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Posted on November 18, 2008 by Stephen Foley

After a tumultuous wildland and weather related disaster season many teams and individuals are taking stock of the excellent work done in the field. Staff from USFA worked in coordination with our partners and ramped up to staff positions at Joint Field Offices (JFO), the National Response Coordination Center, the National Interagency Fire Center as well as designated DHS locations. This coordinated effort provided an orderly flow of information as we worked to support the nation’s fire and emergency services across the country.

Many of the State and Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Type 3 Incident Management Teams (IMTs) were ordered through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to assist with these disasters and represented themselves and their jurisdictions at the highest level of professionalism. The ability to utilize the EMAC system proved invaluable in moving resources from multiple agencies and disciplines to support the management and operational levels at various incidents.

Congratulations to Paul Hanneman, Robert Koenig, and Bruce Wood from the Texas Forest Service who were presented the Director’s award for their outstanding work in developing and implementing the Type 3 IMT program across Texas. A tip of the Stetson to them on being strong advocates for this program.

There continues to be some transition processes occurring at NIMS/Incident Management Systems Integration Division (IMSID) and new personnel transitioning in, and others moving to other positions. I would hope to have a defined direction from IMSID regarding the Incident Command System (ICS) Position Specific deliveries for 2009, some movement forward with credentialing, qualifications, and other work being developed by the various incident management system working groups. Stay tuned.

Congratulations are also in order to the Type 3 IMTs from Illinois, as well as the corporate sponsors for what I hear was an excellent Annual Type 3 IMT conference. I know the folks from Texas are well into the planning process for 2009. More information on that as things move forward.

The roles your teams and personnel play and support of emergency response are critical to a safe operational environment for all responders. I wish all a safe and healthy holiday season to you and your families.

Let me end with a quote from the great US Poet Laureate Robert Frost:

“Always fall in with what you're asked to accept. Take what is given, and make it over your way. My aim in life has always been to hold my own with whatever’s going. Not against: with.”

- Laureate Robert Frost