March 29, 2008 - 12:00 a.m. EST

This is the latest in a series of Oconee County government profiles, completed by department heads and presented as part of the Daily Journal/Daily Messenger “My County Agenda” initiative. Readers are encouraged to ask any questions they may have after reading this story by logging on to www.upstatetoday.com, clicking on this story and then following the directions that accompany the story.

Questions may also be mailed to Daily Journal/Messenger, 210 W. N. First St., Seneca, 29678; by FAX to 864-882-2381; or by calling the “tip line” at 864-973-6702. Questions will be accepted for five days after publication.

Your county agenda - Emergency Services Department

Director: Rodney Burdette, 48

Educational background:

Graduate of Oakway High School, Oconee County

The United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training/Firefighter Apprenticeship

North Georgia Technical Institute: Certified Customer Service Specialist

The University of Georgia/Carl Vinson Institute of Government: State Fire Marshal’s 24th Annual Arson Seminar and Management Development Program Levels I, II and III

Various other federal, state and local courses and seminars including: Prepare & Respond to Terrorism; Surviving Hazmat Part 1 and 2; Fire Department Customer Service; Fire Department Management: Scope and Method; Personnel Management; and Handling Today’s Personnel Liability Issues

SC Fire Academy: Fire Fighter – I & II; Fire Instructor – I & II; Emergency Vehicle Drivers Training; Incident Command I-400 – Advanced ICS; Introduction to Fire Inspection Principles & Practices; and Hazmat Operations

Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council: Certified Firefighter and First Class Firefighter

Numerous workshops through the Georgia Public Safety Training Center

National Fire Academy: Fire/Arson Detection; Fire Cause Determination for Company Officers; Incident Command for Structural Collapse Incidents; Principles of Building Construction: Combustible; and courses in managing tactical operations, leadership, response to terrorism and incident command systems.

Federal Emergency Management Institute: 18 courses completed in addition to the National Incident Management Series and the Professional Development Series.

Georgia Emergency Management Agency: Incident Command System/Emergency Operations Center Interface; Crash Victim Extrication; Threat and Risk Assessment for Weapons of Mass Destruction; Disaster Response and Recovery Operations; and Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombing Incidents

National Board on Fire Service Professional: Fire Instructor I & II and Hazardous Materials Awareness

International Fire Service Accreditation Congress: Fire Fighter – I & II; Fire Instructor – I & II; and HAZMAT Operations

Emergency Medical: First Responder, 1996; and First Responder with National Registry Certification, 2004 and Re-Certification 2006

Law Enforcement and Homeland Security: Numerous courses

Georgia Forestry Commission: Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior; Firefighter Training; and Introduction to ICS

Work history:

Fire Chief for The City of Toccoa, Georgia, July 2000 to Feb. 12, 2007

Assistant Fire Chief/Operations Toccoa Fire Department April 1999 to July 2000

Driver/Engineer shift supervisor in other fire departments

11 years as a firefighter with the City of Toccoa.

1994 to 1999: part-time tech in the Intensive Care Unit at the Stephens County Hospital

I served as the Georgia Mutual Aid Groups Area 1 Director which covers 24 Counties in Northeast Georgia,, coordinating the efforts of paid, combination and volunteer departments, preparing and responding to regional and statewide emergency requests. Also served on the Georgia Mutual Aid Groups (GMAG) Executive Board as a voting member. GMAG is a coordinating agency in responding multi-jurisdictions and agencies to requests for assistance.

I served on an Ad Hoc committee for the National Association of Rural Community and Development Councils. Our charge was to find information to better address the increased national need for land and water resources protection and reduce fire risk. The focus was to find realistic plans that could fit in municipal budgets in Rural America and plans that are proactive rather than reactive. The research was extensive and the final reports have been released in the form of a 68-page document.

I serve on the Georgia Emergency Management Agencies, Area 1’s All Hazards Council as one of two fire chiefs representing the fire service. The council evaluated the capabilities and needs in all areas of all first responding agencies and helped in determining the areas most in need of federal grants. The objective of this council is to help prepare for regional responses to disasters or terrorist incidents by equipping and training agencies.

The changes that I have made and new programs that I have started have enhanced the abilities of fire department personnel. With an emphasis on safety and improved and required training in rescue, fire suppression, management and supervision … response effectiveness has been shown in containing structure fires to the room of origin. In 1997, 40 percent of calls were confined to the room of origin. By December 1999 this was increased to 64 percent; 89 percent in 2000 and eventually, 95 percent in 2005 and 2006.

I worked on a committee of fire chiefs to set up a realistic procedure for volunteer firefighters to become certified firefighters in the State of Georgia. Before this the criteria for certification would only allow paid firefighters to have that opportunity.

Tenure in current position: 1 year with Oconee County and 9 months as Emergency Services Director.

Contact Info: 864-638-4200; e-mail: rburdette@oconeesc.com

Department Information

Staffing: Emergency Services Chief, Operations Chief, Deputy Director, Deputy Chief, Training Officer, Administrative Assistant, Data Coordinator, Fire Secretary, three fire captains and six full-time firefighters

Budget outlook: To be determined for 2008-2009. The 2007-2008 budget included $434,435 for emergency services operations and $1,138,487 for rural fire. The budget stated that five percent of all county expenditures are within the Emergency Services budget. The county also provides direct aid to municipals for fire protection. These funds are not part of the emergency services budget. County Council transferred $999,768 in the current budget to help cover costs of the emergency services department.

History of Department: Emergency Services was established in June 2007. It combined the Emergency Management Department and the Rural Fire Department.

Statutory Responsibilities of Department: Duties of the department are outlined in a number of county ordinances and state bills. Similarly, a large number of federal, state and local regulations and requirements are mandated. These relate to fire training, equipment and performance, Local Emergency Preparedness, civil defense, disaster relief, Hazard Mitigation, hurricane, nuclear and earthquake planning, Firemen’s Insurance and Inspection regulations and Homeland security. (A complete list may be viewedby clicking here.

Following are the goals and objectives listed as part of the 2008 budget document:

• To develop and maintain emergency plans and procedures to ensure the highest levels of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

• Develop and maintain mutual aid agreements with surrounding counties.

• To manage, maintain and activate the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when necessary.

• To direct the Oconee County Rescue Squad (six divisions), the Special Rescue Team, and the County Dive Team.

• To coordinate the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

• To effectively utilize all resources in the County.

• To minimize the loss of life and or injury to the population and protect and conserve the County resources and facilities.

• To coordinate Homeland Security for the County.

• To coordinate the County Special Needs Task Force.

• To coordinate the County Animal Emergency Response Team (CART).

• Coordinate the Citizen’s Corp Council and the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT).

• Coordinate county sheltering programs.

• Coordinate the County Emergency Response Team (ERT).

Assumed duties/responsibilities: none are assumed.

Recent Accomplishments: Putting into place a support system to assist volunteers of fire, rescue and hazmat in responding to emergencies and assisting with inspections, truck and station checks. Increasing training opportunities for all volunteers so that all laws and standards can be met.

Current goals and objectives: To have an ISO study conducted to determine the need throughout Oconee County. To see what is needed to maintain current ISO ratings and what needs to be done to lower ratings.

To increase training opportunities to all volunteers, making it easier for them to meet laws and standards.

To provide the safest equipment possible to insure the protection of responders while they are responding to the needs of the citizens of Oconee County.