I am tired of crises....

Life has had more of them than I want to go through with, and I have another next week when my son goes to court after that ticket he got long ago.

Hubby may be going to Texas to work on one of the Incident Command Teams, which means he'll be gone two weeks.

There are a bunch of them working the fire. ICS is a set of protocols to organize response across jurisdictions and government agencies to handle crises. It was developed by wildland firefighters, beginning, I believe in California back in the 80s, but it is a good way to handle getting help to where it is needed.

There are a bunch of people in Incident Command Teams across the hurricane area. From this morning's report:

HURRICANE KATRINA SUPPORT, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Emergency Support Function 4 at the Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta, GA, and state Emergency Operations Centers in Jackson, MS, Baton Rouge, LA and Austin, TX are staffed.

Five Type 1 Incident Management Teams (Pincha-Tulley, Gelobter, Krugman, Anderson, Wilcock) are assigned.

Pincha-Tulley: A transfer of command to a Type 2 Incident Management Team (Allen Johnson) will occur today. The Team is operating a base camp at Stennis Space Center, MS, and managing five points of distribution in Hancock County.

Gelobter: Is providing logistical support to FEMA Branches I and II, and public school recovery projects. A new camp for emergency workers is being established at Vancleave, MS. A Logistics Management Team (O’Brien) will replace Gelobter’s Type 1 Incident Management Team.

Krugman: Is providing support to emergency responders, the military and city workers at the Jackson Support Base in the New Orleans French Quarter and at several satellite camps in and around New Orleans and southern Louisiana. Approximately 7,000 personnel continue to be supported at these facilities.

Anderson: Under unified command with New Orleans, New York City and Illinois fire departments, is providing fire and emergency response to the City of New Orleans. Radio repeater systems on high rise buildings are back in service.

Wilcock: Is assessing hazard fuel mitigation and fire suppression needs for counties and adjoining areas in southeast Mississippi. The Team is also establishing a satellite staging area for suppression resources at Wiggins, MS.

Seven Type 2 Incident Management Teams (Smith, Thomas, Paul, Furlong/Gormley, West, Johnson and Houseman) are assigned. Two additional Type 2 Incident Management Teams (Cowin and Dave Johnson) have been ordered.

Smith: Is managing receiving and distribution operations at Purvis, Shelby and Forrest Camps in Mississippi. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Cowin) has been ordered for a planned transfer of command.

Thomas: Is managing a base camp and supporting more than 1,100 military and civilian first responders at the Naval Construction Battalion Center at Gulfport, MS. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Dave Johnson) has been ordered for a planned transfer of command.

Paul: Is supporting the Louisiana Interagency Emergency Support Base camp and St. Gabriel Mortuary Support Camp at St. Gabriel and Baton Rouge, LA.

Furlong/Gormley: Is managing the distribution of relief supplies at Camp Beauregard near Pineville, LA. Supply distribution is continuing to affected areas.

West: Is providing logistical and planning support to the FEMA Incident Support Team (IST), and is managing a staging area and supporting emergency response and military personnel at Saints Support Base in New Orleans.

Allen Johnson: A transfer of command from a Type 1 Incident Management Team (Pincha-Tulley) to Johnson’s Type 2 Incident Management Team will occur today. The Team is assigned at Stennis Space Center, MS.

Houseman: The North Carolina State Team is being assigned to Hammond, LA, to work with the state of Louisiana to implement a fire mitigation plan. The Team will also support base camp operations at Hammond.

Two Logistics Management Teams (LMT) (Floyd and Hayes) are assigned. The Teams are operating mobilization centers and trailer staging areas in Bossier City, LA, and Texarkana, AR. Two National Park Service All Risk Teams have been assigned to various areas to assist with hurricane recovery. Three U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service teams are engaged in road clearing, community assistance, and supporting search and rescue operations in Louisiana and Texas.

HURRICANE RITA SUPPORT, Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) in Austin, TX, is staffed with Emergency Support Function 4 (ESF4) personnel. A Planning Section Team is in place at the RRCC.

Five Type 1 Incident Management Teams (Oltrogge, Sandman Lohrey, Bennett and Sexton) are assigned. A sixth Type 1 Incident Management Team (Custer) has been ordered, and will be assigned to Beaumont, TX.

Oltrogge: The Team is assigned at Lufkin, TX, operating a receiving and distribution center and base camp. The Team is working with and supporting Texas State Forest Service personnel.

Sandman: Is managing base camp operations and long term support at several facilities in San Antonio, TX. The Team continues to provide assistance to the City of San Antonio in their mission to support and assist current hurricane evacuees. The camp continues to receive new evacuees.

Lohrey: Is assigned at Beaumont TX. The Team is supporting numerous point of distribution centers and two Emergency Operations Centers in Beaumont and Port Arthur. A base camp at Ford Park Arena is being developed.

Bennett: Is relocating to Beaumont, TX, pending assignment.

Sexton: The Team is assigned to Lake Charles, LA. The Team, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania National Guard, is supporting the Lake Charles Regional Staging Area (RSA) and points of distribution sites in Sulphur, Moss Bluff, and Lake Charles, LA.

Six Type 2 Incident Management Teams (Sinclear, Quesinberry, Saleen, Larsen, Rogers and Stanford) are assigned.

Sinclear: The Team is operating a receiving and distribution center at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX.

Quesinberry: The Team is awaiting assignment at Lufkin, TX.

Saleen: Is being assigned to Jennings, LA, to establish a receiving and distribution center. A 1,000 person camp is being set up at Jennings Airport.

Larsen: Is being assigned to Lafayette, LA, to establish a receiving and distribution center.

Rogers: Is in place at the Astrodome in Houston to establish a base camp and receiving and distribution center, and supporting emergency personnel.

Stanford: The Texas State Incident Management Team has relocated to Texas to support Hurricane Rita recovery operations.

There are about 16 national level type one teams out there, and 9 of them are working with the hurricane relief.

From the USFS Fire and Aviation News page:


Highlights
There are 32 Type 2 crews, 21 Type 2 IA crews, 26 Type 1 crews, and 50 camp crews (129 crews total), 2,491 overhead (command and non-crew specialists), totaling approximately 5,100 personnel on the incident. While work continues on Katrina response, requests for assistance in Texas and southwestern Louisiana are increasing. Crews are contending with high temperatures and humidity; coupled with strenuous outdoor activity, which increases risks of heat-related illnesses. On Monday, a worker in Texas experienced a heat stroke and had to be taken to a hospital. On Tuesday, Safety officers reminded all teams to monitor their fluid intake and take necessary precautions. Because hurricanes leave behind downed trees and other woody debris, impacted areas often experience a high risk of wildland fire in the months following the storm. Plans are being made in all three affected states for long-range fire readiness and prevention.

(bolding added).

Lots of response.