Successful Multi-agency Coordination for a Hurricane Response

Transcription

1 Successful Multi-agency Coordination for a Hurricane Response Hurricane Ike-Texas ESF-10 Response USEPA FOSC Nicolas Brescia, Operations Section Chief USCG LT. Ryan Dickson, Deputy Operations Section Chief TCEQ SOSC Jeff Lewellin, Deputy Charlie Branch Director

2 Successful Multi-agency Coordination for a Hurricane Response Hurricane Ike-Texas Natural Disaster Operational Workgroup

3 Hurricane Ike-Texas ESF-10 Multi-agency Hotwash: Each agency working under ESF-10 agreed that the Hurricane Ike-Texas response was the best multiagency coordinated Hurricane Response completed in the State of Texas

4 Hurricane Ike-Successful Coordination Pre-landfall - Agencies operating under ESF-10 began a daily unified conference call to begin planning and pinpointing potential operational needs per the forecasted impacted areas (EPA, USCG, TCEQ, TGLO). The call consisted of operational personnel and began 3 days prior to landfall. - Agencies pre-deployed resources to San Antonio-TX for deployment with the Texas Division of Emergency Management motorcade to the impacted area. (This is the first group into the heaviest impacted area)

5 Hurricane Ike-Successful Coordination Post-landfall Texas Multi-agency Task Force deployed to Galveston Island and began rapid needs assessment (TCEQ, USCG, USEPA, TGLO, etc.). The Task Force reported to the EPA/USCG on assessment activities. USEPA & USCG met in Port Arthur, TX and completed the following: -Compiled assets/resources on hand -Determined the three primary geographical impacted locations Traveled to each location and met with TCEQ lead (Regional Office) Developed the operational structure for each location Created three branches under operations for the response (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) -Found a centralized location in Pasadena-TX and set-up Unified Command -Operational Structure was approved and unified IAP process began

6 Hurricane Ike-Texas Three Operational Areas- Branches

7 What made it successful? Open communication between all agencies prior to landfall (Daily Unified Conference calls) Pre-deployment together for RNA (TXDEM Task Force) Planning activities occurred before landfall and resources were organized accordingly Early co-location of USEPA/USCG operational personnel allowed efficient and coordinated operations to occur Meeting with State Regional Offices to determine needs and to build operational structure Centralized location for Unified Command Problem solving occurred as a unified team

8 NATURAL DISASTER OPERATIONAL PLANNING WORKGROUP

9 Natural Disaster Operational Workgroup SITUATION REPORT Hurricane IKE-TEXAS: 09/13/08 Hotwash, Waco, TX: 2/25/09 Natural Disaster Operational Workgroup formed and objectives created:4/27/09 Product Drafts available: 12/03/09 5 Final Draft SOPs to date (1 in review)

10 Hurricane Ike (Texas) HOTWASH-Waco,TX Areas that needed improvement and better coordination: - Co-location and coordination of agencies pre-landfall at pre-selected locations (COOP locations for USCG Sector s and MSU s, San Antonio Pre-deployment Area, etc.) - Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and forms (Field Evaluation & Recovery Procedures, ICS forms for both State and Feds) - One Centralized Data Management system with agreed upon Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) that are scalable to fit each agencies needs per disaster - Formalized Data Management system training and software delivery for field personnel - One Master Equipment Pick List for all agencies - More pre-determined staging areas and Waste Collection Pad areas needed *The bullets above are the major areas needing improvement per the Hotwash

11 Natural Disaster Operational Planning Workgroup This workgroup is comprised of operational level personnel from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas General Land Office (TGLO), USCG Strike Team and Sectors, and USEPA. The members of the group range from Strike Team Members, FOSCs, SOSCs, Operation Section Chiefs, Division Chiefs, Regional Managers, and Field Team Leads. The group consists of experienced field personnel who have successfully worked several large incidents. Currently the group is comprised of the following with a team Operational Lead for each agency: TCEQ (SOSC Lewellin)-20 TGLO (Mr. Grimes)-4 USCG (Lt. Dickson)- 2 USEPA (FOSC Brescia)-4

12 Standard Operating Procedures The workgroup will create standardized operational procedures for agencies operating under ESF-10 to follow while responding to a natural disaster. Some of the main categories that the workgroup has worked on this past year include the following: Rapid Needs Assessment Orphan Container Hazard Evaluation Orphan Container Recovery Oil Spill Assessment Oil Spill Removal Waste Collection Pad Set-up/Operation

13 Rapid Needs Assessment SOP Purpose: To evaluate the impacted areas to determine the magnitude of the event, the geographic boundaries of the event, and the immediate threats to public health and the environment. Multiagency RNA teams (Designated personnel per geographic locations, State & Federal Teams, integrated into TDEM pre-deployed Task Forces located in Waco, San Antonio, Dallas, etc..) Objectives (Size up event, determine emergencies to address immediately, locate areas for Incident Command Posts) Ground/Helicopter assessments (Team structure, process, air ops plan) ASPECT fixed wing aircraft hazard assessments (Federal Risk Plan(FRP), Risk Management Plan (RMP), active spill assessment and target identification) Information exchange between the agencies

14 Orphan Container Hazard Evaluation SOP Purpose: To identify orphaned containers greater than or equal to 5 gallons in size displaced by a natural disaster so that they may be recovered in a safe and efficient manner. Organization of the hazard evaluation operations, chain of command and responsibilities Team composition and individual position specific duties Procedures for conducting Hazard Evaluation (Grid surveys, Health and Safety issues, what counts as an item, characterization of items, creating targets, nomenclature,etc.) Specific forms to use: Orphan Container Hazard Evaluation Field Data Collection Sheet, Facility/ Vessel Spill Field Data Collection Sheet to complete ICS forms to complete (214b)

15 Orphan Container Recovery SOP Purpose: Too efficiently and safely recover orphaned containers with minimal impact to the environment. Containers pre-existing the disaster that are in their obvious place of origin and have not been displaced during the disaster should not be recovered unless they are leaking as a result of the disaster. Organization of the response, chain of command and responsibilities Team composition and individual job specific duties Procedures on how to recover targets (Health and Safety, how to close out items, etc.) Forms to complete to close out targets, database sync ICS forms to complete (214b Daily activities)

16 Oil Spill Assessment SOP Purpose: To identify and document oil spills discharged during a natural disaster in the coastal and inland zones in accordance with the National Contingency Plan and Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90). Organization of the response, chain of command and responsibilities Team composition and individual job specific duties Procedures for conducting Hazard Evaluation (Grid surveys, Health and Safety issues, what counts as an item, characterization of items, creating targets, nomenclature,etc.) Specific forms to use: Orphan Container Hazard Evaluation Field Data Collection Sheet, Facility/ Vessel Spill Field Data Collection Sheet to complete ICS forms to complete (214b Daily activities)

17 Oil Spill Removal SOP Purpose: To efficiently document, contain, recover and mitigate oil discharges with minimal impact to the environment. Oil discharges pre-existing the disaster cannot be removed unless they are a result of the disaster. Organization of the response, chain of command and responsibilities Team composition and individual job specific duties Procedures for conducting removals (RP Led vs Fund Lead, Criteria for closure) Specific forms to use: Facility/ Vessel Spill Field Data Collection Sheet to complete ICS forms to complete (214b Daily activities)

18 One Centralized Database System RESPONSE MANAGER Response Manager is the new centralized data management system to be utilized. Data Quality Objectives have been created by all agencies to utilize during a natural disaster event to fit all operational and reporting requirements Standardized field data sheets have been created to utilize in the field during the assessment/closure process

19 Response Manager & Data Quality Objectives The list below contains general Data Quality Objectives (DQOs) that should be used while documenting assessment and recovery operations. The list is followed by guidance on closure of containers. Recovery Required (Open):Site has been assessed but still needs to be recovered Special Operations (Open):The item requires recovery for disposal, and a recovery team with special equipment or elevated PPE needs to be dispatched. Leave in Place (Open):The item couldn't be recovered, and additional action is required, or the PRP/owner will recover the item. Access Denied (Open):The item was observed, but physical access to the container was blocked. Refer to Other Agency (Open) Item/clean up is to be handled by an agency other than the EPA but needs to be tracked for closure. Item Recovered (Closed):The item has been recovered for disposal, and no further action is required Item Not Found (Closed):The item has previously been recovered or is not found, and no further action is required. Refer to Other Agency (Closed):An agency other than the EPA is to handle the item/clean up, typically associated with Federal Lands that EPA does not have jurisdiction to perform clean-up. Leave in Place (Closed):Only use at the direction of a Group Supervisor and document the reason. Access Denied (Closed):The item was observed, but the PRP/owner prohibited access to the property and/or the item belongs to the property owner and they don't want it removed. Refer to Other Agency (Closed):Item/clean up is to be handled by an agency other than the EPA and has been addressed and/or EPA no longer needs to track for closure.

20 Response Manager-Data Management Software and training has been delivered to TCEQ,TGLO, EPA, and USCG Strike Team personnel Standardized field data forms have been provided to all agencies and are available in hardcopy and in electronic format for laptops or PDA s Guidance on how to complete the forms is located on the forms and in the SOPs.

21 Standardized Field Data Sheets Orphan Container Hazard Evaluation Field Data Sheet Facility/Spill Assessment Field Data Sheet

22 One Equipment List- sharing resources Purpose: To create a list of equipment per agency that can be easily utilized to determine how to fill gaps in needed resources. - Each Agency created a master equipment list and briefed each partner agency of their capabilities. The master lists are on the Natural Disaster Operational Planning Workgroup site and will serve as an active working lists for agencies to view if specific resources are needed per incident.

23 Staging Areas (ICPs and Waste Collection Pads) Purpose: Identification of areas to utilize for Incident Command Posts and Waste Collection Pads. To Date in Texas: Brownsville, TX: 10 Corpus Christi, TX: 12 Houston, TX: 5 Port Arthur, TX:7 Galveston, TX: 5 *This operation is facilitated through the USEPA Logistics Team with TCEQ Regional Leads.

24 Future Direction of Natural Disaster Operational Workgroup Develop additional field operational SOPs (Example: AST removal SOP) and refine current SOPs. Deliver Field SOP and Response Manager training to regional offices for field personnel: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas General Land Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and USCG Sectors. Facilitate and participate in ESF-10 multi-agency tabletop and functional exercises to integrate SOPs, Response Manager and the use of the Field Data forms. Develop SOPs for ESF 3 Operations(PDW/WWTP). (Several Completed) Integrate SOPs and products into local Area Contingency Plans

25 Natural Disaster Operational Workgroup CONTACTS: USEPA Lead Nicolas Brescia USCG Strike Team Lead Lt. Ryan Dickson TCEQ Strike Team Lead Jeff Lewellin