Post Name: Omaha Post
Post Size: Large
Date: 21 January 2010
Submitter Name: Brian K. Wight
Submitter Phone: 402.952.2557
Submitter Email: brian_wight@urscorp.com

1.) Principal Criteria: Operate Post Committee on Readiness and Homeland Defense/Security

In early 2009, the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Omaha Post re-established and now maintains an active Readiness and Homeland Security (RHS) Committee that consists of seven committee members from four different organizations. The committee members and their associated organizations are:
• Brian Wight, URS Corporation
• Jeffrey Williamson, URS Corporation
• Christie Murray, URS Corporation
• Gary Krupa, Department of Veterans Affairs
• Kim Thomas, United States Army Corps of Engineers
• Dave Henney, Independent Consultant
• Jody Vaccaro, Coastal Environmental Group, Inc.
Several meetings were held throughout the year to discuss readiness and homeland security issues. The discussions were documented in meeting minutes. The meeting minutes are included in Attachment A. In addition to the meetings, conference calls and e-mail communications occurred with committee members to further discuss readiness issues.

Brian Wight serves as chair of the committee and has been listed as the SAME Omaha Post's Point of Contact (POC) to the National Readiness and Homeland Security Committee.

2.) Principal Criteria: Readiness And Homeland Security Committee Participates In Planning And Conducting Meetings To Determine Community's Capabilities In Times Of Emergencies

2A) Federal Emergency Management Officials or equivalent agency


Agency Name: FEMA
Agency POC and Title:

Tom Morgan, Region 7 NIMS Coordinator
Dan Best, Disaster Operations Division Director
Date(s): 12/23/2009
Location(s): N/A
Attendees:
Jodi Vaccaro, SAME RHS Committee
Tom Morgan, Region 7 NIMS Coordinator
Dan Best, Disaster Operations divisions Director
Topics:
Jodi introduced the goals of the committee and presented the Capabilities matrix in order to initiate further conversation.

Tom Morgan indicated that FEMA's responsibility is focused on supporting the state after both local and state resources have been committed. In event of emergency, they would largely contact other federal agencies. Dan Best confirmed that tapping the federal agencies was their standard response pattern. He also noted that their main focus in emergency situations is life saving and rescue.

Dan also mentioned that FEMA has traditionally called on EPA and USACE, who then contract out services. He recommended that we contact these agencies and ask what they do for FEMA. Many of our Post members have strong ties to USACE and EPA and would therefore be indirectly available to FEMA.
Communication Mode: Telephone

2B) Corps of Engineers Emergency Operations


Agency Name: United State Army Corps of Engineers – Omaha District
Agency POC and Title: Kim Thomas, USACE
Date(s): 12/15/09
Location(s): NA
Attendees:
Brian Wight, SAME RHS Committee
Kim Thomas, USACE
Topics:
The biggest weakness that the USACE has is the need to find contractors to perform emergency work, mainly in construction services. However, the weakness could also be environmental in the case of a weapon of mass destruction/dirty bomb.

If the USACE needs assistance from outside consultants, engineers, architects, etc., the USACE would use an emergency contract. For example, in last year's flood event, the USACE contracting officer contacted several companies who agreed to meet at a certain time and review the scope. They were then given four hours to prepare their bids, which were subsequently opened and awarded. The USACE also has a Rapid Response group who maintains national contracts to respond to disasters and other emergencies.

The sustaining member's capabilities matrix was transmitted to Kim. Kim indicates that the matrix will be very useful and should be kept updated so that it is available in the unfortunate event that the USACE needs to respond to an emergency.
Communication Mode: Email

2C) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials or equivalent agency


Agency Name: USEPA, Region 7
Agency POC and Title: Janice Kroone, On-scene Coordinator
Date(s): 8/24/2009
Location(s): EPA Region 7 Headquarters; Kansas City, KS
Attendees:
Dave Henney, SAME RHS Committee
Jodi Vaccaro, SAME RHS Committee
Janice Kroone, USEPA
Topics:
RHS Committee members Jodi Vaccaro and Dave Henney visited Janice looking for information about coordinating the readiness plan for the Omaha Post with activities EPA is responsible for. Janice responded with questions and comments about SAME and suggested getting involved with the Omaha/Council Bluffs emergency response meetings and will see that we are invited to the next Omaha/Council Bluffs emergency response meeting on November 10, 2009.
Communication Mode: In Person

Agency Name: Omaha/Council Bluffs Sub-area Committee
Agency POC and Title (Omaha/Council Bluffs Sub-are Committee Members):

Gary Haden, McKinzie Environmental
Janice Kroone, EPA Region 7
Jim Conroy, National Park Service
Adam Broughton, IDNR
Matt Schwarz, USFWS
Mark Lohnes, Nebraska DEQ
William M. Cover, Cass County EMA
Josh Groleau, Cass County EMA
Jodi Vaccaro, Coastal Environmental
Dave Henney, SAME
Jaci Ferguson, EPA Region 7
Roseann Dobesh-DeGraff, Sarpy EMA
Bill Spiking, Tetra Tech EMI
Tom Morgan, FEMA
Date(s): 11/10/2009
Location(s): National Park Service Midwest Regional Headquarters; Omaha, NE
Attendees:
Gary Haden, McKinzie Environmental
Janice Kroone, EPA Region 7
Jim Conroy, National Park Service
Adam Broughton, IDNR
Matt Schwarz, USFWS
Mark Lohnes, Nebraska DEQ
William M. Cover, Cass County EMA
Josh Groleau, Cass County EMA
Jodi Vaccaro, Coastal Environmental
Dave Henney, SAME
Jaci Ferguson, EPA Region 7
Roseann Dobesh-DeGraff, Sarpy EMA
Bill Spiking, Tetra Tech EMI
Tom Morgan, FEMA
Topics:
This was a regular quarterly meeting of members of the Omaha/Council Bluffs Sub-area Committee. Numerous readiness and emergency management topics of local interest were discussed over a two-hour meeting period. SAME members Henney and Vaccaro were introduced and asked what their interest was in the group. Henney explained that SAME has a readiness committee that is seeking to coordinate information about its members and their capabilities with the sub-area committee. One of the areas of information discussed in greater depth was equipment inventories. The sub-area committee explained that it has been difficult to get this information from the private sector because they are generally reluctant to commit to having equipment available at all times and are concerned about liabilities if they identify it as available and it is not there when needed.
Communication Mode: In Person

2D) State Emergency Management Officials or equivalent agency


Agency Name: Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (Nebraska Army National Guard)
Agency POC and Title: Col. Scott Gronewold
Date(s): December 4, 2009
Location(s): Not Applicable
Attendees:
Jeff Williamson, SAME RHS Committee
Col. Scott Gronewold, Nebraska ARNG
Topics:
Col. Gronewold indicated that Nebraska recently received approval to hire a 3-person team that would work for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to do vulnerability assessments in our FEMA region. The interviews were completed on December 3 and 4, 2009. The Nebraska ANG is interested in learning more about SAME and SAME's sustaining member's capabilities. He suggested that the SAME RHS Committee meet with the DHS vulnerability assessment team,

Nebraska ARNG Director of Military Support (LTC Curington), and Nebraska emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Col. Gronewold will have LTC. Curington work the SAME RHS Committee to schedule a meeting.

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is a parallel organization to COL Gronewold's J3 Ops Directorate, both part of Nebraska Military Department.
Communication Mode: E-Mail

2E) County Emergency Management Officials or equivalent agency


Agency Name: Douglas County Emergency Management
Agency POC and Title: Paul Johnson, Director
Date(s): December 22, 2009
Location(s): Not Applicable
Attendees:
Brian Wight, SAME RHS Committee
Paul Johnson, Douglas County and City of Omaha Emergency Management
Topics:
Paul indicated that Douglas County Emergency Management was also the lead organization for the City of Omaha Emergency Management. Therefore, Paul is also the City of Omaha Emergency Management Director.

Douglas and City of Omaha Emergency Management staff currently feel that if a weakness exists it is in the protection of existing infrastructure (i.e., Offutt AFB, bridges, river banks, etc.). They have established a planning committee to discuss and prepare a plan to address this weakness. Paul has a limited understanding of the SAME organization and indicated that the SAME Readiness Committee's participation in the Douglas and City of Omaha Emergency Management Infrastructure Planning Committee would likely be beneficial. Paul will make a request to the Infrastructure Planning Committee to include the SAME Readiness Committee. Paul may also attend one of the SAME Readiness Committee's meetings to provide additional insight and information into Douglas County and the City of Omaha Emergency Management organization and to learn more about the SAME.
Communication Mode: Telephone

2F) City Emergency Management Officials or equivalent agency


Agency Name: See County Emergency Management Officials or equivalent organization
Agency POC and Title: See County Emergency Management Officials or equivalent organization
Date(s): See County Emergency Management Officials or equivalent organization
Location(s): See County Emergency Management Officials or equivalent organization
Attendees: See County Emergency Management Officials or equivalent organization
Topics: See County Emergency Management Officials or equivalent organization
Communication Mode: See County Emergency Management Officials or equivalent organization

Agency Name: City of Omaha Fire Department
Agency POC and Title: Jim Gentile, Captain.
Date(s): See 12 January 2010
Location(s): Not Applicable
Attendees:
Brian Wight, SAME RHS Committee
Jim Gentile, Omaha Fire Department
Topics:
Capt. Gentile was very interested in learning more about the SAME organization and Omaha Post sustaining members. He requested that a brief e-mail be sent providing this information and the sustaining members capabilities.

The Fire Department utilizes Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) in emergency response issues. CERT is a non profit organization that provides emergency response services to the Omaha community. Capt. Gentile provided contact information for CERT and indicated the Omaha Post should reach out to CERT.
Communication Mode: Telephone

2G) Local Military or other federal government installations or facilities


Agency Name: Offutt Air Force Base
Agency POC and Title: Rhonda Woolridge, Director
Date(s): 3 December 2009
Location(s): Not Applicable
Attendees:
Brian Wight, SAME RHS Committee
Rhonda Woolridge, Offutt AFB
Topics:
Rhonda indicated that Offutt Air Force Base is essentially self contained and responses are provided by the military. Essentially, Offutt AFB does not have any significant weaknesses. A list of contractors is maintained in Offutt AFB's emergency response plan in the unlikely event that additional support is needed.

The Posts sustaining member's capabilities matrix will be provided to Rhonda. Rhonda indicated that she will review the matrix and include the sustaining member's contact information in Offutt AFB's emergency response plan, as appropriate.
Communication Mode: Telephone

Agency Name: Veterans Administration
Agency POC and Title: Gary Krupa, Senior Electrical Engineer
Date(s): 11 December 2009
Location(s): Not Applicable
Attendees:
Brian Wight, SAME RHS Committee
Gary Krupa, VA
Topics:
Gary indicated that the VA has had and continues to need assistance in infrastructure support, in particular engineering services and equipment (i.e., blowers, boiler parts, etc) from suppliers quickly. One means for rapid response would be for the VA to exercise an interagency agreement with the USACE for the Corp's Security, Disaster, Infrastructure and Construction Program (SDIC). The SDIC contract provides access to several Omaha Post sustaining members for emergency response activities. To date, the VA has not used the SDIC to obtain the sustaining member services and is still working on details of how to execute the SDIC with the USACE. Another area of emphasis for the VA is the enhancement of infrastructure resiliency and survivability; Mr. Krupa indicated that SAME members experience and knowledge of Military Construction related to force protection, hardening of assets and related criteria could be leveraged by the VA.
Communication Mode: Telephone

3.) Principal Criteria: Based On Collaboration, Determine What Needs the Post's Sustaining Members Can Fill With Their Resources (Gap Analysis)

Based on the collaboration, the Committee determined that the needs are emergency construction and environmental contractors, assistance in protecting existing infrastructure, and an available equipment inventory. All of these tasks fall under ESF 3 – Public Works & Engineering. The Committee determined that the Post could provide emergency contractors and assistance in protecting existing infrastructure. For specific member capabilities see the attached Omaha Post Sustaining Member Emergency Support Functions (ESF) table.

Additionally, many of these organizations do not have a full understanding of the SAME organization and the Omaha Post. Further communications and education between the SAME Post and these agencies is needed to further learn the community's emergency response needs and how the Omaha Post can support these needs.

4.) Principal Criteria: Education and Training

4A) At least three Committee members have completed an Incident Command System (ICS) IS 100 Course


Brian Wight, Dave Henney, and Kim Thomas have completed the IS 100 Course.

4B) Three Committee members have completed the ICS IS 200 Course


Brian Wight, Dave Henney, and Kim Thomas have completed the IS 200 Course.

4C) Three Committee members have completed ICS IS 700 Course


Brian Wight, Dave Henney, and Kim Thomas have completed the IS 700 Course.