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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUpper Puna Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan - Hannah Hedrick (2)Upper Puna Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan (Draft March 20, 2018) Prepared by Hannah L. Hedrick, PhD UPERP Plan Facilitator 808 968-7013, 812 249-8248, hedrickhnecaa-aol.com William Gray, UPERP Incident Director ????? Electronic Information and Communication Facilitator Outreach Volunteers (Responsibilities below) Ronda Lickfelt, Fern Forest, Lower Omeka, adjoining streets Myelle, Hawaiian Orchid Isle Estates Heidi Windecker, Fern Forest Fern Forest/Eden Roc Connectivity Nannette Savage and R Janice Parker Ron and Sarah Costa Fern Forest Neighborhood Watch Coordinators RESOURCE/CONSULTANT LIST Stephanie Bath, PCDP Steering Committee, Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee (invited) Tom Brandt, Upper Puna VFD Coordinator (invited) Marlene Hapai John Olson, PCDP Steering Committee Chair ADD INDIVIDUALS RECOMMENDED BY BILL HANSEN, AS THEY RESPOND Objective: To create a template for inter -subdivision cooperation by developing guidelines and systems to ensure that residents of Upper Puna are prepared for a disaster and that they receive timely information and basic necessities, such as food, ice, water, and essential supplies, until such time as less than 5% of households are impacted. Actions: Specific timelines and responsible persons will be developed to support the purpose and scope described below. Plan Components Purpose, Scope, Organization and Responsibilities, and Actions in Preparation for and Response to an Incident I. Purpose Develop a plan and guidelines to educate and empower residents on disaster preparedness, designate an Incident Command Center/Community Gathering Place, and organize multiple subdivision residents actions related to SHELTERING IN PLACE and EVACUATING WHEN NECESSARY. Our purpose requires the following actions: (1) Connecting with existing CERT personnel and training additional Upper Puna CERT members (2) Recruiting Outreach Volunteers to identify UPERP participants, including ham radio operators, health care providers, residents with equipment and tools, and people with special needs (see document related to Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities) (3 )Ensuring progress on removing barriers blocking the existing road connecting Fern Forest and Eden Roc at lower Kaleponi and Punahele by working with the Mayor's Committee on Puna Roads, which has the FF/ER connection as its first priority, with funding between $20,000 and $70,000 (see minutes, Meeting #5) II. Scope All Upper Puna residents are included in this plan to provide an Incident Command Center and community gathering place and electronic dissemination through which residents can find information regarding the status of power, phone service, internet service, and road access within participating subdivisions. • Water, ice, and food will be distributed as it is received from various resources. • Charging stations may be provided for cell phones, laptops and other electronic devices. • Outreach to the elderly and other residents with special needs may be provided based on the capacity of volunteers and information provided on the special needs form that have been completed and filed with UPERP coordinators. Risks that indicate a disaster or emergency condition/incident: Earthquake — Hurricanes — Tropical Storms — Tsunami — Wild Fire — FLOODING -- HIGHWAY AND ROAD CLOSURES Planning Assumptions Based on Incident Consequences • A major or catastrophic incident will overwhelm the capabilities of Hawaii County to provide prompt and effective emergency response and short-term recovery measures. * A LOCAL EVENT can require COMMUNITY RESPONSE • Transportation infrastructure will be damaged and local transportation services will be disrupted. • Widespread damage to commercial telecommunications facilities will be experienced. • Homes, public buildings, and other critical facilities and equipment will be destroyed or severely damaged. • Debris may make streets and highways impassable (also possible from minor incident). • Power supply will be damaged and either fully or partially inoperable (also possible from minor incident) • While we will prepare to SHELTER IN PLACE, we may experience injuries and fatalities and hundreds of residents may be forced from their homes • People with disabilities and chronic diseases will need special care, along with victims requiring immediate rescue and medical care. • Regular and emergency medications and treatments, INCLUDING SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN, may be unavailable or in short supply, along with shortages of a wide variety of supplies necessary for survival. Organization and Responsibilities General Guidelines During an incident all communications and instructions will come through the Incident Manager (IM) or an assigned alternate. The IM will be the designated contact person with all local agencies. UPERP Incident Management Team Leaders Overall Incident Manager (IM): Bill Gray Incident Management Team Leaders, two from each participating subdivision Fern Forest (Heidi?) Eden Roc (RJ?) Hawaiian Orchid Isle Estates (Myelle?) The Incident Manager is the point of contact for UPPER PUNA CERT directors when a disaster is declared OR WHEN A LOCAL EMERGENCY OCCURS. If there is prior warning, the Incident Manager contacts the IM Team and UPERP members and volunteers to have a meeting or through other means to confirm response plans and manage expectations (see `Pre -incident Planning below). UPERP Incident Manager Responsibilities 1. Coordinate available resources, beginning with identifying CERT trainees and encouraging Upper Puna trainings 2. Determine if the Community Gathering Place is safe for use as the Incident Command Center (ICC) a. If so, contact the responsible person(s) to unlock all access to the facilities b. If not, set up the ICC at the designated alternate location 3. Contact the UPERP team members and instructing them to meet at the ICC 4. Work with the Civil Defense Disaster Recovery Coordinator, Red Cross D.A.T. Coordinator, and local politicians and businesses to acquire and direct additional supplies such as water, ice, food, and other needed provisions to ICC for distribution. 5. Contact Civil Defense operations at 935-0031. 6. Direct volunteers during an incident. UPERP Incident Management Team Leader Responsibilities 1. Support IM in coordinating with CERT, Neighborhood Watch, health care professionals, ham radio operators, volunteers, equipment owners, etc. 2. Procure and store equipment and supplies (Appendix B) in storage bins inside a donated container or distributed to multiple team members who would be responsible for transporting the supplies and equipment to the Incident Command Center IV. Establish and Maintain an Upper Puna Culture of Preparedness 1. Organize annual community -wide meetings review the plan and brief residents on new developments. 2. Distribute print and electronic disaster preparedness materials to UP residents in person and online and, if funding is available, via the mail. 3. Conduct annual trainings and exercises in individual subdivisions and at a central location, including simulated responses, if possible.. 4. Provide support for talk story and town hall meetings focusing on emergency response and preparedness. 5. Maintain updated contacts with the Civil Defense, Red Cross, HELCO, Mayor's Office, Police, CERT, Neighborhood Watch, community and road associations, etc. 6. Update contact information and verify the inventory of supplies and equipment. V. Pre -Incident Planning for Tropical Storm, Hurricane, Wild Fire or Road/Street Closure 1. Confirm location of the Incident Command Center or alternate location as the center for all activities 2. The Incident Manager will contact all identified entities, will coordinate with participating subdivision Team Leaders and volunteers, CERT team leaders, and Neighborhood Watch. 3. Pre -incident Planning Timeline • 72 HOURS PRIOR: Monitor storm movement and review personal preparedness • 48 HOURS PRIOR: Begin securing homes, pets, gather supplies, consider options to evacuate, activate personal preparedness plan. • 36 HOURS PRIOR: Secure outside objects and vehicles, ensure that you have food, fuel, and cash. Incident Manager meets with UPERP Team, CERT, NW, and other participants. • 24 HOURS PRIOR: Individuals advised to secure a room within their home to "shelter in place" with needed supplies. • 12 HOURS PRIOR: Assist residents in ensuring that they and their families are safe and secure during the onset of the incident. (Note that emergency first responders will not respond as long as tropical storm conditions --39 mph winds or greater --are present.) 4. Incident Manager will a. Respond to notification by CERT Coordinator that a disaster has been declared b. After 36-48 hrs, will work with UPERP team to assess the extent of the damage and determine if action is needed (more that 5% of UP households affected, road access blocked) c Ensure that the Community Gathering Place is open d. Coordinate the efforts and communications of all components of the UPERP Plan e. Assign someone to keep records that would include but not be limited to the following: * Logging in/out volunteers * Log of Injuries * Equipment/supply use * Damages * Follow-up required/recommended f. Coordinate getting water/supplies to Incident Command Center g. Isolate life and safety hazards 5. UPERP team and volunteers will • Assume the role of IM as necessary • EAC Lead starts generator if needed • Assemble materials and supplies (UPERP members who have stored supplies should bring them to the activity center before the incident if advance warning of disaster). Refer to attached list. • Put up signs • Set up Information Station (white board, bulletin board, radio, and TV or laptop connected to projector if possible) (Bruce Howell?) • Distribute water, ice, food, supplies. • Keep records as assigned • Provide First Aid as needed by a trained volunteer or professional • Set up charging station for phones, laptops, other electronic devices EAC Lead contacts Seniors of Paradise Emergency Team to initiate outreach to seniors and persons with special needs. VI. When Civil Defense or Circumstances Require Evacuation Incident Manager should • Insure that the ICC/Community Gathering Place is open for evacuees • Coordinate the efforts and communications of the UPERP Team and Volunteers UPERP team and volunteers should * Assemble materials and supplies from designated storage UPERP incident if advance warning of evacuation) * Set up Information Station which may include radio, laptop connected to appropriate warning and weather centers, such as Pacific Disaster Center (pdc.org) * Keep record of volunteers * Set up games, bingo, cards, etc * Set up charging station for phones, laptops, etc. as needed * Contact Seniors of Paradise Emergency Team to initiate outreach to seniors and persons with special needs within the emergency area based on the capacity of volunteers and information provided on the special needs form that have been completed and filed with the UPERP Electronic Information and Communication Volunteer Evacuees should • Bring their own emergency preparedness kits (water, food, medications, bedding, clothing, and important family papers) for themselves and each family member. • Insure all pets are in carriers (no pets are allowed inside the Incident Command Center). Need: CERT training to Undergird UPERP Plan Report on communication between UPERP Incident Manager Bill Gray, Bill Hanson (CD Administrative Officer), and "Dennis" on developing a CERT Team that services ALL PARTICIPATING UPPER PUNA SUBDIVISONS (currently Fern Forest, Eden Roc, Hawaiian Orchid Isle States, and Royal Hawaiian Estates). Communications being initiated with Patti Pinto and others in Fern Acres. Initial steps: Taking the basic CERT training for those wanting to be on the team, in October, at Pahoa or Keeau Community Center, consisting of 4 Saturday and about 27 hours. Forming a specific team (23 CERT Teams established) following the "lengthy application process" referred to by Bill Hanson. Next step: CD personnel meet with Bill to review the application and also to collect names of those that will attend the October CERT class in Puna. Need: Official signage for roads and INDIVIDUAL RESIDENCES, communication and surveillance equipment to facilitate movement and communication in emergencies Possible funding sources for Neighborhood Watch participation in UPERP Plan: Grants of $1,000 to $2,500 were recently awarded for "police department Neighborhood Watch" in "Puna" and other areas, including Ka'u and Kona. See $2,500 for "Community Emergency Response Team." UPERP-related event: Dozens of events are supported with around $3,000. We could organize an "Upper Puna Emergency Response and Preparedness Fair, patterned after the PREP Fairs and the "Health Fairs" Hannah Hedrick organized at the Fern Forest Community Lot, with participation from more than a dozen groups and agencies. "PUBLIC SAFETY DISASTER/EMERGENCY HIGHWAY FUND. $300,000 UPERP coordinators will request that similar funds be made available for non -county roads for EMERGENCY PURPOSES that are RELATED to County and State roads. The Civil Rights complaint, brought forward to the County Council by Jennifer Ruggles, was found to be valid against the State and Hawaii County for lack of parity for Puna, with discrimination against economically disadvantaged residents, as well as Native Hawaiians. SIGNALS AND STREET LIGHTS. $550,000 Police, fire, and emergency vehicle drivers have long complained about the difficulty of responding to calls. UPERP coordinators will contact the County Council and specific departments about securing funds to ensure that EMERGENCY VEHICLES can navigate subdivision roads AT ALL TIMES.