Page 18 - InCommand Volume 30

Emergency Response System
Ret. Chief Bill Houk, State Coordinator
Ret. Chief Bill Shaw, Assistant State Coordinator
We hope that you came out on the other side of winter unscathed!
2019 was a busy year for the Emergency Response System (ERS). Since it went “live” in 2002, the ERS has generally been activated two times a year, but last year,
it was activated five times. That tells us that the awareness is increasing about the capabilities of the ERS, which is exactly what we want.
We realized a few years ago that there was a lack of awareness throughout
Ohio’s fire service about the ERS. Unintentionally, we had shifted our educational efforts into assisting with
some platform changes then correcting database and functionality issues. We also recognized that, as is normal, there was a turnover in many of the fire departments’ administrators, which also led to a lack of awareness as to what the ERS was and how it could help during major emergencies. There have been many changes in the ERS since its inception and each one has either increased the efficiency or the security of the ERS. Over the last couple of years, our Coordinators have worked hard helping to increase education on the ERS.
Our awareness efforts have included presentations during the OFCA’s Winter Symposium, Annual Conference, and New Chief’s Symposium. There have been presentations at the Ohio Fire Academy
in their Fire Officer classes, as well as at their Annual Fire Chiefs’ Symposium. Obviously, now we are including regular articles in InCommand. We have held webinars for the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association YouTube channel, and we have been invited to many County or Regional meetings, as well as participating in local large-scale exercises. All great venues to be able to educate the fire service and other stakeholders about the ERS. We have worked to increase our collaboration with the Ohio Department of Health
and the Ohio Hospital Association, while maintaining our relationships with Ohio Department of Commerce (State Fire Marshal’s Office) and Ohio Department
of Public Safety (Ohio Emergency • How to Respond to an Activation
Management Agency, Ohio Division of EMS & Ohio Homeland Security). We believe the increase usage of the ERS is also due in part to you, Ohio’s fire service, for helping to spread the word throughout your vast networks.
If anyone would like more information to obtain either initial a refresher training, please do not hesitate to contact a County, Regional, or a State Coordinator. The training would include:
• Developmental History
• Guiding Principals
• Partnerships
• How the System Works (including
County operations & dispatcher
point of contact needs)
• How to be Part of the System
• How to Request an Activation and
What to Expect
if a County is Requested
• Explanation of EMAC & IMAC
You can access a current listing of Regional or State Coordinators under the Emergency Response System tab on the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association website.
As a closing reminder, the ERS was created as a simple method for an Incident Commander to obtain additional resources once the local resources have become overwhelmed. The ERS database contains over a billion dollars’ worth of local resources that have been committed if there is a need throughout Ohio. Please do not hesitate to utilize the ERS if you ever have a need.
Stay safe, and thank you for all that you do!
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Phone: 765-675-7586
Fax: 765-675-7589
Toll Free: 1-866-675-7586 E-mail: info@renperfco.com
18 InCommand APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2020 • www.ohiofirechiefs.org
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