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Threat Assessment for Emergency Planning
Track(s): Emergency Preparedness/Business Continuity

Kenneth Willette and Orlando P. Hernandez, NFPA

Audio Sample:




The foundation of any effective emergency plan is a thorough threat assessment. An understanding of the things that might create emergencies provides insight into what we need to be prepared for in our organizations. This critical first step applies to all levels of plans from simple evacuation plans up through comprehensive continuity of operations plans. This session will look at threats and the threat assessment process. We will discuss how to use the process in your own organization. Group participation will be used to demonstrate a portion of the threat assessment process.

Kenneth R. Willette has  35 years experience in fire service and emergency preparedness planning. He has served as a airfield/structural firefighter for the Department of Defense and as a call and career firefighter. He served the Wilbraham, MA. Fire Department for 26 years, rising through the ranks to serve 7 years as Chief of Department and Emergency Management Director. In 2003, he accepted command of the Concord MA. Fire Department, serving as Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director until his retirement in 2009. In 2010, he joined the National Fire Protection Association as Manager of the Public Fire Protection Division . He earned a BS in Fire Protection Administration from Empire State University, Stony Brook, NY and  is Pro Board  Certified Fire Officer I and  Fire Instructor I He is a Past President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts and has served on the Massachusetts State Emergency Response Commission, and as an Operations Chief with the Incident Support Unit, operated by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.

Mr. Hernandez is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University; he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology, with a Minor in Fire and Arson Investigation and a Minor in Police Administration. Mr. Hernandez has over 20 years of experience conducting and administering Fire and Life Safety Inspection Programs for the State of Texas Fire Marshal's Office and Bexar County Fire Marshal's Office. He has over 16 years of Fire Investigation experience. He has also conducted fire and arson investigations regarding the loss of life to both civilian and fire service personnel and on many occasions has conducted investigations with Local, State and Federal agencies and participated in ATF National Response Team investigations. Mr. Hernandez has 6 years of experience as an Emergency Management Coordinator and Incident Management Team responder. In those 6 years, he has managed 6 Presidential Declaration of Disasters, 10 Texas Governor Declarations of Disasters, and 5 Local Declarations of Disasters. He has managed and participated in numerous Emergency responses such as Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Ike, Wild land fires, and the Earthquake in Haiti.