Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Readiness Areas: Logistics Readiness
It has often been said that if something can go wrong, someday it will. And if we haven't prepared for the possibility, the results can be devastating. That’s what readiness is all about - Logistics Readiness is the availability of equipment caches and other logistic resources to support immediate deployment for incident response.
To respond efficiently, any response team must be able to mobilize specialized equipment with their personnel within hours of notification. Everything should be approached with one goal in mind, “efficient and rapid response” to incidents.
When you send equipment out of a warehouse, container or truck, how can you really tell if it’s maintained? . Whether equipment is required for a limited period or a more comprehensive response is needed the FEMA US&R System recommends that US&R teams assess their Logistic readiness under 5 categories;
1. Complement of Cache Equipment
The aim is to have a complete complement of cache equipment, ready for immediate deployment. The US&R Task Force Equipment Cache List has approximately 2,000 items. This list also contains the quantities required for type I and type III deployments.
2. Transportation Resources
A full complement of transportation resources continuously available for day to day operations, exercises, and deployments is a critical component of Logistical Readiness.
3. Equipment Cache Training and Exercises
Cache equipment must be frequently employed in training and mobilization exercises. Organizations have plans in place to coordinate an incident response. This plan relies on the fact that equipment is satisfactory, has maintenance plans and a recorded history.
4. Cache Management Inventory System
A day-to-day efficient inventory system to manage the cache is an essential element in logistic readiness. Many organizations have assigned staff who have a sole responsibility of equipment inspection and ensuring equipment is in a constant state of readiness at each of their stockpiles.
5. Warehouse Resources
Having adequate warehouse and supporting resources contributes significantly to a task force’s logistic readiness. It’s important to ensure adequate space to conduct inventories, maintenance, office administration and mobilization.
Check out Part 2 of this blog series here: [Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Readiness Areas: Operations Readiness](https://www.d4htechnologies.com/blog/post/20170315-urban-search-and-rescue-usr-readiness-areas-operations-readiness “Part 2”)
Check out Part 3 of this blog series here: Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Readiness Areas: Management
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Founded in 2008 by Robin Blandford, combining his background in the Coast Guard with an accomplished team of computer scientists and emergency managers; D4H has injected global visibility into tens of thousands of operations on every continent in the world. Driven by a talented executive team, D4H Technologies’ mission is to provide the “Right Information When Things Go Wrong”.