PROMULGATION STATEMENT
Charles R Bujan
Emergency Operation Director
Port Aransas, Nueces County, TX
PORT ARANSAS, NUECES COUNTY, TX EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
PROMULGATION
The primary role of government is to provide for the welfare of its citizens. The welfare and safety of citizens is never more threatened than during disasters. The goal of emergency management is to ensure that mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery actions exist so that public welfare and safety is preserved.
The Port Aransas, Nueces County, TX Emergency Operations Plan provides a comprehensive framework for Nueces County-wide emergency management. It addresses the roles and responsibilities of government organizations and provides a link to local, State, Federal, and private organizations and resources that may be activated to address disasters and emergencies in Nueces County.
The Nueces County Emergency Operations Plan ensures consistency with current policy guidance and describes the interrelationship with other levels of government. The plan will continue to evolve, responding to lessons learned from actual disaster and emergency experiences, ongoing planning efforts, training and exercise activities, and Federal guidance.
Therefore, in recognition of the emergency management responsibilities of Nueces County government and with the authority vested in me as the Chief Executive Officer of Nueces County, I hereby promulgate the Nueces County Emergency Operations Plan.
Charles R Bujan
Mayor, Port Aransas, Nueces County, TX
SIGNATURE PAGE
Gregg Abott, Governor Charles R Bujan, Mayor
Texas Governor Nueces County
Melissa B, Munguia, Nathan Kelley, Fire Chief
Emergency Management Coordinator Port Aransas
Nueces County
Scott A. Burroughs, Police Chief Tim McIntosh, Director/EMT-Paramdic
Port Aransas Port Aransas
APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION
This plan supersedes the Nueces County Emergency Operation Plan dated October 15, 2016.
The transfer of management authority for actions during an incident is done through the execution of a written delegation of authority from an agency to the incident commander. This procedure facilitates the transition between incident management levels. The delegation of authority is a part of the briefing package provided to an incoming incident management team. It should contain both the delegation of authority and specific limitations to that authority.
The Nueces County Emergency Operations Plan delegates the Mayor’s authority to specific individuals in the event that he or she is unavailable. The chain of succession in a major emergency or disaster is as follow:
Emergency Management Manager
Fire Chief
Police Chief
RECORD OF CHANGES
Change # Date Part Affected Date Posted Who Posted
RECORD OF DISTRIBUTION
Plan # Office/Department Representative Signature
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE____________________________________________________________1
PROMULGATION STATEMENT_____________________________________________2
SIGNATURE PAGE_______________________________________________________3
APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION________________________________________4
RECORD OF CHANGES___________________________________________________5
RECORD OF DISTRIBUTION_______________________________________________6
PURPOSE, SCOPE, SITUATION OVERVIEW, ASSUMPTIONS______________________8
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS_______________________________________________11
ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES______________________16
DIRECTION, CONTROL, AND COORDINATION________________________________23
INFORMATION COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND DISSEMINATION__________________1
COMMUNICATIONS____________________________________________________1
ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, AND LOGISTICS_______________________________1
PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE_________________________________1
AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES__________________________________________1
I. Purpose, Scope, Situation, and Assumptions
A. Purpose
It is the purpose of this Plan to define the actions and roles necessary to provide a coordinated response within Port Aransas, TX. This plan provides guidance to agencies within Nueces County with a general concept of potential emergency assignments before, during, and following emergency situations. It also provides for the systematic integration of emergency resources when activated and does not replace county or local emergency operations plans or procedures.
B. Scope
This plan applies to all participating departments and agencies of the jurisdictions contained within the geographical boundary of Nueces County, TX.
C. Situation Overview
- Characteristics
a. Location
i. Port Aransas, TX includes Mustang Island.
b. Geographic
i. Port Aransas, TX is ranked 400th in the state of Texas and is a resort and fishing community on Mustang Island twenty-four miles northeast of Corpus Christi in extreme northeastern Nueces County. Port Aransas is one of the biggest barrier islands along the Texas coast. Corpus Christi bay, the Gulf of Mexico, the Lydia Ann Ship Channel and the Corpus Christi Ship Channel make p the surrounding waters. A map illustrating the areas covered by the plan is shown as follows.
c. Demographic
i. Port Aransas has a population of 4,143 residents as of December 1, 2017. Summer population in Port Aransas exceeds estimating 20,000 due to large number vacation goers during the summer months and spring break. The jurisdiction is also a popular base for outdoor adventurists, attracting a large number of tourists each year towards the beautiful Gulf beaches and easy access to great offshore and bay fishing.
d. Designated Areas of Interest
i. Areas of interest in Port Aransas are the Texas State Aquarium, Mustang Island beaches and National Seashore. This areas are visited by over 200,00 tourists during the months in May, June, July, August, and September.
e. Special Events
i. In mid-summer, Port Aransas hosts an annual fishing break, annual fireworks show, deep sea roundup, and Texas legend billfish tournament, this events brings thousands of tourist to the area.
f. Economic Base and Infrastructure
i. The economy of Port Aransas, TX employs 2.09k people. The largest industries in Port Aransas, TX are Accommodation & Food Services (350 people), Educational Services (293 people), and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation (199 people), and the highest paying industries are Manufacturing ($138,419), Health Care & Social Assistance ($51,618), and Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($50,536). Median household income in Port Aransas, TX is $53,211. Males in Port Aransas, TX have an average income that is 1.41 times higher than the average income of females, which is $45,959. The income inequality in Port Aransas, TX (measured using the Gini index) is 0.482, which is higher than the national average. - Hazard Profile
a. Potential Hazards
Port Aransas, Nueces county, TX is subjected to the effects of many disasters, varying widely in type and magnitude from local communities to statewide in scope.
Disaster conditions could be a result of a number of natural phenomena such as hurricanes/tropical storms, floods, drought, windstorms, severe heat, severe thunderstorms, costal erosion, tornado, hailstorm, expansive soils, dam failure land subsidence, wildfire, and sever winter storms. Apart from natural disasters, Port Aransas is subject to a myriad of other disaster contingencies, such as derailments, aircraft accidents, transportation accidents involving chemicals and other hazardous materials, plant explosions, chemical oil and other hazardous material spills, leaks or pollution problems, dumping of hazardous wastes, building or bridge collapses, utility service interruptions, energy shortages, civil disturbances or riots, terrorism, warfare, applicable criminal acts, or a combination of any of these.
- Vulnerability Assessment
a. Port Aransas /Nueces County
The vulnerability assessment checklist for Port Aransas/Nueces County is shown below.
D. Planning Assumptions - Effective prediction and warning systems have been established that make it possible to anticipate certain disaster situations that may occur throughout the jurisdiction or the general area beyond the jurisdiction’s boundaries.
- It is assumed that any of the disaster contingencies could individually, or in combination, cause a grave emergency situation within Port Aransas, Nueces County. It is also assumed that these contingencies will vary in scope and intensity, from an area in which the devastation is isolated and limited to one that is wide-ranging and extremely devastated. For this reason, planning efforts are made as general as possible so that great latitude is available in their application, considering they could occur in several locations simultaneously.
- Initial actions to mitigate the effects of emergency situations or potential disaster conditions will be conducted as soon as possible by the local government.
- Assistance to the affected jurisdictions(s) by response organizations from another jurisdiction(s) is expected to supplement the efforts of the affected jurisdiction(s) in an efficient, effective, and coordinated response when jurisdiction officials determine their own resources to be insufficient.
- Federal and State disaster assistance, when provided, will supplement, not substitute for, relief provided by local jurisdictions.
- It is the responsibility of officials under this plan to save lives, protect property, relieve human suffering, sustain survivors, repair essential facilities, restore services, and protect the environment.
- When a jurisdiction receives a request to assist another jurisdiction, reasonable actions will be taken to provide the assistance as requested.
II. Concept of Operations
A. General
- Communications is maintained between affected jurisdictions and area emergency management branch offices. Branch office personnel may respond to the jurisdiction to facilitate ongoing information exchange.
- Port Aransas/Nueces County commissioners may declare local states of emergency and request State assistance. All requests for State assistance should go through the local emergency management area coordinator and the appropriate emergency management branch manager to the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
- When the Nueces County EOC is activated, the Emergency Manager becomes the office of primary responsibility for the State Emergency Response Team (SERT). The director of emergency management will normally serve as SERT leader.
- Nueces County EOCs will serve as clearinghouses for response and recovery operations and for deployment of resources within the counties, including cities within the counties.
- Planning for recovery will be implemented at the same time local governments are taking the emergency response actions necessary to protect the public. Preparations will be made for rapid deployment of resources necessary to facilitate recovery.
B. Hazard Control and Assessment - Perceive the threat – When emergency management authorities are able to identify the approach of a Hurricane, all action will be taken to save lives and properties. The response face will be activated to coordinate emergency response activities. All warning systems may be activated, all resources may be mobilized, EOC’s may be activated, and evacuation may began.
- Assess the hazard – Hurricanes out to sea causes large waves, heavy rain, flood and high winds, disrupting international shipping and, at times, causing shipwrecks, On land, strong winds can damage or destroy vehicles, building, bridges, and other outside objects, turning loose debris into deadly flying projectiles. The storm surge, or the increase in sea-level due to the cyclone, is typically the worst effect from landfalling hurricanes, historically resulting in 90% of hurricane deaths. The broad rotation of landfalling hurricanes and vertical wind shear at its periphery, spawn tornadoes. Public works and engineering will report and monitor all hazards that have been identified until all hazard has been addressed.
- Select control strategy – Information and planning can identify what strategy is ideal to try to control each type of hazard to address. Not all plans will go to according to plan must at all time manage or adjust as time of events continue. Always expect the unexpected.
- Control hazard – A hurricane is a natural hazard that cannot be controlled and is wildly unexpected to cause sever damage. All immediate cautions will need to be executed to preserve life and properties. As information for safety procedures is released to the public, we will advise to follow safety procedures and request assistance when needed. Selected agencies will be identified for assigned task to control hazards.
- Monitor hazard – agencies will monitor hazards until they are nonexistence or at appropriate levels that are suitable. This will be done by a timeline to have an advance reaction. Monitoring will start on day one when as soon as we identify the tropical storm forming into a hurricane. The first day will start with activating the emergency operation plan. As it continue to progress towards landfall and soon after it disappears all steps of the EOP will be activated day by day as listed. All information and updates of the hazard will be monitored by the National Weather Service forecast and computer modeling provide by the National Hurricane Center.
C. Protective Action Selection - Analyze the hazard – Local Officials will gather, collate and analyze information about the emergency or disaster and use that information to create plans and initiatives to mitigate and prevent future disasters. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration and the National Hurricane Center will monitor all hurricane activities to accurately plan and manage all operations.
- Determine protective action – ESF coordinators will determine the appropriate action to be taken by analyzing all information obtained by all agencies. At this stage all public warning message will be finalized, evacuation process will be selected, and all traffic plans will be activated. All shelters will be open to shelter those will be evacuated and will have no other place to stay.
- Determine public warning – Communications will obtain all information of hazards that will affect the public in which they will identify what public warning system will be suitable.
- Determine protective action implementation plan – Public safety and security will carry out the protective action plan after been established by the EOC.
D. Public Warning - Texas has a state warning system composed of three types of facilities to conduct warning operations: State Warning Point (SWP), Area Warning Centers (AWC), and Local Warning Points (LWP). In addition to these, FEMA operates the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). The SWP is located in the State Operations Center (SOC) in Austin. The facility is operated 24-hours a day by Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) personnel and is equipped with a variety of primary, alternate and redundant telecommunications system. The facility receives warning information and incident reports from a variety of sources to include federal, state agencies and local entities, as well as commercial transportation, utility, and petrochemical companies. The emergency manager coordinator, and the mayor will continue to remain in communication with the state operation center and the integrated public alert and warning system. When the word is passed for immediate reaction to a hurricane all information will flowed down to the local warning points. The information will passed to the public after its approved.
- Determine message content - The public information staff will act as the lead. Primary support staff will man the county/city EOC around the clock to facilities the flow of public and media information. If needed, co-lead department/agencies will staff 24-hour public information line to handle phone calls and to help control rumors. During disasters. The EOC will act as the central coordinating facility for receiving and disseminating public information. The mayor will approve all messages after consulting with he appropriate officials.
- Select appropriate public warning system(s) – Hurricane warnings include notifications about cancellations, closings, states of emergency, evacuation and other critical information that is designed to help the recipient avoid heightened threats to safety and security. Warning methods vary depending on location and available resources. Communications will determine what systems are functional to ensure all are informed of situations to the public. Notification types are as followed and selected by situation, Emergency Alert System, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration Weather Radio, National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee, National Warning System, Radio Amateur Communications Emergency, Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, and the Texas Warning System. The current systems in placed in Port Aransas that will be activated are as follows, emergency alert and the integrated public warning system, National warning system, and the Texas warning system.
- Disseminate public warning - information collection plan consists of predetermined critical information requirements and essential elements of information that can be expanded or contracted to meet the information needs of response efforts. Emergency management council agencies and organizations with community relations, government relations and public affairs duties share responsibility for disseminating information to the public and the media during a hurricane. Public information will be accessible to the whole community, including persons with disabilities. Interpreters for spoken languages other than English and for American Sign Language (ASL) will be used whenever available.
E. Protective Action Implementation - Monitor progress of protective action implementation – The local police department will lead organization will constantly monitor the protective action implementation in place.
- Control access and isolate danger area – Public Safety and Security will coordinate he integration of public safety and security capabilities and resources to support the full range of incident management activates that include. Facility and resources security, security planning and technical resources assistance, public safety and security support and support to access, traffic, and crowd control.
- Evacuation support – It’s the duty of the local governor who can request federal assistance. All federal, state, local, and tribal will coordinate to insure evacuation procedures are in place and implemented. The city will reach out to the county and state to facilitate the operations of the local shelters.
- Decontamination support – Agriculture and Natural Resources will coordinate support in response to an actual or potential discharge and or release of oil hazards material. Function include but are not limited to: Environmental assessment of the nature and extent of oil hazard materials contamination, and environmental decontamination and cleanup, including building structures and management of contaminated waste.
- Medical treatment – Public Health and Medical Services , and Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing and Human Services will coordinate the mechanism for assistance in response to an actual or potential public health and medical disaster or incident that include public health, medical surge support including patient movement, behavioral services, and mass fatality management.
- Functional needs population support – Mass care service will provide life-sustaining and human service to the affected population, to include hydrate, feeding, sheltering, temporary housing, evacuee support, reunification, and distribution of emergency supplies. It will establish, staff and equip emergency shelters and other temporary housing options ensuring that shelters and temporary housing units are physically accessible for children and adults with disabilities and or with access and functional needs.
- Search and rescue – Search and Rescue will coordinate the rapid deployment of search and rescue resources to provide specialized lifesaving assistance that include structural collapse search and rescue, maritime/costal/waterborne search and rescue and land search and rescue.
F. Short-term Needs - Shelter operations – will be operational and open until everyone is returned back to their homes.
- Unite families – first responders will provide communication, and direction to help unite families at several locations.
- Continued medical treatment – medical services will continue to provide health care for all, in all hospitals and selected clinics within the city.
- Increase security – the national guard and local law enforcement will provide security to affected areas until its deemed necessary
- Stabilize the affected area – agencies will continue to restore critical infrastructure and facilities – power, communications, water, sewage and transportation.
G. Long-term Needs - Re-entry – once the appropriate agencies communicate that not further hazards are identified or that is has reduced the risk to an appropriate level of safety, the word will be giving to rescind an evacuation order, and reentry operations begin.
All agencies will still be in place to help those who will still need assistance.
Security agencies will continue to perform its duties to insure the safety of the public. - Recovery – Many recovery efforts may not be started until conditions improve sometime weeks after the hurricane has passed. Ongoing recovery efforts will include but are not limited to:
Clearing debris and making any temporary repairs to roadways to secure access to affected areas.
Restoring utilities in affected areas
Continuing to perform flood control measures in flooded areas
Continuing to operate shelters and move supplies as needed to support those affected by the hurricane
Coordinated delivery of long-term social and health services
Improve land use planning
Re-establishment of the local economy to pre-disaster levels
Effective integration of mitigation strategies into recovery planning and operations. This will include the rebuilding of roadways, repair of bridges, fire stations, clinics and water filtration systems.
III. Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities
General
Most departments/agencies of government have emergency functions in addition to their normal, day-to-day duties. These emergency functions usually parallel or complement normal functions. Each department/agency is responsible for developing and maintaining its own emergency management procedures.
A. Organization
- Chief elected officials
- Homeland security and emergency management agencies
- Local and state law enforcement agencies
- Port Aransas Fire department
- Port Aransas Emergency medical services agencies
- Port Aransas Health department
- Port Aransas Hospitals
- Port Aransas Public works agencies
- Local emergency planning committee
- National Guard
B. Assignment of Responsibilities
Disaster declarations
a. Mayor orders Evacuation orders
b. Mayor announce Re-entry decisions
c. Other protective action decisions as necessary
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agencies
a. EOC staffing and functioning
b. Communications
c. Operations of the shelter system in conjunction with the American Red Cross
d. Emergency public information
e. Alert and warning systems
f. Assistance from other jurisdictions
g. State assistance
h. Federal assistance
i. Emergency control and use of resources
j. Homeland security and emergency preparedness training and education
k. Rumor control
l. Damage assessment
m. Comprehensive homeland security and emergency preparedness planning - Local and state law enforcement agencies
a. Maintaining law and order
b. Controlling traffic
c. Protecting vital installations
d. Controlling and limiting access to the scene of the disaster
e. Supplementing communications
f. Assisting with all evacuation efforts
g. Search and rescue - Port Aransas Fire Departments
a. Providing fire protection and the combating of fires
b. Search and rescue
c. Decontamination
d. Damage assessment - Port Aransas Emergency Medical Services Agencies
a. Emergency medical transportation
b. Emergency medical treatment
c. Triage or assisting with triage
d. Assisting with functional needs population evacuation - Port Aransas Health Department
a. Emergency medical care information and coordination
b. Emergency hospital treatment information and coordination
c. Medical support to shelters
d. Health advisories
e. Identification of local health facilities, including hospitals, clinics, dialysis centers, and nursing or rehabilitation centers, and supplying and using medical and health items
f. Identification of functional needs populations, including the elderly and very young, and populations requiring specific life-saving services (e.g., dialysis or assistance with breathing)
g. Emergency interment coordination
h. Insect and rodent control
i. Pest control as required
j. Inoculations for the prevention of disease
k. Sanitation - Port Aransas Hospitals
a. Emergency medical care
b. Limited on-site decontamination
c. Hospital evacuation
d. Traditional hospital medical services - Public Works Agencies
a. Maintaining designated major streets and avenues, highways, and other designated routes of travel
b. Assisting with heavy rescue
c. Decontamination
d. Engineering services as required
e. Transportation
f. Debris removal
g. Inspection of shelter sites for safe occupancy
h. Inspection of damaged buildings, public and private, for safe occupancy
i. Enforcement of building codes
j. Maintenance of vehicles and other essential equipment of the various departments and agencies
k. Development of a plan of priorities to be used during the period of increased readiness that addresses the repair of vehicles and equipment
l. Maintenance of a reserve supply of fuel
m. Provisions for the immediate repair of emergency service vehicles and equipment, both in the field and in the shop, as the situation permits - Local Emergency Planning Committee
a. Furnishing information, including maps or materials, as needed, for the emergency management agency or emergency preparedness coordinator. This includes Tier II reports and other industry-specific information to produce general detailed planning for chemical, transportation, or industrial accidents.
b. Augmenting EOC staff as necessary
C. Support Functions - Support from the National Guard may be requested through the State office of emergency management. Military assistance will complement and not be a substitute for local participation in emergency operations. Military forces will remain at all times under military command, but will support and assist response efforts.
- Support from other State government departments and agencies may be made available in accordance with the State plan.
- Private sector organizations within the jurisdiction may assist with a wide variety of tasks based on their capabilities.
- Volunteer agencies, such as the American Red Cross, local church/synagogue congregations, and assistive organizations, such as the Salvation Army, are available to give assistance with sheltering, feeding, and other issues, as necessary.
- Assistance from surrounding jurisdictions may be available through the execution of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) or MOA.
D. Continuity of Government - Succession of Command
Describes the hierarchy of command succession at the State and local levels.
a. State Government Succession
This will be arranged in accordance with the State Constitution. In general, the line of succession may be designated in a manner similar to the following:
i. Governor
ii. Lieutenant Governor
iii. Senate president pro tempore
iv. Speaker of the house
v. Attorney General
vi. Chief Justice of Court Houston
vii. Chief Justice of Court Fort Worth
b. Local Government Succession
Each jurisdiction has its own local government succession that usually is referred to within the local EOP.
Port Aransas Mayor
Port Aransas City Manager
- Relocation of Government
Each jurisdiction is responsible for designating facilities that will accommodate the relocation of government. Refer to local EOPs for individual jurisdictions. - Preservation of Records
a. State Level
Each agency/department is responsible for maintaining and recording all legal documents affecting the organization and administration of emergency management functions. It is the further responsibility of State officials to ensure that all records are secure and protected from elements of damage or destruction at all times.
b. Local Level
It is the responsibility of elected officials to ensure that all legal documents of both public and private nature recorded by the designated official (i.e., tax assessor, sheriff’s office) be protected and preserved in accordance with applicable State and local laws. Examples include ordinances, resolutions, meeting minutes, land deeds, and tax records.
IV. Direction, Control, and Coordination
(This section should describe the framework for all direction, control, and coordination. The following is sample language.)
A. Authority to Initiate Actions - Describe who is responsible for activating the EOP. The decision will be made by the responsible public official(s) and the on-scene commander within the jurisdiction.
- Assign responsibility for implementation of the EOP.
B. Command Responsibility for Specific Actions - General guidance of emergency operations
Assign responsibility for general guidance of emergency operations. - Direction of response
Responsible for overall direction of the disaster response activities of all of the jurisdiction’s departments and agencies. During emergencies, those responsibilities will be carried out normally from the EOC.
a. Each jurisdiction’s chief elected official has the responsibility for addressing threats to his or her jurisdiction. This authority shall include, but not be limited to, the declaration of an emergency condition or disaster declaration within the political jurisdiction.
b. Each homeland security and emergency preparedness director will act as the chief advisor to his jurisdiction’s chief elected official during any declared emergency affecting the people and property of the jurisdiction. Various agencies and departments under the direction of the jurisdiction’s homeland security and emergency preparedness agency director will conduct emergency operations.
c. In order to be NIMS compliant, information in this section should include, where required by law, that a State agency assumes command of an incident scene in this section. This section should also include information about the agency having designated personnel trained in the NIMS Incident Command System (ICS).
d. State and Federal officials will coordinate their operations through the jurisdiction’s elected or appointed officials or their designated representatives. - Incident Command System
The local incident command structures are responsible for directing on-scene emergency operations and maintaining command and control of on-scene incident operations. If a disaster affects multiple widely separated facilities or jurisdictions, separate incident command operations and an area command may be set up. - Assistance
If the jurisdiction’s own resources are insufficient or inappropriate to respond to the emergency situation, a request may be made for assistance from other jurisdictions, the State, or Federal government. All response agencies are expected to fulfill mission assignments directed by the incident commander.
V. Information Collection and Dissemination
(This section describes the required critical or essential information common to all operations identified during the planning process. In general terms, it identifies the type of information needed, where it is expected to come from, who uses the information, how the information is shared, the format for providing the information, and any specific times the information is needed.)
A. Disaster information managed by the (Name of Jurisdiction) Emergency Operations Center is coordinated through agency representatives located in the EOC. These representatives collect information from and disseminate information to counterparts in the field. These representatives also disseminate information within the EOC that can be used to develop courses of action and manage emergency operations.
B. Detailed procedures that identify the type of information needed, where it is expected to come from, who uses the information, how the information is shared, the format for providing the information, and specific times the information is needed are maintained at the (Name of Jurisdiction) Emergency Operations Center.
VI. Communications
(This section describes communication protocols between response organizations and coordination procedures used during emergencies and disasters. It does not describe communications hardware or specific procedures found in departmental standard operating procedures (SOPs). The following is sample language.)
A. Communication protocols and coordination procedures are described in detail in the (City/County/State) (Name of Communications Plan). Please refer to this plan for additional information.
VII. Administration, Finance, and Logistics
(This section should describe administration, finance, and logistics policies that support the implementation of the plan. At a minimum, this section should contain information about agreements and understandings that support regional response. The following is sample language.)
A. General Policies
This section outlines general policies for administering resources, including the following: - Appointment of Officials
Identify the positions of officials who have been appointed to participate in the decision-making process. - Funding and Accounting
Reference should be made to administrative requirements that are applicable to emergency operations (e.g., emergency purchasing procedures), which appear in other documents. - Records and Reports
The plan should include requirements for tracking the source and use of resources and expenditures.
a. Responsibility for submitting local government reports to the State office of homeland security and emergency preparedness rests with each jurisdiction’s homeland security and emergency preparedness director.
b. Each jurisdiction’s homeland security and emergency preparedness director maintains records of expenditures and obligations in emergency operations. They should also support the collection and maintenance of narrative and long-type records of response to all declared disasters. - Agreements and Understandings
This section references any mutual aid agreements or emergency response and recovery contracts that exist. It also indicates who is authorized to activate those agreements or contracts.
Elements that should be addressed in MOA/MOUs include the following:
a. General
i. Emergency use of resources and capabilities of organizations that are not part of a government structure will be pre-arranged through agreements to the maximum extent feasible. Duly authorized officials will enter into agreements, which will be formalized in writing whenever possible.
ii. Agreements between elements of the same government will be included in their respective plans. Details of such agreements, which are inappropriate for inclusion in these plans, will be set forth in an SOP, instructions, or other directives of the units of government concerned.
iii. Unless otherwise provided, agreements remain in effect until rescinded or modified. Annual or other periodic updates will prevent them from becoming outdated.
iv. A clear statement of agreement regarding payment reimbursement for personal services rendered, equipment costs, and expenditures of material is mandatory.
b. Agreements
Agreements with private relief organizations provide immediate aid to disaster victims and provide some types of aid that the government is unable to render.
c. Understandings
MOUs with adjoining counties or local governments recognize that certain situations require effective coordination and cooperation between jurisdictions to achieve effective response and provide for the general safety and health of residents. These documents formalize and focus attention on commitments and help avoid misunderstandings.
- Assistance Stipulations
Local policies that have been established regarding the use of volunteers or accepting donated goods and services should be summarized. Elements that should be addressed in this section include:
a. Administration of insurance claims
b. Consumer protection
c. Duplication of benefits
d. Nondiscrimination
e. Relief assistance
f. Preservation of environment and historic properties
B. Additional Policies - When the resources of local government are exhausted or when a needed capability does not exist within a local government, the local units of government call for assistance from the State.
- The incident commander will submit periodic situation reports to the appropriate authority during a major disaster using standard ICS formats.
VIII. Plan Development and Maintenance
(This section should describe the overall approach to plan development and maintenance. The following is sample language.)
A. Development
(Identify by position the individuals responsible for developing, revising, and approving the Basic Plan, annexes, appendices, and supplementary documents, such as checklists, SOPs, etc. The following is sample language.) - The State office of homeland security and the emergency preparedness coordinator are responsible for coordinating emergency planning.
- The director of each jurisdiction’s homeland security and emergency preparedness agency is responsible for supporting emergency planning.
B. Maintenance
(The EOP is a living document. Problems emerge, situations change, gaps become apparent, Federal requirements are altered, and the EOP must be adapted to remain useful and up-to-date. This section identifies the requirements and the individuals responsible for maintaining, reviewing, and updating the Basic Plan, annexes, appendices, and supplementary documents, such as checklists, SOPs, etc. Once planning documents are developed, a system of maintenance must be established to ensure they are current. The following sub-sections provide an example of types of information that should be addressed in this section of the EOP, and is provided as a starting point for developing language for this section. The following is sample language.) - Requirements
a. The emergency management coordinator will maintain, distribute, and update the EOP. Responsible officials in State or local agencies should recommend changes and provide updated information periodically (e.g., changes of personnel and available resources). Revisions will be forwarded to people on the distribution list.
i. To comply with requirements outlined in Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulation 0654/FEMA-REP-1, the plans of jurisdictions located within the emergency planning zones with nuclear power plants must annually review, update (if needed), and certify plans to be current.
b. Directors of supporting agencies have the responsibility of maintaining internal plans, SOPs, and resource data to ensure prompt and effective response to and recovery from emergencies and disasters. - Review and Update
a. Review
The Basic Plan and its appendices should be reviewed annually by local officials. The emergency management coordinator or, if no coordinator has been appointed, the local chief elected official, should establish a process for the annual review of planning documents by those tasked in those documents, and for preparation and distribution of revisions or changes.
b. Update
i. Changes
Changes should be made to plans and appendices when the documents are no longer current. Changes in planning documents may be needed:
1) When hazard consequences or risk areas change
2) When the concept of operations for emergencies changes
3) When departments, agencies, or groups that perform emergency functions are reorganized and can no longer perform the emergency tasks laid out in planning documents
4) When warning and communications systems change
5) When additional emergency resources are obtained through acquisition or agreement, the disposition of existing resources changes, or anticipated emergency resources are no longer available
6) When a training exercise or an actual emergency reveals significant deficiencies in existing planning documents
7) When State/territorial or Federal planning standards for the documents are revised
ii. Methods of updating planning documents
1) Plan Revision
A revision is a complete rewrite of an existing EOP or appendix that essentially results in a new document. Revision is advisable when numerous pages of the document have to be updated, when major portions of the existing document must be deleted or substantial text added, or when the existing document was prepared using a word processing program that is obsolete or no longer available. Revised documents should be given a new date and require new signatures by officials.
2) Formal Plan Change
A formal change to a planning document involves updating portions of the document by making specific changes to a limited number of pages. Changes are typically numbered to identify them, and are issued to holders of the document with a cover memorandum that has replacement pages attached. The cover memorandum indicates which pages are to be removed and which replacement pages are to be inserted in the document to update it. The person receiving the change is expected to make the required page changes to the document and then annotate the record of changes at the front of the document to indicate that the change has been incorporated into the document. A change to a document does not alter the original document date; new signatures on the document need not be obtained.
IX. Authorities and References
(This section should describe the legal basis for emergency operations and contain references to important documents the plan supports, such as the jurisdiction-level emergency operations plan. The following is sample language.)
A. Legal Authority - Federal
a. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance, Public Law 93-288 as amended
b. Other executive orders and acts pertaining to disasters enacted or to be enacted
c. Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act (PEOSHA) regulations - State
a. Insert State laws pertaining to homeland security and emergency management. - Local
a. Insert applicable ordinances. - Volunteer, Quasi Governmental
a. Act 58 4 1905, American National Red Cross Statement of Understanding, December 30, 1985.
b. Mennonite Disaster Services – Agreement with FDAA, 1974.
c. Public Law 93 288.
B. References - Federal
a. Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101: Developing and Maintaining State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Government Emergency Plans. Version 2. November 2010.
b. Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Guide Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201. 3rd Edition. May 2018.
c. Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), April 2013.
d. National Incident Management System (NIMS). 3rd Edition. October 2017.
e. National Response Framework. Federal Emergency Management Agency. 3rd Edition. June 2016. - State
a. State EOP
b. State map with homeland security and emergency management regions - Local
a. Local EOPs
Note: The template for this plan was adopted from the following resource:
Basic Emergency Operations Planning: Emergency Operations Basic Plan Template. (September
2009). National Preparedness Directorate (NPD). FEMA.
Our organization has the following land line phones: [list of phone extensions and locations]. When phone communications are not useable, we will use radios on the following frequencies: [list of frequencies and channels]. We have [X] number of radios of the following types [list inventory of radios] and they are stored [list where they are stored].”
Emergency Alert System (EAS) A captioned emergency warning notification system that can message to the general public in the State of Texas or any portion of the broadcast coverage and cable system service area at the request of authorized local, state or federal government officials.
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) A system that allows for alerts to be originated by Federal, state, local and tribal officials and disseminated to the public using a range of national and local alerting systems, including the Emergency Alert System, Commercial Mobile Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio.
National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) A computerized message switching system of state law enforcement agencies with criminal justice-related information. The SOC receives all NHC products including watches and warnings via NLETS.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio A nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest NWS office. Broadcasts official warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) Limited, area-wide 800 MHz band radio frequencies used to conduct 2-way communications in support of mutual aid agreements; connecting an Area Warning Center (AWC) with city, county and state, federal, military, law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in Texas. Supplemental to the warning network’s primary “voice-only” system.
National Warning System (NAWAS) 24-hour, nationwide, dedicated, multiple-telephone-line warning system provided by FEMA and operated by North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD).
Radio Amateur Communications Emergency Services (RACES) Operated by volunteer amateur (ham) radio operators, may provide communications support between DDCs and the SOC.
Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System Statewide telecommunications network connecting the State Warning Point (SWP) with city, county, state,
create a 15 min powerpoint presentation from my emergency operation plan. from my emergency operation plan that I created just use section 1 to 3.
After you have thoroughly explained the problem, now present your idea to improve it. Be creative and be specific here. I don’t want vague, general solutions. Say what you propose to do and why you think that this idea would improve the situation.
- Conclusion
Wrap up by restating the case you made in the previous pages.