1

MUNICIPAL DISASTER

PLANNING

CHECKLIST

WHERE TO START

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GET EVERYONE

INVOLVED:

Citizens Citizen Corps | Ready.gov

Business Community http://www.ready.gov/community-preparedness

Faith Community

Volunteer Groups

Elected Officials

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LEGISLATION

Legislation that your municipality may need to

adopt to reach your preparedness goals:

Adoption of National Incident Management System (NIMS) http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/nims_city_ordinance.pdf

Adoption of Emergency Powers for your elected officials http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/Ordinance%20for%20Mayor%20Emerg%20pwrs.pdf

Adoption of Line of Succession http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/Ordinance%20for%20Succession%20(sample).pdf

Adoption of your Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/212

Adoption of Mutual Aid Agreements http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/965

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CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

ASSESSMENTS (INVENTORY)

You will need to conduct several assessments in your community to include:

Critical infrastructure in and around your jurisdiction to include essential

services, utilities, etc. http://sites.duke.edu/ihss/files/2011/12/IHSS_Solano.pdf

Special Functions – Parades, Festivals, Fourth of July Celebration and

fireworks shows, etc. http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/Laurel%20Resolution.pdf

Jurisdiction’s capabilities, resources, and abilities to respond to emergencies

disasters, etc. http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=210

Threats and Capabilities.

http://www.cityoflaurel.org/mmlfiles/PrinceGeorgesCo-LaurelMD_HazMitPlan_2010-web.pdf

When all assessments are completed you will need to share the information with

your partners (i.e. County Emergency Manager, Emergency Services, etc.)

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SAMPLE INVENTORY FORM

Ratings: 1-3 = Minor 4-7= Moderate 8-10= Critical

http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/1383

THREAT ASSESSMENT (MAN MADE)

Target Name

Level of Visibility

Criticality of Target

Value of Target to PTE

Site Population

Potential for Mass Casualties

Potential Terrorist Element Access

Target Threat

Total Points

Rating

Threat Assessment (NATURAL)

Target Name

Level of Visibility

Criticality of Target

Value of Target to PTE

Site Population

Potential for Mass Casualties

Potential Terrorist Element Access

Target Threat

Total Points

Rating

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GATHERING

INFORMATION

Obtain and review your county’s All Hazard Plan so that you are

clear about your jurisdiction’s responsibilities in local emergencies.

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/plan/sig101.pdf

Reach out to your County Emergency Manager and the Maryland

Emergency Management Agency to determine resources available to

assist during your emergency that might exceed your capabilities to

respond. http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/1382

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CONTINUITY OF

OPERATIONS PLAN (COOP)

Your Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) will provide you with a

platform that will ensure that your primary mission and essential functions

will continue during a wide range of emergencies, whether natural or man-

made.

Identify essential services/functions

Find a back-up location to house your employees

Exercise your plan

Conduct yearly reviews/updates

http://www.fema.gov/continuity-operations

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EMERGENCY

OPERATIONS PLAN (EOP)

Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) are developed using the functional approach and

consist of a Basic Plan, Functional Annexes, and Hazard-specific Appendices. They are

supplemented by Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and contain checklists for

implementation of the plan. An EOP should possess the following qualities:

1. Organization

2. Progression

3. Consistency

4. Adaptability

5. Compatibility

The Basic Plan is an overview of the jurisdiction’s organization and policies. It

should contain the legal authority for emergency operations, explain the general

concept of operations, and assign responsibilities for emergency planning and

operations.

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EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (cont’d)

Functional annexes are plans organized around the performance of a broad task.

Each annex should focus on one of the critical emergency functions that the

jurisdiction will perform in response to an emergency. The number of annexes can

vary from municipality to municipality depending on needs, capabilities, and

organization. Functional annexes are oriented toward operations so their primary

audience should consist of those who perform the tasks. They do not repeat

general information contained in the Basic Plan.

Hazard-specific appendices provide additional detailed information applicable to

the performance of a particular function in the face of a particular hazard.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and checklists provide the detailed

instructions that an organization or an individual needs to fulfill responsibilities and

perform tasks assigned in the EOP. They may be attached to the EOP or

referenced as deemed appropriate.

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EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (cont’d)

When your plan is complete, share it with your county emergency

management office.

Review yearly and make updates where necessary

Exercise your plan!

Check out this Guide for Developing Emergency Operations Plans developed by the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center for examples and additional guidance: http://rems.ed.gov/EOPGuides.aspx

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MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS

Historically Fire/EMS made the most use of mutual aid agreements. NIMS

have changed the thinking to include agreements with all responding

agencies to include Police and Public Works.

When selecting partner agencies consider things such as distance that may

lead to delays in mutual aid response.

Remember that no jurisdiction will unnecessarily deplete its own

personnel, equipment, and capabilities in order to provide mutual aid.

The agency receiving mutual aid is usually responsible for the care,

feeding, and shelter of responding mutual aid resources. http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/965

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MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS (Cont’d)

Things to consider:

Develop means to communicate with partner agencies

Assist Emergency Managers and First Responders to locate resources to

enhance their response to emergencies.

Develop an efficient mechanism that will allow responders to:

Know what resources are available

Request and track resources

Take receipt of resources provided to them

Determine what disciplines/resources are needed based on an assessment

of your needs and arrange through, written agreements reasonable

assurances that the resources are available to respond.

All parties should include legal and insurance council to review the

agreements annually, and revise as necessary. http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/965

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VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers play a crucial role in assisting with activities to mitigate disasters, prepare in

advance, and assist with short-term and long-term recovery efforts to return the

community to normal conditions after an incident.

Who Can Volunteer?

Emergency volunteers represent the diverse, inclusive and vibrant community. By

developing emergency volunteers, the community is provided with the necessary

resources to support the municipality before, during and after a disaster. Whether they

have administrative skills, carpentry skills or just a desire to serve, there is a way for

them to be involved.

How Can Volunteers Help?

Volunteers help coordinate recovery efforts, share information between government and

relief agencies, share information between government and relief agencies, and assist in

mobilizing resources.

http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corp

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VOLUNTEERS (Cont’d)

Why Help?

Develop skills and gain experience in new areas.

Meet others with similar interests and become part of a team to provide important

services to the community they live in.

Community Groups

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers are trained to respond

to the needs in their neighborhood when First Responders may not be immediately

available.

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) volunteers support the

community during incidents and planned events by providing auxiliary

communication services to the community.

http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corp

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FAITH-BASED RESPONSE

During a disaster many victims turn to their faith for comfort, assistance and

counseling. Victims frequently lose their confidence and develop the feeling that their

life may never return to normal. Faith-based organizations have members of their

congregation who are qualified councilors who can visit victims and help them make

sense of their surrounds and build the confidence needed to rebuild their lives and regain

a sense of normalcy.

Actions to consider:

Contact local faith-based organizations. They are part of Emergency

Operations Management throughout the United States and have

taken a tremendous burden off the shoulders of first responders.

Ask if congregations have any crisis councilors http://www.hhs.gov/partnerships/about/

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Allegany County Department Of Public Safety

And Homeland Security

11400 PPG Road

Cumberland, MD 21502 (301) 777-7113 Annapolis City Emergency Management 199 Taylor Ave.

Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 216-9167 Anne Arundel County Office Of Emergency Management

Henry L. Hein Public Service Bldg, Ste: 102

Glenn Burnie, MD 21061 (410) 222-0600 Baltimore City Mayor's Office Of Emergency Management

1201 East Cold Spring Lane

Baltimore, MD 21239 Emergency Manager, (410) 396-6175 Baltimore County Office Of Homeland Security

And Emergency Management

Baltimore County Fire Department

700 East Joppa Road

Baltimore, MD 21286 (410) 887-5996 Calvert County Division Of Emergency Management

Court House

175 Main Street Ste: -

Prince Frederick, MD 20678 Division Chief Em. Mgmt. (410) 535-1623

Caroline County Department Of Emergency Management

7 N. First Street

Denton, MD 21921 (410) 479-2622 Carroll County Emergency Management Agency

225 North Center Street, Rm 20

Westminster, MD 21157 (410) 386-2296 Cecil County Department Of Emergency Services

107 Chesapeake Blvd

Elkton, MD 21921 (410) 996-5350 Charles County Department Of Emergency Services

P.O. Box 2150

10425 Audie Lane, Ste: 12

La Plata, MD 20646 (301) 609-3402 Dorchester County Emergency Management & Civil Defense Agency

829 Fieldcrest Road

Cambridge, MD 21613 (410) 228-1818 Frederick County Division Of Emergency Management

340 Montevue Lane

Frederick, MD 21702 (301) 600-6790

Maryland County Emergency Manager

Contact Information

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Garrett County Department of Public Safety and

Emergency Management

311 East Alder Street

Oakland, MD 21550 (301) 334-7619 Harford County Division Of Emergency

Operations

2220 Add Road

Forest Hill, MD 21050 (410) 638-4900 Howard County Fire And Rescue, Office Of Emergency Management

6751 Columbia Gateway Drive

Fourth Floor

Columbia, MD 21046 (410) 313-6002 Kent County Emergency Management Agency

104 Vickers Drive, Unit D

Chestertown, MD 21620 (410) 778-7458 Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

1300 Quince Orchard Blvd

Gaithersburg, MD 20878 (240) 777-2300 Prince George's County Office Of Emergency Preparedness

6820 Webster Street

Landover Hills, MD20874 (301) 583-1899

Queen Anne's County Department Of

Emergency Services

100 Communications Drive

Centreville, MD 21627 (410) 758-4500 St. Mary's County Emergency Management

Agency

23090 Leonard Hall Drive

PO Box 653

Leonardtown, MD 20650 (301) 475-4200 Somerset County Department Of Emergency Services

11916 Somerset Avenue

Princess Anne, MD 21853 (410) 651-0707 Talbot County Emergency Management Agency

605 Port Street

Easton, MD 21601 (410) 770-8160 Washington County, Division Of Fire And Emergency Services

33 W. Washington Street

Hagerstown, MD 21740 (240) 313-2900 Wicomico County Emergency Services

411 Naylor Mill Road

Ste: 200

Salisbury, MD 21801 (410) 548-4920

Maryland County Emergency Manager

Contact Information (cont’d)

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Summary

Having an Emergency Operations Plan can assist a jurisdiction in saving lives

and limiting damage from the impact of a disastrous event.

Resilient Maryland!