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Florida's Best Practices:
City and Member County Responses D - G
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City of Dania Beach
Mayor Robert H. Chunn, Jr.
Dania Beach Emergency Management Response
Immediately following the events of September 11, 2001, Dania Beach city officials and representatives from local agencies met to discuss and formulate a citywide plan to combat terrorism. With the cooperation of the local law enforcement agency and the city’s Public Works Department, the Dania Beach Fire-Rescue Department took a lead role in designing and implementing a plan of action outlining procedures to be followed in the event of suspected terrorist activities. All fire-rescue personnel operate under countywide medical protocols and standard operations. These directives provide the framework for response to all fire-rescue emergencies and were key in the development of the counter-terrorism plan.
This plan, which was added to the city’s already existing disaster preparedness plan, calls for the Dania Beach Fire-Rescue Department to be responsible for providing for the security of city residents through training and routine procedures. All Dania Beach firefighters have been certified in Incident Command for Terrorism. Likewise, the department’s administration and labor organization have developed criteria for a Special Operations Certification that allows firefighters to develop expertise in specific case scenarios. This certification requires successful passage of the following courses and/or seminars: Hazardous Materials I and II, Intermediate and Advanced Incident Command, Terrorism Command, Shipboard Firefighting, Advanced Vehicle Extrication, and Rope Rescue I and II.
In addition, the City of Dania Beach is an active member of the countywide Emergency Operations Task Force, which is headed by the Broward County Emergency Operations Center. The task force, which includes representatives from all local fire departments, law enforcement agencies, county emergency management personnel, and private sector providers, coordinates joint efforts by local fire departments in response to incidents of terrorism that would require multi-unit responses.
Contact Person:
Michael L. Brown, Deputy Chief
Dania Beach Fire-Rescue Department
102 W. Dania Beach Boulevard
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Phone: (954) 924-3720
E-mail: Mbrown@ci.dana-beach.fl.us
City of Daytona Beach
Mayor Baron H. “Bud” Asher
Daytona Beach Emergency Management Response
The City of Daytona Beach has been actively reviewing and revising emergency management and homeland security programs. Since the events of September 11, 2001, the focus of the city’s emergency management plans and the manner in which special events are managed has changed. The Daytona Beach Police Department has provided training in weapons of mass destruction to all police personnel. This training included nuclear, radiological and biological weapons. Departmental protocol for response to suspicious packages was also revised after administrators met with the various agencies involved in a response to a hazardous material incident.
Prior to NASCAR events in 2002, the Police Department held joint meetings with federal, state, county and municipal agencies in order to formulate an operations plan. These meetings resulted in committees being formed to address such issues as traffic management, security measures at the track, normal operations and law enforcement response to terrorism. Further, the department utilized a combination of federal, state and local law enforcement officers in forming a task force to gather intelligence during the events. A “hotline” was also established to provide information to and from the public.
The Daytona Beach Police Department has conducted a threat assessment of private businesses and public locations, such as schools and utilities, which could be potential targets of domestic terrorism. This list was forwarded to the Florida Domestic Security Region Five Task Force. Additionally, a security procedures manual and crime prevention manual were published in order to provide information on such topics as how to handle anthrax and other biological agent threats, building security, letter and package bombs, fires, and hostage situations. These manuals have been made available to the public through the department’s community relations office. An educational pamphlet was also printed and distributed to the public on how to handle suspicious packages or letters.
The City of Daytona Beach will continue to provide training to employees regarding domestic terrorism and homeland security. City officials remain committed to keeping the community and residents safe from such attacks and will vigilantly work with other government agencies to safeguard against future incidents of domestic terrorism.
Contact Person:
Dennis M. Jones, Chief
Daytona Beach Police Department
990 Orange Avenue
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Phone: (386) 671-5201
E-mail: JonesDennis@ci.daytona-beach.fl.us
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City of DeBary
Mayor Carmen Rosamonda
DeBary Emergency Management Response
The City of DeBary’s Neighborhood Watch Program is an important component of a comprehensive homeland security strategy. The program is dependent on concerned residents willing to look out for suspicious individuals or activity in their neighborhood, and then alerting local law enforcement of anything suspicious or unusual. This makes our residents a critical element in the detection, prevention and possible disruption of crime and terrorism. The program is successful because people want to assume a more active role in making their communities safer. By watching out for their neighbors and their property, residents become active protectors of our homeland.
The City of DeBary also prides itself in having a very successful CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Program. CERT is an effort focusing on “neighbor helping neighbor” in any type of traumatic event that imperils the safety of citizens and causes the potential for injury or personal loss. When available, professional emergency-service personnel are the best trained and equipped to handle emergencies. However, following a catastrophic disaster, residents may be on their own for a period of time because of the magnitude of the incident, lost communications and impassable roads preventing the immediate response of professional emergency services. The City of DeBary has trained over 150 volunteer residents to recognize potential hazards associated with a particular type of event, identify and utilize available resources, evaluate requirements for potential search-and-rescue situations, help others get to safety in an organized manner, and perform triage and administer first aid. CERT members serve our community during the immediate aftermath of an event that has threatened the safety of the city. They then continue to be available, as needed or requested, when professional emergency-service personnel arrives. With training and practice, and by working as a team, CERT members are able to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people after a disaster, while at the same time protecting themselves from becoming a victim. By educating its residents to prepare for the likelihood of a disaster, the City of DeBary will be better suited to deal with any type of traumatic incident.
Contact Person:
Elaine Swanson
Volunteer Coordinator
137 S. Highway 17-92
DeBary, FL 32713
Phone: (386) 668-3820
Fax: (386) 668-9743
E-mail: safecity@totcon.com
City of Delray Beach
Mayor David W. Schmidt
Delray Beach Emergency Management Response
Since September 11, 2001, the Delray Beach Police Department has provided training to its employees, established new procedures to handle bio-terrorist threats, and formed unique units designed to enhance the community’s well being.
On some level prior to September 11, 2001, the police had planned the use of an Incident Command System (ICS) to address natural disasters, bomb threats, etc., not knowing that the use of ICS would be crucial to other responses. When bio-terrorism blanketed the nation, the Delray Beach Police Department organized a response with the Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department based on the incident command structure. Communication between the two departments was immediately formulated and incident commanders began sharing information through their common dispatch center. They found the communication method to be slow and cumbersome so an improved method of communication was sought. Today, the incident commanders are equipped with cellular phones and laptop computers. The FD/PD commanders can now talk directly to each other and share information during a critical response.
Since September 11, 2001, all first responders were provided training in biohazardous chemicals, viruses and methods of deployment. In addition, a procedure to collect hazardous materials, transport evidence to appropriate labs and investigate biohazardous crimes was established. Training of key personnel continues with formal ICS training scheduled for November 2002 through December 2002.
The Delray Beach Police Department has established a committee to evaluate the city’s exposure to terrorist acts and is engaged in creating response plans based on the nation’s threat codes. This is a standing committee that evaluates the information provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the FBI, local sources and multiple media sources.
To enhance the security of the community the city elicited the assistance of its elders, who formed the Homefront Security Program. The Homefront Security Program is a volunteer security team, that patrols critical buildings within the city’s boundaries. These volunteers freely give their time and inspect their patrol areas for suspicious persons and packages, and have the ability to contact sworn persons directly.
During the last year, the Police Department has responded to requests by legislators, regional task forces and special interest groups advising them of training needs, specialized equipment and suggestions for funding activities designed to prevent terrorism.
The Fire-Rescue Department and Police Department have a number of staff members participating in various committees within the Governor’s Region Seven Anti-Terrorism Task Force. Members of these agencies also participate at the county and state levels in coordinating grant requests for additional response equipment which will not only serve the local community, but also may be deployed to almost any point in the state upon activation by the State Emergency Management Agency.
Many new diagnostic tools and instruments have been secured through Department of Justice grants to provide first responders with a significantly enhanced ability to determine what chemicals or biological agents may be present that could adversely affect the general population. Additionally, all fire-rescue personnel have recently been given additional training in the use of radiological instrumentation and decontamination procedures.
Contact Person:
Major William McCollom
Delray Beach Police Department
300 W. Atlantic Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Phone: (561) 243-7851
E-mail: mccollom@ci.delray-beach.fl.us
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City of Fort Lauderdale
Mayor Jim Naugle
Fort Lauderdale Emergency Management Response
The City of Fort Lauderdale recognized that during a critical incident or emergency situation cooperation between various agencies and across jurisdictional boundaries is paramount to a successful outcome. The city has taken advantage of two federally funded programs – the Nunn-Luger-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Program and the Metropolitan Medical Response System. The city has offered a Senior Officials Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Awareness Workshop for city and county elected officials and executive staff.
The Fire-Rescue Civilian Emergency Response Training (CERT) and Community Police Academy curriculum has been modified to include WMD awareness education. An Exercise Design Workshop was presented to multi-agency staff in preparation for designing countywide exercises for practicing coordinated response to acts of terrorism. Subsequent planning for a Chemical Incident Tabletop Exercise, and a Biological Incident Tabletop and full-scale Chemical Incident Field Exercise has been initiated.
The city has presented a WMD Law Enforcement Awareness Training Course to many of the local law enforcement officers, an Emergency Response to Terrorism Operations Training Course to multiple-agency emergency responders, an Emergency Response to Terrorism Train the Trainer Course to instructors of first responder agencies in Broward County, and an Emergency Response to Domestic Biological Incidents Training Course to a countywide audience. In addition, the city has increased permanent staffing of the city’s Fire-Rescue Hazardous Materials Response Team.
The City of Fort Lauderdale has been an active participant on the Governor’s Regional Domestic Security Task Force and the countywide Terrorism Advisory Committee (TAC). The Police Department has a membership in the Florida Intelligence Unit, which is a multi-agency law enforcement unit that specifically targets terrorism from domestic organizations, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, which promotes intelligence sharing between the FBI and local law enforcement agencies. The city is also participating with local law enforcement and hospitals in exercising mass decontamination, surge capacity and forward movements of patients.
Additionally, the city has completed a Terrorism Annex, which offers shared common protocols for countywide first responder use in WMD events, and procured additional equipment in the area of detection, personal protection and decontamination for the city’s first responders. City employees and regional participants have participated in residential training in the following areas: Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings Training, WMD Hazardous Materials Technician Live Agent Training, and Radiological/Nuclear Responder Operations Training. We have secured grant funding to provide personal protective equipment to Fort Lauderdale Police Department personnel and enhanced equipment for the department’s bomb squad.
Contact Person:
Rhoda Mae Kerr, Deputy Chief
Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue
101 N.E. 3rd Avenue, Suite 500
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 828-6825
E-mail: RhodaK@ci.fort-lauderdale.fl.us
Or
Chuck Drago, Assistant Chief
Fort Lauderdale Police Department
1300 W. Broward Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Phone: (954) 828-5589
E-mail: ChuckD@ci.fort-lauderdale.fl.us
City of Fort Myers
Mayor Jim Humphrey
Fort Myers Emergency Management Response
In response to the terrorist attacks on America, the City of Fort Myers has joined other cities and counties across the state in an effort to develop regional crisis management and consequence management systems. As an active member of the Region Six Domestic Security Task Force, the city’s fire chief was elected to be the region’s fire-rescue chair.
As the chair, Fort Myers’ fire chief is charged with coordinating training and obtaining equipment for all counties in the region. The regional task force hosted the first tabletop domestic security exercise in Naples and hosted the first field exercise in December 2002.
Correspondingly, the Fort Myers Fire Department is a designated Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Hazardous Material Response Team for Region Six and as such, is a primary response mechanism for WMD terrorism incident mitigation in the region. The City of Fort Myers also supports Lee County Emergency Management in developing the Volunteer Citizens Corps.
Contact Person:
Richard Chappelle, Fire Chief, Emergency Manager
Fort Myers Fire Rescue
2404 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 334-6222
E-mail: rchappelle@cityftmyers.com
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City of Fort Pierce
Mayor Edward G. Enns
Fort Pierce Emergency Management Response
Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the City of Fort Pierce, like many other law enforcement agencies nationwide, has had to find the fiscal resources to fund much-needed training and purchase additional equipment for first response teams. As state and federal funding opportunities become available, the city’s Police and Fire departments have been able to gradually obtain some of the items and training needed in order to improve their response capabilities.
For instance, the Fort Pierce Police Department has purchased a number of protective suits for officers, along with protective gloves. The Regional Domestic Security Task Force has purchased additional suits. Also, the department’s Law Enforcement Trust Fund has been designated as a source of funding to purchase limited amounts of other suits for officers. All officers within the city’s Police Department are currently attending mandatory anti-terrorism training classes.
The city’s emergency manager has been charged with responding to all calls involving a possible terrorist threat and has formatted several policies regarding the response from patrol officers. The special response team commander is in the process of providing tactical response training to all detectives and patrol officers to better prepare for this type of call.
Contact Person:
Captain Terry Barcelona
Fort Pierce Police Department
920 South U.S. #1
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Phone: (727) 468-1805 ext. 5207
E-mail: barcelona@fppd.org
City of Fruitland Park
Mayor William R. White
Fruitland Park Emergency Management Response
In the wake of September 11, 2001, the City of Fruitland Park has developed and put into place an emergency and terrorism preparedness program. City officials have gone to local crime watch meetings and conducted education programs. Citizens have also been advised of the need for volunteers to assist the city’s Police Department with its response in the case of an emergency. Examples include traffic control and dispatch services.
All of the city’s firefighters and police officers have been certified and trained in weapons of mass destruction and incident command. The departments have obtained HazMat suits through grants received from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to be used by first response teams.
Contact Person:
Chief J.M. Isom, Sr.
Director of Public Safety
City of Fruitland Park
506 W. Berckman Street
Fruitland Park, FL 34731
Phone: (352) 360-6655
E-mail: isomjm@flcjn.net
City of Gainesville
Mayor Thomas D. Bussing
Gainesville Emergency Management Response
Since the events of September 11, 2001, the City of Gainesville has modified its existing emergency and terrorism-preparedness programs. City officials have established a chemical and biological response master plan, which includes additional planning to enhance our capabilities to address these potential threats. This has been established through the creation of a plan for chemical and biological response in the county’s local mitigation strategy through the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management. City officials are also engaging in Citizen Corps Council formation discussions with Alachua County and key community players.
There has been increased training and equipment for first responders. Also, tabletop exercises have been completed and more are planned. FEMA and Department of Justice training (“Basic Response to Terrorism”) was provided by Gainesville Fire Rescue to all of its 142 response personnel.
Additionally, equipment has been obtained through state (federal pass-through) grants. The city has sought federal and state grants and special appropriations funding for emergency preparedness through the Corporation for National and Community Service Grant, which will go to assisting with mobilizing all citizens in support of public safety, public health, and disaster preparedness and relief.
Contact Person:
Richard F. Williams, Chief
Gainesville Fire Rescue
P.O. Box 490
Gainesville, FL 32602-0490
Phone: (352) 334-5078
E-mail: williamsrf@ci.gainesville.fl.us
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Alphabetical Listing of City and Member County Responses
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