment, so think about which special creature comforts you may want in your red bag. Talk to those who went to Louisiana, Mississippi or Florida on a hurricane deployment last year, and ask them for their personal advice. Talk to the guy (or gal) in your outfit who's been fighting fire half their life. Talk to anyone who went to the shuttle recovery or the 9/11 responses. Ask them for personal tips and tricks they use to make their deployment more sufferable.

What to Bring With You
If you don't know anyone who's been on an all-risk assignment, here are some suggestions for preparing for your all-hazard deployment. Included are some items that have come in handy to me. (Some of these will depend on whether you're driving or flying to an incident.)

• Prescriptions you may need (don't forget to get them refilled).
• Extra glasses/contact lenses with solutions.
• Agency and personal cell phones with car and wall chargers, magnetic mount roof antennas and extra batteries, if you have them. Consider purchasing extended-life batteries.
• A marked agency vehicle with emergency lights. I like SUVs because they not only carry more, they can serve as your "hotel."
• Fuel for your vehicle. Keep your vehicle filled at all times. This might take some doing, but find the closest working gas station and fill up. It might be days before you see another open station.
• A laptop with a wireless card, CDs, etc.
• A sleeping bag and a good sleeping pad (e.g., Thermarest).
• A small tent with extra rope and tent stakes. Toss in a tarp too. 
• Rain gear and a hat.
• A camera (you see things you'll want to photograph).
• Insect repellent (I like the ones with a high percentage of DEET in them.)
• Sun block with a minimum SPF of 15. I like the greaseless sports products with SPF 30 because they last longer, provide better protection from rays and aren't greasy.
• Sunglasses and a hat with a brim for shade if it's hot and sunny.
• Hand sanitizer/towelettes.
• At least two mini flashlights with extra AA batteries. Store the lights in different areas of your baggage, with at least one that's readily accessible.
• A case of meals ready to eat, high protein/energy snack foods (e.g., nuts, jerky, canned fish/meat, trail mix, cheese and crackers) and any special diet items.
• A couple cases of water and sports drinks — you might even toss in some juice.
• An ice chest with ice.
• A personal first-aid kit with analgesics and anti-diarrhea medications.
• Personal hygiene items, including deodorant, baby wipes, mouthwash, powder, foot powder, feminine products, moleskin and a roll of toilet paper.
• Extra T-shirts and socks.
• Hard-soled flip flops.
• Extra cash (you might want to store this in two separate places).
• Paper maps of the area, your travel route and a GPS unit.
• Portable radios (agency and small AM/FM/weather) with extra batteries.
• A small tool kit.

This might not be everything you'll wish you had with you, but it'll get you through the first few days.

Finally, make sure you and your family have a plan in case the "big one" comes to your town or neighborhood or in case you're called to an out-of-town incident. Discuss where everyone should go and what they should do. If you've been assigned to an event, let your family know what you'll be doing and where. Contact them when you get to your location, and stay in touch with them as much as possible. Set up auto-pay accounts for your household bills. Leave some extra cash and credit cards for the family for emergencies. And when you get home, sit down with them and help give closure to the incident.

A Final Note
For his actions during Hurricane Katrina and for the outstanding work he does back home in Mayo, Fla., Jason Long was named Florida's Outstanding Wildland Firefighter of 2006 by the Florida Forestry Association.

Gene Madden, an SOFI, is the chairman of the NWCG Safety and Health Working Team and a member of the NWCG Emergency Medical Support Group. Madden is employed as the division safety officer for the Florida Division of Forestry and is an IOFI and a medical unit leader. E-mail him at maddeng@doacs.state.fl.us.