The response to and recovery from a chemical incident may require more and different resources than are commonly available within any given local jurisdiction. Timeliness in obtaining the full measure and range of resources needed will directly impact the effectiveness of response and recovery activities. Advanced planning, therefore, is needed to identify requirements for a timely and effective response to and recovery from a chemical incident, as well as the suppliers of required resources and the timelines within which they will be needed. Such resources include (but are not limited to):
- Sampling kits/monitoring, detection, and identification equipment
- Personal protective and other specialized equipment
- Decontaminants and deployment equipment
- Livestock/poultry depopulation equipment
- Protective action equipment
- Access to laboratory analysis capabilities (and procedures for usage)
- Specialized medical equipment and training, treatments, and pharmaceuticals
- Technical support personnel trained in HazMat and/or to OSHA standards
Advance planning will help communities identify resource requirements, determine resource shortfalls, and develop a list of needs that private suppliers or other jurisdictions might fill. Local officials must then engage with those suppliers and supporting agencies and other jurisdictions to ensure the ready availability of the needed resources should an incident occur. The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a national all-hazards mutual aid compact, can also be called upon during declared states of emergency or disaster to gain access to essential resources. EMAC provides an avenue for other states to send personnel, equipment, and supplies (including National Guard) to assist with response and recovery efforts. Jurisdictional plans should account for unsolvable resource shortfalls so they are not just “assumed away.” Such shortfalls might be addressed via local government or market incentives that encourage further development of resource capabilities and realistic response measures.
