LEAD:
Intercity Transit
Roads and Transportation Services Department
Sheriff's Office
SUPPORT:
Emergency Management
School Districts
Port of Olympia
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Purpose
Transportation: To ensure effective utilization of available transportation resources during an emergency/disaster.
Evacuation:To provide for the coordinated evacuation of the population from an area of high risk in the event of a threatening hazard.
B. Scope
This ESF addresses transportation and evacuation emergency activities including buses, vans, aircraft as necessary for relief services, and supplies; and the authorization, direction, routing, and relocation of people from their homes, schools, and places of business.
II. POLICIES
A. Primary emergency transportation responsibilities will be divided between Intercity Transit (IT) and the Roads and Transportation Services (RATS) Department. Intercity Transit will coordinate for all people movement and RATS will coordinate for all other resource movement.
B. In accordance with RCW 38.52.110 (1), in responding to a disaster, the Board of County Commissioners are directed to utilize the services, equipment, supplies, and facilities of existing departments, offices, and agencies of the state, political subdivisions, and all other municipal corporations thereof including but not limited to districts and quasi municipal corporations organized under the laws of the state of Washington to the maximum extent practicable, and the officers and personnel of all such departments, offices, and agencies are directed to cooperate with and extend such services and facilities upon request notwithstanding any other provision of law.
III. PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS
A. All county owned vehicles (not otherwise involved in the emergency response) will be available for use by the transportation supervisor.
B. Transportation infrastructure may sustain significant damage in a disaster. The damage, dependent upon the transportation network, will influence the means and accessibility level for relief services and supplies.
C. Disaster response which requires transportation capacity may be difficult to coordinate effectively during the immediate post-disaster period.
D. The requirement for transportation capacity during immediate lifesaving response phase may exceed the availability of Thurston County or readily obtained assets.
E. Where the local ground, water or air transportation systems have been severely disabled, local political subdivisions will act to restore transportation systems and equipment on a priority basis.
IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS - TRANSPORTATION
A. The Director of Intercity Transit and the Director of the Roads and Transportation Services, or their designees, shall serve as transportation supervisors in disasters.
B. When transportation sources (e.g., buses or vans) are obtained, every attempt will be made to obtain drivers that are familiar with those vehicles (e.g., owner or assigned driver).
C. Thurston County will provide emergency transportation, within its capability, in an emergency/disaster. If transportation requirements exceed the capabilities of the County, other public and private sources shall be utilized as a secondary transportation means.
D. If local capabilities are exceeded in meeting transportation needs, Emergency Management may request assistance from the State or FEMA.
V. RESPONSIBILITIES - TRANSPORTATION
A. Local
1. Intercity Transit
a. Coordinate the emergency transport of people.
b. Coordinate transportation availability and use with applicable public and private resource providers.
c. Send a representative to the EOC to serve as transportation supervisor upon request of the DEM/EOC.
2. Roads and Transportation Services
a. Coordinate the emergency transport of material and equipment.
b. Send a representative to the EOC to serve as assistant transportation supervisor.
c. Determine the usable portions of the local street and road network.
d. Provide for removal of wreckage and debris to permit vehicle access or movement, and temporary repair of lightly damaged roads and bridges.
e. Recommend priorities for restoration of local streets and roads.
3. Transportation Supervisor (EOC Activation Position)
a. Notify appropriate agencies of the potential need for emergency transportation and request vehicles as necessary.
b. Assign transportation resources.
c. Arrange for emergency fuel sources.
d. Arrange for vehicle maintenance and support.
e. Provide record keeping of transportation expenses incurred under emergency conditions.
f. Request supplemented transportation resources from the State EOC if local emergency transportation capabilities are exceeded.
4. Emergency Management
Coordinate transportation issues with other local emergency management programs through the Emergency Management Council of Thurston County.
5. Sheriff''s Office
Provide traffic control and coordinate evacuation, as necessary.
6. School Districts
Coordinate with the Transportation Supervisor for the provision of District transportation assets to assist in meeting emergency transportation needs.
7. Port of Olympia
a. Advise the Transportation Supervisor on marine and air transport matters.
b. Coordinate the provision of marine and air transportation.
8. All Other County Organizations
Provide transportation resources and support as requested and available.
B. State Emergency Management
Coordinate state and federal response for transportation assistance when requested by local government.
C. Federal Government
1. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
As needed, supplement local transportation requirements after disasters.
2. Department of Defense
Provides urgent air transport/rescue services for known subjects in time-critical situations under existing military assistance to safety and traffic procedures.
VI. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS - EVACUATION
A. The recommendation for evacuation will be issued by the Board of County Commissioners, the County Sheriff, the EOC Supervisor, or a local Fire Chief. The local incident commander will direct and control the evacuation.
B. The relocation of people from their homes, schools and places of business is inter-and intra-jurisdictional, with no one person or agency having the authority and responsibility for carrying out an evacuation. However, coordination of the emergency relocation of the population in unincorporated Thurston County from a risk area will be through the Division of Emergency Management and the EOC.
C. County government, through its departments, will direct, control, and coordinate the movement of people on the county road system and will support state and city government with crowd and traffic control on city streets, federal highways, and state roads, as resources availability permits.
D. Evacuation warning and instructions may be given by the Sheriff's Office or Fire Agencies with door-to-door contacts, mobile sirens, and public address systems.
E. Evacuation instructions and information for the public through the media will be coordinated by the Public Information Coordinator.
F. Some of the population may not follow instructions to evacuate a risk area, but choose to remain in homes or places of business.
G. Some people can be expected to evacuate a risk area to places of their choice prior to receiving official evacuation instructions.
VII. RESPONSIBILITIES - EVACUATION
A. EOC
1. Collect evacuation and people movement intelligence and advise the Board of County Commissioners on the situation.
2. Coordinate resources and information for shelter, evacuation routes, and transportation of people who lack private means.
3. Coordinate with the Public Information Coordinator to keep the population advised of evacuation routes, conditions, changes, and plans through the use of radio, the newspapers, and TV.
B. Sheriff's Office
1. Direct and coordinate crowd and traffic control operations.
2. Identify and establish evacuation routes and advise the population.
3. Assist in the removal of stalled vehicles and equipment from evacuation routes.
4. Direct and coordinate the movement and evacuation of institutionalized prisoners from the Thurston County Corrections Facility.
5. Cities will be responsible for control in their jurisdictions.
C. Roads & Transportation Services (RATS)
1. Assist in traffic control operations by providing signs and barricades.
2. Provide labor and equipment to keep evacuation routes clear of stalled vehicles and equipment.
3. Provide for the maintenance or repair of evacuation routes.
4. Through mutual aid and as resources are available, assist the state and cities in crowd and traffic control by providing and placing signs and barricades.
D. Fire Agencies
Assist with broadcasting the warning message and evacuation routes.
E. Intercity Transit
Coordinate the use of public and private mass transportation resources for the movement of people who lack transportation or have special needs; i.e. the handicapped, elderly, and institutionalized persons.
F. Public Information
Coordinate all public information and instructions and media relations as defined in ESF #31 Public Information.
VIII. REFERENCES
A. EOC Standard Operating Procedures
B. Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan
C. Washington State Department of Transportation Disaster Plan
IX. ATTACHMENT
WARNING/EVACUATION NOTIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIRE FIGHTING, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND VOLUNTEER PERSONNEL
1. Drive slowly the length of all streets in the warning area. Use your siren to get people's attention.
2. Stop at appropriate intervals and use your public address system to announce the message provided by CAPCOM or the EOC.
Message - variable to the situation.
_______________________________________________________________
Be sure to lock your doors and windows when you leave.
3. If you are notifying people of an evacuation recommendation and encounter a resident who refuses to evacuate, log the address and, as time permits, attempt to get the names of the people who are not evacuating and an out-of-area next of kin. Depending on the urgency of the evacuation, do not delay subsequent notification to get this information.
4. Upon completion of notifications in your assigned area, inform the EOC via the appropriate chain-of-command.