Under mandatory evacuation declarations as outlined in the Chatham County EOP, CEMA and its partners will activate the Evacuation Assembly Area (EAA).
Legal References 1. FEDERAL: a. National Response Framework October 2008, as amended b. Homeland Security Presidential Directive #5 (Management of Domestic Incidents) c. Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. 2. STATE: a. Georgia Constitution b. Georgia Emergency Management Act of 1981, as amended c. Georgia Emergency Operations Plan (GEOP) 3. COUNTY: a. Chatham County EOP b. Chapter 4, Article III, of the Chatham County Code, Emergency Management, March 24, 2006.
Local Planning References Chatham County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) EOP, ESF-1 Annex, Appendix 1-1 (Evacuation and Re-entry) Tab B EAA Operations Tab C Evacuation Transportation Plan Tab D Transportation and Sheltering Coordination All references are available on the CEMA Website: www.chathamemergency.org
Evacuations 101.a Quick Review
Evacuations 101 (continued) Levels/Types of Evacuations There are two Levels of evacuations: Partial and Full.
Evacuations 101 (continued) Partial Evacuations The scope of a Partial Evacuation is determined by and limited to the area(s) in the County directly or potentially affected by the hazard(s) resulting from an Incident of Critical Significance. Situations that may require a Partial Evacuation include: Bomb or similar threats posed by weapons of mass destruction; The approach of an off shore tropical storm or hurricane. Flooding due to excessive rains (fresh water). Tidal surges or tsunami (salt water). HAZMAT releases from industrial facilities or due to transportation interruptions. Disruptions to the power grid. Large open area wild land fires.
Evacuations 101 (continued) Full Evacuations The scope of a Full Evacuation applies to the entire population of Chatham County (the only exceptions are for designated First Responders and other stay-behind emergency personnel). The most likely scenario requiring a Full Evacuation of the County is during the preparations for an impending hurricane landfall affecting the coastal areas of Georgia and/or South Carolina.
Evacuations 101 (continued) Evacuation Orders There are two types of Evacuation Orders: Voluntary and Mandatory.
Evacuations 101 (continued) Voluntary Evacuation Orders During a Voluntary Evacuation, emergency planners recommend government officials strongly urge the population of designated and/or affected areas within the County to leave and move to safer locations. Voluntary evacuations are generally recommended as a precautionary measure to move the designated population out of harms way from potentially hazardous conditions created by an Incident of Critical Significance. Personal discretion is allowed, but not advised on the part of those in the affected area(s). Persons who refuse to comply with a Voluntary Evacuation Order will not be forcibly removed from their properties. However, individuals ignoring the order must understand that responses to requests made to First Responders and other emergency personnel for rescue and/or other lifesaving assistance following a Voluntary Evacuation Order may be significantly delayed.
Evacuations 101 (continued) Mandatory Evacuation Orders During a Mandatory Evacuation, government officials direct the population of designated/affected areas within the County to leave and move to safer locations. The purpose of a Mandatory Evacuation is to ensure the population in the designated areas are safeguarded and/or not subjected and/or exposed to hazardous conditions created by an Incident of Critical Significance. Personal discretion on the part of those in the designated/affected area(s) is not a consideration.
Evacuations 101 (continued) Mandatory Evacuation Orders (continued) Persons who refuse to comply with a Mandatory Evacuation Order will neither be arrested nor forcibly removed from their homes. Designated First Responders and other emergency personnel may be required to stay-behind to assist during the evacuation, and are the exception to a mandatory order. However, conditions in the designated/affected area(s) may deteriorate to the point requiring even stay behind emergency personnel to seek adequate shelter and/or leave. Consequently, there may be a point following a Mandatory Evacuation Order (typically at the onset o f sustained tropical storm force winds), when First Responders and other emergency personnel can not respond to individual requests for rescue and/or provide other lifesaving assistance.
The Georgia Emergency Management Act authorizes that: Local officials may recommend or order evacuations in accordance with the authority contained in their resolutions/ordinances.
The Chairman and Mayors of Chatham County may: take such emergency actions as may be necessary to promote and secure the safety, protection and well-being of the inhabitants of the County. This includes the issuance of evacuation orders when deemed necessary. - Chatham County Code Book pertaining to Emergency Management
Once the decision has been made to implement a Full-Mandatory Evacuation of Chatham County, and it is necessary to begin evacuating those who are not able to self-evacuate, CEMA coordinates through the Emergency Operations Center s (EOC) Evacuation and Re-entry Branch (ERB) the opening of the EAA to begin public evacuation assistance operations.
Please Note: Residents are responsible for providing their own transportation and sheltering during a mandatory evacuation. Those without their own resources should attempt to arrange support through family and friends. Using public transportation assistance during an evacuation should be utilized only as a means of last resort.
Welcome to the County EAA!
Savannah Civic Center Liberty & Montgomery Streets
EAA Plat Map
Designated Registration area for Passengers
Civic Center Arena
Transportation Staging and Marshalling Area
Designated Registration area for Passengers traveling with Pets and Service Animals
The Plan
The EAA In 30 seconds or less: NORTH OGLETHORPE ST SIDE EVACUEES W/PETS REGISTRATION AREA Upon arrival at the EAA, passengers without pets will be directed into the Civic Center Lobby to be registered and manifested onto a departing bus serial (convoy). Passengers and/or families who arrive at the EAA accompanied by pets will be directed to a registration area staffed and prepared to address pet issues. These passengers and their pets will be manifested onto designated Pet Friendly buses that will integrate into a bus serial as required. Evacuation of the County is expected to be completed within 18 hours. EAA volunteer staff may manifest and depart on the final bus serial, depart the area using their own transportation, or shelter in place with other critical workforce personnel. CAT DROP OFF and EVACUEE ENTRANCE MONTGOMERY ST SIDE P E T S WC WC NO PETS LIBERTY ST SIDE WC LOBBY ARENA WC EVACUEE SERVICES EVACUEE W/O PETS REGISTRATION and WAITING AREA EVACUEES W/O PETS BUS LOADING AREA EVACUEES W/PETS BUS LOADING AREA BARNARD ST SIDE
Getting to the EAA Evacuees may be able to walk to the EAA, or provided a ride to the EAA by friends, family, and/or acquaintances using privately owned vehicles. It is anticipated that the majority of the Evacuees will arrive at the EAA utilizing Chatham Area Transit (CAT) buses.
Public Transportation Areas of Chatham County with Access to Public Transportation. Citizens requiring transportation out of the area may go to any established public bus stop to be transported to the EAA. Established Chatham Area Transit (CAT) bus routes will be altered to include the Civic Center as the final destination. CAT will add buses as appropriate to these established routes in order to accommodate user requirements. CAT will maintain bus routes as long as required and/or practical during evacuation operations. For those areas without CAT service, transportation may be arranged through the Evacuation Coordinator at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This process is highly contingent on municipal emergency managers or other public safety officials notifying the EOC of transportation requirements in a timely manner, and the availability of assets.
Approaching Civic Center Montgomery Street Entrance
Civic Center Montgomery Street Entrance
Montgomery Street Entrance Access Ramp
EOP, Appendix 1-1, Tab B, Exhibit 5 Registration Area, Evacuees Without Pets) NORTH NORTH Passengers without Pets or Service Animals Registration Process CANTEEN
Passenger Entrance (without Pets) Lobby
Arena Entrance from the Lobby
Arena Floor Passenger (w/o) Registration Area
Passenger Exit to the Buses Liberty Street Service Entrance
NORTH OGLETHORPE AVE Passengers With Pets or Service Animals Registration Process MONTGOMERY ST RAMP REGISTRATION DESKS TO REGISTRATION Evacuees WITH Pets PET EXERCISE & WAITING AREA WC PET SERVICES COURTESY DESK JOHNNY MERCER THEATER NOT USED WC CIVIC CENTER LOBBY EVACUEE WAITING AREA AND RAMP HULL ST DESIGNATED PETS BUS Evacuees w/out Pets ENTRANCE ARENA EVACUEE SERVICES
Montgomery Street Entrance
Covered Atrium From Montgomery Street Entrance
Passengers with Pets & Service Animals Registration Area North Atrium
Passengers with Pets & Service Animals Bus Loading Area Northeast Loading Dock Area
Passengers with Pets & Service Animals Bus Loading Area Northeast Loading Dock Area
The Big Picture
How it s Done...
Activation of the EAA will be situational dependent, and contingent on mandatory evacuation orders being issued by the Chatham County Command Policy Group.
Organization Good Old ICS! (The Incident Command System) As evacuation orders are being considered, Emergency Support Function (ESF) partners having responsibilities at the EAA will be notified and will meet to review procedures, determine or update resource requirements, identify possible issues, and resolve other shortcomings.
ESF Primaries Each ESF has an agency designated as the Primary Coordinator. The Primary Coordinator has responsibility to ensure county-wide planning efforts are initiated to accomplish the requirements defined by the ESF. During disaster operations, the Primary Coordinator works directly with the EOC for information management and reporting of ESF activities.
Participating ESFs ESF-1 Transportation ESF-2 Communications ESF-5 Emergency Management ESF-6 Mass Care & Sheltering ESF-7 Logistics Management & Resource Support ESF-8 Health & Medical ESF-13 Public Safety & Security ESF-15 External Affairs (Volunteers)
Participating Partners American Red Cross (SRC) Chatham Area Transit (CAT) Chatham County Fleet Operations (FLEET) ESF-1 Primary Chatham County Heath Department (CCHD) Chatham County Sheriff s Office (CCSO) Citizens Emergency Response Teams (CERT) City of Savannah Leisure Services (Civic Center) City of Savannah Parking Services (COS Parking) First Student Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Humane Society of Savannah (HSS) Ikea Savannah Distribution Center Memorial Health University Medical Center (MHUMC) Salvation Army (SA) Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department (SCMPD) Savannah Fire and Emergency Services (SFES) Southside Fire/Emergency Medial Services (SSF/EMS) St Joseph and Candler Hospitals (SJ/C)
Organization Evacuation & Re-Entry Branch (ERB) EOC OPERATIONS SECTION EVACUATION & RE-ENTRY BRANCH EVACUATION ASSEMBLY AREA GROUP RETURNEE RECEPTION CENTER (RRC) TRANSPORTATION The ERB: Is a branch of the Operations Section in the County EOC (when activated). Provides the EOC with enhanced coordination capabilities during evacuation operations. Has oversight of post-event re-entry operations.
EAA Group EVACUATION ASSEMBLY AREA GROUP SUPERVISOR PIO SAFETY OFFICER FACILITY REGISTRATION PASSENGER SERVICES TRANSPORTATION EAA SET UP PASSENGERS WITHOUT PETS PASSENGERS WITH PETS VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR DISPATCHER MAINTENANCE REGISTRATION REGISTRATION MEDICAL SPT (EMS) MARSHALLING COORDINATOR WORKFORCE SUPPORT COURTESY GUIDES PET SUPPORT & VET SERVICES SOCIAL SERVICES BUS SECURITY COORDINATOR WORKFORCE PARKING REGISTRATION SUPPORT WATER AND SNACKS TRAFFIC CONTROL EAA SECURITY COURTESY GUIDES
Partner Responsibilities General (All Partners) Attend all coordination meetings. Provide CEMA with updated contact information as required. Participate in EAA training exercises and drills. Staff and provide support to the EAA as required when activated.
Partner Responsibilities Area Specific CEMA Administer the Chatham County EOP. Coordinate with supporting agencies to ensure an understanding of respective roles and assigned responsibilities. Host annual meetings of the Evacuation Group. Maintain accurate agency contact information. Coordinate EAA training exercises and drills. Work with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to identify inland shelter location. Work with GEMA to identify additional sources of bus drivers. Provide EAA Public Information Officer. Provide EAA Operations Liaison Officer. Assist ARC coordinate volunteers to staff operations. Coordinate with appropriate agencies and develop the Communications Plan. Coordinate with appropriate agencies and develop the Medical Plan. Coordinate with appropriate agencies and develop the Transportation Plan. Assist the EAA Group coordinate and execute Operations.
Partner Responsibilities Area Specific CAT Provide Evacuation Coordinator at EOC. Provide EAA Site Manger. Provide EAA Safety Officer to ensure EAA operations are conducted in a safe manner. Maintain list of available transportation resources. Coordinate modifications to established CAT public transportation routes to meet situational requirements. Ensure all registered passengers have been safely transported from the Civic Center before suspending operations.
Partner Responsibilities COS Area Specific Leisure Services (Civic Center Staff) Provide Facility Manager. Suspend Civic Center activities and prepare facility for activation of the EAA. Ensure facility is clear of all unauthorized personnel. Provide maintenance/janitorial staff for general housekeeping and sanitation. Parking Services Coordinate with Civic Center Staff and appropriate police agencies to clear the Civic Center Parking Lot of all unauthorized or abandoned vehicles. Coordinate for all Parking Meters on the Civic Center perimeter Bagged. Designate the Liberty Street Parking Garage for EAA Staff and Critical Workforce use only. Provide attendant at the Liberty Street Parking Garage.
Designated EAA Staff Parking Liberty Street Parking Garage
ARC Partner Responsibilities Area Specific Establish Passenger Registration/Manifesting Procedures. Staff and Supervise Passenger Registration Sections. - Passengers without Pets and Passengers with Pets Areas. - Provide Registration Section Leaders. - Coordinate volunteers to staff Passenger Registration and Services Sections. Complete passenger manifests. - Establish manifesting procedures. - Distribute copies of manifests as required. Staff and Supervise the Passenger Waiting and Services Section. - Passengers without Pets Area. - Passengers with Pets Area. Staff and Supervise Passenger Loading Section. - Passengers without Pets Loading Area. - Passengers with Pets Area. Work with CEMA to identify/confirm inland shelter location(s).
Example Only CHATHAM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY EVACUATION ROSTER DATE BUS No. WORKER TAKING INFO PAGE OF 1. NAME AGE ADDRESS 2. 3. 4. 5. All passengers must be registered for accountability. All pets are also registered. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. DISTRIBUTION: 1 - AMERICAN RED CROSS 1 - BUS DRIVER 1 - CEMA
Passenger Comfort Station Arena Concession Area
Partner Responsibilities Area Specific SSFD/EMS Provide personnel and other resources required to establish first aid station in Passenger Services Section. Provide on-site medical services to passengers and EAA Staff. Address other on-site medical issues as appropriate.
Medical Support Area
Partner Responsibilities Area Specific CCHD - Conduct administrative triage of in-processing passengers who may be presenting medical conditions. - Advise Site Manager of possible or actual public health issues. DFCS - Be prepared to address issues pertaining to children and adult protective services including lost and/or separated children. SA - Provide support to the EAA Staff.
Passenger Entrance (without Pets) Lobby Heath Department and DFCS Service Area
Civic Center Arena Kitchen Area (Staff Support)
Partner Responsibilities Area Specific SCCPSS Pupil Transportation Services - First Student - Work with CEMA to identify additional sources of bus drivers. - Transport all passengers from the EAA to designated inland shelters. Board of Education Police - Conduct security and assist with law enforcement activities inside the Civic Center and associated facilities, grounds, access ways and parking lots to control crowds, and resolve passenger disputes as needed. - Ensure the efficient, unobstructed flow of bus traffic into and out of the Civic Center parking lot.
SCHOOL BUS CAPACITY BY TYPE LARGE CAPACITY SEATS 56 PLANNING CAPACITY 30/40 Buses will be manifested according to the number and capacity of the vehicles assigned to the serial. MEDIUM CAPACITY SEATS 48 PLANNING CAPACITY 25/35 SMALL CAPACITY SEATS 18 (Seat Belt Equipped) PLANNING CAPACITY 12 WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE WHEEL CHAIR CAPACITY - 2
Bus Coordination TRANSPORTATION UNIT LEADER (EAA ICP) BUS REQUEST SENT TO DISPATCH (First Student) COPY OF THE EVACUATION ROSTER PROVIDED TO ICP DISPATCHER (First Student) DISPATCHER SENDS REQUESTED NUMBER OF BUSES TO THE BUS MARSHALLING AREA (Civic Center Parking Lot) MARSHALLING COORDINATOR KEEPS ICP AWARE OF BUS AVAILABILITY BUS MARSHALLING COORDINATOR (Parking Lot) ICP NOTIFIES MARSHALLING COORDINATOR TO STAGE BUS SERIAL FOR EVACUEE PICK-UP REGISTRATION UNIT LEADER (ARC) COPY OF EVACUAITON ROSTER MAINTAINED BY ARC COPY OF EVACUATION ROSTER PROVIDED TO THE BUS DRIVER WHEN EVACUEES LOAD BUS (BUS MANIFEST)
Bus ID Placard EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE DRIVER INFORMATION SHEET 1. BUS NUMBER: 2. NUMBER OF PASSENGERS: 3. DRIVER S NAME: 4. DESTINATION and SHELTER LOCATION: Each bus driver is provided An information sheet. 5. DRIVING DIRECTIONS: 6. ENROUTE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: 7. ACTIONS UPON ARRIVAL: (LEAD DRIVER ONLY IF APPROPRIATE) A. CHECK-IN WITH THE RECEIVING SHELTER COORDINATOR FOR INSTRUCTIONS B. NOTIFY THE CHATHAM COUNTY EVACUATION COORDINATOR OF YOUR ARRIVAL AND STATUS OF PASSENGERS C. MAINTAIN SERIAL MANIFESTS 8. COMMUNICATIONS: A. PHONE NUMBERS B. COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS: C. RADIO FREQUENCIES AND CALL SIGNS
Partner Responsibilities Area Specific SCMPD - Support on-site crowd control and law enforcement activities. - Restrict parking around Civic Center (except for EAA Staff). - Ensure bus traffic to and from the Civic Center Parking Lot remains unobstructed. - Establish TCP at designated locations as needed. SCMPD Animal Control - Assist with the coordination to provide personnel and other needed resources to support the Passengers with Pets Registration Area. - Enforce established pet evacuation procedures and civil ordinances. Humane Society - Assist with the coordination to provide personnel and other needed resources to support the Passengers with Pets Registration Area.
EAA Barricade Plan Portable Barricade Locations
Perimeter Traffic Control Points
Partner Responsibilities Area Specific CCSO Provide Bus Serial (Convoy) Escort From EAA to Designated Inland Shelter Location(s). Designated Route To Inland Shelter Location (Augusta)
Returning to Chatham County Once public safety issues within the County have been mitigated to a point determined to be acceptable, the Chatham County Command Policy Group will call for the return of the area s population. But this is another Workshop...
2012 EAA Full Scale Exercise
2012 EAA FSE Planning Schedule Fall 2011 Table Top Exercise (TTX) Agency Talk Through/Brief Backs Spring 2012 Functional Exercise (FE) Walk Through June 2012 Full Scale Exercise (FSE) During HURREX 12 *Agency Coordination Meetings as Required*
Thank You For Participating Don Sullens CEMA ESF-1 Transportation Group Coordinator O: (912) 201 4500 C: (912) 658 6106 dwsullens@chathamcounty.org