DISASTER PLANNING: Do it Before Disaster Strikes Community Issues Satellite Workshops Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.

DISASTER PLANNING: DISASTER PLANNING: Do it Before Disaster StrikesDo it Before Disaster StrikesDISASTER PLANNING: DISASTER PLANNING:

Do it Before Disaster StrikesDo it Before Disaster Strikes

Community Issues Satellite

Workshops

Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

Surviving the DisasterSurviving the Disaster

Time periods24 hours for local disaster

48 hours for regional disaster

72 hours for statewidecatastrophic disaster

Surviving the DisasterSurviving the Disaster

Challenge for local elected officialsDisaster represents a non-traditional

situationPlan must result from collective efforts

of many Consensus document

What is a Disaster What is a Disaster Plan?Plan?

Comprehensive plan is basis for disaster operations

Provides positive step to resolve problem and manage crisis

Without plan - public’s perception is negative

What is a Disaster What is a Disaster Plan?Plan?

What is a Disaster What is a Disaster Plan?Plan?

With leadership - public’s perception is positive

Especially when supported with pre-planning

Overview of Disaster Overview of Disaster PlanPlan

Written documentRoadmap for who does whatEstablishes interrelationshipsEstablishes disaster “Chain-of-

Command”

Organizational Organizational InterrelationshipsInterrelationships

Emergency operations plan developed by implementing organizations

Must reflect reality of emergency operational procedures of participating organizations

A plan developed “In a vacuum” without implementing organizations is no plan

Intergovernmental Intergovernmental RelationshipRelationship

Disasters are local responsibilities Handled first at the local level

Local governments must be in position that “effective & timely” disaster response & recovery operations are impossible without outside assistance

State and Federal designations

FacilitiesFacilities

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)Incident Command System (ICS)

Most public safety officials are accustomed to the ICS environment without the EOC

ICS/EOC interface

Mechanism by which disasters are managed

Planning ProcessPlanning Process

Assumptions:Plans based on maximum credible event

Plans consider every possible resource (publicly or privately-held)

Process begins with a “committee of responders”

Planning ProcessPlanning Process

Hazards analysisRisk assessmentResource identificationCapability assessment

Planning ProcessPlanning Process

Hazards analysis: first step in the processDistinguish EVENT from its CONSEQUENCES–Event identification: the “trigger” mechanism to

consequences

Planning ProcessPlanning Process

Event analysis How probable is the hazard?

Consequence analysis How great is the impact on public health and safety?

Planning ProcessPlanning Process

Risk AssessmentCombination of – Hazard event identification– Consequences analysis– Probability analysis

Planning ProcessPlanning ProcessRisk Assessment examples:

Low probability & High consequence–Nuclear/Biological terrorism

High probability & Medium consequence–Flood in unprotected floodplain

High probability & Low consequence–Flood in protected floodplain

Planning ProcessPlanning ProcessResource identification

Exhaustive

Includes privately-held resourceCompiled resource directory

Revised annually

Distributed to EOC participants for reference during EOC activation

Planning ProcessPlanning ProcessLinked to identified consequencesResources are identified & committed

through EOC - not the ICSICS relies on EOC for the resource

Whatever you HAVE as a capability can serve you today

Whatever you LACK as a capability must be developed

Planning ProcessPlanning Process

Capability assessmentA measure of the Emergency Management Organization’s disaster readiness–Capability to respond to events identified in

the hazards analysis– Identifies capability shortfalls

Developing an Developing an Emergency Emergency

Management Management OrganizationOrganization“Capability enhancement”:

developing the human and material resourcesCommunications

EOC radio communications

Amateur radio operatorsVolunteer resources

Recruit volunteers …train them ...then use them!

Developing an Developing an Emergency Emergency

Management Management OrganizationOrganizationResource Management

Facilities/Supplies/Equipment/ Personnel

Respect the limitations of resources:–Be prepared to prioritize them!

Planning Planning Elements/StandardsElements/Standards

Human resources must be managed in a disaster

Assumption: No one is expected to perform a task for which they are unprepared or unfamiliar

Planning Planning Elements/StandardsElements/Standards

Federal standardsSLG101: Prescribes guidance for State and Local Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs)

NRT1/NRT1-a: Prescribes requirements for Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) for hazardous materials emergency plans under Title III of SARA

Planning Planning Elements/StandardsElements/Standards

State standards: IEMA proposed 101 standards for comprehensive local EOPs

Administrative Rule

All plans reviewed and approved by IEMA Regional Coordinator

Planning Planning Elements/StandardsElements/Standards

Local decisionsImplementing state and federal standards–Separate regulations for hazardous materials -

but planning is done in same manner as for any other hazard

Organization of an Organization of an Emergency Operations PlanEmergency Operations Plan

Basic SectionPolicy

Organizational interrelationships

General organizational responsibilities

Organization of an Organization of an Emergency Operations Emergency Operations

PlanPlanFunctional Annexes

More detailed responsibility listings for operating agencies

Grouped by functional area

Includes “before, during andafter” checklists

Logan County Logan County ExperienceExperience

Established a unified standard for an LEPC/EM Emergency Operations Plan

Combines elements of –County Emergency Operations Plan–Federally required Local Emergency Planning

Committee (LEPC) hazardous materials plan

Logan County Logan County ExperienceExperience

Developed in cooperation with the IEMA Regional Coordinator

Subcommittees for police, fire, EMS & other functional groups for review and concurrence prior to county approval

Planning assistance available by contacting your Regional Coordinator

ExercisingExercising

Best way to test a plan before a disasterTraining available: Exercise Design

course to assist Emergency Management in developing a scenario and role-playing

Exercise TypesExercise TypesEOC Tabletop

Policy and strategic operations Field Exercise

ICS and tactical operationsFull scale exercise

Integration of policy & strategic operations at the EOC with the ICS & tactical operations in the field

Bringing it all togetherBringing it all together

Emergencies test a Government’s leadership & management skills unlike anything else

Disasters are painful reminders of rapid response required from federal, state, & local governments

Bringing it all togetherBringing it all together

Unless a comprehensive planning effort has been undertaken, Government officials must become instant experts in emergency management when they are affected by disasters.

Bringing It All TogetherBringing It All TogetherStrategies for implementing

comprehensive emergency management“I can do that!”

Failing to plan is planning for failureA good, comprehensive plan provides:

Direction Control Understanding