Natural Disaster Emergencies

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Austen Newton
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1 Natural Disaster Emergencies Tim Baxter Road Safety and Loss Prevention Specialist Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (NIRMA) Preparation for Natural Disaster Events Have emergency action plans prepared should some type of natural disaster occur. Employees need to know what to do and where and where NOT to go The plan should include emergency contacts such as law enforcement, fire department, emergency manager, emergency services, contractors, etc. Prioritized steps to be taken in preparation for and during the event Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be available for employees at all times Necessary equipment should be kept in good working order with ample supplies and materials A key part of plan should be photographic and documented evidence of the disaster for easier application and access to federal emergency funds Once the disaster event is over, compile all related information and prepare for initial FEMA meetings Preventing Injury in Natural Disasters The key to preventing injury during natural disasters is safety and preparedness Always ensure ample first aid kits and fire extinguishers are available at all times Have employees trained on First Aid/CPR to assist in emergencies Have the proper Personal Protective Equipment available at all times and ensure employees are trained and required to use it

2 Snow Storms Develop a good snow removal plan Develop emergency snow removal routes and post them in the paper so the public will know routes. Also send to emergency services, schools, post office, etc. School bus routes, supplied by the schools, should be available to provide easier tracking of buses and snow removal on said routes Ensure equipment is prepared for cold weather and known defects are repaired prior to first snow storm Flooding Flooding, in some form or another, seems to hit every county Ways to prepare for flooding are numerous, especially for road departments Locations of available concrete rip rap should be noted for potential use Be prepared for municipalities to request the use of your employees, dump trucks, loaders and sand for sandbagging purposes Your emergency manager will likely have a good source for sandbags Be prepared to perform emergency bridge and culvert inspections Have ample barricades and signs in stock. If not, have contact numbers available for a quick call such as the state DOR, neighboring counties, municipalities, etc. Caution employees about driving through water over roads, dumping rip rap too close to unstable river banks, downed power lines, etc. Warn public through public notices to not drive through water over roads, ask them to notify county of washouts and other roadway deficiencies

3 Tornadoes/High Winds Provide or determine proper shelters for employees Purchase a weather radio with automatic warning Post emergency telephone numbers Have regular tornado drills Install safety features in county buildings, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers Keep county yards as clean as possible to reduce flying debris

Inspect offices and work areas for potential hazards (such as items that can move,

such as CPR and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how and when to turn off

debris, building damage, gas leaks, downed power lines, etc.

4 Inspect offices and work areas for potential hazards (such as items that can move, fall, break or catch fire) and correct them Have employees learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity in their respective buildings Ensure emergency lighting is in place should power go out. Have extra flashlights with good batteries After tornado has passed, be careful of debris, building damage, gas leaks, downed power lines, etc. Once employee safety has been determined, see if assistance is needed at schools, hospitals, retirement homes, etc. Update your tornado emergency action plan from your experiences

Ice Storms Severe ice storms are very difficult to manage The 2006 ice storm in central Nebraska presented ice nearly 2 inches thick over everything Preparing for ice

to remove thick ice Safety meetings should be held with employees prior to ice removal as to the hazards of downed high voltage power lines, very slick road surfaces,

5 Ice Storms Severe ice storms are very difficult to manage The 2006 ice storm in central Nebraska presented ice nearly 2 inches thick over everything Preparing for ice storms needs to be done late summer or early fall at the latest Ample salt and sand should be purchased A minimum of several sets of scarifier blades should be in stock to remove thick ice Safety meetings should be held with employees prior to ice removal as to the hazards of downed high voltage power lines, very slick road surfaces, etc. Communication lines should be kept open between municipalities, power companies and the county for interlocal cooperation to return the county to power as soon as possible

Wildfires Setup Wild Fire Training through the State Fire Marshals office Ralph Moul 308 726 5715 or ralph.moul@nebraska.gov Classes can be tailored toward operators.

They are more of abenefit to the fire fighters when everybody works together and they are rested Employees need to stay where they are assigned.

7 Wildfires Setup Wild Fire Training through the State Fire Marshals office Ralph Moul or Classes can be tailored toward operators. They will explain how and why they want you to do what they are asking Make the guys go home!! They most likely are not going to put the fire out over night. They are more of abenefit to the fire fighters when everybody works together and they are rested Employees need to stay where they are assigned. During the chaos of the fire, guys get disoriented and even lost. Experience has shown that employees who have grown up and worked in the areas they were fighting fire had no idea were they were at Communications are very important, fire channels should be programmed into county radios as well as neighboring county road departments

Chain of Command and attending daily briefings will keep you up to date on progress and weather changes Fire shelters and proper clothing is very important Helmet Goggles Nomex or cotton

Designed to reflect radiant heat, protect against convective heat and trap breathable air. First required in 1977, are constructed of layers of tin foil, woven cilica and fiberglass.

8 Chain of Command and attending daily briefings will keep you up to date on progress and weather changes Fire shelters and proper clothing is very important Helmet Goggles Nomex or cotton long sleeve shirt and pants Leather Boots Leather gloves Fire Shelters A device to be used as a last resort by firefighters when trapped by wildfires. Designed to reflect radiant heat, protect against convective heat and trap breathable air. First required in 1977, are constructed of layers of tin foil, woven cilica and fiberglass. First known use of a fire shelter was in 1804, when a boy was saved from a prairie fire when his mother covered him with a fresh buffalo hide. William Clark noted in his journal that the fire did not burn the grass around the boy.

Emergency Assistance Interlocal Agreement Interlocal Cooperation Agreement

of the Village of, that in emergency situations such as snow, tornados,

that County may assist the Village of in the removal of snow, debris, and/or

9 Emergency Assistance Interlocal Agreement Interlocal Cooperation Agreement Between the Village of and County WHEREAS, it would be in the best interest of the Village of, that in emergency situations such as snow, tornados, floods, etc. that County may assist the Village of in the removal of snow, debris, and/or other emergency clean up or repairs in such a manner as to facilitate returning the Village of to as close to normal conditions as practical, and

10 WHEREAS, County will assist, when able, the Village of upon the request of the Village s representative and will perform assistance under the supervision, direction and control of the Village although county employees will remain county employees at all times during the emergency assistance to the Village of, and WHEREAS, the Village of agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, protect and defend County and its elected and appointed officials, employees, agents, and representatives against any and all claims, demands, suits, actions, payments and judgments, including any and all costs and expenses connected therewith, legal cost or otherwise, for any damages which may be asserted, claimed, or recovered against or from County or its insurers, because of personal injury, including bodily injury or death, or on account of property damage, including loss of use thereof, sustained by any person or persons which arises out of, is in any way connected with, or results from any and all work or activity associated with the services provided under this agreement unless such damages are the direct and sole result of County s gross negligence, and WHEREAS, either entity may withdraw from said agreement upon written notification from either party. FEMA DISASTER FUNDS FEMA.gov The MOST important thing to do during natural disasters, outside of public and employee safety, is good record keeping and labor and equipment cost tracking Take plenty of photos of each project, have firm, documented estimates for materials, labor, equipment, etc. Develop a Debris Management Plan 2% discount on cost share with plan in place Have an Applicant Hand Book available which can be downloaded from the FEMA website

11 FEMA Publications and Policies Related to Debris Removal QUESTIONS

Tornado Preparedness. Monthly Safety Meeting

Tornado Preparedness. Monthly Safety Meeting Tornado Preparedness Monthly Safety Meeting Introduction Tornadoes can occur anywhere and at any time during the year. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported throughout the nation. The most violent