Anaheim : Workshop Will Focus on Disaster Response Plans

The Anaheim Fire Department will host a statewide workshop on ways to improve emergency response and services Friday in the Anaheim Convention Center.

The 6 1/2-hour program, which is open to the public, is part of a series of national workshops on disaster and emergency response programs. According to Robert Berg, coordinator of emergency services for the City of Anaheim, workshop recommendations will be used in the development of a national emergency and disaster management program.

“We’re dealing with a whole new concept here,” Berg said. “At these workshops, we hope to give recommendations and procedures that will be used in all future national disaster planning.”

The workshops, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in conjunction with the International Assn. of Fire Chiefs, are designed to enable law enforcement, public works, fire, city, state and other officials involved in disaster response to discuss ways to coordinate various emergency services through a relatively new program called Integrated Emergency Management Systems (IEMS).

Officials hope that IEMS, a national program, will simplify and coordinate communications among the various emergency relief agencies. Over the last six months, similar FEMA-sponsored workshops have met in Florida, Kansas, Virginia and Northern California to help develop IEMS.

There is a $20 registration fee for the workshop. Those interested should call 999-1805.