SAMPLE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN FOR TOWN OF GROTON, CONNECTICUT

INTRODUCTION

An Emergency Operations Plan(EOP) is described as a plan or a system for use to manage the prevention of , preparation for and response to any disasters and an approach for the recovery from the effects on any kind of disaster whether man-made or natural disaster (Canton, 2007).

Purpose

The aimed of development of this plan is to save lives of the populace within the town of Groton, Connecticut by use of all available resources within the town. The plan’s aim is enabling the government swift and direct control and the continued involvement of government in disaster management. In addition, plan also incorporates the involvement of various stakeholders within the society to ensure the involvement of all sectors and the definition of their responsibilities during times of disaster.

Scope

The scope of this plan involves all disasters, which are prone to the town of Gorton and the state of Connecticut. In addition, it also involves other risks, which are prone to any town with an ever-growing populace.

Situation

The town of Groton is situated in New London County, in the state of Connecticut. It was founded in the year 1655 as Gorton Bank but was later incorporated in the year 1705. As at the year 2000 census, the town had a population of 10,100 individuals (White, 2002).

Assumptions

Emergences and disasters are not forecasted thus they can occur at any given time. Disasters may include hurricanes, tornado, windstorms, blizzards, forest fires, floods, and drought. It is assumed that the available resources might be insufficient to counter any emergency. Thus with the insufficient resources the council could seek external assistance and seek to save the lives of people with the available resources. In addition, the emergency council might find it difficult to evacuate all people at once as this might lead to traffic congestion people on roads and rails stations leaving the city.

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

Mitigation

This is a process of taking measures or efforts for the reduction of human instigated disasters as well as natural disasters or hazards. It is paramount for the local council or government to ensure the preparation for incidences such as heavy snowfall, blizzards, tornados, accidents, aircraft incidences, fires, water contamination, and floods (Perry, & Lindell, 2007). The measures of mitigation include:

Departments hall take responsibility to undertake mitigation efforts in relation to their respective functions.
Restrict any development within areas considered as risky or hazardous.
Promote fire-fighting activities and services
Enlighten individuals and entities in storage of hazardous materials from contamination of water supply and food supplies.
Develop and maintain areas and shelter clearly marked “ALL HAZARD” shelters and evacuation annexes.
Presence of Radiology Annex for the decontamination form radioactive chemicals and availed radiological instruments.

Preparedness Phase and actions

This is regarded as the period of preparation from the time of alert of an imminent danger or emergency. This phase is vital and the possibility of danger should be communicated with adequate speed and accuracy to the various agencies within and without government.

Response Phase and Actions

Thetown manager is responsible for calling for meetings to alert all associated agencies of an imminent danger with utmost speed in communicating the matter.
After briefing of the imminent danger, all the involved parties will evaluate their responsibilities and begin the same review with their personnel with an aim of enlightening them on the danger to forge a practical approach to save lives.
The existent town Emergency Operations Center will be opened and put on alert to give the necessary support when the danger strikes.
All the necessary equipment, resources and personnel for curbing the risk should be availed to ensure smooth execution of the plan to save lives.
Coordination of efforts by the Emergency Management Director and evaluate communication channels and emergency equipment to ensure healthy operation sin the emergency efforts.
Emergency Operations Center operates at full capacity with the oversight of the Emergency of the Management Director.

Recovery Phase and Actions

This is considered as the phase when the emergency is in occurrence. It involves actions to give warnings about the immediate occurrence of the emergency and deployment of personnel and equipment to counter the emergency and its effects. Recovery actions should continue. They entail:

Continuation of rescue efforts and decontamination efforts to ensure overall health and safety of individuals
Provision of medical assistance and treatment to the injured or affected
Provision of shelter and clothing for the affected by the relevant agencies involved.
Facilitation of movement of individuals involved into shelters and safe houses for those involved in and affected by the emergency.
Identify and mark areas considered as safe for access by the public
Evaluate the progress and the situation for further actions such as restoration and rebuilding.
Ensure provision of security to prevent incidences of insecurity such as looting, violence and theft.
Ensure maintenance of facilities and equipment for dissemination of information to the public in relation to the developments

ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

This is paramount to have an effective Emergency Operations Plan. This ensures that all the involved agencies and stakeholders have responsibilities to take care of in the event of an emergency or disaster. This eases the burden, which might be accumulated by one party in the emergency efforts. In addition, it also enables the emergency management authority to delegate responsibilities and duties in relation to the specialty of the various agencies and stakeholders involved within the emergency efforts.

Chief Executive Officer’s emergency responsibilities

The town manager is officially responsible for organizing the efforts for rescue, organizing, and coordination of efforts for rescue and emergency relief. In addition, he or she is responsible for soliciting for support form non-governmental agencies in such times to help the community.

Authority of the chief Executive

The office possesses the ability to control all departments, agencies and offices with an aim of saving lives. However, the authority is superseded by the office of the Governor of Connecticut or the president of United States of America.
The office also reserves the right to seek support form external agencies such as non-government organization with an aim of alleviating the emergencies.

Emergency Management Director

The office is responsible for management of emergency operations. The role of the holder of the is responsible for giving advice to the chief executive officer of the town in terms of laws either state ,federal and council laws on execution of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). He is also responsible for ensuring that the plan is executed precisely. In summation, his responsibilities fall as:

Emergency efforts organization, planning and management
Directing, warning and controlling the emergency efforts
He or she is also responsible for the protection of the populace by ensuring that the people era secure form harm.
In addition, the director is also responsible for ensuring the training and practice in emergency drills by the various agencies for adequate preparation of any disasters or hazards.

Emergency Management Advisory Council

This is council of members appointed with the aim of providing the Director of Emergency management with the preparation and mitigation efforts from any imminent or existing emergency. The council usually meets formally at the beginning of each year for the deliberation of issues for the whole year. In addition, this enables them to avail contacts for communication in times of disasters whereby it is paramount for the council to meet immediately in the presence of any immediate dangers.

Fire Departments

This department is responsible for efforts aimed at fighting fires. They ensure that all resources and operations are adequate for fighting fires. In incidences of fires, the department is responsible for identification and notification of areas, which should be evacuated, to the responsible authority, and with specific reference to the police department. Due to the sophisticated equipment available to the department, it makes them suitable to assist people with special needs in times fires and other disasters when necessary.

Police Departments

The Police Department is responsible for ensuring that there is adequate security and prevention of looting, violence and theft of items within the business premises in the town. In addition, the -department is also responsible for the control of traffic and other law enforcement operations to ensure the smooth and timely execution of the emergency operations to save lives and property (Canton, 2007).

Ledgelight Health District

The Ledgelight health district is responsible for the coordination, control and directing of the use of medical resources and related personnel involvement in treatment and giving assistance to those involved in the disaster. In addition, this group is also responsible for scheduling and meeting with the relevant health ministries and local health facilities operators, emergency medical services executives, mortuary heads and mental health heads with the aim of formulating health plans, which vary form one individual to another. This enables the consolidation of efforts from these departments with the aim of giving adequate services to the public. Furthermore, the group also meets with defense teams, the police, emergency departments and state and federal agencies involved in emergency plans.

Public Works Department

This department is responsible for coordination with the police to alleviate traffic congestion in times disasters. This department is also heavily relied on for the restoration efforts such as water treatment, provision of the public with accessible and usable roads, and removal of waste and debris after a disaster. It also liaises with the public and private sectors in terms of service interruptions during an emergency and restoration after an emergency (Maryland Emergency Management Agency, 2002).

Superintendent of Learning Institutions

The office is responsible for the exercising of evacuation plans within learning institutions with an aim or enhancing disaster preparedness of the students. In addition, this office is also responsible for coordination of communication and efforts between the Emergency Director’s office and the management of various schools with an aim of providing immediate evacuation of students and other parties. Furthermore, with adequate communication form the office schools and other institutions are advised on how to distribute food in their storage for mass use.

General town Departments

In general, departments within the town have an obligation to ensure the safety of their personnel. This could also be enhanced by ensuring that there is a ready and available means of communication of the possible or imminent emergency. In addition, the same departments are also responsible for ensuring the execution of their duties and responsibilities in emergencies.

Associated Organizations

This includes all organizations and departments identified and have responsibilities and duties assigned for them in incidences requiring emergency assistance. This is vital because their involvement is aimed at alleviating the burden of duties and tasks, which could be executed by few organizations. In addition, their resources are vital for the overall success of tackling the disasters and emergencies.

DIRECTION, CONTROL, AND COORDINATION

This group is responsible for the determination of the objectives and priorities. They are responsible for the assignment of operational factions and allocation of personnel, equipment, material and other necessary resources. The group is also made up of operational supervisors charged with oversight of the operations during emergencies.

INFORMATION COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND DISSEMINATION

Appropriate channels for collection of information

Appointed departments should be provided with a channel for communication. Departments like police should avail their equipment for use to find those in need

Facilities for collection of information and dissemination of the same

All involved organs should be provided with accurate information, which has been evaluated by the Emergency department with aim of providing precise emergency information.

Provision of resources for the analysis, collection and Dissemination of information

The police and other volunteer organizations involved could consolidate their resources for the

COMMUNICATIONS

This is vital for conveyance of information to those in responsible for the overall alleviation of problems and emergency issues

Internal Communications

Communication within the Emergency Management group can be made possible via the use of pagers and cellular phones for ease in communication of vital information.

External Communication

External communication can be made easier using appropriate chains of command to convey information and use of media to convey information to the public. . This outward communication is first deliberated on by the Emergency Management council depending on sensitivity of issues (Mistovich, Karren, Werman, & Hafen, 2010).

Communication Tools

Standard telephones
Cellular telephones
Social media
Television or media
Faxes
Radio
Bullhorns and megaphones
Two way radios as used by police and other security organs

ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, LOGISTICS

Support and Mutual Aid

The local government of the town of Groton is responsible for the safety of both people and their property within the jurisdiction of the town. The emergency efforts are only carried out by the emergency management authority. Thus, any mutual agreement for aid is sued when there is need for the aid or when necessity for extra aid arises (Fagel, 2011). Hence, the need for support is approved by the chief officer and then directed and coordinated by the emergency management director. He or she may seek assistance form various organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, Nursing Associations, Civil Air Patrol units and Emergency Response Units. These organizations are mandated to help with emergency efforts with respects to their capabilities, capacities and fields of specialization. Such organizations are appointed when there is overwhelming need for support in terms of specialized care and work force for alleviation of suffering of the public.

Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services is an automatic candidate for emergency activities as this group is involved in provision of emergency medical care to suffering and ailing citizens. This is because within this group there is the presence of qualified medical personnel who are needed to give emergency treatment to individuals involved in the disasters and alleviate their pain.

Red Cross

This is a branch of the world-renowned Red Cross organization involved in humanitarian activities all over the world. The organization could alleviate the emergency condition by soliciting for support form people around the country to provide with food, clothing, medicine, physical assistance and funds to assist the people in need. The collected items are then forwarded to the emergency Management teams for distribution to those new (White, 2002).

Public Utilities

The public utilities are responsible for assignment of qualified individuals with instructions from the Emergency Management Chief Executive with an aim of providing specialized labor tin emergency periods. Their liaison with the emergency management teams enables them to coordinate the provision of various services and interruption of the same if need arises. In addition, this group is responsible for keeping the chief executive informed in terms of the damage caused by the emergency or disaster.

Salvation Army

As voluntary organization, it has the ability to source for labor and items for alleviation of emergency conditions. In addition, the organization could also avail services such as mobile medical centers, canteens and shelters for incidences of evacuation (Philpott, & Serluco, 2010).

Emergency Management

The Title 28, Chapter 517, Section 28-1C of the Connecticut General Statutes provides for the presence of Civil Preparedness Forces which it describes as “Organized personnel engaged in carrying out civil preparedness functions in accordance with the this chapter or any other regulation thereunder”. Thus, all government agencies such as police and fire departments are mandated with the authority to call up their personnel to duty of civil preparedness (White, 2002).

Financial Records and Instruments

All the town departments are mandated to ensure the presence and safety of financial records, which should be accurate and reflect the costs accrued for the emergency period. They should be properly accounted in receipts, dully signed, and approved by the relevant authority within the department to ensure no fraud or misappropriation of funds happens within the departments during the emergencies.

Continued involvement of Government

For continuity in emergency operations, there is a distinct line of succession, which is as follows:

Town Manager
Director of Administrative Services within the Emergency Team
Chief of the Police Department of Groton Town

In absence of leading authority, the next in line assumes position for the execution of the emergency plan and oversight of the same (Haddow, & Bullock, 2003).

PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

Approval and Dissemination of the Plan

Approval of this plan is documented within the Title 28, Chapter 517 of the General Statutes of Connecticut of the State of Connecticut Emergency Operations Plan (Haddow, & Bullock, 2003).

Plan review and Updating

The emergency Plan updating lies with the Emergency Management Director to correct any deviations identified through the execution of the emergency plan. This is aimed at having a relevant and practical emergency plan.

Training and Exercising the Plan

Constant drill should be ensured within the various agencies and institutions. In addition, the Emergency Operation Plan should be availed to the various institutions to ensure they are conversant with the expectations in times of emergencies. In addition, the same should be ensured to be practical and constant drills within offices, schools, hospital to keep people up to date in terms of expectations (Wallace, & Webber, 2004).

References

Canton, L. G. (2007). Emergency management: Concepts and strategies for effective programs. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley-Interscience.

Fagel, M. J. (2011). Principles of emergency management and emergency operations centers (EOC). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Haddow, G. D., & Bullock, J. A. (2003). Introduction to emergency management. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Maryland Emergency Management Agency. (2002). Emergency operations plan. Pikesville, MD: Emergency Management Agency.

Mistovich, J. J., Karren, K. J., Werman, H. A., & Hafen, B. Q. (2010). Prehospital emergency care. Boston: Brady/Pearson.

Perry, R. W., & Lindell, M. K. (2007). Emergency planning. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.

Philpott, D., & Serluco, P. (2010). Public school emergency preparedness and crisis management plan. Lanham, Md: Government Institutes.

Wallace, M., & Webber, L. (2004). The disaster recovery handbook: A step-by-step plan to ensure business continuity and protect vital operations, facilities, and assets. New York: American Management Association.

White, L. C. (2002). The Barbour collection of Connecticut town vital records. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishers.