Kaufman County OEM's Digital Transformation with D4H

About Kaufman County Office of Emergency Management

Kaufman County is a dynamic region of Texas currently experiencing rapid growth, earning its recognition as one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. This growth presents unique challenges as the predominantly rural landscape contends with increasing urbanization and the associated demands on infrastructure and emergency services. The county faces a variety of natural hazards, including significant windstorms, flooding, and the persistent threat of wildfires during both the winter and summer months. While thankfully dodging frequent tornadoes, Kaufman County remains prepared for a wide range of potential incidents; their "tsunami-ready" certification, despite their landlocked location, is a testament to their comprehensive approach to preparedness.

Steve Howie is the Emergency Management Coordinator for Kaufman County, Texas. Steve has an extensive public safety background, spanning decades in law enforcement, the fire service, and even a stint in the military, before finding his passion in emergency management. His enthusiasm for his current role in Kaufman County was immediately apparent, highlighting his commitment to serving his community.

Overseeing the Kaufman County Office of Emergency Management, Steve leads a small but dedicated team. Despite their size, they manage a fully operational Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and tackle a broad spectrum of responsibilities, even serving as the primary subject matter experts for hazardous materials incidents due to the county's lack of a dedicated hazmat team. This highlights the resourcefulness and adaptability required in emergency management, particularly in a growing and geographically diverse county like Kaufman.

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Kaufman County and D4H

D4H's emergency management software has proven to be an invaluable asset for Steve and his team in Kaufman County, marking a significant leap forward from their previous methods. Before adopting D4H, their approach relied on a cumbersome paper-based system. While an initial attempt to digitize their records involved the time-consuming process of scanning documents to a shared drive using an office printer, this method quickly revealed its inherent limitations. A subsequent exploration of Microsoft Teams showed initial promise, with a creative part-time staff member developing some innovative workarounds. However, restricted access imposed by the county IT department ultimately limited its functionality, resulting in a system that was only partially effective and ultimately frustrating.

"I could not be happier than I am with D4H."

— Steve Howie, Director & Emergency Management Coordinator

The implementation of D4H has brought about a transformative change in Kaufman County's emergency management operations. Steve and his team particularly appreciate the robust Incident Management Control Center features, which have streamlined their response capabilities. Notably, the D4H Equipment Management module has revolutionized their annual audit process. What once consumed the better part of a day now takes a mere hour, a testament to the detailed and readily accessible information the software provides. This efficiency gain underscores the tangible benefits and significant impact D4H has had on optimizing Kaufman County's emergency management workflow.

"I firmly believe that D4H is the best software out there."

— Steve Howie, Director & Emergency Management Coordinator

D4H Customer Support

Steve expressed his profound satisfaction with the assistance provided by D4H's support.

"D4H has some of the best customer support I have ever received."

— Steve Howie, Director & Emergency Management Coordinator

He recounted instances where the D4H team, readily offered their expertise to navigate the software, often resolving complex issues swiftly. This level of support has been instrumental in Kaufman County's ongoing learning and expanding utilization of the D4H platform. Even during an active windstorm shortly after onboarding, the team felt empowered to utilize the software's logging features, highlighting the intuitive nature of the system and the confidence instilled by the readily available support. This positive feedback underscores D4H's commitment to providing considerate and effective assistance, ensuring a smooth and successful user experience.

D4H Incident Management

Prior to using D4H, Kaufman County managed their incidents using pen and paper. Following their adoption of D4H Incident Management, they now utilize Status Boards, creating some from scratch and leveraging D4H extension packs. With approximately 100 Status Boards, this system allows the team to track critical information such as available hospitals in the area, monitor local EMS providers, and manage mass casualty incidents.

"D4H Incident Management is just incredible"

— Steve Howie, Director & Emergency Management Coordinator

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Due to a recent increase in flooding-related incidents, D4H Incident Management's daily logs and boards allow the team to efficiently manage both the surge in incidents and their regular daily operations.

D4H Equipment Management

Kaufman County's experience with D4H Equipment Management has allowed the team to streamline their asset tracking and accountability. Steve highlighted the system's ability to automatically assign unique numbers to equipment upon entry, which they then easily override with their own county asset tag numbers for seamless integration with existing systems. A particularly impactful application has been the management of the county's approximately 30 Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) located in various facilities. Using the D4H mobile interface, Steve's team can efficiently conduct quarterly inspections, verifying asset tags against the system records and marking inspections as complete directly from their phones – a significant improvement over previous methods.

Beyond AEDs, Kaufman County utilizes the Equipment Management module to track personal radiation detectors, ensuring accountability and facilitating the identification of any discrepancies. Furthermore, they manage their vehicle fleet, aligning checks with annual inspections, and maintain detailed inventories for their response trailers, including an Emergency Operations Center support unit and a Public Works emergency response team trailer. The system's flexibility allows them to set inspection schedules based on specific equipment needs, ranging from weekly generator checks to annual trailer inventories. This proactive approach, facilitated by D4H's automated reminders, ensures that critical equipment is consistently monitored and maintained, contributing significantly to Kaufman County's overall preparedness.

D4H Personnel & Training

Kaufman County leverages the D4H Personnel & Training module to meticulously track a wide range of staff qualifications. Beyond standard certifications, the team, documents advanced degrees, such as PhDs and master's, held by personnel within their department and the wider county. They also comprehensively record all National Incident Management System (NIMS) qualifications. This detailed approach ensures a complete and readily accessible record of each team member's expertise and credentials, supporting efficient personnel management and deployment.

D4H Alerting

Kaufman County has recently begun using D4H Alerting, which was added upon their subscription renewal. They've successfully used it to send out informational notices. Steve noted some pushback regarding the "critical alert" feature, which bypasses silenced phones. He emphasizes that this is by design, intended for situations where immediate attention is crucial for emergency response.

The adoption of D4H's emergency management software has been transformative for Kaufman County. By moving away from paper-based systems and overcoming the limitations of partially functional digital solutions, D4H has provided a centralized, efficient, and user-friendly platform. This has streamlined key processes, from incident management and equipment tracking to personnel training and alerting. Steve Howie's positive feedback highlights D4H's impact on improving operational efficiency, enhancing accountability, and providing exceptional customer support. Through this partnership, Kaufman County is well-equipped to meet the challenges of its growing population and ensure the safety and well-being of its community.

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