As part of our ongoing efforts to meet or exceed the minimum requirements for emergency preparedness, the BGJWSC has recognized the need to commit ourselves to the goal of 100% participation in FEMA training. The FEMA Independent Study Program is an internet-based self-paced series of courses that cover all aspects of all-hazards incident response. At the present time, there are 199 courses, with subjects ranging from how resources are distributed during a disaster, the process to apply for individual grant assistance when damages occur in the community, and how to plan for special needs that may arise, such as caring for children, debris removal and livestock.
In addition to performing the utility work following an incident, the BGJWSC is focused on preparing our staff to communicate well with other first responders, like Glynn County and City of Brunswick Police and Fire Departments. We have a responsibility to the community to be an essential part of the ‘lifeline’ services that are critical to residents of Glynn County. This responsibility puts us in regular contact with staff from the Glynn County Emergency Management Agency and the staff of the Joint Public Safety Complex/911 Center, where we have a seat that will be filled by staff in the event of Emergency Operations Center activation.
Though all staff are required to take two classes online to get a basic understanding of how we would integrate into a unified emergency response effort with other local agencies, some staff members have made an even further commitment to emergency preparedness training by attending a week-long training class referred to as Intermediate and Advanced Incident Command. These classes, which are taught by an instructor certified by the Georgia State Department of Public Safety, place our staff in a workshop environment where our skills can be tested against mock scenarios.
We’re proud to recognize our staff for their ever-increasing commitment to being a vital part of the BGJWSC effort to emergency response in Glynn County and presented their training certifications to them in the Commission Meeting on Thursday, October 22, 2015.
Pictured along with the BGJWSC Commissioners and Heather Ott, Human Resources Director, are staff member Jackson O’Quinn, Dana Read, Donnie Bankston, Peter Sharpe, Ray Juliano, Jay Sellers, Michael Herrington, Jeffery McCumbers and Derrick Simmons. Not pictured: Blake Crews and Luke Schwalm were unavailable to attend.
