STAGING CHATHAM COUNTY 2015 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN SUPPORT ANNEX D APPENDIX 1 TAB E STAGING AREA COORDINATION JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D/ APPENDIX 1 / TAB E THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D/ APPENDIX 1 / TAB E RECORD OF CHANGES Added Staging Area Manager Job Aid Updated the Acronym List Updated Headers and Footers i JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D/ APPENDIX 1 / TAB E THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK ii JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D/ APPENDIX 1 / TAB E ACRONYMS AAR CEMA EOC EOP ESF FACL GSUL IAP IC ICP ICS LSC OSC SCKN STAM After Action Report Chatham Emergency Management Agency Emergency Operations Center Emergency Operations Plan Emergency Support Function Facilities Unit Leader Ground Support Unit Leader Incident Action Plan Incident Command (Commander) Incident Command Post Incident Command System Logistics Section Chief Operations Section Chief Staging Area Check In Staging Area Manager iii JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D/ APPENDIX 1 / TAB E THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK iv JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D/ APPENDIX 1 / TAB E TABLE OF CONTENTS Record of Changes... i Acronyms... iii Table of Contents... v I. Introduction... 1 II. Purpose... 1 III. Scope... 1 IV. Authorities... 1 V. Assumptions... 2 VI. Implementation... 2 VII. Concept of Operations... 3 A. General... 3 B. Activation... 3 C. Coordination... 3 D. Communication... 4 E. Staging Area Location... 4 F. Demobilization... 6 VIII. Responsibilities... 6 A. General... 6 B. Jurisdictional Agencies... 7 C. Staging Area Manager... 7 D. CEMA... 7 E. ESF Partners... 7 VIII. Tab Management and Maintenance... 7 A. Executive Agent... 7 B. Types of Changes... 7 C. Coordination and Approval... 7 D. Notice of Change... 8 E. Distribution... 8 v JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D/ APPENDIX 1 / TAB E EXHIBITS Exhibit 1 Job Aid - Staging Area Manager... 9 Exhibit 2 Staging Area Manager s Quick Reference Guide... 21 Exhibit 3 Staging Area Location Considerations... 23 vi JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D / APPENDIX 1 / TAB E INTRODUCTION A. When responding to local emergency events and/or disasters, it is sometimes advantageous and preferred for first responders and other emergency personnel/equipment to report to a central location (Staging Area) away from the actual incident site. B. Ideally, the staging area is a locally known location on the inbound route between the resources origin and the incident location. It should provide sufficient parking, a water supply and phone lines to the base/camp. Some of these locations might be preplanned, but in many cases, few of these requirements may be present. PURPOSE A. The purpose of this Tab is to provide jurisdictional first responders and emergency personnel basic operational concepts and possible support requirements for staging areas established within Chatham County. B. This document also provides guidance for establishing staging area operations when required; and/or to coordinate additional resources to establish/support staging area operations on their behalf. SCOPE A. The provisions of this Tab apply County-wide; are intended to be applied to a single natural and/or man-made hazardous event/disaster; that are limited in scope and of short duration. B. This Tab is not intended to replace specific agency and/or jurisdictional support, emergency management plans and/or procedures. AUTHORITIES A. This Tab is developed under the authority of the Chairman of the Board of the County Commission, Chatham County, Georgia; and the Director of the Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), Chatham County, Georgia. This Tab supersedes all similar and previous versions to date. B. CEMA has primary responsibility for compliance with provisions of the County s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP); and is responsible for supporting the execution of the response activities outlined in this Tab and supporting documents. 1 JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D / APPENDIX 1 / TAB E C. Emergency Support Function (ESF) Partners and other designated agencies responsible for providing supporting actions will coordinate internal resources and personnel suitable to accomplish the tasks defined in this document. D. This Tab is developed in accordance with the legal references below. 1. FEDERAL: a. National Response Framework, October 2008, as amended. b. Job Aid, Staging Area Manager J-236, National Wildfire Coordinating Group, October 2013. 2. STATE: a. Georgia Constitution, b. Georgia Emergency Management Act of 1981, as amended, and c. Georgia Emergency Operations Plan. 3. COUNTY: Chatham County EOP. ASSUMPTIONS A. Staging Areas are not established to support all emergency events. B. Jurisdictional emergency response personnel and equipment will be able to support Staging Area requirements during most emergency situations through their own resources and/or existing mutual aid agreements. C. As local resources and the support from mutual aid agreements are depleted, requests for Staging Area support are routed through CEMA or the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when activated. D. Provisions contained in this document will be implemented as needed to provide an incident commander with the support required to establish and maintain Staging Area Operations. IMPLEMENTATION A. Staging areas may be established by responding agencies as required to support emergency responders during tactical field operations. There are different levels of staging area operations. Simple staging areas may be established for short periods of time to provide limited support to 2 JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D / APPENDIX 1 / TAB E emergency responders during a single event, limited in size and scope. Local authorities may request assistance managing their incident staging areas. B. More complex staging operations capable of providing expanded service and support activities may be required for prolonged response efforts. During these larger protracted events, staging area operations may be expanded as an independent (separate, self-supporting) facility (function), and/or incorporated into the Incident s Base Facility. The full scope of services that may be provided at a Base Facility is discussed in the Chatham County EOP, Support Annex D (Logistics and Resource Management), Appendix 1 (Logistics Facilities Management), Tab A (Base Camp Coordination). CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS A. General: Staging areas are established when required to provide the Incident Command (IC) a central location where equipment and personnel can be received and prepared for deployment to the incident site as required. The staging area may also receive out of service equipment and personnel returning from the incident site and prepare (rehab/refit) those resources to either remobilize or demobilize. Staging areas are critical any time the actual operation scene needs to be kept clear of unnecessary traffic or where specific security or safety instructions must be given to operators prior reporting to a site. B. Activation: 1. The staging area is not just a designated place, but more importantly it is a system established and monitored by a Staging Area Manager (STAM) who coordinates the overall organization and service/support needs of the tactical resources deployed to meet and achieve the Incident Command s response objectives. 2. A suitably knowledgeable person should be tasked to be the STAM; to set up the staging area infrastructure and operations. This person should have a good working knowledge of the area and the operational policies/procedures of the agency(s) requesting support. 3. The person designated as the STAM must also have the authority to implement provisions contained in this document as needed to establish staging area operations. C. Coordination. Refer to the following Tab Exhibits: Exhibit 1 Staging Area Manager Job Aid. 3 JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D / APPENDIX 1 / TAB E Exhibit 2 Staging Area Manager Quick Reference Guide. Exhibit 3 Staging Area Location Considerations. D. Communication: Establish and Maintain Communications with the IC and Emergency Dispatch methods of communicating with the IC and Dispatch Centers may include but are not limited to: 1. Radio: Obtain operational frequencies and call signs. 2. Land Line Telephones: Obtain appropriate telephone numbers. 3. Cellular Telephones: Obtain appropriate cellular telephone numbers. E. Staging Area Location. a. The IC Team may have designated a suitable site for the incident s staging area. The designated STAM should confirm its location and clarify any questions regarding the site with the IC Team. b. One of the initial tasks for the designated STAM may be to locate a suitable site for a staging area to support the IC Team. The location chosen should be located close enough to the incident for a timely response, but far enough away to be out of the immediate impact zone. When appropriate, staging areas can be collocated with the Incident Command Post. Depending on the number and type of resources being utilized during the incident, there may be a need for more than one staging area providing different and/or specialized services, support, and/or facilities. 2. Identify the Staging Area Management Team (As Needed). Staging area management and the organization of support activities are initiated and follow National Incident Management System principles. Staffing of the Staging Area Management Team may include but not limited to the following functions: a. STAM b. Assistant STAM c. Staging Area Security Team Leader d. Staging Area Administrative Team Leader e. Staging Area Logistics Team Leader. 4 JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D / APPENDIX 1 / TAB E f. Staging Area Medical Team Leader. 3. Identify/Coordinate Service and Support Needs (As Required). The nature and size of the operation will determine on-site service and support needs. 4. Staging Area Traffic Plan: The traffic pattern within the staging area should accommodate one-way traffic only. Plan safe traffic flow patterns as well as parking areas. 5. Staging Area Administration: Administrative support requirements for the staging area may be coordinated with the on scene Operations Officer, on scene Logistics Officer; and/or when necessary other agencies providing support through established mutual aid agreements and CEMA. Staging area administrative functions include but may not be limited to: a. Resource Check-in: Resources will check in and out at the staging area s designated Check-in Point. At a minimum, all units and individuals arriving at the staging area will be checked for valid identification and qualifications. When practical, all arriving units should provide proof of their qualifications to perform the required response functions. These qualifications should be documented and communicated to the IC and/or EOC. b. Resource Status Tracking: A list of all resources entering and leaving the staging area will be maintained. The ICP is provided resource updates on a regular basis and/or upon request. c. Staging Area Activity Log: The STAM and/or a designated person/position should maintain the Staging Area Activity Log. This may be an electronic or paper log, or a combination of both methods. Not only with the Activity Log help the STAM track operational activities, it will assist post event during the After Action Review (AAR) process. d. Establish Staging Area Work Plan. It is essential staffing and resource support requirements are considered in regard to shift changes, information flow, etc. 6. Establish Helispot (If Required). See EOP Support Annex D, Appendix 1, Tab B (Helispot Coordination Plan). 5 JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D / APPENDIX 1 / TAB E 7. Staging Area Services and Support. Services and support available to responders at the staging area may include but not limited to: a. Area Security b. Traffic Control c. Administrative Facilities d. Communications e. Medical Support f. Toilet Facilities g. Food and Water h. Equipment Maintenance Support i. Fuel j. Shelter. 8. Medical Support: Medical assistance should be readily available to/from a staging area. In the absence of existing support, suitable medical assistance should be deployed to the staging area. F. Demobilization 1. Ideally, the STAM who established the staging area is the best person to demobilize/close the site. It is essential all resources are accounted for at the time of demobilization. Consideration may need to be given to restoring the staging area site and making good any damage to the remaining infrastructure/environment. 2. Provide Appropriate Information to the IC and/or EOC for Inclusion in the AAR. RESPONSIBILITIES A. Staffing for a staging area will be dependent on the size and scope of the event being supported. Not all staffing positions are required every time a 6 JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D / APPENDIX 1 / TAB E staging area is established. In addition to the agencies and positions listed for additional positions and responsibilities that may be required. B. Jurisdictional Agencies: The IC from the local agency designated for a particular type of response is responsible for assessing the severity of the incident and determining the level of support required, including the need for a staging area. C. STAM: Coordinates with the Operations Officer and the Logistics Officer to maintain supplies and equipment necessary to maintain security at a disaster scene. D. CEMA: CEMA is responsible for coordinating all Requests for Support received from jurisdictional agencies; including providing assistance to the requesting jurisdictional agency to establish and support an incident staging area when needed. E. ESF Partners: ESF Partners provide available resources as needed to support staging area operations coordinated to support jurisdictional agencies through Chatham County. TAB MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE A. Executive Agent: CEMA is the executive agent for Tab management and maintenance. The Tab and supporting documents will be updated periodically as required to incorporate new directives and changes based on lessons learned from exercises and actual events. This section establishes procedures for interim changes and full updates of the Appendices. B. Types and Changes: Changes include additions of new or supplementary material and deletions. No proposed change should contradict or override authorities or other plans contained in statute, order, or regulation. C. Coordination and Approval: Any department or agency with assigned responsibilities within the Tab may propose a change to the plan. CEMA is responsible for coordinating all proposed modifications to the Tab with primary agencies, support agencies and other stakeholders. CEMA will coordinate review and approval for proposed modifications as required. 7 JANUARY 2015
EOP / SUPPORT ANNEX D / APPENDIX 1 / TAB E D. Notice of Change: After coordination has been accomplished, including receipt of the necessary signed approval supporting the final change language, CEMA will issue an official Notice of Change. The notice will specify the date, number, subject, purpose, background, and action required, and provide the change language on one or more numbered and dated insert pages that will replace the modified pages in the EOP, Tab, or supporting documents. Once published, the modifications will be considered part of the EOP for operational purposes pending a formal revision and re-issuance of the entire document. Interim changes can be further modified or updated using the above process. E. Distribution: CEMA will distribute the Notice of Change to all participating agencies. Notice of Change to other organizations will be provided upon request. Re-issuance of the individual Tabs or the entire EOP will take place as required. Working toward continuous improvement, CEMA is responsible for an annual review and update of the EOP to include related tabs, and a complete revision every four years (or more frequently if the County Commission of GEMA deems necessary). The review and update will consider lessons learned and best practices identified during exercises and responses to actual events, and incorporate new information technologies. CEMA will distribute revised EOP Annex documents for the purpose of interagency review and concurrence. 8 JANUARY 2015