WRHSAC will be offering an exciting array of trainings over the coming months.
Several of these trainings will be specific to certain first responder disciplines and also designed for mid to senior level commanders/managers.
Here is a summary of the trainings that will be offered. Save the date for the trainings that are applicable to you. Registration for the trainings will be opened once all logistics are finalized. Emails announcing the training will be distributed via WRHSAC’s event emailing list.
Please contact Raine Brown, Homeland Security Program Manager with any specific questions.
Emerging Threats Training – March 15, 2018
Location: Likely Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA
This one day workshop will familiarize mid-to-senior level commanders in the first responder disciplines regarding emerging threats as related to street drugs & hazardous materials response, gang violence, domestic & foreign terrorism, improvised explosive devices, mass casualty incidents and increased severe weather due to climate change.
Operational ICS – March 27 & 28, 2019
Location: TBD
The goal of this training is to provide mid-to-senior level commanders with practical performance level skills enabling them to implement the Incident Command System in the field during every-day responses with confidence while maintaining direct focus on the incident. The course will focus on actions an initial response commander can take to ensure the building blocks of ICS are used in establishing command and control of an escalating or potentially complex incident.
Hampshire County Regional Shelter Exercise – April 19, 2018
Location: Smith Vocational High School, Northampton, MA
This is part of WRHSAC’s Regional Sheltering Exercise Series. This specific exercise will test the Hampshire Regional Shelter Plan and also incorporate integrated MRC response with UMass Amherst.
Amtrak MCI Training & Drills – May 7 & 8, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 2018
Location: Springfield MA
WRHSAC is partnering with the Amtrak Police to provide Mass Casualty Incident Passenger Rail training to Fire, EMS and Law Enforcement in the region. The training will consist of a 3-hour classroom training, followed by full-day field training. Separate sessions of each will be provided for fire/ems and police. The classroom sessions can accommodate 50 people each. The field trainings can accommodate 100 participates and 20 observers each. The classroom sessions will be held on May 7 & 8. The field training sessions for Fire & EMS will be held on May 9 & 10, with the field drills for law enforcement on May 16 & 17.
Special Events Incident Management Training
Special Events Risk Incident Management – June 12 & 13, 2018
Special Events Evacuation Training & Exercise – June 20 & 21, 2018
Location: UMass Amherst
Western Massachusetts hosts many large special events such as the Big E, Tanglewood, Westover Air Show, and more. These events attract thousands of people in open environments. Increasingly both domestic and foreign terrorist are targeting public venues and events and carrying out attacks at these events. Management of incidents at these events presents unique challenges to commanders. These training will help commanders to prepare for and respond to these challenges.
The Special Event Risk Management Course is focused upon building emergency management capabilities for multi-agency collaboration for large special events and venues.
The Special Event Evacuation Training and Exercise Course will prepare special event and venue managers to enhance evacuation planning capabilities and assist emergency responders in implementing flexible and scalable evacuation activities.
