Central Asia Regional Health Security WorkshopCo-organized with the Command Surgeon, US Central Command and

the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

17-19 April 2012, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Sharon I. Peyus / Robert C. HutchinsonHomeland Security Investigations

U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementU.S. Department of Homeland Security

19 April 2012

Disaster Management and Response Lessons Learned Part I

LESSONS LEARNED

Hurricane Katrina

H1N1Outbreak

7.0 Earthquake in Haiti

Three Very Different Incidents

• Hurricane Katrina (2005)

– Major natural disaster

– Different than last significant incident

– Unique challenges and issues

• H1N1Outbreak (2009)

– Public health threat

– Infrequent and highly communicable

– A good test of our preparedness

• 7.0 Earthquake in Haiti (2010)

– Major natural disaster

– An international response

– Non-traditional role for our agency

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina - After Action Report

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement played an integral and crucial role in this response effort…

• First on the scene• Deployed resources to support the

Federal Emergency Management Agency

• Activated the Critical Incident Management Group

• Functioned as Senior Federal Law Enforcement Official

• Conducted significant supporting roles with the Principal Federal Official

Hurricane Katrina (cont’d)

Accomplishments…

•Deployed over 2,500 law enforcement officers for non-traditional roles and assignments

•Rescue missions: 2,275

•Evacuations: 537

•Arrests: 203

•Emergency (911) Call Responses: 603

•Recovered Bodies: 44

•Located over 100 missing employees

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Lessons Learned - Katrina

Training

•Expand Principal Federal Official training for designated leadership

•Determine future roles/responsibilities during national emergencies

•Jurisdictions / cross-designation procedures

• Expand National Incident Management System and Incident Command System training for all personnel

• Consider state and local legal law enforcement authorities for future assignments

Lessons Learned – Katrina (cont’d)

• Stage equipment in regional areas

• Water and other consumable resources

• Pre-established lodging agreements and plan

• Portable or pre-established fuel access

• Established agreements and contracts

Capabilities needed…

Lessons Learned - Katrina (cont’d)

Communication Issues

•Cellular telephones and service provider interruptions•Satellite telephone availability – limited number•Common radio frequencies between agencies•Portable radio repeaters to replace disabled equipment•Extra radios, batteries and chargers•Benefit of mobile communication / command vehicles

Medical

•Ensure updated vaccinations for responders•Deployment of medical support with responders worked well

Lessons Learned - Katrina (cont’d)

General•The benefits of coordination / partnerships between programs and agencies to support the mission

•Need for early coordination

•Clearly defined roles / responsibilities

•Development of support and rotational plans for deployed

•Continued importance of updated Continuity of Operations Plans

•Importance of updated employee contact information

•Pre-established roles and responsibilities for agencies

2009 H1N1 Flu

H1N1 – Pandemic Influenza

H1N1 - After Action Report

• After Action Report documented a variety of observations and recommendations

– Collected from 27 participating components / offices

– 41 observations (17 strengths and 24 improvement areas)

– 77 corresponding recommendations

H1N1 - After Action Report (cont’d)

• Demonstrated the capability to carry out the mission during the 10-month period from the time of the first case of H1N1 in the United States (mid-April 2009) through early February 2010

• Building upon previous planning and coordination efforts, the Department rapidly and adaptively responded to the threat of H1N1

Capabilities Analyzed

• Emergency Operations Center Management

• Intelligence and information sharing and release

• Information gathering and recognition of indicators and warnings

• Epidemiological surveillance and investigation

• Responder safety and health

• Critical resource logistics and release

• Planning

• Managing risk

• Emergency public information and warning

Strengths

• Recognized the need to review and assess the manner in which it conducted workforce safety, mission assurance, and incident management operations during the course of the H1N1 response

• Previously conducted H5N1 planning and training efforts greatly assisted the development and refinement of mitigation measures for H1N1

• Used a variety of processes and tools to ensure internal and external communications were effective

• Able to effectively communicate with state, local, territorial, and tribal government officials

Areas for Improvement

• Use of the Regional Coordination Teams and the Incident Management Assistance Teams-Advance

– Demonstrated the need for a clearer understanding of roles, responsibilities, coordination, and integration efforts to effectively support state and regional partners

• Improve ability to rapidly provide policy/guidance in support of internal preparedness / response efforts

– Activating / deploying resources in support of other missions

Areas for Improvement (cont’d)

• Lack of training / exercises conducted on the acquisition and release of medical countermeasures (including vaccine)

• Operations centers were not as well connected / engaged with all H1N1 deliberate/crisis action planning and response activities across all levels of the organization