Division of ForestryIncident Management Teams

John Nielsen

WDNR, Division of Forestry

Regional Forestry Leader-SOR

Currently• The Department has 9

Type 3 Incident Management Teams

• Located in the 9 Forestry Dispatch Areas

• Contains members from numerous disciplines of the DNR and external partners but maintained by the Division of Forestry

History

• These IMTs were developed to manage large, complex forest fires.

• This is still their primary focus and responsibility.

History (cont.)

• Due to training with external partners and operation of Departmental IMT staff, the IMTs began to be called in for other incidents including:– Portage Levee Flooding – 1993, 2010 (DNR

incidents)– Siren Tornado - 2001– Ladysmith Tornado - 2002– Easton Tornado – 2004– Stoughton Tornado - 2005– Quad County Tornado – 2007 (advisors to local

authorities)– Sauk County Flooding – 2008– Jackson County Search & Rescue - 2009

DNR IMT Niche• The IMT’s role may vary, depending on the

incident needs, from utilizing a full team for managing volunteers, to using a “short team” to aid the local jurisdiction in organizing an incident.

• However, due to comfort level of the IMTs operating in the all-risk arena, an Incident Management Team Assignment Evaluation Assessment was developed to assist in making the decision to utilize a Departmental IMT for an all-risk incident.

Acceptable/Unacceptable Missions

• These will be determined through the use of the Assignment Evaluation Assessment, Delegation of Authority and Agency Administrator’s Briefing.

• The IMTs will be restricted to assist with natural disasters (wind events, tornados, floods, snow, ice, etc.) and possibly large scale search and rescue assistance due to comfort levels.

Incident Management Team Assignment Evaluation Assessment

This form was developed to be used as a tool to assist in the decision making process before committing a DNR IMT to an all-risk type incident. There is no set number of “Yes” or “No” answers that will determine whether it is appropriate for a DNR IMT to accept or decline a request from a local jurisdiction. It is expected that the DNR person receiving the request would fill this form out and route it through the proper chain of command with the initial acceptance or declination of an assignment. Typically this would be filled out by the Area Forestry Leader, Regional Forestry Leader, Fire Management Section Chief, Forest Protection Bureau Director, or any of their designees. 1. Has a Governor’s State of Emergency been declared? Yes ___ No ___

Date __________ 2. Is this a natural disaster incident? Yes ___ No___

a. This includes (but may not be limited to): i. Tornado

ii. Severe wind event iii. Flooding

3. Is a DNR Incident Management Team best suited for the Yes ___ No ___

task? If not, suggest an agency that may be better suited to the task.

4. Is the request coming from the chief executive officer Yes ___ No ___

of the local agency or their designee? 5. Has a delegation of authority request been signed and an Yes ___ No ___

Agency Administrator’s Briefing been drafted? 6. Is the local DNR Incident Management Team available to Yes ___ No ___

respond? What is the earliest date/time the IMT is proposed to respond?

a. If no, the request is forwarded to the Region and Division b. Reason for unavailability may include (but not limited to):

i. Risk of need for wildfires ii. Lack of available personnel

7. What agency/agencies has/have overall authority of the incident? 8. What other agencies are involved with the incident?

Authority to Request a DNR IMT

•The request must come from the chief executive officer or designee of the local governing body. This may or may not be the Sheriff or Fire Chief.

•An exception to this is a request from the Governor.

Requesting a DNR IMT

Local Chief Executive Officeror Designee

Local DNR Areaor Regional Forestry Leader

Option 1

Requesting a DNR IMT

Local ChiefExecutive Officer or Designee

State EOC

DNR Duty Officer

Bureau of Forest Protection

Regional Forestry Supervisor

Area Forestry Supervisor

Option 2

What You Can Expect

• At time of request – questions regarding specifics of the assignment the IMT is being requested for.

• Initial Response – 1 or 2 people from the DNR to respond to scout the situation to get a better handle on needs of the IMT for the incident.

• Full IMT in place within 24 hours or less of request (ideal)

Delegation of Authority

• Spells out what tasks the volunteers are able to do.

• If an incident spreads across multiple jurisdictions:May require multiple Delegations of Authority

and Administrator’s Briefings.Could be handled with multiple agencies

signatures on a single Delegation of Authority and Administrator’s Briefing.

Check-in

• Will need a facility large enough to accommodate volunteer numbers (e.g. School gym)

• Will provide a designated process and flow of personnel• Will need to limit access points to ensure volunteers get

signed in

Check-In Date: ______________

DIVISION Division Supervisor Crew Leader

CHECK IN

NAME ADDRESS PHONE SIGNATURE CHECK OUT

Check-In

• Volunteer Waiver

Wisconsin Disaster Volunteer Registration Form

Name Today’s date

Home Address City State Zip

Emergency Contact Relationship Emergency Phone

Release of Liability Statement I, for myself and my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless the County of Sauk, Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the State of Wisconsin, and the organizers, sponsors and supervisors of all disaster preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery activities from all liability for any and all risk of damage or bodily injury or death or property damage, including any injury or damage caused by negligence, in connection with any volunteer disaster effort in which I participate or which may arise from my participation in volunteer disaster efforts or from my presence on a Sauk County site or in a Sauk County vehicle or vehicle contracted, leased or otherwise made available for use by Sauk County as part of said participation. I likewise hold harmless from liability any person or agency transporting me to or from any disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, recovery and relief activities. In addition, disaster relief officials have permission to utilize any photographs or videos taken of me for publicity or training purposes without compensation paid to me. I will abide by all safety instructions and information provided to me during disaster relief efforts. I understand and agree that failure to abide by such safety instructions and information may result in my immediate dismissal from the Disaster Volunteer Program, without recourse. Further, I expressly agree that this release, waiver, and indemnity agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the State of Wisconsin, and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect. I acknowledge that work may involve dangerous and/or strenuous activities, and that bending and lifting will be a part of the job. I acknowledge that I may have to work in uneven terrain and damp, wet dirty and muddy conditions. I have no known physical or mental condition that would impair my capability to participate fully, as intended or expected of me. I have carefully read the foregoing release and indemnification and understand the contents thereof and sign this release as my own free act.

Signature Date

Parent or Guardian, if under 18 Date

• “Disclaimer”

• Identification WristbandCredentialing

Liaison Officer

• Maintains contact with local officials and EOC.

• Obtains the work needs for the communities.

• Relays needs of other agencies.

Field Supervision

• Keep volunteers focused and motivated• Makes sure volunteers do what they are supposed to

be doing.

Supervisor Operational Briefing

VolunteerSafety and Operational Briefing

Shift Debriefing

Tracking and Accountability

Liability

• If an employee is under the direction and control of the Department, the Department would cover liability for injuries and accidents unless spelled out in in the Agency Administrator’s Briefing ahead of time.

• As long as a DNR employee is acting within the scope of their employment, the DNR will be liable for injuries or accidents.

• The Delegation of Authority and Agency Administrator’s Briefing will spell out the scope of employment for the DNR IMT on an all-risk incident.

Costs of Assignments

The Agency Administrator’s Briefing will spell out the financial

responsibilities of the DNR IMT and the local jurisdiction.

Commitment

• Duration of IMT involvement may vary based on the scope of the incident and fire season involved.

• If the need for a DNR IMT exceeds the commitment level of the local IMT, transitioning to a different DNR IMT.

Demobilization

• The process for demobilizing the IMT, and transitioning back to the local jurisdiction, will be spelled out in the Agency Administrator’s Briefing.

Documentation

Maintain records for the IMT and the local jurisdiction

Sauk County Records Transfer Index

1. IAP’s for each municipality 2. Command

a. Delegation of Authority b. Agency Administrator’s Briefing c. Requests d. Briefing Notes e. TerraServer CD f. PIO g. Liaison h. Safety

i. Accident Reports ii. Safety Messages

3. Planning

a. Resource Unit b. IAPs c. Check-in Procedure d. DNR Staff Participation e. Check-in/out Daily Lists – DNR f. Check-in/out Daily Lists – Single Resources g. Check-in/out Daily Lists – C.A.P. h. Check-in/out Daily Lists – Boy Scouts i. Check-in/out Daily Lists – Volunteers j. Volunteer list by work site k. Volunteer waivers l. Situation Unit m. Situation Reports n. O.H. Staff Summary o. Weather p. Photo CDs q. Demob Unit r. Demob Plan s. Performance Evals t. Demob Checkout Sheets

Questions?