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©1999 - 2012
Edward D. Reuss
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DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING FOR NYPD RETIREES

The NYPD conducted another training exercise for members of the Retiree Mobilization Plan (RMP) on Saturday,  November 15, 2008.  Members were notified via a blast email and telephone notification by the Personnel Bureau to respond to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn for training in Disaster Preparedness by members of the NYPD Emergency Service.   As noted before,  these exercises also test the system of  notification and mobilization of registered members.  The Coordinator of the RMP is Lieutenant Michael Ryan, Personnel Bureau Lt Ryan was on hand and welcomed the responders to the Floyd Bennett training facility.


Lt. Michael Ryan, Coordinator of the NYPD RMP welcomes responders at check-in
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine

The responding retirees have been issued bar-coded RMP Mobilization Cards to facilitate the “check-in” procedures at the “Staging Area”.  These cards are used to input the  personnel data on each responder into the database maintained by members of the NYPD Personnel Bureau.    In actual emergencies, the database maintained by the staff at the “check-in” can be accessed by the Incident Commander, the Operations Section Chief and the Planning Section Chief Detail Rosters can be prepared and accessed by the “Resource Unit” and “Situation Unit” .  This enables the “Resource Unit” to advise the Planning Section Chief as well as the Incident Commander and Operations Section Chief of the number, type, and status of personnel and equipment present at the Staging Area.  Such information is vital  in Emergency Management at Critical Incidents.  With these training exercises and response of retirees to staging areas, what is done in a routine manner will become of great importance in any future emergencies.


L to R: Seated: Sgt Young Yoo, Sgt Peter Krauss;
Standing: PO Morna Davis, Sgt Stacey Notter, Personnel Bureau conducted the check-in procedure.
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine


The blast email from the Personnel Bureau stated: The objective of this training seminar is to include our retired community as responders and to educate them about current procedures that may affect them at the scene of an actual incident. The training will be on Disaster Preparedness. The registered volunteers who attend will receive an overview on light search and rescue operations, rescuer safety, and search techniques.


Det Karl Duenzl, NYPD ESU Training Instructor at Floyd Bennett Exercise

The training would be conducted by the NYPD Emergency Service .  The instructor was Detective Karl Duenzl, ESU.    Detective Duenzl was a young cop in the 120th Precinct and I was happy to see him again after so many years.   The course of instruction was to focus on procedures that are utilized by FEMA and the Urban Search and Rescue Teams that conduct searches at scenes of disasters. US&R Teams are specific groups of  highly skilled and trained responders.  They are positioned throughout the USA and respond as a Team to the scene of disasters. The NYPD ESU have members assigned to the US&R Team here in New York. The idea is that retirees who respond in emergencies should be aware of search techniques and the markings that are used by the US&R teams .  An understanding of these markings is another area that is vital to the safety of responders to Critical Incidents.     


L.to R. Det. Karl Duenzl, ESU Instructor with Edward Reuss, Captain, NYPD (Retired)
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine

The US&R Teams engage in what is called “Structural Triage” to identify, assess and mark buildings in the area of the incident that will serve to inform members of the status of each location.  The markings inform US&R responders of the presence of Hazardous Materials, dead human remains, live victims being extracated, and the results of searches of the location.   A Search Assessment Marking System is separate and distinct from the Structural Assessment Markings.  The identity of the teams conducting the search, time of search, and final status is painted on the location.  Aerosol spray cans of “international orange color” spray paint are used for these purposes.  Recall the media accounts of Hurricane Kartrina that showed such markings on the rooftops and buildings of that disaster.   The training by Detective Duenzl explained the marking procedures used by the Teams.  Any responder present at an emergency with collapsed buildings must be aware of the meaning of the Structural Assessment and Search Assessment markings

These procedures are available on the FEMA website and are public information.  Any responder would be well advised to read and study these markings and procedures that the US&R Teams use in conducting searches.  Knowledge of these markings is critical to the safety of those on the scene. Visit the FEMA website at WWW.FEMA.ORG
Once on the FEMA WEBSITE do a search for Urban Search & Rescue.

The training reviewed the procedures for decontamination at disaster scenes and the the proper equipment needed at the scenes of disasters. The problem of providing rest areas and food and water for emergency personnel was also stressed.  


Det. Karl Duenzl, NYPD ESU instructs members in Disaster Preparedness
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine


The Disaster Preparedness Class 2008,  Floyd Bennett Field
Photo by NY Cop Online Magazine

Inspector Theresa Tobin, CO, Support Staff Services, Personnel Bureau addressed the members and noted that the RMP has increasing numbers of retirees who have become registered members and also volunteered their services.  She thanked those who responded to the training and welcomed any suggestions that the members may have to address the RMP program.

It is important to note that these training sessions are molding the volunteers into an effective resource.  The training that is given to the volunteers can enable them to be effective in assisting the NYPD in disasters.   To become a registered member of the Retiree Mobilization Plan,  go to:

 NYPD RETIREE WEBSITE:
http://www.nypd2.org/retirement/home.html  


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