Preparing for the Worst

By Samuel Sutton Standard-Radio Post reporter

In an effort to better prepare for future emergencies, first responders from Gillespie County and other areas throughout the state of Texas gathered for a three-and-a-half-day training class.

Members of Gillespie County Emergency Management, Fredericksburg Fire EMS, as well as from Bryan-College Station, Georgetown, Stephenville, New Braunfels, Mount Pleasant, Houston, San Antonio, Kyle, Coppell, Austin, Anson and Bastrop, along with U.S. Coast Guard members and Phillips 66 responders participated in the NIMS (National Incident Management System) ICS (Incident Command System) All-Hazards Resources and Demobilization Unit Leaders Course during the week of July 12-17.

The class took place at the new Texas A&M Gillespie County AgriLife Extension building. It was sponsored by the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Paul Hannemann, president of the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department, helped bring the class to Gillespie County. The class is sponsored by the Texas A&M Forest Service.

“Paul, who’s done this forever, helped pull it all together to be taught here,” Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell said.

Bizzell added it was a great way to not only learn new information, but also to network other departments and agencies across the state.

The goal of the course is to provide federal, state and locallevel emergency responders with an overview of key duties and responsibilities of a Resource Unit Leader and a Demobilization Unit Leader in a Type 3 All Hazards Incident Management Team.

It’s taught by Michael Hemby, retired Travis County deputy; Michael McElwain, retired Department of State Health Services, and Hannemann, retired Texas A&M Forest Service.

All three instructors are part of the state’s All Hazard Incident Management Team. Each of the instructors has experience in covering situations like Hurricanes Katrina, Ike and Harvey, along with the Columbia Shuttle Disaster and the West Fertilizer Plant Explosion.

“A lot of great experience was shared with us,” Bizzell said. “We’ve learned the Do’s and Don’ts that they’ve seen in different events.”

This is also a federal course, which Bizzell said will allow them to send first responders to other agencies if they need help during a major event.

“We’re having a lot of crosstalk with other agencies and jurisdictions,” Hannemann said. “If they need help, they now know we have people who are qualified to help.”

Members of Gillespie County Emergency Management, Fredericksburg Fire EMS, as well as from Bryan-College Station, Georgetown, Stephenville, New Braunfels, Mount Pleasant, Houston, San Antonio, Kyle, Coppell, Austin, Anson and Bastrop, along with U.S. Coast Guard members and Phillips 66 responders listen in as Michael McElwain and Michael Hemby teach the NIMS (National Incident Management System) ICS (Incident Command System) All-Hazards Resources and Demobilization Unit Leaders Course on Thursday, July 15. — Standard-Radio Post/Samuel Sutton