7.14 Lessons Learned
Numerous lessons were learned in each of the incidents. The following is a summary of these lessons by the categories of advance planning, advanced technology, coordination, communication, and transportation.
7.14.1 Advance Planning
Within advance planning, there are subsets of lessons learned such as identification, plans, supplies, staff, systems, and training.
Identification
- Improve access control/site security and provide visual identification for command staff – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Issue identification passes – Big Bear Valley, California.
- Provide standardized identification badges – Graniteville, South Carolina.
- Use vehicle placards to allow for vehicle reentry – Big Bear Valley, California.
Plans
- Adopt a reentry plan – Big Bear Valley, California.
- Determine levels of protection prior to entry of incident zone – Graniteville, South Carolina.
- Establish the command post further away so it does not need to be moved – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Keep current with the emergency management plan – El Dorado, Arkansas.
- Know the resources of private industry in the area – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Identify relocation facilities ahead of time – Big Bear Valley, California.
- Review incidents (including others) for lessons to be learned – El Dorado, Arkansas.
- Test the emergency plan to see if it works – El Dorado, Arkansas.
Supplies
- Provide enough protective gear – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Remember to carry extra cell phone batteries and/or chargers – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
Staff
- Employ additional staff early in the incident – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Ensure nursing staff at public shelters – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Utilize traffic engineers earlier in the incident – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
Systems
- Activate the reverse 911® system at incident command – Graniteville, South Carolina.
- Adopt a neighborhood-specific early warning system, if the budget allows – El Dorado, Arkansas.
- Ensure emergency alert system is working – Graniteville, South Carolina.
- Request samples of product during the initial reconnaissance for quicker laboratory analysis and ensure chain of custody of the samples – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
Training
- Provide for additional multi-entity training – Graniteville, South Carolina.
- Provide additional training on hazardous materials – Graniteville, South Carolina.
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Review and incorporate the incident into the fire department training process – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
7.14.2 Advanced Technology
- Use technology/tools during the incident – Graniteville, South Carolina.
7.14.3 Coordination
- Activate local emergency planning committee members early in the incident – El Dorado, Arkansas.
- Use a national incident management system – El Dorado, Arkansas.
- Verify mutual-aid sources – Graniteville, South Carolina.
7.14.4 Communication
- Ensure notification of the evacuation to dispatch center – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Ensure the Reverse 911® system has current information – Graniteville, South Carolina.
- Examine a handheld communication device for communication purposes – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Have secure lines of communication – Big Bear Valley, California.
- Keep a current list of media contacts and include alternate numbers – El Dorado, Arkansas.
- Make sure the call-out list has correct contacts – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Make sure entity representative can be found – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Open a Joint Information Center earlier in an incident – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Provide your own public information officer – Graniteville, South Carolina.
- Provide additional public information officers – South Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Use Reverse 911® to alert the community – El Dorado, Arkansas.
- Use a unified information center – El Dorado, Arkansas.
7.14.5 Transportation
- Be careful in selecting roadways for the transportation of prisoners – El Dorado, Arkansas.
- Know the location of specialized equipment to transport nursing home residents – El Dorado, Arkansas.
February 6, 2006
Publication #FHWA-HOP-08-014
