Volunteer Rescue Squads
Gaston County Emergency Operations Plan

Coordinating Agencies: Rescue Squads
   
Cooperating Agencies: Emergency Medical Services
  Hospital
  Fire Departments
  Emergency Management
  Law Enforcement
  Others as required or requested
   
   
I. PURPOSE
This annex describes the Volunteer Rescue Squads activities to ensure the safety and rescue of life within Gaston County during emergency and disaster situations.
 
II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
 
  A. Situation
 
    1. Life saving operations become daily problems faced by Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel. Several hazards become more significant during emergency situations such as fire or coming in contact with toxic, explosive, medical waste and other hazardous materials during extrication from buildings or motor vehicle accidents.
 
  B. Assumptions
 
    1. Existing Rescue personnel and equipment will be able to cope with most emergency situations through the use of current mutual aid agreements. When additional support is required, assistance can be obtained from state and federal agencies.
 
    2. Within the National Response Framework, search and rescue is an Emergency Support Function (ESF-9) and incorporates life-saving assistance and search and rescue operations.
 
III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
  A. During emergencies the Volunteer Rescue Squads are prepared to support each other utilizing available expertise, equipment and manpower.
 
  B. In an emergency that requires a number of emergency services (e.g. EMS, fire, rescue, law enforcement, etc.) to respond, all units regardless of service will be coordinated by an Incident Commander.
 
  C. If an emergency occurs one or all Volunteer Rescue Squads may be called upon by Gaston County Communications to assist in extrication from buildings, motor vehicle accidents, drowning, high/low angle rescue and confined space rescue. The Rescue Squads provide divers to supplement water rescue and search activities.
 
  D. Provide support function for searches or missing person calls.
 
  E. Gaston County EMS is the lead agency in providing emergency medical care on the scene of any medically related incident.  Volunteer Rescue Squads lead role is extrication and rescue, and to be a support agency in providing basic emergency medical care.
 
  F. Volunteer Rescue services provide back-up medical response and transport services to the county. They also provide off road transportation into remote areas where emergency medical services are unable to travel.
 
  G. During disasters when transportation routes are covered with debris and N.C. Department of Transportation resources have been overwhelmed the Rescue Squads will assist with debris clearance to facilitate emergency access.
 
  H. Rescue services will serve as a support agency to fire service operations for structural fires and forest fires to supplement emergency medical service needs.
 
IV. DIRECTION AND CONTROL
 
  A. Direction and Control of local Volunteer Rescue Squads is exercised by each the squad captain of individual units, under the coordination of the Director of Emergency Medical Services (GEMS).
 
  B. Coordination of Rescue activities in the event of an emergency/disaster will occur between the County EMS Director and the President of the Gaston County Rescue Association utilizing mutual aid agreements developed with local jurisdictions.
 
  C. The President of the Gaston County Rescue Association or their designee will coordinate rescue activities from the Emergency Operations Center upon activation.
 
V. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
The line of succession is:
 
  A. President of Gaston County Rescue Association
 
  B. Vice-President of Gaston County Rescue Association
 
  C. Secretary of the Gaston County Rescue Association
     

Attachment 1
Rescue Preparedness/Response Checklist
 
   
  Rescue Chief
 
     
  When notified, report to the Emergency Operations Center until relieved or the incident is terminated.
 
  Receive a situational briefing. Ask questions and address concerns.
 
  Advise the EOC of the availability of department response resources, including the number of personnel and apparatus that may be available.
 
  Advise the EOC of any special apparatus or personnel needs that are immediately known.
 
  Review mutual aid agreements to ensure such agreements are formalized.
 
  Implement mutual aid as necessary, requested or required.
 
  Be familiar with the process to request regional rescue resources and make such requests as needed.
 
  Ensure Incident Command is implemented at each incident. If appropriate ensure Rescue Squad Incident Commanders report their situations and special requests for assistance to the Emergency Operations Center Rescue liaison (if not the Rescue Chief) in the EOC or the Operations Chief in the EOC. "Normal" requests for assistance (i.e. additional personnel, additional equipment, etc.) will be made through the Communications Center.
 
  Establish and maintain communications with other Incident Commanders and response forces, as appropriate.
     
  Incident Commanders
 
     
  Receive a situational briefing from the Emergency Operations Center liaison / Chief. Ask questions and address concerns.
 
  Advise the EOC/Chief of the availability of department response resources, including the number of personnel and apparatus that may be available.
 
  Advise the EOC/Chief of any special apparatus or personnel needs that are immediately known.
 
  Hold a situational briefing with all response personnel and include in the briefing:
   
Ensure the primary functions of the department are carried out (i.e. protection of lives and property, etc.).
Overall situation (i.e. impending hurricane, severe weather, damages, power lines down, roads blocked, etc.).
Maps of area as necessary.
Specific mission assignments (i.e. damage assessment, search operations assistance, debris clearance, etc.).
Current weather and forecast weather reports.
Safety.
Specific personnel assignments (who will serve as Incident Commander, communications, safety, liaison, etc.).
Location of staging areas, check points, fuel supplies, food, etc.
Advise personnel to log mileage of all vehicles used and the amount of time (in hours) that all equipment was used, including but not limited to all apparatus, chainsaws, fuel, generators, lighting equipment, etc.
 
  Be prepared to conduct damage assessment of the area and report findings to the Emergency Operations Center.
 
  Request, as necessary, assistance through the EOC.
 
  If first on the scene and incident command has not been established, establish incident command and utilize the appropriate incident command forms to assist you. Assume the role of Incident Commander until relieved.
 
  Establish and maintain communications with:
   
Personnel on the scene
Communications Center
Emergency Operations Center
Staging area
 
  See Hazard Specific Checklists that are attachments to the County Emergency Operations Plan, for assistance in determining potential/necessary actions for your department.
 
  File reports with the designated EOC representative when requested or required.