|
Preparing for the worst with the best
Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center plans, trains and drills with an exceptional team
Should a major disaster strike Jefferson County, how would we fare?
Visions of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina—and more recently Haiti and Chile—come to mind accompanied by the many unmet challenges played out on our TV screens and in our newspapers on a regular basis.
While this part of the country is not known for hurricanes or tornadoes, it is prone to earthquakes, wildfires, floods, landslides, major winter storms, oil spills, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, not to mention the increasing potential for terrorism not just here but throughout the country. How well prepared can we be for any one of those incidents?
The Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has come a long way from its humble beginnings back when Civil Defense was the catch phrase of the day. The EOC is now equipped with electronic features well-suited to a rural county geographically isolated from the large metropolitan areas of Seattle and Tacoma.
Through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security, Jefferson County has an excellent redundant system for communication, backed up with generators in case of power failures as well as alternate communications in the event of phone outages. There is closed circuit television capability between the county and the City of Port Townsend emergency control centers. Amateur radio operators are set up with local American Radio Emergency System/Radio Amateur Civil Engineering System, (ARES/RACES) volunteers to communicate with over 100 members of the Neighborhood Preparedness groups.
Mutual Aid agreements are in place with local agencies which provides for additional resource sharing should the need arise.
The EOC is fully operational with a compliment of four paid and over 30 volunteer staff trained to implement the Incident Command System (ICS). This system is best described as a management system of procedures for controlling personnel, facilities, equipment and communications from different agencies to work together towards a common goal in an effective and efficient manner. It is an "all hazards – all risk" approach to managing crisis response operations for emergencies of all sizes, as well as non-crisis events.
Volunteer team members include representatives from local government and non-governmental agencies along with trained community members. Key individuals from the City of Port Townsend Public Works, PT Health Department, Port Townsend Police Department, Naval Magazine/Indian Island, Jefferson Transit, Red Cross, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, East Jefferson Fire Rescue, Port Ludlow Fire-Rescue, Jefferson County Treasurer’s Office, Olympic Community Action Program (Olycap), and ARES/RACES fill vital roles at the EOC. Their team assignments range from members of the Command Staff beginning with the Incident Commander and Deputy Incident Commander; Safety Officer and Public Information Officers to Section Chiefs for Plans, Logistics, Finance, and Operations and Liaisons for special needs populations, Neighborhood Preparedness Groups and External Resources.
“We are so lucky to have such a skilled group of individuals, willing to give their time, talent and experience for the good of the community,” said Bob Hamlin, EOC director.
“Should a disaster befall us, I am confident we could respond quickly and appropriately,” he added.
During a disaster, the EOC and its volunteer staff act as the hub of the wheel comprised of the many and varied communities within Jefferson County. The EOC, in conjunction with local agencies as well as state and federal agencies, should the event be widespread, coordinates the recovery efforts for the impacted areas.
“The EOC is not the place for community members to get food and water, medical attention or come for shelter,” Hamlin said. “Our role in meeting those needs is to help identify, coordinate and locate those support services and get that information out to the public.”
Considering the frequency of winter storms that leave Jefferson County residents without electricity and other necessities, Hamlin emphasized the importance of every individual and household getting their own “go-kit” together in preparation for any eventuality. Minimal supplies should include enough water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding for each family member for a 72-hour period of time. Additional supplies should include such things as flashlights, extra batteries, non-electric can opener, battery operated radio, toilet paper, and liquid soap. A complete list of appropriate items to include in a go-kit can be found on various websites to include www.jeffcoeoc.org; www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/documents/PE_PIY_Booklet.pdf, www.fema.gov.
The EOC Section Chiefs and Command Staff meet weekly to fine tune their coordinated efforts to run a smooth operation if and when they are called into action.
Individuals or groups who want to develop preparedness tactics for their specific neighborhoods should call 360-385-9368 for materials and details.
|
 |
|
