LEAD:
Road and Transportation Services (RATS)
Development Services
SUPPORT:
Emergency Management
Public Health - Environmental Health
Central Services
Water and Waste Management
Community and Environmental Programs (Public Information)
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Purpose
To provide guidance for the emergency coordination of Public Works and Engineering services for unincorporated Thurston County.
B. Scope
This ESF addresses necessary public works and engineering activities including, but not limited to: demolition of unsafe structures, debris and wreckage clearance, temporary repair of essential facilities, inspection of facilities for structural condition and safety, and assisting in traffic control by providing barricades and signs, as necessary, to cope with an emergency/disaster.
II. RELATED POLICIES
A. Thurston County may collect for any costs incurred by its authorized representatives, contractors, and sub-contractors in carrying out any necessary work on property needed to protect public health and safety, including debris removal, demolition of unsafe or abandoned structures, removal of debris and wreckage, and administration costs. The collection of these costs and penalties may include billing the owner or placing a lien on the property and withholding further permits to the permittee or property until the penalties are paid.
B. Permitting fees and normal inspection procedures will stay in effect following a disaster unless otherwise directed by the Board of County Commissioners.
C. It is the policy of Thurston County to provide public works services to lands and facilities under County jurisdiction. Other services to private property, such as debris collection or fee adjustments, may be offered on a case by case basis by the Disaster Policy Advisory Group or the Board of County Commissioners.
III. PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS
A. A major emergency or disaster may cause extensive damage to property and infrastructure. Structures may be destroyed or severely weakened. Homes, public buildings, bridges, and other facilities may have to be reinforced or demolished to ensure safety. Debris may make streets and highways impassable. Public utilities may be damaged or be partially or fully inoperable.
B. Access to disaster areas may be dependent upon the re-establishment of ground routes. In many locations, debris clearance and emergency road repairs will be given top priority to support immediate lifesaving emergency response activities.
C. Damage assessment of the disaster area will be required to determine potential work load.
D. Thurston County will utilize the inspection guidance in the Applied Technology Council, ATC-20-1, field manual for post earthquake safety evaluation of buildings, to survey damaged buildings for safety.
E. Assistance from the Federal government may be needed to clear debris, perform damage assessments, structural evaluations, make emergency repairs to essential public facilities, reduce hazards by stabilizing or demolishing structures, and provide emergency water for human health needs and firefighting.
F. Emergency environmental waivers and legal clearances may be needed for disposal of materials from debris clearance and demolition activities for the protection of threatened public and private improvements.
G. Significant numbers of personnel with engineering and construction skills along with construction equipment and materials may be required from outside the disaster area.
H. Aftershocks will require re-evaluation of previously assessed structures and damages.
IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A. Local
1. The Thurston County Roads and Transportation Services(RATS) Director and the Development Services Director or their designees will serve as the primary coordinators of the public works and engineering function for Thurston County. When the EOC is activated, they will send a representative to coordinate activities. Other County departments may be contacted to provide manpower, equipment, or technical advice.
2. Communications to RATS and Development Services field personnel will be accomplished by the most efficient means.
3. Supplemental public works assistance may be requested through normal mutual aid channels or through the EOC.
4. The Development Services Department is the lead agency for coordinating the inspection of structures in unincorporated Thurston County after a disaster to determine building safety and health issues. This will be a cooperative effort with other departments and jurisdictions, and with assistance from private sector engineers.
5. The Development Services Department is the lead agency for the Thurston County permitting system in coordination with RATS and Public Health - Environmental Services.
6. Development Services responds to disasters three phases:
Phase 1. Initial Damage Assessment
Provide teams of inspectors to sweep affected areas and report to the EOC.
Phase 2. Emergency Permitting and Inspections
Expedite Permitting Center and field operations for emergency operations to:
1. Review damages and assist application process
2. Issue permits
3. Permit construction
4. Provide final inspections
Phase 3. Abandoned Buildings
1. Identification
2. Inspection
3. Demolition
4. Legal process
7. State and local government may contract with the Associated General Contractors of America to provide inspection services, heavy equipment and trained operators to supplement emergency engineering efforts under "Plan Bulldozer." During the time "Plan Bulldozer" is in use, operations will be performed at cost under a disaster relief contract. (Reference Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.)
B. State
1. Washington State Emergency Management alerts appropriate state agencies of the possible requirements for emergency engineering services, coordinates state assets and requests federal assistance to support local emergency engineering efforts. State departments/agencies that support the emergency engineering effort are identified in Annex R - Emergency Engineering Services of the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
2. State government will provide engineering services primarily to lands and facilities under its jurisdiction and will lend support to local government as requested and as circumstances allow. Supplemental assistance shall be requested through local and state emergency management channels.
C. Federal
1. The Federal Response Plan, ESF #3 - Public Works and Engineering provides for the federal response and support to assist state and local government. The primary federal agencies are the Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for planning, preparedness, and response with assistance to be provided by other branches as needed. In the event of federal activation, Thurston County will coordinate with other local, state, and federal agencies.
2. If direct federal assistance has been authorized by the President under an Emergency or Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA may issue a mission assignment to those federal agencies possessing the needed expertise or assets, only when it is verified to be beyond the capability of the affected state and local governments.
V. RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Local
1. Roads and Transportation (RATS)
a. Provide inspections of County roads and bridges to determine damage and safety.
b. Remove debris and wreckage from roads and bridges.
c. Designate usable county roads and bridges.
d. Provide temporary repair of damaged County roads and bridges, if possible.
e. Establish and/or maintain evacuation routes as directed by EOC or Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
f. Provide road block barricades, signs, and flaggers as requested.
g. Coordinate public information releases with the Public Information Coordinator.
h. Provide fuel storage.
i. Repair equipment.
j. Provide sand and gravel.
k. Provide trucks and drivers to transport debris and wreckage.
l. Provide flood control support.
m. Coordinate drainage activities.
n. Coordinate County-wide disaster transportation needs.
o. Coordinate with other political jurisdictions.
p. Coordinate with private contractors and suppliers.
q. Relocate RATS shops if conditions warrant.
r. Document damages and costs.
2. Development Service
a. Coordinate damage assessment and post disaster safety inspections of County buildings and facilities. Coordinate post-earthquake ATC-20 inspections.
b. Coordinate damage assessment and post disaster safety inspections of private businesses in the County.
c. Coordinate private assessment and inspection resources.
d. Expedite permitting and required inspections as appropriate and feasible.
e. Provide for the demolition of damaged and/or abandoned structures posing a threat to human safety.
f. Coordinate expeditious removal of debris and other non-hazardous materials.
g. Assess and make recommendations for environmental damage to streams, bluffs, shore lines, and river banks.
h. Review repair, reconstruction, and replacement of structures for compliance with building, land use, and environmental regulations.
i. Coordinate with the EOC and Public Information Coordinator on public information.
j. Inspectors may distribute public repair and recovery information.
k. Document damages and costs, and provide necessary reports.
3. EOC Supervisor
a. Coordinate EOC activation and call-out of essential representatives.
b. Coordinate roads, facility, and infrastructure recovery efforts.
c. Coordinate requests for outside labor, equipment, and technical experts.
d. Issue warnings to the public.
e. Coordinate public information and warnings.
f. Identify and recommend training opportunities for RATS and engineering personnel (such as ATC-20 Post Earthquake Damage Assessment Training).
4. Public Health - Environmental Services
a. Coordinate inspections of septic systems.
b. Coordinate safety of food and water supplies.
c. Provide for testing of wells and water supplies.
d. Coordinate all public information releases through the Thurston County Public Information Coordinator.
5. Central Services
Prioritize restoration of essential County facilities.
6. Water and Waste Management
Coordinate storm water and drainage needs and designs with RATS.
7. Public Information
Coordinate all public information and instructions and media relations as defined in ESF #31 Public Information.
VI. REFERENCES
A. The Federal Response Plan - ESF #3
B. Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan-ESF #3
C. Plan Bulldozer of the Associated General Contractors of America