Date:
Friday, February 03, 2006
Contact:
The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Aviation has recently commissioned its new mobile Incident Command Post (ICP) after 18 months of designing, planning and navigating through manufacturing process. The 40 foot gooseneck trailer was manufactured by Wells Cargo Industries of Ogden UT to specifications developed by WSDOT Aviation Emergency Services program manager, Tom Peterson. The unit will be deployed to aviation related search and rescue (SAR) incidents and used for coordinating aviation resources during disaster response missions under ESF #1.
The trailer features a two-person communications room, planning room, central office for the Incident Commander or Planning Section Chief, and a 10Kw Onan generator that can power the unit for 72 hours before refueling is required. There is also ample storage for the 42” plotter, laser printers and copiers as well as tables and chairs for staff.
The current communications capabilities include:
- HF, 2 VHF-FM radios
- Aircraft Band VHF-AM
- 2-Meter Amateur, Satellite Broadband Internet with VoiP
- Satellite Cell Phone
- Wide Band Receiver
- WSDOT/WSP 800Mhz and dual Analog Cell phones
Provisions were pre-wired to install VHF-Lo, UHF-FM and BSM Video Microwave Downlink equipment in the near future.
Staffing for the unit will be drawn from members of the Washington Wing, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and Washington Air Search and Rescue (WASAR) as well as from supporting agencies. Along with radio operators, specialists are being trained to process GIS information to produce situation maps as well as digital imagery from damage assessment flights.
The funding for this project came entirely from the WSDOT Aviation Emergency Services program budget and donations by WASAR. Ultimately, there will be three units positioned around the state to facilitate even better response times.
< Back to News Home