Transcript City of Washington Hurricane Isabel Preparations & Response

City of Washington
Hurricane Isabel Response
September 2003
Advance Preparations
Prior to 8 a.m.
Thursday,
September 18
Advance Preparations
(Prior to 8 a.m. on 9/18)
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Management team, departments discuss:
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Staffing (City & contracted resources)
Meals & lodging
Operations Support (supplies, call center)
Alternative facilities (Police, Fire)
Facilities, parks & equipment preparation
Public infrastructure preparation (ditches clear, water tanks
full)
Preparations for FEMA reimbursement
Public information
Advance Preparations
(Prior to 8 a.m. on 9/18)
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Coordinate with other agencies
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Beaufort County Emergency Operations Center
ElectriCities
Large electric customers
Operations During the Storm
Starting 8 a.m.
Thursday
September 18
Operations During the Storm
(Starting at 8 a.m. 9/18)
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Maintain services (outage repair, public safety,
operations) in field until winds reach 50 mph to
protect employees, equipment
For public safety, de-energize electric circuits near
waterfront
Resume services in the field when winds drop to
below 50 mph
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Jack’s Creek Pumping Station monitored to protect
equipment in case of power outage
Operations During the Storm
(Starting at 8 a.m. 9/18)
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Debris cleared from streets to maintain emergency
vehicle access
Wells, wastewater lift stations use generators for
back-up power
Information distributed to public
Operations After the Storm
After midnight
Friday
September 19
Operations After the Storm
(After midnight 9/19)
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Normal staffing, operations resume when need for
emergency response passes
Heavy call volume continues at Utilities Operations
Center
Storm Debris clean-up begins (daylight hours)
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City parks
Residential pick-up
Operations After the Storm
(After midnight 9/19)
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Equipment, facilities repairs begin
Wastewater treatment adjusted to handle higher
inflow due to stormwater
Information distributed to the public
FEMA reimbursement preparations
Lessons Learned
Post
Incident
Assessment:
What Went Well
Lessons Learned
What Worked Well
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Suspending/limiting outdoor activities when
sustained winds reached 50 mph
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Maintains safety of personnel and equipment
Coordinating City and county operations through use
of the County Emergency Operations Center
Assigning City staff or officials to County Emergency
Operations Center
Lessons Learned
What Worked Well
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Bringing in contracted electric line crews prior to
storm to be on site as soon as needed
Aggressive tree-trimming program for preventive
maintenance
Completed Hazard Mitigation Projects (elevation,
acquisitions) reduced chance of flooded structures
Scheduling warehouse staff worked in shifts
Lessons Learned
What Worked Well
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Public acknowledged the fact they received their
power back in a timely manner
Public expressed appreciation for “live voice” at the
Utilities Customer Call Center
Field personnel knew what to expect with meal
preparations and schedule
Lessons Learned
Post
Incident
Assessment:
What
We Need
To Work On
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Limiting outdoor operations
 Consider citywide policy on limiting outdoor
operations when sustained winds reach 50 mph
 Identify consistent means to determine wind speed
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Sources: wastewater plant, water plant, airport, news media
Evaluate effectiveness, accuracy of telemetry now in
use
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Staffing & Staff Support
 Assign personnel from other departments to assist
Fire-Rescue-EMS in meal preparations, cooking
 Expand amount of time utilities call center is staffed
(during storm as well as longer during response
period)
 Address short-term storage of large quantities of
perishable food at Fire Station
 Make advance arrangements for distributing leftover
food
 Address staff rest and relief, stress management
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Operations Logistics, Support & Issues
In General
 Recognize that differences in each storm may
require different means of preparation, response
 Assign separate radio frequencies for Public Works
and Electric operations
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Operations Logistics, Support & Issues
Public Safety
 Consolidate 9-1-1 dispatching for Police and FireRescue-EMS
 Fire-Rescue-EMS had to develop two emergency
plans for remaining at or vacating fire station
 Develop policy/procedure on responding to
transformer or power line fires
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Operations Logistics, Support & Issues
Electric
 Evaluate de-energizing waterfront electric grid
remotely
 Use of contracted crews limited by availability of staff
to guide crews around system, service area
 Assess equipment needs for Electric Line Crews,
such as mounted spotlights to aid in visual
inspections at night
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Operations Logistics, Support & Issues
Public Works
 Consider options for electric generator at Jack’s
Creek to maintain pumping ability at all times (new
culverts will not help until river level drops)
Purchasing & Supply
 Evaluate need for policy on issuing City supplies,
such as rain suits and flashlights, to contracted
workers
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Response management and oversight
 Pursue installation of an electric generator at
Municipal Building to retain municipal operations
 Extend length (starting and stopping) of State of
Emergency
 Establish system to deter price gouging,
unscrupulous outside contractors
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Traffic control
 Barricade Main Street at Bridge Street and other
flood-prone areas (Park Drive area) to deter
sightseers, vehicle traffic
 Develop methods to keep public at safe distance
from Electric Line Crews’ work areas
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Traffic control
 For safety reasons (i.e.: floating vehicles), consider
having a tow truck on standby to tow vehicles from
flood-prone areas
 Heavy vehicle traffic interfered with relocation of
generators to wastewater lift stations during the eye
of the storm
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Information gathering & sharing
 Develop means for assessing power outage status,
such as an electronic map that could show when a
circuit is out
 Provide information to assist Customer Call Center
staff in fielding caller inquiries
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Script with responses to frequently asked questions
Status reports on area outages, updated regularly
Evaluate use of GIS system in storm status and
response
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Information gathering & sharing
 Evaluate use of existing utility customer records in
supporting electric emergency response efforts
(locating customers, poles, transformers, etc.)
 Assess internal communications needs between
departments
 Investigate use of text pagers as a communications
tool
 Improve information flow of relevant information from
City to County EOC (power outage status, street
status)
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Public Education and Information
 Conduct storm preparedness public education
campaign at start of hurricane season
 Educate customers with medical concerns about
making advance provisions for power outages during
storms
 Retain ability to access internet, email and
Government Access Channel for communications
and information during storm (i.e.: wireless
connection; fiber optic connection of City facilities)
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Staff training
 Implement annual training for hurricane preparation
and response
 Train staff to assist Communications Services during
storm period
 Train customer call center staff in advance on
procedures, information needed for the dispatcher,
electric operations, handling abusive callers, etc.
 Provide training in proper use of communications
radio
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Utilities Operations Center
Command & Dispatch Center
 Assign a Communications/Operations Manager to
track and direct activities and resources in the field
 Update information on customers with medical
needs
 Update electric system maps
 Assign supervisor for call center staff
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Utilities Customer Call Center
 Establish procedure for sharing information at shift
changes
 Fine-tune staffing (length of shifts, scheduling relief
personnel, when to open and close call center)
 Manage noise in call center environment
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Continuing Needs
Water Resources
 All 30 wastewater lift stations are required by state
law to be equipped with electric generators at a cost
of approximately $20,000 each
 By end of 2003-2004, City will have approximately ½
of lift station generators in place
Lessons Learned
Issues, Concerns, Things To Work On
Continuing Needs
Water Resources
 Research availability of pump motors with larger
hoods to prevent future damage during hurricane
due to water entering the housing (2 motors ruined
during Isabel)
Public Safety
 New and/or improved facilities
Outcome/Statistics
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8,000 of 12,000 electric customers were without
power at some point during storm
95% restored by Saturday evening
Washington spared projected 10-foot tidal surge.
Actual surge was 6 ½ - 7 feet above sea level, and
only a couple of streets were flooded.
Streets clear of flood water by 4 a.m. 9/19
Outcome/Statistics
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Storm debris cleanup completed Oct. 3; estimated
7,000-8,000 cubic yards collected
No reports from public of flooded residences
Generator loaned to neighboring city once
Washington’s power restored
FEMA has declared eligibility for reimbursement for
storm expenses
City of Washington
Hurricane Isabel Response
September 2003