|
Building and maintaining effective
partnerships
by Lt. Joseph J. Leonard, Jr.
Chief, Response Department
U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Galveston
In this post 9/11 world, it is becoming increasingly evident that there are few � if any � organizations that can �do it all themselves.� In fact, it is almost impossible to even envision a major response operation without significant participation from federal, state, local, and private sector resources all participating to some degree.
How successful that response will be is directly related to how effective these diverse organizations work together. And the best way to ensure that effective work environment is to build these partnerships before the incident or event occurs.
Now, that is really not as hard as it sounds� First, let�s think of those potential contingencies we may find ourselves involved in. Start with a �simple� one and work from there. Let�s take a fire at a facility. Obviously, the facility itself (and associated contractors, if present) will be involved in the response. The local and/or industrial fire department will certainly be involved. Law enforcement and/or off-site security will have some level or presence as well. Emergency medical services may also be there (possibly managed by the fire department or another organization). These are the obvious ones. Others may include the companies that provide electricity, gas, water, sewage, and trash removal services to the facility. Insurance companies, incident investigators, building services, and other contractors may also have some level of involvement during or immediately after the response. And, that is for just a �simple� fire. Yes, I know there is no such thing as a simple fire.
Of these entities listed, do you, as the lead facility planner or responder, know who (by name) may respond? Do you know what �toys� they will bring to your event? What about their capabilities and limitations? Do you at least know if they take their coffee with cream and sugar? If you are scratching your head, don�t feel too bad, you are not alone. But finding out this information before an event occurs can make all the difference between a successful response and one that is less so.
Judge Robert Eckels of Harris County has a simple response mantra for success. �Preparedness-Partnerships-Practicing.� Partnerships, located strategically in the middle of that mantra, are what hold the preparedness aspect (planning and training) to the practicing aspect (drill and exercises). If we planned, trained, drilled, and exercises with only our organization, we would only demonstrate the limited capabilities that we possess. By integrating planning, training, drilling, and exercising with our other response partners, we develop a more comprehensive understanding of what we can all do together � the way we will typically respond to most if not all events these days.
Knowing who is coming to your event, what they are bringing, and what their authority and limitations are will certainly speed up the establishment of an effective incident management team and allow for rapid assignment of these resources to those areas most in need.
Even better is if these various organizations and agencies have drilled and trained together and have a thorough understanding of how to integrate their personnel and resources into an effective response. This should be a key objective in any exercise or drill.
All of this is available to any planner and responder, and it can all start over a cup of coffee. Find out who else might be responding with you. What equipment do they have. What plans do they have (and what contingencies do they respond to). What training are they involved in (and what might we piggy-back on). You will be passing along similar information the other way. This information exchange forms the basis of a successful response partnership. From there, you can expand your partnership further.
Training and exercising with your response partners can pay big dividends in the future. Heck, they may even have your coffee all ready for you before you sit down.
By the way, I actually prefer tea.
|
