Emergency Operations Plan For Western Mass. COADs

Purpose, Scope, Situation Overview and Assumptions  Pages 6 – 7  Community organizations will work to minimize impact of emergencies by collaborating and coordinating services  Covers four counties of western MA  COAD member agencies may respond, but COADs themselves are not response organizations, only coordinating  COAD agencies will not self-deploy

Concept of Operations  Pages 7 – 9  Foundation is situational awareness  Levels of activation  1 – Steady State/Monitoring  2 – Partial Activation  3 – Full Activation  4 – Long-Term Recovery

Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities  Page 9  COAD chair notified of member actions  COAD chair provides updates to MA VOAD and Mass  COAD agencies organize into subcommittees based on resources they provide  Conference calls  Closeout reports

Direction, Control, and Coordination  Pages 9 – 10  Local IC/EMD in charge  Coordinate with ESF-7 desk at MEMA, if staffed

Information Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination  Page 10 COAD chair gathers information COAD chair receives resource requests COAD chair contacts subcommittee chairs AND Other COADs Subcommittee chairs contact members Subcommittee chairs relay information to COAD chair MEMA & Local EMD

Communications  Pages 10 – 12  0700 and 1900 briefings with COAD officers, subcommittee chairs, WebEOC monitor, PIO, MA VOAD  0800 and 2000 briefings with subcommittee chairs  Agenda for all briefings:  Update on situation  Update on activities  Update on needs of agencies or community  Assignment of tasks

Administration, Finance, and Logistics  Page 12  Keep records for FEMA reimbursement

Plan Development and Maintenance  Page 12 Plan Section Review/Revision Frequency Exercise Frequency Basic Plan, Annexes, and Job Action Sheets Every two yearsEvery year Contact ListsEvery year Notification Drills Twice/year

Authorities and References  Page 13  Each agency must follow its own limits and regulations

Emergency Support Categories Annexes  Pages 14 – 28  Animal care  Care services  Debris removal  Financial assistance  Food  Goods  Health care, spiritual, emotional, and mental health  Housing  Professional services  Repair/rebuilding  Services for special populations  Transportation  Volunteers

Continuity of Operations Plan  Pages  Staffing and succession of officers and subcommittee chairs

Appendices  A: List of Member Agencies (pp. 32 – 34)  B: Resource Directory/Subcommittees (pp. 35 – 36)  C: Free Conference Call Instructions (pp )  D: Acronyms (p. 39)  E: Job Action Sheets (pp. 40 – 46)  F: EMD Contact Info (p. 47)  G: Contact Info for Key COAD Members (pp. 48 – 50)

Please move to the appropriate county table if you’re not already there!

In Like a Lion Tabletop Exercise

Exercise Overview  Exercise scope: 1.5 hours of play, limited to introducing emergency management personnel and COAD members to each other and testing the newly developed COAD Emergency Response Plan  Mission area(s): Response and Recovery

Objectives and Core Capabilities 1. Introduce EMDs and COAD members to each other (Community Resilience). 2. Allow both groups to become familiar with the COAD EOP (Public and Private Services and Resources). 3. Identify gaps in the EOP and in training (Public and Private Services and Resources.

Participant Roles and Responsibilities  Players: Respond to situation presented based on current plans, policies, and procedures.  Facilitators/Scribes: Moderate discussions and make note of significant observations.

Exercise Structure  Two modules (storm warning and recovery) 1. Scenario 2. Small group discussion with prompting questions 3. Report out  Hotwash

Exercise Guidelines  This is an open, low-stress, no-fault environment. Varying viewpoints, even disagreements, are expected.  Base your responses on the current plans and capabilities of your organization.  Decisions are not precedent setting; consider different approaches and suggest improvements.  Issue identification is not as valuable as suggestions and recommended actions that could improve response and recovery efforts; problem-solving efforts should be the focus.  Testing the EOP—please write suggestions for improvements directly on the Plan.

Assumptions and Artificialities  The exercise is conducted in a no-fault learning environment wherein capabilities, plans, systems, and processes will be evaluated.  The exercise scenario is plausible, and events occur as they are presented.  All players receive information at the same time.

Exercise Schedule Module 1: Storm Warning2:00 – 2:30 Report out2:30 – 2:45 Module 2: Recovery2:45 – 3:15 Report out3:15 – 3:30 Hotwash3:30 – 3:50 Closing Comments3:50 – 4:00

Module 1: Storm Warning

Module 1 March 25, 10:00 A.M. The National Weather Service is predicting a major snowstorm will come across New England bringing up to three feet of heavy, wet snow and high winds. Snowfall will begin around midnight tonight and continue for at least 24 hours. The heavy snow will stick to tree limbs likely bringing them down on power lines and roads. The entire state is expected to be affected.

Module 1 March 25, 10:00 A.M. The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Framingham is currently at a Level 1 (Steady State/Monitoring) activation, with plans to transition to a Level 2 (Partial Activation) this evening. MA VOAD (Massachusetts Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) members are scheduling a conference call to discuss individual member organizations’ actions and checking with MEMA to see if they will be needed once transitioned to partial activation.

Module 1: Key Issues  The storm will begin in approximately 14 hours and last for at least 24 hours.  The snow will be heavy causing trees to fall on power lines and roads.  The entire state is expected to be affected.

Module 1: Discussion  Talk amongst your small groups  Note significant items  Write recommendations on the Plan  Report out at 2:30

Module 2: Recovery

Module 2 April 1, 10:00 A.M. It’s been almost a week since the storm hit and 5% of Hampshire County residents are still without power. Northampton has two shelters open and several communities have emergency rest centers open during the day.

Module 2 April 1,10:00 A.M. A large apartment complex in Northampton was rendered uninhabitable when the weight of the snow on the roof caused it to collapse. There are now 150 residents who need a long-term housing solution.

Module 2 April 1,10:00 A.M. Channels 22 and 40 have reported heavily on this story causing a flood of calls offering donated clothing and baby goods. Donated goods have started piling up in the parking lot of the Salvation Army.

Module 2 April 1,10:00 A.M. Several hundred homes in Hampshire County have lawns littered with tree limbs. Some of these falling limbs damaged roofs, which now require tarps.

Module 2: Key Issues  150 Northampton residents need long-term housing.  Donated goods are piling up.  Homes have tree debris and are in need of tarps on their roofs.

Module 2: Discussion  Talk amongst your small groups  Note significant items  Write recommendations on the Plan  Report out at 3:15

Hot Wash  Strengths  Areas for Improvement

Closing Comments  Slides and EOP will be on WRHSAC’s website; we’ll link and attendee contact info  Thank you to speakers, facilitators/scribes, WRHSAC  Feedback forms  Please leave nametags