Shanti Smith Tech Hazards Section Chief Florida Division of Emergency Management Office: Cell: E-Plan Presentation to E911 Coordinators March 31, 2009

Environmental Protection Agency’s E-Plan –E-Plan is a proven system that provides First Responder and others with on-site hazardous chemical information for facilities around the United States. It utilizes emergency contact and hazardous material information submitted under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and sends it via the Internet to First Responders just when they need it the most. E-Plan provides Tier II reporting data and other important information instantly such as Maps of the area surrounding a fixed facility showing schools and hospitals, Maps of all facilities with a specified hazardous material in specific area, Chemical Hazards Response Information System (CHRIS) data, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Chemical profiles, Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) pages, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes, Facility Risk Management Plans (RMPs). In emergency situations, the E-Plan system can make the difference between life and death for First Responders and victims of the emergency. E-Plan has been enthusiastically embraced by fire fighters and hazmat response teams, nationwide wherever it has been introduced. Instant access to the critical hazmat information provided by E-Plan makes it an invaluable tool for First Responders.

Current Limitations E-Plan is currently available to the 36 recognized HazMat teams, County Emergency Mangers and Local Emergency Planning Committees However when a 911 call is first made, no one at the dispatch level is aware of the situation they are sending responders into In the smaller, rural counties especially with a majority volunteer firefighters these situations can be very dangerous.

Proposal to E911 In the spirit of ensuring that all responders statewide are aware of potential hazmat on-site at response locations a connection would be made between the E-Plan data base, maintained by the University of Texas for the EPA, to all dispatch centers. Once a call taker receives a call and types in the address, E-Plan would flag the address if there are know hazardous substances on site thereby allowing the dispatcher to advise all necessary responders to conditions and necessary PPE

Costs The goal is that the cost would be minimal, those with CAD centers would have to work through their software provider Smaller dispatch centers with their own databases would only need assistance with the cost of the programming to establish the link between E-Plan and their database

Goal To reduce the number of responders injured and cost attributed to lack of knowledge concerning what they may be responding to. As occurred in Pinellas County where ambulances, EMT’s, firefighters, fire stations and police had to be de-conned extensively due to lack of knowledge of Mercury at a response site

Questions?