Prior to damage assessment response teams going out into the community, they should be briefed about the current situation and what they might expect in the field, based on available information. For example, if the power company has confirmed that all power in an area is off, team members need to have this information so that they know that downed power lines in that area are not dangerous.

If teams have been pre-positioned, a briefing could be conducted over the phone, or via a web or video conference.

In particular, they should be briefed about potential safety issues they may encounter.

They should also be reminded of their specific roles and responsibilities as well as the reporting procedures. A clear communication of roles and responsibilities will result in smoother relay of information about the extent of damage across the community.

Remember, zones should be defined as part of your community’s emergency management plan, and teams should already be familiar with their zones. This zone familiarization is important so the teams understand what “normal” is for their assigned zones so they can more readily assess the damage to those areas. In particular, teams should be aware of the hazards in the community and in their zones that have been identified in the Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA).

During the pre-deployment briefings, the damage assessment response teams will be deployed based on which areas were affected by the event. Giving each team an assigned zone ensures that all areas are assessed and efforts are not duplicated.

Click on the highlighted text to learn more about safety briefings.