Disaster Response: Standard Operating Guideline

• The Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) addresses company operations for a large-scale disaster with multiple incidents in a geographical location.
• This document addresses complex issues of field operations after a major disaster.

Branch Locations

• North II (2) Branch includes: Battalion 3, Medic Engine 2, Truck 2, Engine 4, and Medic Engine 7.
• South III (3) Branch includes: Battalion 4, Medic Engine 3, Truck 8, Medic Engine 8, Engine 13, and MRT/Squad 3.
• East X (10) Branch includes: Battalion 1, Engine/HazMat 10, Medic Engine 1, Medic Engine 5, Truck 1, and MRT/Squad 5.
• West XIV (14) Branch includes: Battalion 2, Quint/HazMat 14, Medic Engine 11, Medic Engine 6, Quint 9, and MRT/Squad 6.
• Airport XII (12) Branch includes: Airport Battalion Chief, Company 12, Medic Engine 12, Red Company, and MRT/Squad 12.
• Off-duty personnel should report to their respective Branch or the nearest Branch location where they can safely respond, and then check in with the Branch Director.

Operations

• Station members are accountable for treating/transporting injured members as deemed appropriate.
• Functional status of apparatus should be ensured, and apparatus should be moved out of the station if possible and necessary, depending on circumstances.
• If apparatus cannot be moved, consider moving critical tools to other apparatus, auxiliaries, or POV's.
• The status of the station should be determined.

Radio Channels

• Assigned Branch Directors should be contacted using these radio channels:
• North II (2) Branch: SLCI N, City Repeater 1 or 2, City Ground 2
• South III (3) Branch: SLCI S, City Repeater 1 or 2, City Ground 2
• East X (10) Branch: SLCI E, City Repeater 1 or 2, City Ground 2
• West XIV (14) Branch: SLCI W, City Repeater 1 or 2, City Ground 2
• Airport XII (12) Branch: Airport fire, Airport ops, City Ground 2
• Contact the Branch by radio, but if this is not possible, the Company should transit to the branch and report to command (Branch Director).
• The company officer should communicate en route status, PAR status, and condition of station and apparatus.
• The company officer at designated branch stations assumes the initial Branch Director Position.
• Branch Directors remain physically located at the branch, and when a Chief Officer arrives, the Company Officer becomes the Branch Assistant.
• After contacting the Branch Director, reconnaissance of the district should be attempted, committing only to incidents where a positive impact can be made with limited resources.
• A Disaster Guide Book is located at each Branch to identify Critical Infrastructures and Key Resources (CIKR).
• The Branch Director should be informed of the status of the CIKR in the district.

Data Collection

• Provide relevant data on the following using forms as an aid:
  • Number of residences destroyed.
  • Number of commercial structures destroyed.
  • Number and location of impassable roads.

Priority Guidelines

• All personnel should follow these tactical priorities:
  • Firefighter safety, health, welfare, and security.
  • Life Safety by:
    • Treating the sick and injured
    • Preventing the spread of fire
    • Managing fatalities
    • Evacuating and caring for the displaced
  • Incident Stabilization:
    • Provide search and rescue
    • Contain, control, and mitigate fires
    • Contain, control, and mitigate Hazardous Materials
  • Property Conservation: restore vital infrastructure
• See the Disaster Guide Book for suggestions on specific locations for staging, casualty collection points, rehab, alternate water supply, and transportation routes.