Coordination with Partner Agencies for Responding to Emergency Events, with a Focus on Weather and Winter Related Events

Date and Time: Tuesday, May 9, 2023: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Location: Keck 100

 

Lead Presenter:  John Scrivani, Director, Safety, Security & Emergency Management
Affiliation:  Virginia Department of Transportation
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Lead Presenter Biography

John Scrivani has worked in the Emergency Response / Management community for over 30 years. In 2021 he served as Commissioner of Emergency Management for New York City until he returned to his previous position of Director of Safety, Security & Emergency Management for the Virginia Department of Transportation. From 2017-2019 John served as the Deputy State Coordinator for Disaster Services at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. From 2014 to 20017, John served as the Division Administrator for Safety, Security & Emergency Management at the Virginia Department of Transportation, 2012/2013, John served as the Incident Commander of the New York City Hurricane Sandy Debris Task Force, where he was charged with overseeing the removal of all storm-related debris in New York City. Previously, Scrivani served as New York City Office of Emergency Management Deputy Commissioner of Operations from 2009 - 2011. There he oversaw the agency's 24/7 Response, Watch Command, and Notify NYC operations. In 2008-2009, Scrivani was Deputy Director of the Special Operations Division at the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), where he also oversaw operations and safety for the World Trade Center Potential Human Remains Recovery Project and managed the ME Special Operations Response Team. For 14 years, John worked as a member of the NYPD, where he retired as Commanding Officer of the Emergency Services Unit Hazardous Materials-Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Team and Training School. He was also a member of the NYPD Elite Emergency Service Unit. During many of these assignments, John has led his team in implementing new ideas and technologies ranging from complicated databases for the World Trade Center projects, integrated SharePoint solutions for the Virginia Department of Transportation and GIS programs with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

John currently serves as the Director of Safety, Security & Emergency Management for the Virginia Department of Transportation. He also serves as an instructor for hazardous materials/WMD response for DHS and DOE. John is a Certified Emergency Manager with the IAEM and a graduate of the State University of New York, Excelsior College. 

Co-Authors

Presentation Description 

Coordination with partner agencies is crucial when responding to emergencies, especially weather and winter-related events. Institutionalizing coordination with partner agencies can ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the decision-making process and that resources are effectively allocated to address the needs of those affected.

Institutionalize coordination with partner agencies for responding to weather and winter-related events; the following steps will be discussed:

1. Development of a formalized communication plan.

2. Identify roles and responsibilities: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each partner agency involved in responding to weather and winter-related events.

3. Establish regular meetings: Establish regular meetings with partner agencies to discuss emergency preparedness plans and coordinate response efforts.

4. Develop joint training exercises: Develop joint training exercises with partner agencies to ensure that everyone is familiar with the emergency response plan and knows how to respond in a coordinated manner.

5. Share data and information: Establish a process for sharing data and information among partner agencies. This can help identify emerging risks and potential challenges and facilitate the efficient allocation of resources.

By institutionalizing coordination with partner agencies for responding to weather and winter-related events, emergency response efforts can be more effective and efficient. It is important to regularly evaluate and update the coordination plan to ensure that it remains relevant and practical.

Extended Summary

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