OP3 S PARTNERSHIP ASSISTS OHIOANS IN TIME OF EMERGENCY. its own state emergency response following a derecho in 2014.

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1 FEATURE OP3 S PARTNERSHIP ASSISTS OHIOANS IN TIME OF EMERGENCY OCA Members Can Play Vital Role in Organization s Activities Thus far, 2018 has been a devastating year when it comes to natural and man-made disasters, from volcanos to earthquakes, mudslides, tornados, wildfires and more. And we haven t even seen the full-extent of hurricane season. These major adverse events, whether natural or man-made, can cause significant disruptions to businesses and households some lasting days, weeks, or longer. While national agencies and government organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Red Cross and others have historically been there in time of need, Ohio decided to expand on its own state emergency response following a derecho in That particular windstorm produced the all-time, highest-recorded June or July wind gusts at several official observation sites along its path, and in the process caused widespread, significant damage an incident that initiated discussion about creating a more-comprehensive state network of support. We were in the Emergency Operations Center for some 10 days, and we just knew that we needed support, said Ohio Public Private Partnership (OP3) Administrator David R. Brown. Forming the Ohio Public Private Partnership was a good way to do it. In less than two years the OP3 program, created by the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS), and currently under the leadership of director John Born, was up and running. Since its inception, OP3 has grown from an 80- to 640-member organization representing 16 critical infrastructure sectors. These sectors are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security and/or national public health or safety. Initially, we approached the largest companies in the state of Ohio to learn how they viewed this type of approach, and if they had any concerns about the program, said Brown. Just about all the companies we talked with joined OP3. Now, 71 percent of our members, or 455, are from businesses and associations. Another 125 are in the public sector and 60 are from Ohio colleges and universities. When a major incident occurs, heavyconstruction contractors in particular are very much in demand for response and recovery. When you look at the heavy-construction industry, said 18 Ohio Contractor

2 DAVID R. BROWN, OP3 Administrator Brown, two areas they will be a strong part of are in transportation and emergency services. While their specific activity will depend on the nature of the particular incident, we definitely see a major role that heavyequipment operators can play. OCA Director of Public Agencies Chris Engle agreed. Our members have the skills and knowledge that are needed to organize and manage repairs and rebuilding that would be needed after any type of disaster. For example, in many disaster situations, the roads are impacted and our people can get out there and get the roads open again. If it involves utility services or buildings, our members can handle that type of work as well. We have always assisted communities when they need us. Joining OP3 is another way we can participate and share our expertise. OCA itself joined OP3 following the Conaway Conference this past March. We reached out to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency who put us in touch with Dave Brown. After he explained the OP3 program to us, we decided that this was something the association should be part of and we became a member, said Engle. Since then, two OCA member companies Great Lakes Construction Company and The Westfield Group have joined OP3, and both Engle and Brown anticipate that that number will increase as more companies learn about the organization. As Brown explained, OP3 has three main objectives: 1. To get businesses up and running as quickly as possible during a disaster 2. To provide situational awareness of imminent threats on a need-to-know basis 3. To build a comprehensive network that would be able to join with participating disaster prevention planning, response and recovery In the past, FEMA has encouraged public-private partnerships in states with heavy-construction groups such as Florida, Iowa, North Carolina and Virginia. But Brown noted that Ohio s OP3 has a unique aspect to it. Most states that have partnerships of this nature involve just natural incidents like weather-related situations. But our program responds to both natural and man-made disasters such as weatherrelated events, terrorism, nuclear reactor issues, or the derailment of large trains carrying hazardous materials. The program is strictly voluntary with no cost or time requirement. Joining OP3 is a relatively simple process, said Brown, with no red tape or Memorandum of Understanding. Once a member, all we ask is, if a situation occurs that pertains to either their infrastructure sector or their geographical area, that the partner organization provides emergency contact information for someone we can call if we need to, explained Brown. It s a pretty simple and direct 2018 July/August 19

3 approach, and that s the way we pursued it. Membership in OP3 brings three significant advantages, according to Brown. First, we put out situational awareness reports of incidents to all our members so they can make decisions quicker for their employees and customers, and so on. Second, through these different forums, conferences and exercises, we share information so everybody can become as knowledgeable as possible and can operate on the same page. Thirdly, and maybe the greatest value of all, is that if there is an incident, OP3 participants have some 600 other member organizations there to help them if they need it. Private-sector partners can also apply for documentation through the Emergency Partner Credentialing System (EPCS), enabling them to more easily aid communities during a critical incident. The credentialing system is put in the company s hands, and when a disaster occurs the administrator on the partner side can assign the appropriate employees to deliver medicine, materials, even construction materials any type of supplies that would be helpful with life-sustaining activities, Brown said. Available at no cost to OP3 members, the credentials will be verifiable by law enforcement through the LEADS system on-scene at an incident to speed delivery for those delivering emergency goods to affected areas. Though, Brown noted that in certain situations law enforcement may still restrict access. CRISIS ASSISTANCE Since its founding, OP3 has worked with other governmental agencies during various crisis and potential crisis situations. One example is the 2014 polar vortex that affected Toledo as well as other Midwest areas. OP3 provided a situational awareness report to members, and also worked with member retailers like Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, Target and Walmart to deliver space heaters to designated areas to help offset the propane shortage. 20 Ohio Contractor

4 That same year, the Toledo area was affected by a toxic algae bloom crisis that left more than 400,000 people without drinking water. OP3 worked with its corporate partners, such as Anheuser- Busch, CVS, Kroger, Meijer, Walmart and Walgreens, to donate 31,000 gallons of water to impacted citizens. OP3 has also participated in preemptive strategies to help prevent situations from developing into full-blown crises. For example, preceding the 2016 Republican Convention in Cleveland, many of our partners, including the Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association, the Ohio Restaurant Association, Ohio Turnpike Commission, The Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio Department of Public Safety, disseminated business security handouts to their employees, said Brown. The information addressed the need to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities, which really played a significant role in keeping a national event safe and secure, he noted. PROACTIVE ACTIVITIES OP3 takes a dual-track approach to dealing with disasters. Not only does it furnish assistance during and after an event, throughout the year OP3 also hosts events and workshops on disaster prevention and mitigation for its members. We bring in expert speakers to address a variety of important topics, from active shooter awareness to crisis communications to business continuity, said Brown. Our tabletop exercises also provide members with the opportunity to learn successful strategies from each other. A recent addition to OP3 s website is the Business Continuity: Disaster in the Workplace Tabletop Exercise Toolkit. The free download, available to both members and the general public, provides all the necessary materials and information necessary to plan and host an exercise covering three main objectives: Incident Assessment and Notification; Population/Critical Systems Protective Actions; and Business Continuity July/August 21

5 Businesses are often susceptible to unexpected events that may alter daily operations and workflow, Brown said. To assist with this type of situation, we developed the toolkit that can be easily modified to fit any type or business venue. We believe it is definitely a benefit, especially to those companies that aren t large enough to develop this type of toolkit. This October, OP3 will host its annual statewide conference in Columbus. While the event is primarily for members, there will be space available on a first-come-first-served basis for those who have not yet joined OP3. For more information on the conference, op3@dps.oh.gov or call (614) While OP3 is a relative newcomer to the emergency services network, Brown definitely sees a need for it, emphasizing, It s not a question of if a disaster will occur, but when. We know that the better prepared we are, the stronger we are as an organization and as a state. Our entire program is based on communication, collaboration and information-sharing among our partners. For more information about OP3, visit homelandsecurity.ohio. gov/op3.stm. If you would like to participate: visit the website and choose Click Here to Join, complete the short form, or contact David Brown at (614) OP3 CRITICAL SECTORS The Ohio Public Private Partnership includes 16 critical infrastructure areas: Chemical Sector Commercial Facilities Sector Communications Sector Critical Manufacturing Sector Dams Sector Defense Industrial Base Sector Emergency Services Sector Energy Sector Financial Services Sector Food & Agriculture Sector Government Facilities Sector Healthcare & Public Health Sector Information Technology Sector Nuclear Reactors, Materials & Waste Sector Transportation Systems Sector Water & Wastewater Systems Sector 22 Ohio Contractor