Office of Emergency Management collaborates to be prepared in times of crisis

Since starting in May of 2021 as the Phillips County emergency manager, Broc Pelle has become well entrenched in the complexities of county-level emergency management and its inherent collaboration with local, regional and state partners.

Pelle is primarily responsible for coordinating and directing the planning, organization, control and implementation of local emergency management activities. That includes keeping an Emergency Operation Plan updated and an Emergency Operations Center at the ready if an incident requires it be activated. It also entails educating others to be prepared for disasters, ensuring access to training and credentialling of trainees when required and working across numerous jurisdictions that are part of the overall emergency management system.

Local, county, state and federal emergency managers do not work in isolation of one another. They rely on each other to each do their part. Interdependencies exist within the system. When an incident exceeds the capacity of the county to manage it on its own, such as when a tornados causes widescale damage, the county manager connects to the region and state managers for their assistance and resources. If the incident exceeds the State's capacity to help in all ways, the state then activates the Federal Emergency Management Agency which activates FEMA's resources. However, the state and federal representatives are not familiar with the local people and places so they rely on the local and county officials for guidance.

Volunteers essential

for when it really counts

Pelle was quick to point out how essential volunteers are to certain preparedness and response functions. He says he's really thankful for how responsive the communities have been when requesting volunteer participation. Whether it be the need for severe weather spotters who get trained by the National Weather Service, or people to role play certain parts in drills to exercise an emergency plan, citizens have stepped up to help. And of course, one can't forget that the majority of rural fire departments are staffed by volunteers.

It was particularly gratifying that the volunteer turnout exceeded expectations when the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control piloted a program this past spring to utilize local airports as water reloading stations when fighting wildland fires. The DFPC aims to reduce the time a plane needs to refill and return to the fire. This past April the DFPC conducted a Single Engine Air Tanker, or SEAT, reload training to 42 volunteers from Holyoke, Haxtun, Chase County and Sedgwick County. Pelle said that even though several were volunteer fire fighters themselves it was noteworthy that additional people stepped forward since some of those fire fighters could be fighting the fire and unavailable to respond to the airport.

Pelle emphasized that Holyoke's airport would not have received consideration unless enough volunteers were available to get to the airport to connect the water hose to the plane. Now the Holyoke Airport, with the cooperation of the City of Holyoke, is one of the first in the state to be designated a SEAT refill location. Without the local support, planes would have returned to the Front Range to refill.

In a related fire suppression matter, the DFPC is also using local aerial applicators such as crop dusters for initial water drops until relieved by state or federal air support. Steggs Flying Service, Inc., whose operating base is the Holyoke Municipal Airport, is participating in the program. The program allows the county sheriff to request that Steggs be deployed when necessary.

Planning, coordination

and networking are never-ending

Because managing large scale incidents often needs resources held by other agencies and other people to take responsibility, planning in advance with community partners ensures everyone knows what to expect of each other.

Pelle cited an example that, at the request of the Holyoke School District, he assisted them this past year with setting up a practice drill to exercise a procedure in their emergency response plan. Giving credit where credit is due, he said, "That was a joint effort of the Holyoke police department, the sheriff's office, school administrators, and my office." Lessons learned from such exercises are used to refine not only the school's procedures but also what adaptations may be needed by first responders.

Pelle also recently met with the Phillips County Communication Center's Director, Sara Kumm, regarding the communication protocols for major events, such as in what order certain responders would be notified. In recent months they also worked together on pre-automated messages that dispatchers could send out on an as needed basis.

For countywide concerns, Pelle utilizes the Local Emergency Planning Committee that includes first responders across county jurisdictions who participate in planning, training and exercise activities.

Another local coordinating group is the Phillips County Fire Officer Group. It includes the fire chiefs of the County's five volunteer fire departments who meet quarterly with the communication center's director and Pelle.

Within the northeast region of Colorado, County emergency managers meet regularly with the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management's field services manager. This forum is used to identify and prioritize training and other needs to meet within the region or in many cases, statewide. Bob Heldenbrand, the former Phillips County Emergency Manager, is the division's field services manager for the seven-county northeast region. As described by the DHSEM, field managers provide technical assistance with respect to strategic planning, emergency plan development, community preparedness, disaster recovery, hazard mitigation and training and exercise support. Field managers reside in their region.

Another key resource where coordination is essential is with the American Red Cross. As Pelle explained, "They not only operate shelters but also provide a lot of victim assistance resources."

Ongoing training

strengthens capacity

In addition to providing training, emergency managers and support personnel's own professional development are attended to through several additional providers. For instance, the Colorado Emergency Management Association offers an annual state conference. This month is the State Conference that pulls together the Local Emergency Planning Committees so they can learn together and from each other.

Pelle noted that when training or exercises include a focus on hazardous materials, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the federal Environmental Protection Agency are usually involved.

Paperwork

Ensures Accountability

It goes without saying that anything to do with the government naturally has its bureaucratic side. Pelle is also responsible for a budget, keeping records, gathering statistics, tracking performance, implementing grant programs and filing required reports with the State. It's this type of data that helps prove the worth of efforts being made to keep Phillips County prepared to respond to emergencies.