Emergency Response Unit

Parkersburg Tornado 2008 The Emergency Response & Homeland Security Unit was formed to provide 24-hour technical assistance to local, state, and federal response agencies, regulated industries, and interested public. Since forming the unit has taken on additional roles assigned by the department. These roles include;

serving as the Department of Natural Resource's Homeland Security Point of Contact,
serving on a variety of planning and regulatory groups,
providing technical support to rule making committees, other divisions within the Department of Natural Resources, and other state departments,
providing technical support to local government entities, public groups, and commercial and industrial parties, and
serving at the State Emergency Opperations Center during disasters.

Planning Groups & Committees
Committee/Group	Emergency Response Unit Contact
The Omaha/Council Bluffs Sub-area Contingency Plan Committee began meeting in 1997 to facilitate a timely and effective cooperative response to a substantial spill by representatives of local, state and federal agencies in the Omaha/Council Bluffs geographic area.	adam.broughton@dnr.iowa.gov
The Siouxland Sub-area Contingency Plan Committee began meeting in 2003 to facilitate a timely and effective cooperative response to a substantial spill by representatives of local, state and federal agencies in the Sioux City regional geographic area.	adam.broughton@dnr.iowa.gov
The Quad Cities Sub-area Contingency Plan Committee began meeting in 1997 to facilitate a timely and effective cooperative response to a substantial spill by representatives of local, state and federal agencies in the Quad City geographic area.	rodney.tucker@dnr.iowa.gov
The Upper Mississippi River Basin Association is a regional interstate organization formed by the Governors of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin to help coordinate the states' river-related programs and policies and work with federal agencies that have river responsibilities.	rodney.tucker@dnr.iowa.gov
The State Hazard Mitigation Team is made up of representatives from federal agencies, state agencies, local government entities, and private sector groups with a direct or indirect involvement in disaster planning, disaster response, and post disaster recovery. The purpose of the team is to develop a State Hazard Mitigation Plan designed to identify hazards in the state, reduce the risk from identified hazards, and plan for the response to and recovery from a hazardous event.	adam.broughton@dnr.iowa.gov
The Iowa Emergency Response Commission was created to implement the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).	Emergency_Response@dnr.iowa.gov
The Regional Response Team (RRT) is responsible for regional response, planning, training, and coordination within the region. EPA Region 7 RRT membership consists of a designated representative from each Federal agency participating in the National Response Team, with representatives from each of the four States: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. A member of the Emergency Response & Homeland Security Unit is the state of Iowa's representative on the RRT.	Emergency_Response@dnr.iowa.gov
TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness Emergency Response) is a voluntary national outreach effort that focuses on assisting communities prepare for a possible hazardous material transportation incident.	rodney.tucker@dnr.iowa.gov
Tri-State HazMat Group comprising of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa creates a multi-state collaboration towards the betterment of the environment. The goal is to work with the local hazmat teams, emergency management directors, and first responders to create a team effort towards hazardous material incidents.	rodney.tucker@dnr.iowa.gov
The Quad Cities Area Maritime Security Committee is a collaborative maritime security planning effort among industry, government, and public stakeholders to more effectively deter, detect, prevent, and respond to threats at varying levels.	rodney.tucker@dnr.iowa.gov
The State Exercise Group meets monthly to share information about training exercises being held throughout the state.	rodney.tucker@dnr.iowa.gov
The Region VII LEPC/TERC Conference Planning Committee develops a bi-annual regional conference designed to provide low cost training to emergency planners and first responders in the four states of EPA/FEMA Region IV.	adam.broughton@dnr.iowa.gov
The Iowa Pipeline Association (IPA) introduces emergency responders, public officials, excavators, and the affected public to the basics of pipeline recognition, and encourages everyone to use the state one-call underground damage prevention program. IPA also focuses on providing Iowa emergency responders with the information they need to protect our nation’s critical assets and ensure the safety of the communities they serve.	rodney.tucker@dnr.iowa.gov
Each year members of the Emergency Response and Homeland Security Unit are asked to participate in short term committees as subject matter experts.