What should the TERT Team Leader discuss with the receiving agency's point of contact?

In a scenario where the TERT (Technical Emergency Response Team) Team Leader is communicating with the receiving agency's point of contact, discussing available resources for the team is crucial. This conversation helps establish what tools, personnel, and support the TERT can bring to the situation at hand.

Knowing the available resources ensures clarity about the capabilities of the team and aligns expectations between the TERT and the agency. This can include discussing technology, equipment, and manpower that the TERT has at its disposal, which can significantly impact how efficiently they respond to emergencies.

The other topics, such as team hobbies and interests, past deployments, and team member names and backgrounds, while they can build rapport, are not immediately relevant to operational efficiency and might not be useful for the mission at hand. Discussing available resources is strategically important as it directly influences the team’s ability to support the receiving agency effectively.