Custom Film Productions

Emergency Film Group has completed production of two separate programs on pipeline safety for TSA – The Transportation and Security Administration. TSA, an agency of The Department of Homeland Security, is the lead federal agency for pipeline security and as such is responsible for developing security standards and mitigating security risks. Pipelines: Countering IEDs provides training on IED planning, recognition and response for those who work around pipelines and pipeline facilities. The program is in four modules. Module 1 examines the potential impact of an IED attack on a pipeline and the need for security and training; Module 2 discusses the components of IEDs and how they are used by terrorists; Module 3 examines the response to suspicious objects and how to implement protective actions; and Module 4 focuses on responding agencies such as law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs, how a response is managed, and how pipeline employees would interact with these responders.

Protecting Pipeline Infrastructure was created for law enforcement and security officials at the local, state and for others involved with infrastructure security. This program provides a basic understanding of how pipeline systems work and will describe the threats to and vulnerabilities of pipelines. It also describes actions security forces can take to protect pipelines during times of heightened security alert.

Both of these programs are currently being distributed to selected pipeline companies and law enforcement agencies.

More pipeline safety
Emergency Film Group was selected to develop the above projects because of our past experience in creating pipeline safety training. In 2004 we created Pipeline Emergencies for the National Association of State Fire Marshals. That same program was updated earlier this year with new modules on emerging pipeline issues: carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ethanol, LPG, and anhydrous ammonia.

Pipeline Emergencies was funded by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, an agency of the Department of Transportation, and was shot on location with pipeline facilities in Florida and Louisiana. Response organizations that participated in the filming include the Baton Rouge Fire Department, Seminole County Fire/Rescue, and the Fire and Emergency Training Institute at Louisiana State University.

It has been distributed to every fire department in the country to help local response organizations respond to incidents involving pipelines.

Organizing the EOC to support Incident Command

During times of crisis such as a flood, terrorist event or other natural or manmade disaster, an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated as part of the Multi-Agency Coordination System. A well prepared EOC will support Incident Command and also promote continuity of operations for the jurisdiction served. NIMS for EOCs is our newest training program, designed for federal, state, tribal and local emergency management personnel and non-governmental disaster response organization personnel.

Combining realistic training exercises that simulate crisis situations with exciting footage of actual incidents, NIMS for EOCs portrays an EOC in action. It outlines the responsibilities for key positions in Incident Command and the corresponding positions for the Emergency Operations Center, including those of the Command Staff and Sections. The program describes the five primary types of incidents and tells how the EOC is staffed, organized, and activated for each. The program also portrays how a Planning meeting - which is an essential part of managing an incident – is run under NIMS. The package includes a 32-minute DVD plus a Resource CD-Rom with PowerPoint, testing, and other materials that an instructor can use or modify as the basis of a customized training seminar

Serving as technical advisors for NIMS for EOCs are Inspector Kenneth D. Honig, who served with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and was the Emergency Operations Center Manager after the 9-11 attacks; Stephen Marks of Crisis Leadership Solutions and formerly the Assistant Coordinator, Guilford County (NC) Office of Emergency Management; Kevin Neary, former Chief of Operations, New York State Emergency Management Office. While with SEMO, he had oversight of the NY Emergency Operations Center; Martyn R. Nevil, Planning Chief, FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Incident Management Team; and August Vernon, Assistant Coordinator for the Forsyth County (NC) Office of Emergency Management..