Download - MUNICIPAL DISASTER PLANNING CHECKLIST
1
MUNICIPAL DISASTER
PLANNING
CHECKLIST
WHERE TO START
2
GET EVERYONE
INVOLVED:
Citizens Citizen Corps | Ready.gov
Business Community http://www.ready.gov/community-preparedness
Faith Community
Volunteer Groups
Elected Officials
3
LEGISLATION
Legislation that your municipality may need to
adopt to reach your preparedness goals:
Adoption of National Incident Management System (NIMS) http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/nims_city_ordinance.pdf
Adoption of Emergency Powers for your elected officials http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/Ordinance%20for%20Mayor%20Emerg%20pwrs.pdf
Adoption of Line of Succession http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/Ordinance%20for%20Succession%20(sample).pdf
Adoption of your Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/212
Adoption of Mutual Aid Agreements http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/965
4
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
ASSESSMENTS (INVENTORY)
You will need to conduct several assessments in your community to include:
Critical infrastructure in and around your jurisdiction to include essential
services, utilities, etc. http://sites.duke.edu/ihss/files/2011/12/IHSS_Solano.pdf
Special Functions – Parades, Festivals, Fourth of July Celebration and
fireworks shows, etc. http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/Laurel%20Resolution.pdf
Jurisdiction’s capabilities, resources, and abilities to respond to emergencies
disasters, etc. http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=210
Threats and Capabilities.
http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/PrinceGeorgesCo-LaurelMD_HazMitPlan_2010-web.pdf
When all assessments are completed you will need to share the information with
your partners (i.e. County Emergency Manager, Emergency Services, etc.)
5
SAMPLE INVENTORY FORM
Ratings: 1-3 = Minor 4-7= Moderate 8-10= Critical
http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/1383
THREAT ASSESSMENT (MAN MADE)
Target Name
Level of Visibility
Criticality of Target
Value of Target to PTE
Site Population
Potential for Mass Casualties
Potential Terrorist Element Access
Target Threat
Total Points
Rating
Threat Assessment (NATURAL)
Target Name
Level of Visibility
Criticality of Target
Value of Target to PTE
Site Population
Potential for Mass Casualties
Potential Terrorist Element Access
Target Threat
Total Points
Rating
6
GATHERING
INFORMATION
Obtain and review your county’s All Hazard Plan so that you are
clear about your jurisdiction’s responsibilities in local emergencies.
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/plan/sig101.pdf
Reach out to your County Emergency Manager and the Maryland
Emergency Management Agency to determine resources available to
assist during your emergency that might exceed your capabilities to
respond. http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/1382
7
CONTINUITY OF
OPERATIONS PLAN (COOP)
Your Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) will provide you with a
platform that will ensure that your primary mission and essential functions
will continue during a wide range of emergencies, whether natural or man-
made.
Identify essential services/functions
Find a back-up location to house your employees
Exercise your plan
Conduct yearly reviews/updates
http://www.fema.gov/continuity-operations
8
EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS PLAN (EOP)
Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) are developed using the functional approach and
consist of a Basic Plan, Functional Annexes, and Hazard-specific Appendices. They are
supplemented by Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and contain checklists for
implementation of the plan. An EOP should possess the following qualities:
1. Organization
2. Progression
3. Consistency
4. Adaptability
5. Compatibility
The Basic Plan is an overview of the jurisdiction’s organization and policies. It
should contain the legal authority for emergency operations, explain the general
concept of operations, and assign responsibilities for emergency planning and
operations.
9
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (cont’d)
Functional annexes are plans organized around the performance of a broad task.
Each annex should focus on one of the critical emergency functions that the
jurisdiction will perform in response to an emergency. The number of annexes can
vary from municipality to municipality depending on needs, capabilities, and
organization. Functional annexes are oriented toward operations so their primary
audience should consist of those who perform the tasks. They do not repeat
general information contained in the Basic Plan.
Hazard-specific appendices provide additional detailed information applicable to
the performance of a particular function in the face of a particular hazard.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and checklists provide the detailed
instructions that an organization or an individual needs to fulfill responsibilities and
perform tasks assigned in the EOP. They may be attached to the EOP or
referenced as deemed appropriate.
10
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (cont’d)
When your plan is complete, share it with your county emergency
management office.
Review yearly and make updates where necessary
Exercise your plan!
Check out this Guide for Developing Emergency Operations Plans developed by the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center for examples and additional guidance: http://rems.ed.gov/EOPGuides.aspx
11
MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS
Historically Fire/EMS made the most use of mutual aid agreements. NIMS
have changed the thinking to include agreements with all responding
agencies to include Police and Public Works.
When selecting partner agencies consider things such as distance that may
lead to delays in mutual aid response.
Remember that no jurisdiction will unnecessarily deplete its own
personnel, equipment, and capabilities in order to provide mutual aid.
The agency receiving mutual aid is usually responsible for the care,
feeding, and shelter of responding mutual aid resources. http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/965
12
MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS (Cont’d)
Things to consider:
Develop means to communicate with partner agencies
Assist Emergency Managers and First Responders to locate resources to
enhance their response to emergencies.
Develop an efficient mechanism that will allow responders to:
Know what resources are available
Request and track resources
Take receipt of resources provided to them
Determine what disciplines/resources are needed based on an assessment
of your needs and arrange through, written agreements reasonable
assurances that the resources are available to respond.
All parties should include legal and insurance council to review the
agreements annually, and revise as necessary. http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/965
13
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers play a crucial role in assisting with activities to mitigate disasters, prepare in
advance, and assist with short-term and long-term recovery efforts to return the
community to normal conditions after an incident.
Who Can Volunteer?
Emergency volunteers represent the diverse, inclusive and vibrant community. By
developing emergency volunteers, the community is provided with the necessary
resources to support the municipality before, during and after a disaster. Whether they
have administrative skills, carpentry skills or just a desire to serve, there is a way for
them to be involved.
How Can Volunteers Help?
Volunteers help coordinate recovery efforts, share information between government and
relief agencies, share information between government and relief agencies, and assist in
mobilizing resources.
http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corp
14
VOLUNTEERS (Cont’d)
Why Help?
Develop skills and gain experience in new areas.
Meet others with similar interests and become part of a team to provide important
services to the community they live in.
Community Groups
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers are trained to respond
to the needs in their neighborhood when First Responders may not be immediately
available.
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) volunteers support the
community during incidents and planned events by providing auxiliary
communication services to the community.
http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corp
15
FAITH-BASED RESPONSE
During a disaster many victims turn to their faith for comfort, assistance and
counseling. Victims frequently lose their confidence and develop the feeling that their
life may never return to normal. Faith-based organizations have members of their
congregation who are qualified councilors who can visit victims and help them make
sense of their surrounds and build the confidence needed to rebuild their lives and regain
a sense of normalcy.
Actions to consider:
Contact local faith-based organizations. They are part of Emergency
Operations Management throughout the United States and have
taken a tremendous burden off the shoulders of first responders.
Ask if congregations have any crisis councilors http://www.hhs.gov/partnerships/about/
16
Allegany County Department Of Public Safety
And Homeland Security
11400 PPG Road
Cumberland, MD 21502 (301) 777-7113 Annapolis City Emergency Management 199 Taylor Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 216-9167 Anne Arundel County Office Of Emergency Management
Henry L. Hein Public Service Bldg, Ste: 102
Glenn Burnie, MD 21061 (410) 222-0600 Baltimore City Mayor's Office Of Emergency Management
1201 East Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21239 Emergency Manager, (410) 396-6175 Baltimore County Office Of Homeland Security
And Emergency Management
Baltimore County Fire Department
700 East Joppa Road
Baltimore, MD 21286 (410) 887-5996 Calvert County Division Of Emergency Management
Court House
175 Main Street Ste: -
Prince Frederick, MD 20678 Division Chief Em. Mgmt. (410) 535-1623
Caroline County Department Of Emergency Management
7 N. First Street
Denton, MD 21921 (410) 479-2622 Carroll County Emergency Management Agency
225 North Center Street, Rm 20
Westminster, MD 21157 (410) 386-2296 Cecil County Department Of Emergency Services
107 Chesapeake Blvd
Elkton, MD 21921 (410) 996-5350 Charles County Department Of Emergency Services
P.O. Box 2150
10425 Audie Lane, Ste: 12
La Plata, MD 20646 (301) 609-3402 Dorchester County Emergency Management & Civil Defense Agency
829 Fieldcrest Road
Cambridge, MD 21613 (410) 228-1818 Frederick County Division Of Emergency Management
340 Montevue Lane
Frederick, MD 21702 (301) 600-6790
Maryland County Emergency Manager
Contact Information
17
Garrett County Department of Public Safety and
Emergency Management
311 East Alder Street
Oakland, MD 21550 (301) 334-7619 Harford County Division Of Emergency
Operations
2220 Add Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050 (410) 638-4900 Howard County Fire And Rescue, Office Of Emergency Management
6751 Columbia Gateway Drive
Fourth Floor
Columbia, MD 21046 (410) 313-6002 Kent County Emergency Management Agency
104 Vickers Drive, Unit D
Chestertown, MD 21620 (410) 778-7458 Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
1300 Quince Orchard Blvd
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 (240) 777-2300 Prince George's County Office Of Emergency Preparedness
6820 Webster Street
Landover Hills, MD20874 (301) 583-1899
Queen Anne's County Department Of
Emergency Services
100 Communications Drive
Centreville, MD 21627 (410) 758-4500 St. Mary's County Emergency Management
Agency
23090 Leonard Hall Drive
PO Box 653
Leonardtown, MD 20650 (301) 475-4200 Somerset County Department Of Emergency Services
11916 Somerset Avenue
Princess Anne, MD 21853 (410) 651-0707 Talbot County Emergency Management Agency
605 Port Street
Easton, MD 21601 (410) 770-8160 Washington County, Division Of Fire And Emergency Services
33 W. Washington Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740 (240) 313-2900 Wicomico County Emergency Services
411 Naylor Mill Road
Ste: 200
Salisbury, MD 21801 (410) 548-4920
Maryland County Emergency Manager
Contact Information (cont’d)
18
Summary
Having an Emergency Operations Plan can assist a jurisdiction in saving lives
and limiting damage from the impact of a disastrous event.
Resilient Maryland!