Dancing In A Hurricane Data Data Data Data

5 POINTS EVERY NATIONAL DATABASE ISSUE: Medical - the Int’l Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) FBI NIBRS incidents (Fire / Police incidents probably the fairest comparison because they are both incident based) NFIRS – what it does and how it is reported and used I need more information, what can I do? What are you going to do, Onieal? My ask of you

MEDICINE – Int’l Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD) 1980 YEAR ICD-10 2015 3,900 Procedure Codes 72,000 14,000 Diagnosis Codes 70,000 3 digits Code Length 7 digits

FBI Director James Comey “…After riots broke out in Ferguson, I asked my staff to tell me how many people shot by police were African-American in this country. I wanted to see trends. I wanted to see information. They couldn’t give it to me, and it wasn’t their fault. Demographic data regarding officer-involved shootings is not consistently reported to us. (FBI.GOV)

Incident Based Data – NFIRS v NIBRS NFIRS (fire) NIBRS (crime) Both are voluntary, incident based systems 1999* Started 1989 24,200 out of 30,000 / 80% 6,115 out of 18,200 / 34% Departments Metro Sized Departments Almost all Few 1* Forms 13*

THE CONSEQUENCES OF FORCED DATA The explosion of STDs Compstat and Highway Therapy

NFIRS IS A DATA STANDARD It is NOT hardware or software

Today’s NFIRS Capabilities Common data set for the country FDs - same language, same terms. Critical in information management. 25 million responses, 50 States, 25,000+ fire departments. Categorizes and apportions YOUR local workload for current and future resource allocation. Integrates with CAD, training, inspection systems, apparatus, inventory, personnel, other city / county data (e.g. GIS, Permits, EMS billing), AVL, hydrant location, chemical databases)

This data is available anytime you want it to TELL YOUR STORY: To identify daily, weekly, monthly patterns To identify your local issues / challenges To justify budgets To justify staffing LOCAL R E S P O N DATA S TA T E Uses data to identify annual State trends – State legislation / programs / target areas. F E D Uses to identify national trends –legislation / programs / CPSC / DoT.

UNDENIABLE FACTS The purpose of NFIRS is to tell your story, to identify your local all-hazards problem to your local elected officials and the public. It is available anytime you want to tell your story if input is accurate and complete. You can collect any data you want in addition to your NFIRS software – but it is always about the accuracy of data entry – WHO is entering the data. You can change to the most advanced, sophisticated, data rich system in the world – it is ALWAYS about that person doing the data entry.

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO THIS

IF THIS ISN’T RIGHT THIS CAN’T BE RIGHT

YOU’RE STRONG We’re Strong ACCURATE DATA IN INPUT PROCESS S T A E OUTPUT S T A E ACCURATE INFORMATION OUT GOOD DECISIONS F E D

We’re all WEAK and VULNERABLE BAD DATA IN INPUT PROCESS S T A E OUTPUT INFORMATION OUT BAD DECISIONS S T A E F E D

The threat you face isn’t coming from the “City-Stat” people Municipal Data The threat you face isn’t coming from the “City-Stat” people It’s the citizen with a grudge who is constantly seeking out organizational weaknesses It’s the disgruntled employee who knows your data weaknesses It’s the local reporter trying to build a reputation Local response data and analysis is your strongest defense or your biggest weakness – you decide

….BUT I NEED MORE DATA By working with your software vendor, you can add to NFIRS software to collect more data and more complex data. Ask yourself: At what cost? How accurate (and collectable!!) will that data INPUT be? (The data entry issue…) What decisions are you going to make with the additional data?

There is always someone, somewhere willing to sell you the latest software You have to consider the cost of software and staff training The continued cost of maintenance And the value of the additional information - cost / benefit?

Design a brand new NFIRS system? Major software change cost to every fire department, and all 50 States. May affect the integration of other applications (CAD, AVL, training, etc) Universal agreement on what the changes / improvements would be? We know what we have now. Have we EVER had a shortage of opinions in the Fire Service? We know the challenges of a new system – ICD-10 and the current DOJ experience with the voluntary NIBRS system.

Here’s What’s Going On Nationally YEAR INCIDENTS (M) FD’S REPORTING 2015 25.3 24,200 2014 24.2 23,843 2013 23.1 23,719 2012 22.4 23,711 2011 22.8 23,731 2010 22.2 23,639 Incidents are up More FDs are joining the system About 94-95% of all incidents – 1 form ** (fires down)

We understand the two principal issues with NFIRS: COMPLEXITY AND ACCURACY It is probably more complex than it needs to be (do we need all those codes? Do we need all those supplemental forms?) I own this Inaccurate data input - not enough focus on reporting accuracy by the officer Training? Motivation? You own this

Where We Are / Where We’re Going Three current reports: NASFM: “Conquering the Unknowns” (2014) NFPA: “Today and Tomorrow’s Fire Data” (2014) NFPA: “NFIRS Incident Types, Why Aren’t They Telling A Clearer Story?” (2016) NFPA data survey / report

Where We’re Going Administrative – CONVENE: a group of NFIRS users (SFMs, NFIRS program managers, fire service groups) to look at: 3 reports and NFPA survey Strategy / recommendations to REDUCE the complexity of NFIRS Not looking to add to the system. You can add your data elements through your software vendor – follow the standard like everything else you buy.

…and 100% nationwide agreement on “perfect” is impossible. There will always be a balance between accuracy, complexity and utility …and 100% nationwide agreement on “perfect” is impossible.

There will always be a balance between accuracy, complexity and utility We had a fire We didn’t have a fire Accurate – 99.9% Simple Valuable or useful ?? Complex Accurate?? Useful?? How many pounds of air did each firefighter breathe at the fire? (we need it for the budget...)

Technological: Based on the groups recommendations: Implement improvements that are: Within the limits of budget and technology Changed at a rate that can be absorbed at the State and local level

Training: The piece that most of us miss Resources: TRAINING Training: The piece that most of us miss https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/nfirs/support/training.html Resident training: National Fire Academy Local training: 2 day NFA courses through State training On-Line training: NFAOnline

Resources: TRAINING NFIRS:  Program Management (6-day classroom) – E’burg Introduction to NFIRS 5.0 (2-day classroom) – through the State training system National Fire Incident Reporting System Self-Study – NFAOnline (12 hour) NFIRS Introduction and Application – available through State training system (6 hour classroom)

Additional NFIRS Resources Available To You http://www.nfic.org/index.html

USFA Resources NFIRS Help Desk 888-382-3827 FEMA-NFIRSHELP@fema.dhs.gov Planned: Short videos on our web site and distributed to interested users / program managers; may use YouTube. The Administrative, Technological and Training initiatives are all designed to simplify use and improve accuracy.

ENTERPRISE DATA WAREHOUSE We’re finishing up beta testing Want to start admitting metro departments Challenge – we can’t estimate the workload – how many we can handle Depends upon the cooperation of your State NFIRS folks and the IT skills of your people 70+ ‘canned’ reports – capable of custom reports - ??

ENTERPRISE DATA WAREHOUSE Interested in Data Warehouse? See me after.

Focus on accuracy by the reporting officers HERE’S MY ONE ASK: Focus on accuracy by the reporting officers Training for those who complete reports Superiors check for accuracy Question inaccurate reports