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TSG hurricane operational plan
From AgriLife WIki
DRAFT OPERATIONS PLAN
TEXAS SEA GRANT EXTENSION PROGRAM
PREPARATION FOR THE ANNUAL ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON
BACKGROUND:
The 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season continues to be etched in the minds of the public and haunting decision makers at all levels. Apparent failure in understanding available storm intelligence, inadequate preparations for the size and frequency of storm events, dysfunctional storm response and disenfranchised recovery has provided little time or energy for mitigation actions prior to the next Atlantic Hurricane Season beginning on June 1.
Of the 26 staff affiliated with the Texas Sea Grant Extension Program (TSGEP), 23 live in or near the coastal counties of Texas and are therefore vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes.
The TSGEP clientele base represents coastal and marine related industries as well as citizens and visitors to the coastal area.
With its close affiliation to the marine and coastal region of Texas, it is critical that the TSGEP take responsible action to mitigate potential impact of tropical storms and hurricanes and assist in staff and community recovery as well as, where appropriate, storm impact assessment.
ASSUMPTIONS:
- Storm events associated with the Atlantic Hurricane Season will continue to be frequent and intense within the current climatic cycle.
- Government policy and responsibility is to provide for the safety and welfare of residents and living marine resources of the coastal region.
- Efforts to recover from the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season in the Gulf of Mexico area have provided minimal opportunities to mitigate future storm events or prepare for the upcoming storm season.
- Emergency management resources will remain strained throughout the 2006 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
- The TSGEP is seeking opportunities to be relevant to coastal constituents during coastal natural hazard events.
- The TSGEP staff has a substantial familiarity with the coastal area in which it operates and may be called on to provide an impact assessment for the local leadership and emergency manager.
- Current dispersion of the TSGEP staff work area should reduce the potential that all staff would be directly impacted by the landfall of any single storm.
CONSIDERATIONS:
- First priority of the TSGEP staff is safety of themselves, their family and their home/possessions.
- Involvement of the TSGEP staff in local emergency management operations is voluntary and not necessarily prescribed by this operations plan.
- A geo-positioned photographic inventory of key infrastructure relevant to TSGEP clientele should be assembled and stored both locally and at the TSGEP Headquarters.
- Equipment for developing the geo-positioned photographic inventory of critical infrastructure will need to be made available for conduct of the inventory.
- Unless otherwise dictated by local leadership/responsibilities, TSGEP staff should follow local evacuation directives.
- Communications prior to and after storm landfall is critical for response and recovery operations, therefore TSGEP staff should alert the TSGEP Headquarters in College Station of evacuation plans and, following the storm, personal status and plans.
- The TSGEP Headquarters should be prepared to respond to staff recovery needs with supplies and equipment.
- There is a need for an emergency inventory of equipment and non-perishable supplies for distribution to impacted staff.
- Non-impacted TSGEP staff should be prepared to engage in staff recovery response and assessment teams as developed in this operations plan.
- Recovery response and assessment teams will require an orientation exercise in assigned areas in order to be responsive to resident Sea Grant Extension staff and effective in initial damage assessment.
- TSGEP staff needs to inventory storm response and recovery items to provide for action immediately following storm landfall or as assistance to the staff recovery and assessment teams is required.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- TSGEP staff establishes contingency organization plans for staff recovery response and assessment teams (RRAT).
- TSGEP HQ establishes equipment needs and secures necessary equipment to conduct a geo-positioned photographic inventory.
- TSGEP agents establish a geo-positioned photographic inventory of key infrastructure within assigned area with a copy secured in the local area and another sent to TSGEP HQ.
- TSGEP HQ establishes a storm response and recovery store of critical equipment and supply items sufficient for response to at least two staff member needs.
- TSGEP HQ establishes an evacuation alert communication system for TSGEP to be exercised at time of potential storm landfall or otherwise mandatory evacuation.
- TSGEP staff maintain inventory of storm response and recovery items for personal use or deployment with a RRAT.
ANNEXES
Annex 1 – Evacuation Alert Communication System
Annex 2 – Contingency organization of Recovery Response and Assessment Teams (RRAT)
Annex 3 – Proposed inventory of response and recovery items for TSGEP storm response store.
Annex 4 – Operational plan to develop geo-positioned photographic inventory for post impact assessment.
Annex 5 – Operational plan for activating the RRAT.
Annex 6 – TSGEP staff contact information
ANNEX 1 Evacuation Alert Communication System
Employee Protocols Following Traumatic Events The following information and procedures are offered for each employee’s safety following an event such as a hurricane or other major event.
If you live or work in an area that was impacted by a hurricane, explosion, major fire episode, or other natural disaster, please consider the following steps.
- Take care of yourself, your family, and your neighbors first.
- Assess your situation and the time, equipment, and supplies you might need to get your personal life back in order.
- Contact one of the people listed below with the following information:
- 1. Your own and your family’s health status
- 2. Status of your home and personal property
- 3. Supplies you need immediately that are not available locally – for whatever reason – both for your personal use and/or for your work
- 4. How or where you can be reached until you are back at work
- Please make contact by phone, email, or by any other means, even if you happen to be out of the area at the time of the event. It is equally important to know that you are accounted for whether you were in the middle of the episode or far from it. The best contact is by phone, if that is possible. Email will work, also, but doesn’t allow for positive knowledge that it was received. Failing both of these (for lack of phone service or a working computer), use any other means possible for contact.
The Texas Sea Grant College Program Headquarters office is designated the contact point for staff reporting. Call or contact the office to report status. Unless a response is needed, a voice message on 979-845-7526 or 979-845-1245 will suffice.
Alternative contact numbers are:
1) Ralph Rayburn (Home) at 979-690-7910.
2) Ralph Rayburn (Mobile) at 979-255-5390.
3) Peggy Foster (Home) at 979-846-5605
Note: Please fill out the form “Emergency Notification Information” as soon as possible, send it to Peggy Foster, and keep the information on it up to date at least annually.
Emergency Notification Information
The following information will be used only for locating you or your household following storm events. It will not be shared with anyone outside of this Sea Grant office. It will be shared with a RRAT team when on a mission to assist you.
Name:_____________________________________________ DOB: mm___dd___yy___
Name of office where you work:
Physical Address of that office:
Lat: Lon: of that office location
Your work phone:
Home Address:
Lat: __________ Lon: _________ of your residence
Your home phone:
Your cell phone:
Names of others in your household:
_______________________________________________ DOB: mm____dd____yy____
_______________________________________________ DOB: mm____dd____yy____
_______________________________________________ DOB: mm____dd____yy____
_______________________________________________ DOB: mm____dd____yy____ (additional household members on reverse)
Name of place where you and those listed above will meet if separated and cannot return home.
________________________ town: ______________ state: _______________
Lat. _________ Lon. __________ of that meeting place
Primary
Name of person you consider to be next of kin: ____________________________________ Relationship: ________________
Their mailing address: __________________________________________________
Their phone: __________________________
Secondary
Name of person you consider to be next of kin: ____________________________________ Relationship: ________________
Their mailing address: __________________________________________________
Their phone: __________________________
Name of one person not living with you who you will attempt to contact, and who we can call to verify your safety following a storm - if we can’t reach you directly or you cannot reach us.:
Name & relationship:
Phone for that person:
This information is current as of: ____________________________
Additional Data
Name: ______________________________________________ Describe each of the state or personal vehicles that you drive on a regular basis:
1. Make: ____________________________ Model ______________________
Color _____________________________ Year ________Lic: # _________
Distinguishing marks: ____________________________________________
2. Make: ____________________________ Model ______________________
Color _____________________________ Year ________Lic:# _________
Distinguishing marks: ____________________________________________
3. Make: ____________________________ Model ______________________
Color _____________________________ Year ________Lic:# _________
Distinguishing marks: ____________________________________________
4. Make: ____________________________ Model ______________________
Color _____________________________ Year ________Lic:# _________
Distinguishing marks: __________________________________________
Additional that would aid in locating you following a storm event:
Note: If you are within the zone of impact of a hurricane or other catastrophic event, please phone or otherwise directly or indirectly get word to the Texas Sea Grant Office as soon as practical. Report on your (and your family’s) physical condition, the condition of your home, and your current personal needs.
The Sea Grant Safe Harbor
A suggestion was made at a regional hurricane response training that Sea Grant people throughout the Gulf Region might wish to establish a set of safe harbors for Sea Grant employees forced to evacuate when faced with hurricanes, or following such an event.
This was envisioned to work for Sea Grant employees only – taking care of our own. Any Sea Grant employee and his/her family that is forced to evacuate could contact another Sea Grant employee willing house them outside of the zone of destruction. If this notion appeals enough to you that you’d like to participate, please fill out the following information and forward it to: Peggy Foster at Texas Sea Grant, 2700 Earl Rudder Fwy. S #1800, by email to pfoster@neo.tamu.edu, or fax at 979-845-7525.
The information will be kept on file at the Texas Sea Grant Headquarters. It will not be distributed, but will remain a discreet list to be worked through when the need arises. Keep a copy with your hurricane preparation materials.
- If you should become an evacuee and need a safe refuge with another Sea Grant employee:
- Primary contact is Texas Sea Grant Headquarters at (979) 845-3854.
- The backup contact is Ralph Rayburn, 979-845-7526 (office), 979-690-7910 (home), 979-255-5390 (mobile).
- Several Headquarters staff are willing to house staff as necessary.
I (we) am/are willing to provide shelter for up to ______ people during their evacuation from a hurricane or other natural disaster.
Our residence is at: ___________________________________ City: _________________________State:______
Driving directions: ___________________________________________________________________
My phone at work is: ______________ My phone at home is: _____________________ My cell phone is: ______________________ My email at work is: _________________My email at home is: ___________________ Comments:
Signed: _____________________________________Date: __________________
ANNEX 2 Contingency Organization of Recovery Response and Assessment Teams (RRAT)
1. Recovery Response and Assessment Team (RRAT) “U” for upper Texas coast impact:
- Logan Respess
- Bill Harvey
- John O’Connell
- Ralph Rayburn
- Alternates:
- Tony Reisinger
- Russ Miget
- Mike Haby
- Dewayne Hollin
- Willie Younger (dependent on requirements for KARMA)
2. Recovery Response and Assessment Team (RRAT) “L” for lower Texas coast impact:
- Terrie Looney
- Julie Massey
- Rich Tillman
- Bill Harvey
- John P. O'Connell
- Ralph Rayburn
- Alternates:
- John Jacob
- TCWP staff as available.
- Gary Graham
- Granvil Treece
3. Recovery Response and Assessment Team (RRAT) “M” for mid Texas coast impact:
- Terrie Looney
- Julie Massey
- Logan Respess
- Tony Reisinger
- Ralph Rayburn
- Alternates:
- Dewayne Hollin
- Granvil Treece
- John Jacob
- TCWP staff as available.
ANNEX 3 Proposed inventory of response and recovery items for TSGEP storm response store
In considering transport of equipment and people, of supplies and in providing a secure and comfortable containment vehicle, we decided that perhaps a travel trailer would serve as a better vehicle than a storage type trailer. For example, a travel trailer could be prestocked and prearranged, such that supplies, food, equipment would be easily accessible and easily inventoried after use. A travel trailer would provide comfortable and secure sleeping quarters, reservoirs for water and could be operated off of generator or battery power. In effect, it would become a portable command/work center.
Some travel trailers are also equipped with bunkbeds and with storage areas in the rear of the trailer which can be accessed from the rear of the trailer and have ramps that allow easy access, loading and storage. Cost of these vehicles is not prohibitive.
1. Equipment –
- 7.5 kw generators (2)
- 2 way radios (5 sets)
- Satellite telephone (2)
- Digital cameras with GPS (2)
- Battery powered AM/FM radio (2)
- Chainsaws (2)
- Power washer (1)
2. Supplies (to maintain on hand)
- Fuel containers ( 6 X 10 gallons)
- Fuel oil mixture for chainsaws. (2 gallons)
- Electrical extension cord (4 @ 50 ft. each)
- Water containers (100 gallons capacity)
- Ice chests ( 4 X 64 qt)
- LED Flash lights (5 with batteries)
- First Aid Kit ( 3)
- Plastic tarp (4 - 12 X 20 or larger)
- Propane bottles (4)
- Outside propane burners (2)
- Clean up supplies (mops, brooms buckets, towels, disinfectant)
- Outside clean up supplies (shovels, hand saws, rakes.)
- Chemical light sticks
- Plastic garbage bags
- Machete
- Travel Trailer
3. Supplies (purchase/obtained near deployment)
- Bleach (without additives)
- Butane lighters
- Fill propane bottles
- Fill fuel containers
- Insect spray and citronella candles
- Batteries
- Flashlights
- Two way radios
- AM/FM radio
- Food items
- Kitchen items
- Utensils
- Can opener
- Plates
- Cups
- Zip lock bags
- Pet food items (as required)
- Disposable camera and film (8)
- Personal hygiene items
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Pre moist towelettes.
- Lotion
- Soap
- Toothpaste/brushes
- Other items as requested by impacted staff
- Bar oil, Chain saw, heavy
ANNEX 4 Operational Plan To Develop Geo-positioned Photographic Inventory For Post Impact Assessment
1. Situation –
- Infrastructure vulnerable to storm impacts and important to the clientele of the Sea Grant Extension Program lies within the geographic area of program activities.
- Timely assessment of damage to this infrastructure could assist decision makers in seeking resources for recovery.
- An effective method to document a pre and post storm assessment of key infrastructure is through a photographic record that is geo-positioned to allow for comparable photographs when familiar landmarks may no longer exist.
- Photographic records should be secured in the local area as well as outside the area of potential impact.
- Entering an impacted area without resident verification or other credentials may be difficult.
- For ease of transmission and comparison, digital photography will be utilized.
2. Preparation/Orientation/Geo-positioned photographs collection –
- Developing the photographic inventory of relevant infrastructure.
- i. Ideally the photographic inventory shall be done in conjunction with orientation of the RRAT to the assigned area and, along with the principal Sea Grant Extension staff person in the area, will allow the RRAT to view, evaluate, establish geo-position and photograph infrastructure considered to be critical to Sea Grant Extension clientele.
- ii. In lieu of the opportunity to conduct an orientation for the RRAT in the area, the principal Sea Grant Extension staff person in the area with at least one person from the RRAT assigned to the area will view, evaluate, establish geo-position and photograph infrastructure considered to be critical to Sea Grant Extension clientele.
- iii. As the least desirable, the principal Sea Grant Extension staff in the area will view, evaluate, establish geo-position and photograph infrastructure considered to be critical to Sea Grant Extension clientele.
- The principal Sea Grant Extension staff in the area will be responsible for cataloguing and disposition of the photographs.
3. Disposition of pre-event geo-positioned photographs
- One copy of the catalogued geo-positioned photography of clientele critical infrastructure will be secured in the local area under the care of the principal Sea Grant Extension staff.
- One copy of the catalogued geo-positioned photography of clientele critical infrastructure in the area will be forwarded to the Texas Sea Grant Extension Headquarters with notation on the location of the duplicate copy remaining in the coastal area. Sea Grant Extension headquarters staff will be responsible for securing photography and making it available for comparison with post-event photography.
4. Post event impact assessment
- If a RRAT is deployed to an area following landfall, the RRAT will be responsible for obtaining geo-positioned photographs of infrastructure identified in initial pre-event photographs.
- If impact does not require deployment of a RRAT, the principal Sea Grant Extension staff in the area will be responsible for obtaining geo-positioned photographs of infrastructure identified in initial pre-event photographs.
5. Disposition of post-event Geo-positioned photographs
- Post event geo-positioned photographs of infrastructure identified in initial pre-event photographs will be dispatched to the Texas Sea Grant Extension Headquarters in the most expeditious means available.
ANNEX 5 Operational plan for activating the RRAT
1. Situation:
- The situation will be determined by intensity, size and projected and realized landfall of the coastal storm. General contingencies for regionalization are as follows:
- Upper Texas coast land fall – Galveston, Harris, Chamber, Jefferson counties.
- Middle Texas coast land fall – Brazoria, Matagorda, Calhoun counties.
- Lower Texas coast land fall – Aransas, Nueces, Cameron counties.
- The time critical nature of the situation will be dependent on staff evacuation to safe harbor and/or status of staff property following landfall and storm passage from the area.
- Situation assessments will be made by the Texas Sea Grant Extension Headquarters as soon as possible following storm landfall and clearance of the coastal area.
2. Mission: The mission of the Recovery Response and Assessment Teams (RRAT) will be to provide storm recovery items to the staff of the Texas Sea Grant Extension Program impacted by the storm and to assess the damage to infrastructure critical to Sea Grant clientele.
3. Execution:
- Concept of the Operation – Based on the area of the coast impacted by the storm, a RRAT will be activated with coastal members assembling with members from the Sea Grant Extension Headquarters bringing supplies and equipment from the TSGEP storm response store. An assembly site will be determined after evaluation of conditions following the storm. From the initial assembly site the team will rendezvous with the principal Sea Grant Extension staff person(s) in the impacted area.
- Execution:
- For an upper Texas coast landfall, U-RRAT will be activated and directed to an initial assembly site.
- For a middle Texas coast landfall, M-RRAT will be activated and directed to an initial assembly site.
- For a lower Texas coast landfall, L-RRAT will be activated and directed to an initial assembly site.
- Coordinating instructions:
- Information on time to meet in the assembly area, any special situations and project needs will be issued as soon as possible after landfall.
4. Administration and Logistics.
- The Texas Sea Grant Extension Headquarters will be the principal administrative center during the storm incident. The Headquarters will maintain the response store of equipment and supplies, both on hand and to be acquired. Should storm path predictions project impact to the College Station/Bryan area, the headquarters staff will secure the stores and, to the extent possible, ensure the ability to deploy. Alternative administrative sites will be established as needed based on storm projections.
- The principal Texas Sea Grant staff in the area will coordinate securing of access credentials for the RRAT designated to that area.
5. Coordination and communications:
- The Sea Grant Extension program leader will be the principal coordinator of recovery and assessment efforts. Should the program leader not be able to perform these duties an alternate coordinator will be designated.
- Communications will be through whatever means is available to include deployment of satellite phones in impacted areas with damaged or inadequate landline or mobile phones.
ANNEX 6 TSGEP staff contact information
| NAME | H-LOCATION | O-PHONE | M-PHONE | H-PHONE |
| Laura Beach | Bay City | 979-863-2940 | 979-244-9497 | |
| Susan Benner | 281-218-6340 | |||
| De la Garza | 956-968-2132 | 956-371-6024 | ||
| Gary Graham | West Columbia | 979-345-6131 | 409-692-3533 | 979-292-6120 |
| Mike Haby | Corpus Christi | 361-265-9203 | 361-991-4269 | |
| Bill Harvey | Port Lavaca | 361-552-9747 | 361-920-1284 | 512-589-4252 |
| Dewayne Hollin | Bryan | 979-845-3857 | 979-676-1350 | 979-776-5531 |
| John Jacob | Friendswood | 281-218-0565 | 832-671-8171 | 281-461-6099 |
| Tom Klaiber | Matagorda | |||
| Jim Kruse | Houston | 713-686-2971 | 713-305-3501 | 832-242-2589 |
| Chris LaChance | Houston | 281-218-0721 | 281-935-6124 | |
| Terri Looney | Hampshire | 409-835-8461 | 409-243-2703 | |
| Ricardo Lopez | 281-218-6128 | 832-671-0181 | ||
| Julie Massey | Clear Lake Shores | 281-534-3413 | 281-787-5479 | 281-538-1124 |
| Meyer | 281-218-0570 | |||
| Russ Miget | Port Aransas | 361-825-3465 | 361-947-3288 | 361-749-4346 |
| John P O’Connell | Bay City | 979-245-4100 | 979-240-3486 | 979-240-3486 |
| Ralph Rayburn | College Station | 979-845-78526 | 979-255-5390 | 979-690-7910 |
| Tony Reisinger | San Benito | 956-361-8236 | 956-493-8129 | </TD> 956-412-1810</TD>
