Chatham County EMERGENCY OPERATIONS Plan INCIDENT ANNEX C BRIDGE DISRUPTION

Transcription

1 Chatham County EMERGENCY OPERATIONS Plan INCIDENT ANNEX C BRIDGE DISRUPTION APRIL 2006

2 Chatham Emergency Management Agency 2

3 BRIDGE DISRUPTION PLAN Incident Annex C to Chatham County Emergency Operations Plan I. INTRODUCTION: A. The Chatham County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) describes how the County will manage and coordinate resources and personnel during periods of major emergency. The EOP defines emergency response in compliance with a State-mandated process and establishes local emergency response policies. B. Should Chatham County suffer a bridge failure, causeway disruption, or major delay involving routine bridge operations, the provisions of this Appendix and the EOP shall apply to the overall recovery and restoration effort. C. Chatham County has more than 70 Federal Aid Route Bridges. Damage to any of these structures could cause considerable inconvenience to the communities involved. However, loss of any of the State maintained bridges listed below, as well as a number of smaller locally maintained bridges, could completely isolate the residents of a barrier island community; this plan is intended for implementation following such an event. US Highway 80 at Bull River US Highway 80 at Lazaretto Creek GA Highway 204 at Moon or Back River GA Highway 204 at Skidaway River II. POLICIES: A. Within Chatham County, local governments are responsible for the maintenance and repair of bridges in their jurisdictions on local right-of-ways. The Chatham County Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of drawbridges in Chatham County and for the maintenance and repair of bridges on county roads and right-of-ways. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is responsible for the maintenance and repair of bridges on State and Federal right-of-ways. B. If maintenance or repair of a bridge exceeds the capabilities of the responsible jurisdiction, relief and/or assistance may be sought from the next higher level of government. III. SITUATION: In the event of short-term disruption to bridge operations (less than six hours), temporary response measures are required for the maintenance of public safety activities. Long term or irreparable damage (greater than six hours) will require extensive contingency support.

4 IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS: A. Routine Services: 1. In the event a critical bridge becomes inoperative, a number of agencies will accomplish a wide variety of time-critical functions. The operations required to mitigate bridge disruption can be best identified in terms of the services provided by the organizations charged with the resolution of public safety, environmental concerns and restoration of economic activities. These responsibilities are summarized in Annex A. 2. Two means of temporary waterway crossings may be available: a. Hornblower Marine Services establishment of a ferry service. b. Establishment of a temporary pontoon-type bridge. 3. In the event of implementation of either or both temporary crossing measures, during hours of daylight initial rights of way are expected to facilitate the movement of only passengers and essential commercial vehicles such as ambulances, bulk food delivery, waste management service, and utility company activities. Nighttime operations will expand commercial service and may accommodate passenger vehicle movement on a space available basis. Once multiple systems are operational, priorities will be established based on activity, demand, and load destination. 4. Chatham Area Transit service will be established at mainland staging area(s) with mainland destinations determined by service demands. 5. As soon as possible, Chatham Area Transit or other suitable mass passenger transport vehicles will be moved to the isolated island with passenger service established to and from on-island the transport terminus. B. Emergency Services: 1. Within their capabilities, Skidaway Island State Park Police will provide law enforcement on Skidaway Island until sufficient Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department personnel and equipment can be transported to the island. Non-sworn Landings Association Safety & Security personnel will assist as possible. 2. On Skidaway Island the two fire stations operated by the Southside Fire Department will provide Fire and Emergency Medical Service personnel and equipment. Mercy Ambulance will provide and coordinate off-island ground and aero-medical evacuation as required. 4

5 3. On Tybee Island, the Tybee Island Police and Fire Departments will provide police and fire support. Medstar Ambulance will provide and coordinate offisland ground and aero-medical evacuation as required. V. RESPONSIBILITIES: Tab A VI. COMMUNICATIONS: Landline commercial telephones are the primary means of communication. In the event of a telephone outage, the following means of communications will be utilized: A. Portable/cell phones B. Landings Association UHF radio system through Savannah Communications C. Chatham Emergency Management Agency 800Mhz radio D. Landings Marina Channel 16 VHF radios VII. HELICOPTER LANDING SITES: Tab B 5

6 TAB A: BRIDGE DISRUPTION RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Chatham Area Transit (CAT): a. In the event of bridge disruption in Chatham County, CAT will establish transit service at mainland staging area(s) with mainland destinations determined by service demands. b. As soon as possible, CAT or other suitable mass passenger transport vehicles will be moved to the isolated island with passenger service established to and from the on-island transport terminus. c. CAT service will be supplemented or replaced with appropriate commercial service as soon as practicable. 2. Chatham County Bridge Tender: In the event of a failure of or disruption to a Chatham County drawbridge that is expected to be out of order for longer than 30 minutes, the Bridge Tender will immediately notify the following: a. Supervisor, Chatham County Department of Public Works & Park Services b. U. S. Coast Guard c. Georgia Department of Transportation d. Police and Police Marine Patrol e. Chatham Emergency Management Agency f. Fire and Emergency Medical Authority with jurisdiction over the affected area. 3. Chatham Emergency Management Agency: a. Establish communications to advise island residents of planned and available emergency measures. Where possible, use local radio and television broadcast stations and facilities. b. Coordinate with island food distribution points for shipment by GA DOT prior to the establishment of semi-public temporary crossing methods. c. Until truck-bearing ferry services or pontoon bridging is established, no provisions will be available for vehicles to enter or depart the affected island. Pedestrian transport will be prioritized and limited to essential personnel only. 4. Chatham County Department of Public Works & Parks Services: 6

7 a. Initiates inspection and assessment in the event of damage to any County-owned bridges in Chatham County. b. Initiates immediate corrective action in the event of malfunction of the mechanical function of any County-operated bridge in Chatham County. c. Initiates emergency notification to responsible agencies of disruption to the operation of any publicly owned bridge in Chatham County. 5. Georgia Department of Natural Resources: Provides a Marine Patrol unit of small craft capable of providing law enforcement support, windscreen damage assessment and initial transport or shuttle of public safety personnel to and from the site of an emergency. 6. Georgia Department of Transportation: a. Initiates inspection and assessment of any damaged State or Federal bridge in Chatham County. b. Initiates repairs as soon as possible for on-system bridges. Coordinates with County on off-system bridges. c. Coordinates the installation of temporary bridging and/or barge and ferry service with the County for the shuttle of personnel, equipment, vehicles and service commodities to and from the isolated area until bridge repairs can be completed. d. Upon notification that bridge outage will be prolonged: (1). Immediately coordinate for ferry service for essential passengers from the GA Institute Dock (Bull River Dolphin boat has been determined to be available). (2). Immediately coordinate for emergency delivery of essential supplies from a dock/loading area in Savannah to the GA Institute Dock or the Landings Harbor. Hoisting equipment must be carried by barge for offload of supplies. Approximately 20 tons of food per day will be required to sustain the island population until a temporary vehicle crossing or ferry is established. (3). Immediately coordinate acquiring barge material and equipment to construct an access road adjacent to the drawbridge and directly across from the boat launch ramp on the west side of the drawbridge. (The Corps of Engineers has denied a permit for this ramp prior to an emergency, but will issue a permit when an emergency occurs.) (4). As appropriate, coordinate contracts for ferry service for island access. (DOT will not acquire pontoon bridging.) 7

8 (a) (b) The ferry service could be provided by Hornblower in approximately three to six weeks after notification. DOT will not accept responsibility for a pontoon bridge but will coordinate with County and other emergency agencies. A pontoon bridge could be delivered and assembled in about a week. Possible sources for a pontoon bridge are: 7. Georgia State Patrol: 1 Flexifloat by Robishaw Engineering, Inc. 2 Versadock (913) Atlantic Floating Docks (866) a. Provides helicopter support of public safety personnel in the accomplishment of their missions. The helicopter has a lift capacity of three ambulatory victims; in extremely hot, humid conditions, aircraft lift capacity may be significantly reduced. b. Coordinate with the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police to enforce personnel and vehicle priority transport by bridging and/or ferry service. 8. Lifestar Air Ambulance Company: Provides commercial five-minute standby air ambulance service to Chatham County. Weather conditions permitting, the Lifestar helicopter has a non-ambulatory capacity of two victims; in extremely hot, humid conditions, aircraft lift capacity may be significantly reduced. 9. Medstar Ambulance Company: a. Maintains Emergency Medical Service personnel and equipment on Tybee Island. b. Provides back up and/or mutual aid personnel and equipment to support other county EMS providers. 10. Mercy Ambulance Company: a. In coordination with Southside Fire Department maintains Emergency Medical Service personnel and equipment on Skidaway Island. b. Provides back up and/or mutual aid personnel and equipment to support other county EMS providers. 11. Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department: 8

9 a. The County Dispatch Center is expected to receive the initial reports of bridge disruption. Until relieved by the GDOT Public Information Officer (PIO), the Police PIO will serve as the point of contact for release of information to the media. b. Provides a Marine Patrol unit of small craft capable of providing law enforcement support, windscreen damage assessment and initial transport or shuttle of public safety personnel to and from the site of an emergency. c. Coordinate with the Georgia State Patrol to enforce personnel and vehicle priority transport by bridging and/or ferry service. 12. Skidaway Island State Park Police: Provides Park management and sworn law enforcement personnel throughout Skidaway Island State Park. 13. Southside Fire Department: a. Maintains Fire Department personnel and equipment on Skidaway Island. b. Maintains Advanced Life Saving (ALS) Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel and equipment on Skidaway Island, but no ambulance for transport. 14. Tybee Island Fire Department: Maintains Fire Department personnel and equipment on Tybee Island. 15. Tybee Island Police Department: Maintains Police Department personnel and equipment on Tybee Island. 16. US Army Corps of Engineers: Provides engineering and construction management to technically assess and possibly rehabilitate damaged public infrastructure as deemed necessary. 17. US Coast Guard: a. Air Station Savannah: Provides air Search and Rescue and emergency air ambulance service for Coastal Georgia. The current H-65 helicopter has a lift capacity of two non-ambulatory or three ambulatory victims; in extremely hot, humid conditions, aircraft lift capacity may be significantly reduced. b. Marine Safety Office, Savannah: (1) Addresses waterway traffic management issues such as safety or security zones. (2) Coordinates with GDOT for the licensing and contract of commercial barge and ferry service to shuttle personnel, equipment, vehicles and service 9

10 commodities to and from the isolated area until bridge repairs can be completed. c. Station, Tybee: (1) Issues Notice to Mariners advising of bridge closures or major obstructions affecting navigable waterways. (2) Conducts marine safety operations to include search and rescue operations, windscreen damage assessments and transport or shuttle of public safety personnel to and from the site of an emergency. (3) Coordinates the activities of USCG Auxiliary and Marine Rescue Squadron resources to conduct search and rescue operations and temporary shuttle of essential personnel and equipment to and from the isolated area. 10

11 TAB B: BRIDGE DISRUPTION LANDING SITES The following Skidaway Island helicopter landing sites have been surveyed and provided by the Southside Fire Department. All sites have 100+ ft. clearance are 24- hour accessible and easily secured. Diamond State Park entrance N, W Asphalt or grass Skidaway Institute of Oceanography field on Ocean Science Drive 31.59N, W Grass McWhorter Landings North Gate N, W Asphalt Bartram Rd. Priest Landing Dr N, W Asphalt or grass Landings Association Sports Field, 600 Landings Way South N, W Lighted, wind sock, grass, with compacted hard dirt 11