EVACUATION AND TRANSPORTATION
 

FICTITIOUS COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN 

Updated: March 18, 2006

 

I. PURPOSE
 
  This Annex provides for an orderly, coordinated evacuation of the County population during emergencies, while outlining the organization and direction of transportation resources.
 
II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
 
  A.      Situation
1. Several emergency situations may require evacuation of all or part of the County. Small‑scale, localized evacuations may be needed as a result of a hazardous materials incident, nuclear facility incident, major fire, or other incident. Large‑scale evacuations may be needed in the event of a county‑wide disaster.
2. A hazard analysis has been completed which attempts to identify the types of threats and  the areas and population in the County that are most vulnerable to these threats.
3. A demographic analysis has been completed. Facilities and populations within the County that pose special evacuation problems have been identified.
4. An evacuation may require substantial physical resources for transportation, communication and traffic control. Available public and private resources are identified on a continual basis.
5. Large scale disasters may necessitate the rapid evacuation of hospitals, nursing homes and non‑ambulatory populations.
 
B.      Assumptions

                  

1. Sufficient warning time will normally be available to evacuate the threatened population.
2. The principal mode of transportation will be private vehicles.
3. Particular areas of the County, or special populations within the County, will need additional time to accomplish an evacuation.
4. The public will both receive and understand official information related to evacuation. The public will act in its own interest and will evacuate dangerous areas promptly when advised to do so.
5. If there is sufficient advanced warning, some residents will evacuate prior to being advised to do so by public officials.
6. Most evacuees will seek shelter with relatives or friends rather than accept public shelter.
7. Some residents may refuse to evacuate regardless of warnings.
8. Some people will lack transportation. Others who are ill or disabled may require vehicles with special transportation capabilities.
 

III.

 CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
 

A.     General

  
  1. The ultimate responsibility for ordering an evacuation rests with local government. If a municipality is to be evacuated, the Mayor will issue the order. If the evacuation involves more than one jurisdiction, or an area outside of a municipality, the order will be issued on a county level by the Chairman of the County Commissioners, or their designated elected/appointed representative.
 
  2. By monitoring the progress of the evacuation, any impediments to the evacuation can be recognized and contingency options can be implemented.
 
  3. The Sheriff will be responsible for providing security to areas of the County that have been or are being evacuated. Each municipal police department will provide security to areas of their respective jurisdiction that have been or are being evacuated. Support for security may be provided by State law enforcement agencies as required or requested.
 
 

B.     Specific

  
  1. Movement Control and Guidance
 
    a. The size of the threatened area to be evacuated will be determined by conditions at the time of the emergency.
 
    b. Traffic movement during evacuation will be controlled by use of designated routes and traffic control points. The evacuation area will identify at least two routes of egress. One lane of each route will be kept open to permit ingress of emergency vehicles.
 
    c. Traffic movement is directed to designated reception areas and shelters within the County and in adjacent counties if needed.
 
    d. Vehicles experiencing mechanical problems during the evacuation will be moved off the roads. Stranded evacuees will be picked up by other evacuating vehicles, or by emergency response personnel.
 
  2. Staging Areas and Pick‑up Points and Routes
 
    a. The County will determine designated staging areas as mobilization points to organize the emergency response personnel and equipment entering from areas outside the County.
 
    b. Pick‑up points and/or routes will be established as needed. Evacuees without vehicles will be instructed to go to the nearest pick‑up point. Pick‑up routes will be designated for the rural areas. Emergency vehicles will travel these routes at least twice during the evacuation to assure all evacuees without vehicles are assisted.
 
  3. Evacuation of Special Populations (Institutions, Facilities and Special Care Individuals)
 
    a. Institutions within the County are responsible for developing their own procedures for evacuation of their facilities.
 
    b. Ambulatory patients and staff of medical facilities will be evacuated by buses. Ambulances and vans will be provided for evacuation of non‑ambulatory individuals. Procedures for rapid evacuation and/or in‑place sheltering should be included for facilities in the danger zone from hazardous materials spills and fixed nuclear facilities.
 
    c. Schools will develop evacuation procedures. Designated buses will be utilized for students without their own vehicles. Schools within the danger zone for hazardous materials spills will develop procedures for in-place sheltering and "walk‑away" evacuations. Parents will be advised of the location of reception centers.
 
    d. The public will be given a telephone number for handicapped or disabled persons without transportation. The Emergency Management Coordinator will arrange pick‑up of these individuals by available resources. The County Department of Social Services, Home Health Agencies, the Health Department and others will advise the Emergency Management Coordinator of individuals known to need transportation assistance.
 
    e. Each prison and detention center within the County will develop procedures for the relocation of prisoners to jails outside of the threatened area.
 
    f. Evacuation from county parks and recreation areas will be coordinated by the Fictitious County Sheriff's Department or municipal police department as appropriate. Evacuation of State parks and recreation areas in the County will be coordinated by the local field staff of the State Park, and State Park representatives will advise the Emergency Management Coordinator of the progress of any evacuations.
 
    g. Large employers within the County have procedures for evacuation of their employees. These procedures include, if needed, the temporary shut‑down of their facilities. Copies of such plans are on file in the Fictitious County Office of Emergency Management.
 
  4. Emergency Public Information Brochures
 
    a. For fixed nuclear facility emergencies, public information materials have been prepared. They identify staging areas for people requiring transportation to reception areas and provide movement guidance.
 
    b. For other emergencies, warnings to the public and information concerning evacuation will be broadcast over the EAS network and/or by emergency vehicles equipped with sirens, warning lights, and/or loud‑speakers moving through the threatened areas. For localized evacuations, warning and evacuation instructions may also be given door‑to‑door.
 

IV.

DIRECTION AND CONTROL
 
  A.

Direction and control of evacuation is the responsibility of the Chairman, County Board of Commissioners. In the Chairman's absence, the commissioner next in line of succession will serve as replacement representative. The Chairman may delegate this duty to the County Manager or the Emergency Management Coordinator as appropriate.
 
  B.

During large scale evacuations involving the relocation of the population from an entire municipality, county, or several counties, the Governor may declare a State of Emergency. At that point the Governor assumes direction and control of the situation and evacuation operations will be coordinated by the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) upon activation of the State EOC.
 
  C.

When an emergency situation requires timely evacuation and before the Emergency Operations Center can be activated, the "on‑scene" commander can call for evacuation in accordance with the County's State of Emergency Ordinance.
 

V.

 CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
 
  A.

Evacuation
   

The line of succession is:
    1. Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners
    2. County Manager
    3. Emergency Management Coordinator
 
  B.

Transportation
   

The line of succession is:
    1. Superintendent of Fictitiouston Schools
    2. School Bus Garage Supervisor
    3. Chairman of the Board of Education
 
  C.

Continuity of government will be maintained by relocating government operations. Lines of succession to all key positions will be established and all essential records will be protected.
 
  D. When evacuees are relocated outside the County, a representative will be appointed to act as liaison between the County and the reception area government. The evacuees will be subject to the laws of the reception area for the duration of their stay.
 
  E. Lines of succession to each agency that supports the evacuation/transportation operation are in accordance with the agency's established policy.