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Mounds View City Council September 12, 2005 <br />Regular Meeting Page 9 <br />• individuals, an ambulance with a crew of two, and acommunications/aide. He explained that the <br />Department would become an entity of the State, not an employee of the State. <br />Fire Chief Zikmund advised that there have now been issues with self deployment and word was <br />received last Friday of an official stand down request for the time being. He advised that they are <br />still recovering bodies so there is currently no need for fire fighters. However, once residents <br />start moving back there will be an increased need for fire personnel. That is expected occur in <br />four to eight weeks in the future and may go on for three to four months. <br />Fire Chief Zikmund explained that Mr. Anderson responded to a broadcast. He stated Fire <br />personnel was asked if they are willing and able for a two week deployment. This request is <br />being made so it can be answered should the request come. He explained that if requested, they <br />would deploy Ladder 12 and it would include 12 fire personnel from the district. All costs are <br />reimbursed to the City by FEMA. He stated he verified with the League that should the State of <br />Louisiana default on liability insurance, the League would cover it. <br />Mayor Many stated he can see why there is a stand down now but once power is turned back on, <br />there is more potential need fox firefighters and personnel. Fire Chief Zikmund agreed that a lot <br />of activity could occur which is why he wanted to verify the insurance coverage. <br />Councilmember Stigney questioned the request for deployment from Minnesota to Louisiana, <br />noting there are 49 states participating. He asked how it got to the SBM Fire Department and if <br />• the request first starts with adjacent States. <br />Fire Chief Zikmund stated he is certain that the request did go out to other States. He explained <br />that with the Emergency Management Association Compact (EMAC), Minnesota opened their <br />Emergency Operations Center (EOC) two days before the hurricane hit in anticipation of what <br />would happen with Hurricane Katrina. EMAC set up the day after. The EOC is where things <br />like the policy decisions occur and EMAC is where the work actually occurs. Louisiana sent out <br />the request to Minnesota. The Minnesota EMAC Staff has astate-wide list of all the resources <br />and knows the SBM Fire Department protects the fifth largest population in the State and has two <br />ladders. The Minnesota EMAC asked if the Department could provide a ladder crew given the <br />Department's size and resources. <br />Fire Chief Zikmund stated he told them the equipment was available and he would check on the <br />personnel request. When the request came in they probably wanted up to 100 strike forces as a <br />readiness request. Then it transitioned from Louisiana and Mississippi because the amount of <br />resources they need is staggering. Also, Minnesota has a national reputation of having the most <br />organized and equipped fire departments and are highly trained. <br />Councilmember Stigney stated he personally thinks that they should draw from the area closest to <br />their area. He noted Mounds View is already short on employees and Jeremy Anderson also does <br />another job including inspections that would have to be put on abeyance so he does not support <br />• the deployment request. <br />