State role in Tornado Disaster

1. State role in Tornado Disaster John H Campbell Operations Chief MO State Emergency Mgt Agency

2. Agenda • MO Emergency Mgt Background • EOC organization • Anticipated state actions

3. Philosophies of Emergency Mgt • All disasters start and end at local level • Local officials are in charge of response and recovery activities • State, Federal, and non-governmental resources are brought in to support local response when needs from a disaster exceed capability of community to respond/recover

4. State & Local Actions • These actions are happening near simultaneously and continuously • Situation assessment • Execution of emergency plans • Determining unmet needs • Requesting assistance • Keeping public informed

5. Role of the EOC in Response Operations

6. What is an EOC? • Multi-agency coordination center • Central focal point for an organization to execute a coordinated, effective response • Encourages collaboration within/between response disciplines • Multiple, redundant communication systems

7. EOC Missions • Maintain situational awareness for policy-makers • Allocate existing resources based on guidance contained in emergency plans and guidance issued by policy-makers • Determine unmet needs; seek assistance on filling unmet needs based on guidance from policy-makers • Provide information to public • Support responders in the field

8. Typical EOC Organization

9. Chief Official • Ultimately responsible for response activities • Leads policy group discussions • Executes duties with authority as provided in emergency response plan

10. Policy Group • Group consisting of elected officials, department heads, etc • Provide guidance to responders on priorities and policy • Typical policy decisions might include • Curfews, embargos, etc • Restrictions on usage of facilities (electric, water) • Other issues

11. EOC Coordinator • Communicates and implements decisions made by policy group • Supervises systems to ensure that close contact is maintained with incident sites to develop common operating picture and anticipate potential resource requests • Local Emergency Mgt Director may fill this role in many jurisdictions

12. Operations/Coordination Group • This group consists mostly of representatives from various agencies who help carry out the EOC’s core functions • Develop/maintain situational awareness • Develop/maintain status and capabilities of resources in area of expertise • Work with other agencies in developing solutions to resource shortages • Work with Logistics Section to request outside assistance as necessary

13. Operations/Coordination Group • If necessary, this group can be divided into branch to assist with management and span of control • Emergency Services—Fire, Rescue, Police, EMS, HazMat • Human Services—Mass Care, Public Health, Agriculture • Infrastructure—Transportation, Communications, Public Works, Utilities

14. Planning • Through Situation Unit, implement systems for acquiring and reporting information specific to the disaster • Information comes from variety of sources to include Ops/Coordination Group, the public, the media, elected officials, etc • Suggest issuing Situation Reports (SITREPs) on periodic basis to communicate critical information • Develop Incident Action Plan

15. Logistics • Generally responsible for ordering outside resources to assist in response • With assistance from Ops/Coordination Group, maintain status of resource deployed • Also responsible for internal supplies for EOC and staff (i.e. food, communications, office supplies, etc)

16. Joint Information Center • Provide information on actions the public needs to take to protect themselves from impacts • Provide information on precautionary actions being taken by officials to reduce impacts of disaster • Provide information on the scope of the disaster • Provide information on assistance available from authorities as a result of the disaster • Respond to media queries • Set up phone bank operations to assist with outreach efforts

17. State’s Role in Response

18. Resources • State • National Guard • Highway/Water Patrol • Conservation • Social Services • DNR EER • Mutual Aid (In-state) • Firefighting • Search & Rescue

19. Resources • Non-Governmental • American Red Cross • Salvation Army • Americorps • Faith-based organizations • Private vendors • Generators • Bulk water/food/ice

20. Priorities of State Response—Day 1 • ESF #1—Transportation • Provide awareness on transportation challenges • ESF #2—Communications • Provide awareness on communications systems (phone, cell, radio, etc) • Find solutions for public safety communications needs • ESF #3—Public Works • Provide awareness on public water systems • Provide technical advise on infrastructure issues • Through MDC and MoNG, coordinate disaster clearance missions • Through SAVE Coalition, assist local jurisdictions with structural assessment of buildings

21. Priorities of State Response • ESF #4—Firefighting • Locate mutual aid resources to sustain firefighting efforts • ESF #6—Mass Care • Support shelter/mass feeding operations in impacted area • Develop plans for distributing bulk food, water, ice, cots, blankets, etc • Start work on intermediate housing needs for survivors

22. Priorities of State Response • ESF #7—Resource Support • Support outside requests for personnel, equipment, and commodities • Establish/Sustain EMAC Operations if needed • ESF #8—Health & Medical • Develop solutions for surge of injured survivors • Develop solutions for handling of mass fatalities • Coordinate with ESF #3 & #10 in developing protective actions for water supplies

23. Priorities of State Response • ESF #9—Search & Rescue • Coordinate rescue and recovery operations • ESF #10—HazMat • Coordinate with local authorities to mitigate White River spill • If necessary, make protective action recommendations to local officials on HazMat situations • Provide awareness of other HazMat incidents

24. Priorities of State Response • ESF #11—Agriculture • Coordinate mitigation of dead animal carcasses • ESF #12—Energy • Determine damage to power infrastructure • Determine extent of fuel supply issues • ESF #13—Public Safety • Develop security plan for evacuated areas • Provide resources to augment local security efforts

25. Priorities of State Response • ESF #15—External Affairs • Communicate protective actions to public • Communicate relief actions to public • Operate Joint Information Center (JIC) • ESF #16—Military Support • Coordinate air operations • Support security of affected areas • Support debris clearance activities • Support well-being checks • Support distribution of commodities equipment • As necessary, provide emergency power generation

26. State Response—Water ChallengesFirst 72 Hours • ESF #6 coordinate delivery of bottled water supplies from NGO existing stocks • ESF #7 request additional water from vendors or FEMA if/when needs are forecast to exceed supplies • ESF #3 determines specific information on reason for water shortage • Broken pipe (intermediate & long-term solutions) • Loss of power (Generator??) • Contaminated supply (determine solution) • ESF #8 coordinates protective actions with #3, #10, and local officials

27. Questions ?????