Charlotte-Mecklenburg ALERT:


Development of the
Advanced Local EmergencyResponse Team


By


Capt. Glen Neimeyer,
Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police Department*


With


Steve Bishop,Former Chief, 
Kansas City (MO) Police Department 

January 2004 

*The history and chronology of events that serves as the basis for the discussion of 
ALERT in this report originaly appeared as an article by Capt. Neimeyer in Homeland 
Protection Professional magazine. That material is reproduced herein with permission of 
the editor ofHomeland Protection Professional(www.hppmag.com). 

Police Executive Research Forum
1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 930
Washington,DC 20036
(202) 466-7820
www.policeforum.org



Contents 

I.Introduction 			1 
I.Funding      			2 
I.Organization 			2 
IV.ALERTMemberRoles. 		3 

A.Law Enforcement Agencies 	3 
B.Fire Department		4
C.MedicalAgencies		5 

V.Training and OtherChalenges. 	6 
VI.Conclusion 			8
 
Appendix A: 
Charlotte-Mecklenburg 
Interagency Response 
Protocols for Suspected 
Chemical-Biological Incidents. 	9

 
Appendix B:
The Special Needs of 
Police as First Responders	11 

Appendix C: ALERT Equipment,
Training, and Personnel 
Requirements			14 


I.Introduction 

This report examines how a jurisdiction conceived and institutionalized a 
multidisciplinary approach to terror attacks. The impetus was a bomb incident 
with an added chemical threat. Agencies responded to the incident in a typical 
law enforcement fashion but soon realized that such a one-dimensional approach 
was not effective. 

In 1997,a man named John Bernard Koch entered the Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, 
courthouse carrying a suspicious package. The package set off alarms on the portal 
entry security device. Deputies could not retrieve the package quickly enough,and Mr. 
Koch grabbed it and told them it was a bomb that contained a chemical that could harm 
many people. When local police and FBI agents entered the suspects residence, they 
found a tape of him making the device and discovered information on biological and 
chemical agents. The incident was resolved successfully in about eight hours.
The device was, in fact, a bomb, but no chemicals were found. 

This incident was the wake-up call that made Charlotte-Mecklenburg authorities 
realize theywere not prepared for a major critical threat to their community. The Charlotte-
Mecklenburg community (City of Charlotte and County of Mecklenburg) is one of the  
nations largest financial centers, a national airline hub, and home to two nuclear power 
plants. Local authorities became concerned about their readiness to handle a large-scale 
disaster,particularly one involving chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. Consequently,
in 1998 Dr. Tom Blackwell of the Carolinas Medical Center headed an effort by 
the city and county to develop a metropolitan medical strike team that could deploy rapidly 
and handle mass medical casualties. The new group was named the Advanced Local 
Emergency Response Team (ALERT). 

The ALERT program uses a multidisciplinary team approach involving collaboration 
among emergency responders,including law enforcement agencies, a fire department, 
emergency medical units, public health organizations, the local trauma center,and other 
agencies. Instead of leaving each agency to perform its own planning, training, and 
equipping in isolation, ALERT brings all its member agencies together to work as one 
unit. The team is currently composed of personnel from the following agencies: 

 Carolinas Medical Center 

 Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services (MEDIC) 

 Charlotte Fire Department 

 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department 

 Federal Bureau of Investigation 

 Mecklenburg CountySheriffs Department 


 U.S.Marshals Service 

 Mecklenburg CountyPublic Health Department 

 Medical Examiners Office 

 U.S.Environmental Protection Agency 

I.Funding 

Funding for the startup of the ALERT program came from the Department of Defense. 
The initial development group (consisting of representatives of the FBI, Charolotteoe 
Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte Fire Department, Mecklenburg Emergency 
Medical Services, and Carolinas Medical Center) traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet 
with Senator Lauch Faircloth (R-NC) to seek his assistance in getting funding for the 
project. The senator helped the group obtain a $1 million grant to initiate a pilot program for 
terrorism preparedness. In 2001, Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) helped the Carolinas 
Medical Center obtain a $1.4 million grant from the Health and Human Services Bill to 
further the ALERT program. In addition, Mecklenburg County made a one-time contribution 
of $500,000 toward the establishment of the ALERTteam. 

I.Organization 

ALERTis organized around a team concept that builds on and supports existing emergency
resources that would be called upon to respond to a mass casualty incident.Those 
resources include law enforcement (police, sheriff, FBI,and U.S.Marshals), fire, and 
medical (public health, emergency medical services, and hospital). The system is designed to 
ensure that victims of a terrorist incident are properly cared for and that the 
community infrastructure is safe guarded and its functionality maintained. ALERT functions as 
an interagency cadre of experts who are highly skilled and cross-trained so that 
terrorist incidents may be mitigated quickly and appropriately. Regardless of expertise or 
discipline, all ALERT members are capable of establishing disaster scene zones of operation 
for protection, establishing decontamination corridors for ambulatory and nonambulatory patients,
performing patient decontamination procedures, assisting in patient 
movement, and helping medical personnel with triage and treatment algorithms. ALERT 
currently has more than 100 individual participants. 

What makes ALERT unique is its multidisciplinary approach to preparedness. This team 
approach applies to plan development and implementation, purchase of equipment,enhancement 
of medical infrastructure, training exercises, and continued planning and adjustments as 
developments in the wake of the September 11 attacks warrant. 

ALERTis guided bytwo groups: 


1. The policy group consists of the chiefs or directors of all member organizations. 
This group makes all decisions relating to operations and finances. 
2. The operational group consists of the working-level command staff who actually 
respond to critical incidents in the field.This group also conducts planning and 
develops budgets to submit to the policygroup. 


The incident commander within the ALERT structure is the chief of the Charlotte Fire 
Department. 

IV.ALERT Member Roles 

This section describes the specific roles played by each agency that is a member of the 
ALERT program. The descriptions are grouped by category - that is, law enforcement, 
fire, and medical. 

A. Law Enforcement Agencies 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department 

Members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD)who serve on 
ALERT are divided into three primary elements.The first element includes members of 
the Special Weapons and Tactics Team. Their primary function is to assist in situations 
where there is an identified suspect or suspects at an incident location and a tactical 
resolution is required. The second element of CMPD officers is made up of members from 
the Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Bomb Squad (EOD).This element is deployed when 
there is a report of an explosive device that needs to be rendered safe or when a rescue 
area needs to be cleared of potential secondary explosive devices. Members of this element 
can also assist in post-blast investigations.  The third element from the CMPD 
represents members of the Field Force/Civil Disturbance Unit.These officers are trained 
in the proper procedures for handling a large group of disorderly persons.There is little 
doubt that most large-scale critical incidents will involve the movement and possibly
containment of a large group of citizens. In addition to these specific areas of responsibility, 
all of the CMPD officers in ALERTare cross-trained in the various tasks required at a 
mass casualty/mass decontamination incident.If the situation does not require the expertise 
of a SWAT officer, bomb technician, or crowd control expert,the officer can be 
placed in another role at the incident location. 

Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Department 

Currently,eight deputysheriffs are assigned to the ALERT program. Their primary responsibility 
is evidence collection, preservation, and custody. They are also trained to 
perform such duties as scene security, patient assessment, and mass decontamination. 


Federal Bureau of Investigation 

By federal mandate,the FBI is the lead agency in any incident involving weapons of 
mass destruction (WMDs). FBI agents assist at all scene interactions,are trained in 
decontamination and triage/treatment initiatives, and participate in the incident command 
structure. While the role of the FBI is primarily to coordinate law enforcement efforts,it 
also assists in consequence management efforts, providing a hazardous materials response 
team to help define the nature of the attack. The FBI also provides intelligence to 
both crisis and consequence managers. 

The FBI shares its hazardous materials training with participating agencies and meets local 
training requirements, as well. The FBI team consists of at least five trained personnel for 
response deployment and one team leader for command and control, liaison, 
communication,and advisory purposes. 

The FBI also offers guidance on evidence collection, chain-of-custody issues,submission 
of samples to approved laboratories for examination,and the obtaining of federal process 
for investigative purposes through coordination with the appropriate United States Attorneys Office. 

United States Marshals Service 

Currently, six U.S. marshals are assigned to ALERT. They have been a part of the team 
since June 2002. Marshals are trained to perform scene security, patient assessment, 
mass decontamination, and evidence recovery.The Marshals Service assisted ALERT in 
a unique way by swearing in all law enforcement members of the team as special deputies 
of the U.S. Marshals Service. That designation enables all ALERT team members to 
cross into other states, counties, and cities for ALERT-related duties without concerns 
about jurisdiction. The Charlotte area is home to two nuclear power plants, one of which 
lies in nearby South Carolina. If a large-scale disaster occurred,the deputizaton would 
allow highly trained ALERT team members to respond across state lines. The deputization 
applies during ALERT callouts only. 

B. Fire Department 

In the ALERT program, the Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) coordinates the response of 
hazardous materials technicians. Once they are on the scene, they begin the work of hazardous 
substance detection and identification. Then the hazardous materials officer relays the following 
information: 

 level of personal protective equipment needed 

 decontamination needs 

 numbers of victims 

 need for evacuation 


Forty members of the CFD participate in ALERT,and theyare all hazardous materials 
technicians. Among them are two command staff and a representative of the Office of 
Emergency Management.In ALERT,the CFD is the lead agency in the following matters: 

 training of other ALERTmembers 

 the maintenance equipment 

 rescue of trapped or incapacitated victims 

CFD ALERT members work in unison with the medical component to triage victims for 
treatment before and during decontamination. They also train the rest of their own 
department on WMD issues and their roles in supporting ALERT. CFD ALERT members 
work closely with the Explosive Ordnance Division of CMPD regarding unopened or 
unexploded devices,and the two groups have developed a joint entry team.The CFD is 
now developing its urban search and rescue capabilities so that staff can rescue victims 
from building collapses after WMD attacks. 

C. Medical Agencies 

Mecklenburg County Health Department 

The role of the Mecklenburg County Health Department (MCHD) in ALERT is to communicate 
public health information to ALERTmember agencies and between ALERT 
and the state health department.If the ALERTincident commander requests that the 
MCHD respond to the scene of an incident,the health director or a designee evaluates the 
incident and determines any action necessary for public health.The MCHD also ensures 
smooth, timely information flow between the state health department, the state laboratory 
of public health,responding agencies,and persons exposed or potentially exposed to a 
nuclear, biological, or chemical agent. In addition, the MCHD takes the lead in providing 
health-related information to the media and to the communityat large. 

Carolinas Healthcare System 
The Carolinas HealthCare System is a large network of hospitals, other healthcare 
facilities, and physician offices throughout North and South Carolina. Its flagship 
hospital is the Carolinas Medical Center, which is the onlylevel-1trauma center in the 
region. The Carolinas Medical Center has developed plans to respond to any mass 
casualty incident involving a nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon and to keep 
the trauma center secure and protected. A system of portable showers has been 
developed to decontaminate ambulatory patients on arrival and prior to entry, and 
the emergency department entrance has been retrofitted to keep patients from 
entering before decontamination. Appropriate personal protective and 
communication equipment (Level C protection with Tyvek suits, gloves, boots, and 
power air-purifying respirators)has been procured for physicians, nurses, and 
technicians at the medical center for use as they receive ambulatory and 


CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG ALERT 5 
Nonambulatory patients. All hospital emergency nurses and physicians have been 
trained in the response plan. They have been taught how to prepare the 
infrastructure and how to use the equipment required for personal protection and 
agent detection. 

In the event of a chemical terrorist attack, treatment options depend primarily on the 
agent used. Therapeutic modalities for pulmonary agents, vesicants, nerve agents, 
and cyanide all differ. Additional pharmaceutical resources have been identified by 
personnel at the Carolinas Poison Control Center to assist in identifying antidotes 
for various agents. Algorithms have been developed to assist in quickly locating 
additional anti-dotes, antibiotics, and other resources in the event of a mass 
casualty terrorist attack. These resources maybe mobilized to the field or clinical 
environment, depending on the situation. However, additional stock is required to 
be able to treat up to 1,000patients immediately. It is understood that federal 
resources would be available on request following notification from the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Office of Emergency Management. 

After an attack, the ALERT team would decontaminate as many ambulatory and 
non ambulatory patients as possible before they leave the scene .Still, many 
patients or ex-posed individuals may leave the scene and self-triage to area 
hospitals before being de-contaminated. Therefore, emergency department 
personnel in all local Carolinas hospitals have been introduced to level C personal 
protective equipment and have the capability to perform patient care activities at 
that level. 

Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services 

The Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency(known as MEDIC)provides 
emergency and non-emergency medical services to the citizens of Mecklenburg 
County. The agencys paramedics and emergency medical technicians answer 
more than 70,000 calls for medical help each year. They also conduct frequent 
community education pro-grams on health, safety, injury prevention, and emergency-
related issues. 

MEDIC was created in 1996to improve emergency medical services in the 
community. It is now part of a unique partnership between Mecklenburg County, 
Carolinas Health-care System, and Presbyterian Healthcare/Novant Health. Since 
fiscal year 1997, MEDIC has reduced ambulance response times, experienced 
staggering growth in service requests, and developed even higher clinical 
standards, even as it reduced its dependence on county taxpayer dollars. 
MEDIC is one of fewer than 100ambulance services in the nation to earn 
accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services 
(CAAS)for its compliance with the industrys highest standards for patient care 
and overall operation. 

V. Training and Other Challenges 

The special safety requirements for a first responder arriving at the scene of a 
chemical, biological, or nuclear terror attack are so challenging that it simply is not 
practical to train all law enforcement offices to that level. Early on, ALERT members 
realized that training


was the greatest hurdle to overcome. The ALERT command staff quickly learned 
that most of the cross-trained skills (use of self-contained breathing systems, 
personal protective equipment, hazardous material detection devices, and 
paramedic skills)would be lost quickly without practice. The need to have team 
members maintain proficiency in their own specialties while keeping their cross-
trained skills sharp was of paramount importance. 

In ALERTs early years, training was conducted monthly until each team member 
be-cause proficient in the desired basic cross-trained skills. A representative 
from each ALERT agency facilitated training and focused on mass 
decontamination procedures, medical triage protocols, scene security, evidence 
preservation, and the identification, characteristics, and symptoms of various 
chemical, biological, and nuclear agents. The biggest challenge in the initial 
training exercises was that police, paramedics, and physicians had never worn 
the personal protective suits or breathing apparatus that have to be used in case 
of a bioterrorism event. 

The primary law enforcement functions at a potential or confirmed nuclear, 
biological, or chemical scene are these: 

 assisting with evacuation of citizens in the hazardous area 
 assisting medical response personnel with movement of persons if it is a 
mass-casualty event 
 ensuring containment of the hazardous area and controlling re-entry 
 providing security for subsequent evidence collection 
None of those tasks can be performed unless the responding personnel have at 
least the basic personal protective equipment and some type of self-contained 
breathing apparatus. 

There are three kinds of breathing apparatus, used in different situations (NBC 
filter sys-tem, self-contained system, and forced air system),and only the fire 
department had expertise with all three. The fire departments experience and 
training skills in the use of personal protective equipment and self-contained 
breathing apparatus were an integral part of the cross-training experience. 
Training is conducted with the entire ALERT group on a quarterly basis, and its 
focus is scenario-style exercises that measure the overall deployment logistics of 
the team. Each response agency in the ALERT program conducts regularly 
scheduled training for its members, and then the whole team comes together 
quarterly for a training exercise. The four main ALERT agencies (police, fire, 
medic, and sheriffs office)take turns developing training scenarios for the group 
and then staffing those scenarios. 


Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 7 
VI. Conclusion 

ALERT is organized around a team concept that builds on and supports the existing 
emergency resources that would be called on to respond to any critical incident in 
the community. The system is designed to ensure that victims of a major incident 
are properly cared for and that the community infrastructure is safeguarded and 
maintained. What makes ALERT unique is its multidisciplinary, team-oriented 
approach to handling any major incident that affects the community. 


Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 8 

Appendix A: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Interagency Response 
Protocols for Suspected Chemical-Biological Incidents 

1	Call originates in the CMPD Command Center regarding suspicious letter, 
package, or substance. 
2	The Police Department screens and evaluates the situation by phone. If 
deemed no threat, then there is no response from emergency services and the 
situation ends. If the complainant is still concerned, he or she can simply throw the 
pack-age away. 
3	If there is a possible threat, PD and FD respond. 
4	If letter is sealed and unopened, engine company seals it in triple bags and 
destroys it. 
5	If package is unopened, bomb squad (to rule out explosive)and hazmat team 
respond. If a possible device is suspected, the bomb squad will handle the 
package. If testing reveals no bomb is present, package is turned over to hazmat 
team to resolve. They run chemical and radiological testing. If positive, evidence is 
turned over to FBI. If the investigation on scene by first responders indicates that the 
package is suspicious, the package will be evaluated by FBI[meets investigative 
criteria].FBI sends the package to state lab for further evaluation .FBI will notify the 
department of public health with follow-up results. The department of public health 
will notify the public with the results. If the on-scene testing and investigation 
determines that package is not a threat, the citizen can either keep or FD will 
destroy. Incident commander will communicate with the media if needed to advise 
good intent call, but no problem. 

6	If the package is open with obvious substance observed, hazmat team 
responds, runs chemical and radiological tests, and performs other investigations. If 
negative, they provide FAQ sheet. The citizen will keep package or FD will destroy. 
Incident commander will communicate with the media if needed to advise good 
intent call, but no problem. If positive, hazmat will triple-bag and give to FBI for 
testing at state lab. Incident commander will notify public health department of a 
positive hit (even if no one is exposed).FBI will notify the department of public health 
with follow-up results. Public health department notifies the public of the results. 

	7. If there is a package, envelope, or substance on scene with a complainant 
who is exposed and has symptoms, MEDIC is activated along with the engine 
company, hazmat response, and CMPD.(If symptoms without package or 
substance, standard MEDIC response.)The engine company decontaminates the 
victim and 



Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 9 
	hands off to MEDIC. Hazmat arrives and package will be evaluated. 
Package is triple-bagged and turned over to the FBI. Incident commander notifies 
public health department of a symptomatic patient and suspicious package. CMPD 
notifies FBI. FBI will notify the department of public health with follow-up results. 

2	It there is a package, envelope, or substance on scene with a complainant 
who is exposed and has no symptoms, hazmat responds and run chemical, 
biological, and radiological tests and performs other investigations. If negative, 
hazmat pro-vides FAQ sheet. The citizen will keep package or FD will destroy. 
Incident commander will communicate with the media if needed to advise good 
intent call, but no problem. If positive, hazmat will triple-bag and give to FBI for 
testing at state lab. Incident commander will notify public health department of a 
positive hit and public exposure. FD collects contact information on those exposed. 
If negative, FD provides FAQ sheet. The citizen will keep package or FD will 
destroy. Incident commander will communicate with the media if needed to advise 
good intent call, but no problem. If positive, hazmat will triple-bag and give to FBI for 
testing at state lab. Incident commander will notify public health department of a 
positive hit (even if no one is exposed).FBI will notify the department of public health 
with follow-up results. The department of public health will notify the public with the 
results. 

3	If 10patients or more are contaminated on scene, the incident commander 
re-quests a page of the ALERT command group to consult regarding possible 
activation of ALERT team. ALERT coordinators make decision on activation of 
team. Dispatch center controlling working channel activates the team via the 
dialogic and calls all other member agency communication centers to include 
information on response and staging. 

10.Substances that the FBI will not take for testing at the state lab will be 
transported to Mecklenburg County hospital labs for culture. Test reports will be 
given to the public health department. Environmental sample is logged in with 
hazmat numbers. 


Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 10 
Appendix B: The Special Needs of Police as First Responders
This section presents information from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police 
Department (CMPD)for jurisdictions seeking to develop a program similar to 
ALERT. 

What special safety needs are presented by a response to(1)a call for service 
involving a white powder or (2)a similar chemical/biological incident? 
The needs for police officers in this type of event are primarily educational and 
equipment-related. 

Training. Everything from the incident involving an elderly woman who received a 
sample of laundry soap in the mail on September 18,2001,and thought she had an 
anthrax letter, to a credible threat at a nuclear power plant may generate a call to the 
local 911system.The preliminary response protocol will always involve the dispatch 
of police patrol personnel to the scene. Notably, they are the members of the 
organization who have typically received the least amount of training on a nuclear, 
biological, or chemical (NBC)or weapons of mass destruction (WMD)event. Some 
CMPD employees have received extensive training on the standard operating 
procedures associated with a WMD response: personal protective equipment, air 
monitoring devices, powered air respirators, and self-contained breathing 
apparatus. Even if theyre not actually issued the equipment, they can take it from a 
responding fire department unit, protect themselves, and perform their assigned 
functions. While their capabilities are a huge asset, it is simply not practical to train 
all police officers to that level. 

The remaining group of officers who routinely respond to the original request for 
service receive awareness-level training on domestic preparedness. The training 
program was implemented before the recent terrorist incidents and educates 
officers on the potential types of threats, dissemination devices, chemical and 
biological agent characteristics and symptoms, and initial scene management 
skills. In addition, CMPD periodically sends out notices on specific WMD threats 
(such as anthrax letters)and on the departments current response guidelines to 
such events. 

It is imperative that law enforcement agencies continuously assess their training 
needs and ensure that their officers have the latest knowledge on the potential 
threats they may encounter. When hundreds of anthrax-related calls came in, 
CMPD was fortunate to have already brought together, through the ALERT team, 
representatives from all the lo-cal first responder disciplines. A group was 
immediately brought together to draft the response protocols needed to address 
this new type of threat.(See Appendix A, above.) The information was quickly 
disseminated throughout all levels of CMPD and was shared with all the other law 
enforcement agencies in the jurisdiction. The catalyst for a serious event could 
easily be an untrained patrol officer who inadvertently opens the terrorists 
package and creates a mass casualty incident. At the same time, a properly 


Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 11 
trained police first responder can help to allay some of the communitys concerns 
and focus the agencys attention on incidents that genuinely require its attention. 
Equipment. No police department would require officers to respond to an armed 
robbery without first providing them with the equipment needed to ensure their 
safety and the safety of the public. The primary law enforcement functions at a 
potential or con-firmed NBC/WMD event include assisting with citizen evacuation, 
helping medical response personnel with the movement of persons if it is a mass 
casualty event, ensuring containment of the hazard area and controlling re-entry, 
and providing security for subsequent evidence collection. 

None of these tasks can be performed by an officer who lacks basic personal 
protective equipment (PPE).CMPD has made it a high priority to procure NBC 
respirators for all sworn officers in the department. However, given the agencys 
size, the initial expenditure for that equipment would exceed $250,000.OSHA-
mandated training on the apparatus can normally be performed by fire department 
personnel. Current threat information suggests some risk that terrorists may use 
chemical or biological devices. NBC respirators would at least enable officers to 
perform their duties during the incident management phase of an event. Currently, if 
a suspect package or incident meets the initial screening criteria, police officers are 
dispatched with equipped fire department personnel. 

CMPD wants officers to be educated about the potential threats they may face and 
use their knowledge in conjunction with issued equipment. It would be difficult to 
calm a community during another influx of biological threats if officers wore 
respirators to every call. Law enforcement agencies need to be knowledgeable 
enough about the facts of bio-logical and chemical agents to set the tone for 
citizens, while at the same time having the right equipment if the need arises. 
What complications are presented when such a scene may be both a crime 
scene and a call for fire/EMS backup? 

A multitude of complications maybe present during both the incident management 
phase and the consequence management phase of an event. Generally speaking, 
police and medical response personnel have very different roles during the incident 
management phase. Emergency medical responders are busy with treating injured 
victims. They are not going to be conscious of the evidentiary value of an injured 
persons clothes as they cut them off to provide medical treatment. Likewise, most 
on-scene law enforcement officers are not much use in the triaging and treating of 
victims. As the event shifts to the consequence management phase, medical 
personnel generally withdraw and law enforcement personnel begin to pick through 
the scene to begin a criminal investigation (assuming the event was precipitated by 
a terrorist). 

The same course of events occurs at almost every homicide, assault with a deadly 
weapon, rape, or arson scene. There is an inherent conflict in the primary tasks 
associated with law enforcement and medical response. With that understanding, 
CMPD began the task of educating the various disciplines on each others needs. 
Again, through CMPDs relationship with ALERT, the department facilitated 
instruction on each 


Charlotte ECKLENBURG ALERT 12 
ALERT members job functions. Evidence collection experts from the FBI explained 
what they require at a scene and what can be done to preserve items that may later 
be considered evidence. Fire and emergency medical personnel were given an 
opportunity to examine the various types of physical evidence that law enforcement 
agencies rely on for successful investigations. In turn, the law enforcement 
members of the team were trained in basic triage and treatment functions so they 
could help medical responders during the critical phase of the incident where lives 
are at stake. The classes gave ALERT members a greater understanding of each 
others functions and how those functions inter-face during a critical incident. 


Charlotte -MECKLENBURG ALERT 13 
Appendix C: ALERT Equipment, Training, and Personnel 
Requirements 

This section outlines the resources needed for basic preparedness, as already 
achieved in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and the additional resources 
required for full preparedness. Required resources fall into three categories: 
equipment, training, and personnel. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department 
Equipment, Basic Level of Preparedness 
Bringing the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to a basic level of 
preparedness with regard to equipment has an associated cost of $308,482 and 
includes the following: 

Personal Protective Equipment 

Personal protective gear for the officers involved in a dangerous or potentially 
dangerous nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC)environment is the primary issue 
and encompasses most equipment needs. 

24Level Bpersonal protective suits 
$720 
18Chemical/biological gas masks 
$1,800 
20Nuclear/chemical/biological filters for gas masks 
$2,200 
10Scott powered air purifying respirators 
$6,500 
20Batteries for Scott PAPR units 
$1,800 
24Chemical protective boots 
$432 
4Scott SW AT-PAKself-contained breathing apparatus 
$8,800 

Communications Equipment 
Specific items are required to communicate in an NBC environment that are not 
normally used in day-to-day police operations. 

11Motorola comm-port microphone/receivers with separate PTT switch $3,630 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Equipment 
These items are needed to help CMPD accurately detect and render safe any 
improvised explosive devices used by terrorists. 

1Explosive ordnance disposal equipment truck $250,000 


Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 14 

2 Explosive detection K-9units $15,000 1Protective EOD suit $17,600 

Equipment, Full Level of Preparedness 

The cost for CMPD to reach a full level of preparedness with regard to 
equipment is $1,590,810.This level includes all the equipment deemed 
necessary to reach a basic level of preparedness and additional equipment 
needed to better equip CMPD for response to a mass casualty event. 

Personal Protective Equipment 

At this level, personal protective equipment would be available to all sworn officers 
in the department. Officers without proper personal protective equipment would be 
forced to evacuate with the rest of the community and would thus be unable to assist 
in efforts to manage an NBC event. 

1000Level  B personal protective suits $30,000 

1500Chemical/biological gas masks $150,000 1000Chemical protective 
gloves $9,000 1000Chemical protective boots $18,000 1500Protective 
gas mask carriers $52,500 2000Nuclear/chemical/biological filters for gas 
masks $220,000 42 Scott powered air purifying respirators $27,300 
84Batteries for Scott PAPR units $7,560 1000Fire retardant utility 
uniforms $80,000 25Scott SW AT-PAKself-contained breathing 
apparatus $55,000 

Communications Equipment 

Communications equipment at this level would enhance the communication ability of 
the departments SWAT team when deployed in a respirator device and would 
provide the ability to use radio communication when there is an interruption in the 
normal communication network. 

67Motorola comm-port microphone/receivers/separate PTT switch $22,110 
6Mobile communication repeaters $48,000 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Equipment 

The following items are needed to increase a teams ability to detect and render 
safe improvised explosive devices used by terrorists. 
1Emergency critical incident response truck $220,000 


Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 15 
1Equipment truck 
$51,000 
1Explosive ordnance disposal equipment truck 
$250,000 
2 Explosive detection K-9units 
$15,000 
2 Protective EOD suit 
$35,200 
8Night-vision binoculars w/IR illuminator 
$22,680 
2 6500watt portable generators 
$5,000 
61000-watt portable lights 
$2,760 
10Tactical MEDIC packs 
$1,200 
1Real-time X-ray unit for explosive ordnance disposal 
$22,000 
1Total containment vessel for EOD 
$180,000 
1Telescopic manipulator for EOD 
$8,000 
1Hook and rigging set for EOD 
$8,500 
1External helicopter rescue hoist 
$50,000 

Training, Basic Level of Preparedness 
The cost to train CMPD members of ALERT to participate in a terrorism response 
pro-gram at a basic level is $3,000and includes the following courses: 

Domestic Preparedness Training Responder Awareness Course 
Taught by the U.S. Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command to all sworn 
personnel for four hours $0 
Domestic Preparedness Training Responder Operations Course 
Taught by the U.S. Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command to CMPD 
command staff for four hours $0 
Weapons of Mass Destruction: Incident Management / Unified Command 
Taught by Texas A&M University System/ U.S. Department of Justice to selected 
department personnel for 32 hours $0 
National Incident Command System,(ICS)modules1-12 
Taught by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group/Charlotte Fire Department to 
select department personnel for 32 hours $3,000 
Tactical Considerations to Terrorism 
Taught by the Charlotte Fire Departmett/ Mecklenburg County EM/CPCC to CMPD 
ALERT members for 16hours $0 


Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 16 
Training, Full Level of Preparedness 
At this level, training would consist of what is required at the basic level of 
preparedness, plus courses in mass casualty decontamination procedures, basic 
medical triage techniques ,and use of personal protective equipment. 
M as casualty decontamination procedures and basic medical triage techniques 
Taught by CMPD ALERT instructors to all sworn personnel for eight hours for the 
cost of printing and expendables $2,000 

Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) 

Level B with respirators and practical exercises, taught by CMPD ALERT 
instructors to all sworn personnel for eight hours $47,000 
Personnel, Basic Level of Preparedness 

The total cost of personnel for a basic level of preparedness is $1,141,674.These 
positions are not assigned full-time to ALERT. All team members have other 
positions within the organization. It is difficult to determine what percentage of time 
is spent working on ALERT-related functions. An average of 
approximately20percent per week would be an appropriate figure. Some positions 
require a much greater involvement in ALERT activities, while others require only 
attendance at monthly training sessions and maintenance of issued equipment. 

1Major at an average salary 
$83,304 
6Sergeants at an average salary 
$380,172 
17Officers at an average salary 
$678,198 

Personnel, Full Level of Preparedness 

From a law enforcement operations perspective, we did not identify any positions 
that would be required to enhance our level of preparedness. From a training 
perspective, there would be additional time dedicated to the heightened level of 
preparedness. The overtime due to training has been estimated at $100,000per 
year. 

Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Department 

Currently, five deputy sheriffs are assigned to ALERT, and in January2002 three 
additional deputies will be added to the team. Because of the unique makeup of 
ALERT, deputies who are part of ALERT are trained to perform a variety of duties, 
including scene security, patient assessment, mass decontamination, and evidence 
recovery. The following equipment is required to perform these duties in relative 
safety. 


Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 17 

Equipment ,Basic Level of Preparedness 

Bringing five deputies to a basic level of preparedness with regard to equipment 
has an associated cost of $150,600. 
5Protective masks 
$1,600 
5Replacement filters 
$200 
5Carrying bag 
=$150 
5Protective gloves 
$325 
10Utilityuniform sets 
$600 
5Response vehicles 
$115,000 
5Police radio packages 
$26,000 
5Light packages strobes wig wags 
$6,725 

Equipment, Full Level of Preparedness 

This additional equipment would support an additional three sheriffs deputies. This 
level includes enough protective clothing for officers to have three changes of 
clothing in case of contamination. 

8Self contained breathing apparatus $6,224 
8Level B protective suits $720 
24Level A fully encapsulated suits $12,000 
24Cover boots $432 
8Power respirator w/battery $5,184 

Training, Basic Level of Preparedness 

All ALERT personnel receive training in mass decontamination of victims of a WMD 
event. This training would include instruction and practice in setting up 
decontamination shelters, water lines, heating elements, and patient assessment. 
Training is conducted one day a month for eight hours. The average hourly rate for 
deputies currently assigned to ALERT in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area is $22 per 
hour and $33per hour for those deputies who are training on their dayoff. The 
resulting cost for training five deputies at a basic level is $15,840per year, 
calculated at the $33per hour rate. 

Training, Full Level of Preparedness 

The cost of training the additional three deputies at the same rate is $25,344 per 
year. 


CHARLOTTE-M ECKLENBURG ALERT 18 

Personnel, Basic Level of Preparedness 

Deputies assigned to ALERT are charged with evidence recovery and retention and 
scene security. They share these responsibilities with the other law enforcement 
teams represented in ALERT. Two full-time deputies are assigned to ALERT for the 
purpose of fulfilling these functions. The salary for one ALERT deputy in Charlotte-
Mecklenburg is $33,200per year. Thus, the total cost for a basic personnel level is 
$66,400per year. 

Personnel, Full Level of Preparedness 

An additional deputy, to reach a full level of preparedness, would add more 
personnel to train in conducting evidence recovery and retention and effecting 
scene security. 

Charlotte Fire Department 

Equipment, Basic Level of Preparedness 

To bring the Charlotte Fire Department up to a basic level of preparedness has cost 
$506,350over the past several years. The types of equipment and specific costs 
are listed below. 

Chemical Protective Suits, Chemical Resistive Gloves, Chemical Resistive 
Boots 

These items provide protection form vapor and liquid exposure to hazardous 
substances. 

200Level B protection $5,000 

25Level A protection $25,000 

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, Powered Air Purifying Respirators, and 
Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Filters 

These items protect the responder from inhalation exposure to hazardous 
substances. 

48Self-contained breathing apparatus 
$120,000 
48Powered air purifying respirator 
$31,200 
200Nuclear,biological,and chemical filter 
$6,000 

Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Agent Monitors 
These devices help staff quickly identify the presence of an agent at the scene of an 
event. 

2 Chemical agent detectors (CAM) $36,000 4Four gas air monitors $10,000 
30Biological SMART tickets $1,500 10Chemical detection tape (M8-M9) $250 


CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG ALERT 19 

Decontamination Systems 

These systems provide shelter for stripping and decontaminating persons exposed 
to a chemical agent. 
8Inflatable tent and equipment 
$112,000 
4W ater heater 
$68,000 
4Roller system for non-ambulatory 
$8,400 
40Litter and stretcher 
$12,000 
5000Clothing for victim 
$15,000 

Basic Communications Systems 
These provide radio communications solely to key positions in the response. 
14Portable radios $56,000 

Equipment, Full Level of Preparedness 

To achieve a full level of preparedness would cost $1,385,200.The types of 
equipment would include all the above equipment on a larger scale to accompany 
large numbers of victims. This will also allow for more ALERT members to be 
engaged in rescue, decontamination, and treatment of victims. Necessary 
equipment would include additional chemical suits, SCBA, and air bottles for longer 
durations of work. This level of preparedness will consist of the equipment and 
training to conduct building collapse rescue safely and efficiently. This level will also 
provide continuous communication capability for all fire department personnel 
operating at the scene. Also needed is information technology to support the 
Charlotte Fire Department ALERT members in identifying important information on 
critical targets in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. This information would then be 
placed into a system that would be accessible to ALERT members on the scene of 
an incident. 

Building Collapse Rescue Capabilities 
Additional decontamination systems $163,000 
Additional SCBA, PAPRs, and Bottles $64,800 
Additional chemical protective suits, boots, and gloves $109,400 
Additional chemical agent detectors $80,000 
Maintenance and calibration of all monitors $50,000 
Enhanced Communications Systems 
This would allow every person to have a radio and also allow the use of mobile 
repeater system to enhance radio capabilities. The new systems would also allow 
the use of computers to provide critical building information. 


CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG ALERT 20 
100Portable radio 
$400,000 
6Mobile repeater systems 
$48,000 
4Laptop GIS mobile web computers 
$20,000 

Training, Basic Level of Preparedness 

The need for training at the basic level is in the areas of personal protective 
equipment, WMD agent recognition and identification, mass decontamination, 
technical decontamination, and triage and treatment of WMD exposure. This 
training must be conducted with all personnel. For the hazardous materials team, 
nuclear, biological, and chemical monitoring techniques must be delivered on a 
regular basis to maintain proficiency. The total cost for annual training for basic 
preparedness is $50,000. 

400Protective clothing $20,000 
200Nuclear,biological,and chemical filters $5,000 
Chemical agent monitor maintenance $10,000 
SCBA and respirator maintenance $5,000 
Repairs to heaters, tents, and equipment $5,000 
Printing of training materials; training props $5,000 
Training, Full Level of Preparedness 
Achieving a full level of preparedness will cost $135,000annually.Training will 
include all the basic-level courses. In addition, ALERT members will be trained and 
equipped to respond to any type of man-made or natural disaster, including terrorist 
acts and the re-lease of WMDs. This level will include building collapse rescue 
training, otherwise known as urban search and rescue, such as that needed after 
the Oklahoma City and W TC attacks. 
Development of a Urban Search & Rescue Facility $50,000 
Props: 
Expendables for USAR training for one year: wood, concrete, steel, and supplies 
$30,000 
Tool Maintenance and Repair $30,000 
Instructor Payments and Costs $20,000 
Printed Training Material $5,000 


CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG ALERT 21 

Personnel, Basic Level of Preparedness 

The cost to train Charlotte Fire Department ALERT members consists of overtime 
salaries to ensure that normal staffing of emergency response companies is not 
compromised. The total annual cost is $299,880. 

Personnel, Full Level of Preparedness 

There is a need for full-time personnel to manage the ALERT functions of the 
Charlotte Fire Department. This would include a battalion chief to oversee and 
coordinate the interaction and coordination of the Charlotte Fire Department with 
the ALERT agencies. This position would also be responsible for equipment 
purchasing and protocols for the operations of the ALERT. This position would 
develop an information technology system to identify important information on 
critical targets in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. This information would then be 
placed into a system that would accessible to ALERT members on the scene of an 
incident. Also, there is a need for an anti-terrorism specialist captain. This position 
would oversee the hazardous materials response team and the requirements of 
maintaining the WMD equipment. This position would develop and deliver the 
monthly training of ALERT. Cost is an additional $288,440per year. 

ALERTM embers Overtime Costs per year 
$149,940 
ALERT Battalion Chief Costs per year 
$75,000 
Anti-Terrorism Specialist Captain per year 
$63,500 

Mecklenburg County Health Department 
Equipment, Basic Level of Preparedness 
Basic level of preparedness includes desktop/laptop computers with printers for 
personnel at this level. Cost is estimated at $42,000. 

Equipment, Full Level of Preparedness 

Full preparedness will require desktop/laptop computers with printers for personnel 
at this level, along with backup independent telephone communication as part of the 
ALERT network, as well as remote Internet access. Estimated cost for this level of 
preparedness is approximately$80,000. 

Training, Basic Level of Preparedness 

The HMCHD has already begun training personnel through on-site seminars and 
satellite teleconferences. The training is needed to bring staff to a basic level of 
competency regarding communicable diseases and to maintain that level of 
expertise. Training at this level is estimated at $10,000. 


CHARLOTTE- MECKLENBURG ALERT 22 

Training, Full level of Preparedness 

To provide for the training needs of personnel at the full level of 
preparedness,$22,000 will be required. 

Personnel, Basic Level of Preparedness 

To bring the MCHD to a basic level of preparedness has cost $646,621over the 
past several years. The department secured a surveillance director, two 
communicable disease nurses, a database manager, an applications specialist, a 
multicultural/multilingual coordinator, and a medical laboratory technician. 

Personnel, Full Level of Preparedness 

Full preparedness will require an additional four communicable disease nurses, one 
epidemiologist, and contract funding for 24/7physician backup. Estimated 
additional cost will be approximately $278,110. 

Carolinas Healthcare System 

Equipment, Basic Level of Protection 

Bringing Carolinas HealthCare System to a basic level of preparedness with regard 
to equipment has an associated cost of $225,545. 

Personal Protective Equipment 
15Level B protective suits 
$375 
15Pairs of protective boots 
$180 
15Pairs of protective gloves 
$975 
15Powered air purifying respirators 
$9,750 
30Nuclear,biological,and chemical canisters 
$900 

Detection Equipment 
2 SAW Minicad mkICAD (Safeco) $12,000 2 APD2000(Safeco) $14,400 2 APD 
CAM training kit (Safeco) $700 
Architecture and Building Infrastructure 
1Soffet and canvas tarp $130,000 
Patient Decontamination 
6Portable showers $39,000 


CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG ALERT 23 
6Propane space heaters and supplies $600 
500Assortment-Tyvek scrub suits $1,250 
Communications Equipment 12 Portable radios $9,600 15Spare radio batteries 
$1,275 12 Radio holsters/carrying straps $1,140 12 Headsets $2,400 2 Battery 
chargers $1,000 

Equipment, Full Level of Preparedness 

The cost for Carolinas HealthCare System to reach a full level of preparedness with 
regard to equipment is $394,510.This level includes all the equipment deemed 
necessary to reach a basic level of preparedness and additional equipment needed 
to better equip the hospital and its staff for response to a mass casualty event. 
Personal Protective Equipment 30Level B protection suits $750 30Pairs of 
protective boots $360 30Pairs of protective gloves $1,950 30Powered air 
purifying respirators $19,500 60Nuclear,biological,and chemical canisters 
$1,800 
Detection Equipment 4SAW Minicad mkICAD (Safeco) $4,000 
4APD2000(Safeco) $28,800 4APD CAM training kit (Safeco) $1,400 
Architecture and Building Infrastructure 
1Soffet and canvas tarp $130,000 
Patient Decontamination System 6Portable showers $39,000 6Propane space 
heaters and supplies $600 1500Assortment-Tyvek scrub suits $3,750 
Additional Monitoring and Patient Care Equipment 
4Hospital mobile vital sign stations $5,000 


CHARLOTTe-MECKLENBURG ALERT 24 

2 Portable cardiac monitoring equipment 
$24,000 
5Propac transport monitors 
$40,000 
3Hospital decontamination stretchers 
$18,000 
2 Inflatable shelters 
$30,000 

Communications 

20Portable radios $16,000 
25Spare radio batteries $1,700 
20Radio holsters/carrying straps $1,900 
20Headsets $4,000 
4Batterychargers $2,000 

Training, Basic Level of Preparedness 

To understand and test the complexities of responding to a nuclear, biological, or 
chemical incident, hospital emergency department personnel (technicians, nurses, 
and physicians)should receive 16to 24hours each year of continuing education. Of 
those hours,8 would involve didactic classroom coursework and 8-16hours would 
be dedicated to drills and exercises. A basic level of preparedness would include a 
smaller segment of employees and all physicians; a full level of preparedness would 
include all employees. Regardless of level, however, all physicians should be 
trained due to the leadership role that is required with such events. 
The cost to train hospital emergency department personnel and other key hospital 
employees to participate in a terrorist/mass casualty response at a basic level has 
a cost of $103,800. 

20Technicians for 320hours at $15/hr $4,800 
45Nurses for 720hours at $30/hr $21,600 
22 Physicians for 840hours at $1,000/day $66,000 
Training, Full Level of Preparedness 
The cost to train hospital emergency department personnel and other key hospital 
employees to reach a full level of preparedness is $143,400.This includes the basic 
level of preparedness. 
35Technicians for 840hours at $15/hr. $12,600 
90Nurses for 2160hours at $30/hr. $64,800 
22 Physicians for 840hours at $1000/day $66,000 


Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 25 

Personnel, Basic Level of Preparedness 

A program manager/medical director for the Metropolitan Medical Response 
System and ALERT program is a faculty member in the Department of Emergency 
Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center. To perform administrative duties and 
provide quality oversight, dedicated time away from alternative administrative and 
clinical duties will be required. A basic level of preparedness would simply be to 
secure this time. A full level would include an administrative support component to 
provide the non-clinical daily oversight for program administration and additional 
personnel required at the health department. These personnel would assist in the 
active community surveillance program. 

The total cost of personnel for a basic level of preparedness is $150,000and 
consists of the salary for the medical director. 
Personnel, Full Level of Preparedness 
1Medical director 
$150,000 
1Disaster preparedness administrator 
$200,000 
Infection Control Personnel 
$150,000 
Lab Personnel 
$91,400 
Office Space/Equipment 
$130,000 



Charlotte-MECKLENBURG ALERT 26