State role in Tornado Disaster

John H CampbellOperations Chief

MO State Emergency Mgt Agency

Agenda

• MO Emergency Mgt Background• EOC organization• Anticipated state actions

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

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

Role of the EOC in Response Operations

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

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

Typical EOC Organization

Chief Official

• Ultimately responsible for response activities• Leads policy group discussions• Executes duties with authority as provided in

emergency response plan

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

State’s Role in Response

Resources

• State– National Guard– Highway/Water Patrol– Conservation– Social Services– DNR EER

• Mutual Aid (In-state)– Firefighting– Search & Rescue

Resources

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Questions

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