Thomas Carr, Jr. Chief, Montgomery County (MD) Fire & Rescue Service

DomPrep’s John F. Morton met with Thomas W. Carr, Jr., Chief, Montgomery County (MD) Fire and Rescue Service. Chief Carr, whose department provided a helpful presence both in New Orleans and in Mississippi, shares his insights into the use of the out-of-area fire and rescue personnel/assets that were employed via emergency assistance management compact (EMAC) channels in support of the Hurricane Katrina response and recovery operations.

DomPrep.com divided the 41 minute interview into six segments.

Listen to Audio Segment One What Supporting Personnel Found on the Ground

Rescue and recovery in New Orleans and Mississippi – the differences on the ground.  How out-of-area first responders were and are supporting local fire and rescue agencies in the region and managing rescue and recovery operations.

Duration: 2 Minutes 13 Seconds

Listen to Audio Segment Two Incident Command

The NOPD implementation of incident management plans.  EMAC support of incident management plans in the region. Addressing command and communications in New Orleans and Mississippi.  The importance of deploying units that are self-supporting with their own communications.  The use of satellite phones. 

Duration: 14 Minutes 13 Seconds

Listen to Audio Segment Three Federal Support of Incident Command

The role of the U.S. Fire Administration and its Type 1 Teams for managing command and control. 

Duration: 3 Minutes 19 Seconds

Listen to Audio Segment Four USAR Operational Debrief

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue teams performing urban search and rescue (USAR) in Hancock County, Mississippi. 

Duration: 3 Minutes 33 Seconds

Listen to Audio Segment Five Responding to the Local Fire/Rescue Needs

Addressing family issues for fire/rescue personnel, apparatus destruction, fuel logistics, reopening fire stations, transportation to the crisis area, and self-dispatching.

Duration: 10 Minutes 22 Seconds

Listen to Audio Segment Six Addressing Stress Management

Accommodating first responders whose own families have lost their homes and belongings. The deployment of CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) teams and CISD (critical incident stress debriefing) teams. 

Duration: 7 Minutes 33 Seconds