DISASTER ON ELECTION DAY North Carolina Emergencies and disasters can strike anywhere at any time, Election Day included. So how will the show go on? By using your Election Day disaster plan!

This presentation will provide counties with the knowledge and tools needed to plan for severe weather events that have the possibility of interrupting Election Day activities.

Today your presenter is Zach Smith, Emergency Management Coordinator with Guilford County Emergency Services.

Zach has been with Guilford County Emergency Management for 3 years serving in the capacity of emergency management coordinator for planning and preparedness.

Prior to Guilford County, Zach served as the emergency management director for the City of Burlington, and deputy fire marshal at NC State University.

Through his tenure, Zach has managed several large incidents, most recently the March 2014 Ice Storm.

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Agenda

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• Personal & family preparedness• Collaboration & coordination • Continuity of operations• Hazard identification and risk• Mitigation actions• Disaster planning• Q&A

Personal & Family Preparedness

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• Family comes first to most• Prepare your family

– Make a plan– Build a kit– Stay informed

• ReadyNC– www.readync.org

Blue Sky Partnerships

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• Collaboration and coordination prior to a disaster is paramount.

• Reach out to your local emergency management office:– www.ncem.org & click on “Counties”

Continuity of Operations

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• Continue essential services

• Orders of succession• Staffing capabilities• Vital equipment,

supplies, files, etc. • Alternate facilities• Interoperable

communications

Hazard Id & Risk Assessment

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• What is it?• The process:

– Brainstorm hazards– Score based on their likelihood– Score based on their impact– Total scores

• Make sure your plans match your hazard

• Reach out to county emergency management

Hazard Id & Risk Assessment

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• Based on your hazard identification• Identify & assess risks (vulnerabilities)

Risk Mitigation

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• What can be done to prevent or lessen the impact?– Facility with backup generator– Contingency equipment and supplies– Educating elections and polling place staff– Encourage early voting

Disaster Response Planning

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• When planning for a disaster on election day plan for two scenarios:– Single site or localized multi-site disaster– Countywide disaster situations

• Involve all stakeholders in planning process

• Exercise plan(s) and make improvements

• Have a plan to document actions and expenditures

Planning Considerations

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• Site emergencies• Relocation

– Preplanning and agreements are key • Transportation

– Staff – Voters

• Backup power• Communications

– Internally & externally– Consider communications plan

Resources

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• Report on EM of elections (2014)– National Association of Secretaries of State

• Election Disaster and Contingency Planning– Montana Secretary of State

• Guilford County COOP Template– Guilford County Emergency Management

• FEMA Independent Study Courses– training.fema.gov/is

Questions & Discussion

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Contact Information

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Zach Smith, CEMEmergency Management

CoordinatorGuilford County Emergency

ManagementOffice: (336) 641-2278

zach.smith@guilford-es.com