Lee County MERT Operations Standard Operating Guideline PDF

Lee County MERT Operations Standard Operating Guideline MERT Response Original Date of Issue: April 2019 Date Late Revised: January 2020 Revision Number: 2 Total Pages: 3 Overview: MERT has established an initial response matrix of a minimum of five (5) respondents for all responses through Lee C...

Lee County MERT Operations Standard Operating Guideline MERT Response Original Date of Issue: April 2019 Date Late Revised: January 2020 Revision Number: 2 Total Pages: 3 Overview: MERT has established an initial response matrix of a minimum of five (5) respondents for all responses through Lee County dispatch. The respondents will be working in a “Unified Command “with U.S.C.G., LCSO, and FWC. Each incident based on nature and scope will dictate resources called upon. All incidents will receive the aforementioned initial response of five (5) MERT responders.” U.S.C.G. is the Authority having Jurisdiction of all navigable waterways”. 1. Operational Guidelines: A. Lee County dispatches five (5) respondents to grid map locations based on the MERT response matrix. B. All responding units should respond with the resources at their disposal to properly mitigate the incident based on call type (SAR, FIRE, DIVE OPS, HAZMAT, etc.). The responding units should be monitoring the LC dispatched “LG” (local government) channel and “21A”. All units should make contact with each other and USCG en-route to incident. If there is no response on primary “LG” channel, then also use VHF 21A. Initial only contact will be made on VHF16 to reach the Coast Guard if necessary. C. The first responding unit “on scene” must establish Command (Operations Coordinator can be used when USCG is Command during a surface search). Command should be designated by location description, ( “Sanibel C Span Command” or “Bowditch Point Command”). Command must establish the tactical directive for the incident,(e.g., search, fire suppression, hazmat containment, etc) in addition to the coordination of arriving vessels. Command based on the situation on scene should call for additional resources if needed through Lee Control (air support, Seatow, Towboat, etc). In the event of a man over board or other surface search operation, the Coast Guard will Command search operations. The Coast Guard will direct area and grid searches for each vessel initially upon arrival, and then once received, more precisely from computer data predictions based on drift, current, and weather conditions. All responding resources should be capable of establishing a “set and drift” if requested by Coast Guard. If your vessel is capable Page 1 of 3 side/down scan sonar or dive operations for possible victim below surface, advise Coast Guard when applicable. D. Command provides the latest location information and tactical directives to responding units. Command will direct the operations of the MERT resources and work in a Unified Command capacity with USCG, LCSO, FWC, etc. Command has the option to transfer Command to another respondent on scene, the transfer of command must be face to face or within line of sight radio communication, the transfer of command must contain the following information: Incident extent, Operational goals, Tactical efforts, and Operating units. E. Command will monitor situational conditions, tactical effectiveness, direct or redirect Operational efforts, and assure accountability of all MERT units. All MERT personnel involved in Hazardous operations, (dive ops, fire suppression, etc.), have to identify themselves prior to entering into the operation and have their exposure in hazard zone timed, ( “divers alpha and bravo entering the water”, time stamped by Command). Depending on location of incident, Command could be established “shore based” however in this situation, “Operations” should be assigned to a vessel if incident is not in clear line of sight of Command. F. Command will direct the release of responding units after assuring accountability of all personnel. Command will coordinate with the U.S.C.G., LCSO, and FWC all aspects of returning the scene to it’s original condition, ( towing boats away, booming any pollutants, contacting applicable agencies to mitigate issues, etc). 2. Firefighting Operations: A. All marine assets responding to a boat fire are instructed to bring extra foam. All marine units assigned to fight fire should use AFFF foam for suppression. In the event a unit runs out of AFFF, the next fire boat will continue fire suppression using AFFF until: fire is extinguished, all units are out of foam or boat is in danger of sinking. Better to let vessel burn to water line than to sink it. B. All marine assets responding to fires on barrier islands are instructed to take extra hose based on availability and vessel size. (Ex: 200’ of 2.5’ and 150’ of 1.75”) Larger incident will involve a Strike Team deployment to the closest or most convenient docks for transportation of personnel and equipment using MERT and water taxi resources. 3. Non-emergent Operations: MERT units respond to a variety of vessel in distress calls including (boats, paddle boards, kayaks, etc. aground, out of fuel and lost). The USCG and Lee Control ask a series of questions before dispatching a full MERT response. Once MERT is dispatched there must be a response of at least one and preferably two units to non-emergent calls. The unit closest to the call can make the determination of how many units should respond and how many can stand by or cancel. The unit closest to the incident or (backyard call) should never be “negative response” unless extenuating circumstance warrant. In this case the closet unit should, at the very least, monitor the radio and/or send land based unit Page 2 of 3 if applicable to ensure proper response and then cancel other responding resources if not needed. Many of these vessels in distress calls become potential for real emergencies. 4. Grant Requests The WCIND grant funds are utilized by many of the MERT participants. In an effort to be responsible with our requests and to meet the needs of Lee County, all WCIND grant requests for vessels or equipment should be coordinated through MERT representatives under the Lee County Fire Chiefs Association prior to submission. Page 3 of 3