Wayne County Department of Homeland Security
Vol. 1 Issue 1
From Executive Robert Ficano
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First, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We are paving a new path
in the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management starting with the
appointment of James Buford as the Director and the promotion of Mark Hammond to
Deputy Director. We appreciate all those people who have welcomed Director Buford
as he and his staff work diligently to make a smooth transition. Needless to say,
he has been busy. Director Buford is continuing Wayne County’s commitment to its
constituents which means that we have an open dialogue with our community leaders
and everyone who looks to us for information, guidance, support and necessary tools
to do their jobs. I assure you that we will do our best to always keep our residents
and elected officials informed of what is going on in Wayne County as it relates
to securing our communities. I am confident that Director Buford with the assistance
of Assistant County Executive Eric V. Smith will lead the Wayne County Homeland
Security Department/Emergency Management Department in the right direction.
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From Director James Buford
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I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and letters of congratulations
on my appointment to the Wayne County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management. We are focusing on running a smooth operation and keeping everyone abreast
of what we are doing. We will be producing a quarterly e-newsletter to keep everyone
informed on issues related to Homeland Security. If there are developments that
occur, we will inform everyone via email. However, if you have questions at anytime,
please feel free to call. I encourage an open dialogue with this department. We
can be reached at 734-942-5289. It is my goal to communicate as often as possible
with the public safety community in Wayne County in order to provide good government
to the citizens of our community. Many of you have already posed questions to this
office, so below are the four major issues that we know many of you want addressed.
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EQUIPMENT
The Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management provides an Emergency
Operations Center (EOC), which can serve local jurisdictions as well as county activities
to support emergency / disaster response. Within EOC is access to the Geographic
Information System (GIS). Using county and SEMCOG data, this tools assists us in
assessing the local damage area and recording mitigation efforts during disaster
recovery.
The EOC is also equipped with state of the art communication equipment and provides
a critical link from local agencies to state and federal agencies. A Special Information
Response Vehicle (SIRV) capable of “on the fly”, county wide, disaster assessment
operations is available 24 hours 7 days a week. The SIRV is capable of satellite
internet, WiFi, Video recording in low light as well as IR, with a 48 ‘ foot elevating
camera platform, as well as mobile GIS for disaster site mapping during mitigation
activities, general communications equipment is also available onboard for most
public safety communications frequencies. The SIRV complements an existing fleet
of Field Operations / Command Post vehicles. The existing “rolling stock” consists
of a 42’ foot commercial Winabago with a large meeting room and restroom. It is
fully self supporting, and has a full line of communication support equipment. For
smaller events a converted ambulance provides limits space but a basic video equipment
and high level of communication support. All these vehicles are available, with
some degree of training, for use by any agency within Wayne County.
In response to the concern of personal contamination from hazards materials like
ones used in terrorist attacks, two basic decontamination trailers have been supplied
for use by hazardous materials first responders in Wayne County. The units provide
technicians, trained in hazardous materials, the ability to provide continuous decontamination
shower for potentially contaminated individuals. The trailers also have inflatable
air shelters and heaters for use during events to provide comfort to victims after
decontamination. These units have been pre-deployed in confidential areas within
Wayne County for rapid response during emergency / disaster conditions.
In regards to disaster site response activations, several specialized vehicles are
available for use within Wayne County. A small six-wheel all terrain vehicle with
cart can be quickly deployed to assist in emergency / disaster site rescue and transportation
activities.
An Army vehicle closes out our mobile fleet, a large six-wheel drive 2 1/2 ton truck
with communication box is available for use during hazardous weather conditions,
such as flooding and blizzard events.
Wayne County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management can also supply
small portable power generators for use during emergencies, such as power failures
to agencies within Wayne County. Priority will be given to “life safety” concerns
like nursing homes and hospital that can not provide emergency power. These units
are portable and can provide limited amount of power for emergency lighting and
power for heating equipment but are too small for full facility operation.
Our Department maintains equipment for response to a nuclear event at the Fermi
II Power Plant in Newport, Michigan. The State of Michigan provides pharmaceuticals
that block the radiation uptake into the body and basic radiation detection equipment
for residents of emergency protection zone within our county; this equipment complements
the existing advanced equipment provided by our department for radiological protection
shelters and advanced radiation detection. This equipment is stored for rapid deployment
in southeastern Wayne County for support of radiological emergency response teams.
Our department continues to support emergency responders for all types of disasters,
man-made as well as natural. Most recently, stock-piled equipment has been able
to be released to local first responders for advanced protection from chemical,
biological, radiological response. A respiratory protective hood, intended for use
by Law Enforcement, Dragar Defend AIR escape hoods, have been provided for assignment
in individual patrol vehicles over the past several months in specific areas of
Wayne County. After a successful evaluation a county wide distribution of escape
hoods is being planned; this will provide basic respiration protection to every
patrol officer protecting Wayne County.
Wayne County Sheriff’s Special Response Unit as well as the Western Wayne SWAT units
have been provided with an even higher level of protection. After specialized training,
with equipment provided by the county, both units will be able to respond to a hazardous
environment, similar to what would be found during a terrorist attack to provide
specialized Law Enforcement protection to other first responders. This level of
Law Enforcement protection has not been achievable in the past and represents a
continued unified effort to disaster response and counter-terrorism preparedness
efforts.
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GRANT STATUS
In Wayne County, there are 10 communities that have been approved under Public Act
390 of 1976 to have their own emergency management departments and receive funding
directly from the State. These independent communities are Canton Township, Dearborn,
Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Plymouth Township, Romulus, Trenton
and Wayne.
Those Wayne County communities not listed should contact us to determine what further
coordination needs to be done, so that we may serve you better. We also continue
to work with the 10 independent communities listed above to assist them in any way
that we can.
We have been informed by the State of Michigan that the 2003 UASI Fund of 4. 6 million
dollars will be available for expenditure in February. The state was waiting for
information from the City of Detroit before it could submit the final application
to the Office of Domestic Preparedness for expenditure authorization.
The 2004 UASI fund of 6.4 million dollars was approved and is being expended currently.
The 2005 UASI grant of 17 million dollars awarded to this region will be divided
based on negotiations with Wayne County and the City of Detroit.
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RADIO PLAN & INTEROPERABILITY
I consider the issue of communications interoperability to be a priority for public
safety in Wayne County. The Federal Department of Homeland Security wants local
government to think in a regional concept when it considers homeland security strategies.
The current plan that was initialized in 2004 is still under review and will probably
be implemented with some minor changes. We will upgrade a specific number of mobile
and portable radios for Michigan Public Safety Communications System compatibility.
We will purchase 12 radios for those communities that do not have 800 MHz capabilities.
We will pay the $25 activation fee for each radio.
Be advised that Tom Coppa from Motorola will be in contact in the near future to
confirm survey information of radios that can be upgraded and radios that need to
be purchased.
The Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management will continue to make
our community safe.
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TRAINING & TRAINING SCHEDULE
The Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is currently scheduled
to participate in two (2) exercises this year, Operation Perfect Game — the 2005
Major League Baseball All Star Game and Vigilant State, an EMD exercise. We continue
to work with local, state and federal agencies to provide the services and resources
that we have available to them.
The State of Michigan granted our request for the extension of the SHSGP Part I
Exercise and Part II training grants. The date that all training and exercises must
be completed by is July 31, 2005. This gives us an additional five (5) months to
complete the activities. If you have any questions, please contact Terri Lokuta
at 734-942-5289.
Click Here to visit our training page.
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