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ITD supports conference on emergency responses

A three-day hands-on emergency preparedness conference Oct. 7-9 in Lewiston will provide first responders in north central Idaho the training to handle emergencies on roads and highways.

The Idaho State University Institute of Emergency Management (IEM) will provide the training at no cost to qualified first responders. All sessions will be at the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston. For information or to register, consult the IEM web site at http://www.isu.edu/idem or call 1-208-685-6797.

The conference, supported by ITD as a way of promoting interagency cooperation, will include a keynote address by terrorism expert Lionel Rawlins. President and chief executive officer of the VonFrederick Group of Sacramento, Rawlins was a U.S. Marine with expertise in terrorism and suicide bombers/homicide bombers. He is a well known criminologist and lecturer. His address will be at noon on the opening day.

The conference begins Oct. 7 with IEM 130, a session that will be repeated in the afternoon. Many of the eight first-day sessions focus on responses to weapons of mass destruction. It also includes hospital emergency management, incident command systems and emergency response to domestic biological incidents. Several sessions will be repeated on Friday, Oct. 8.

Other second-day sessions include intermediate incident command systems, hazmat evidence collection transportation security awareness.

The emergency preparedness training conference will enhance the capabilities of state and local agencies to prevent and respond to incidents involving the use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) weapons.

The federal Office for Domestic Preparedness has identified 11 first responder disciplines: law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency management agencies, firefighter, hazardous materials personnel, public works, government administrators, public safety, communications, health care, public health and security guards.

Participants will make their own lodging arrangements. The Red Lion Hotel (1-208-799-1000) is holding a block of rooms to be available at a special conference rate. With the exception of lunches, participants will be responsible for their own meals.