point fortin earthquake response plan march 2011

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Point Fortin Borough Corporation Earthquake Response Plan

2010 POINT FORTIN

BOROUGH CORPORATION

National Earthquake Response Plan

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Record of Change No. of Change

Date of Change

Subject of Change Name of person

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PREFACE

The primary mission of Point Fortin Borough Corporation Earthquake Response Plan is to protect the lives and property of its citizens. The plan provides the basis for the coordinated operation of other emergency agencies. Regardless of how well all systems are organized to provide assistance, the unpredictable nature of hurricanes and the time and space factors involved dictate that the local jurisdiction must be prepared to cope with the initial impact of a hurricane on its own.

Recognizing that routine emergency services will, by their nature, be inadequate to cope with the effects of a major earthquake, it is the duty of Point Fortin Borough Corporation to provide for the emergency expansion of its survival capabilities within the limits of available resources. In the event the disaster effect is above the capacity of the Corporation then the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) will activate the National Earthquake Emergency Response Plan. It is an Incident or Hazard Specific Annex to the National Emergency Operations Plan (ODPMEOP).

In preparing this plan, emergency duties and responsibilities have been assigned, to the extent possible, to agencies having the same or similar responsibilities in the Point Fortin Borough Community Emergency Response’ Basic Plan. Where necessary, agencies should develop specific standing operating procedures (SOPs) explaining what tasks need to be performed and how they will be accomplished in an emergency situation.

This incident annex has been developed in consonance with cited authorities that currently exist. Specific details and background from these sources are usually referenced rather than included. Agencies using this annex should, therefore, become familiar with the provisions of the Emergency Services and Disaster Law.

It is well understood that being prepared to recover from the effects of an earthquake requires the constant development and revision of emergency procedures, training of staff and auxiliary personnel, and exercises to test this aspect of the Point Fortin Borough Corporation Emergency Response Plan. This process and the results of actual emergency response operations will allow refining and distillation of this incident annex to the PFBC emergency response plan and its associated SOPs and supporting plans so that we are as well prepared as possible to cope with earthquake effects.

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C0NTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 7

CHAPTER1

EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN 8

PURPOSE 8

AUTHORITY 8

RATIONALE 8

POLICIES 9

a. ASSUMPTIONS 9

b. MANAGEMENT OF EMERGENCIES 9

c. ACTIVATION OF THE EOC 9

d. SUSPENSION OF ROUTINE ACTIVITIES 9

e. NON-DISCRIMINATION 9

f. INDIVIDUAL PREPAREDNESS 9

g. REVIEW AND UPDATE 9

h. RELATED DOCUMENTATION 10

CHAPTER 2-ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

2.1 GENERAL 10

2.2 CHARACTER OF AN EARTHQUAKE 10

2.3 THE TRINADAD AND TOBAGO EARTHQUAKE EXPERIENCE 11

2.4 SOCIAL CONSIDERATION 12

CHAPTER 3-CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS 13

3.1 GENERAL 13

3.2 PHASES OF RESPONSE 13

PHASE 1 –INITIAL STAGE 13

PHASE2-RESPONSE STAGE 14

PHASE 3- RETURN TO NORMALCY 14

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CHAPTER 4- PREPAREDNESS 15

4.1 INTRODUCTION 15

4.2 EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS 16

4.3 CORE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUNCTIONS 16

4.4 MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS 16

4.5 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 17

4.6 COMMUNICATIONS 17

4.7 PUBLIC INFORMATION 17

4.8 PROTECTION OF DATA 18

4.9 SEARCH AND RESCUE & EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT 18

4.10 COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS 18

CHAPTER 5 – RESPONSE 18

5.1 GENERAL 19

5.2 INDIVIDUAL IMMEDIATE ACTION 19

5.3 ACTION BY THE STATE 20

5.3.1 PHASE 1-ACTIVATION OF THE NEOC 20

5.3.2 PHASE 2 –RESPONSE STAGE 21

5.3.3 PHASE 3- RETURN TO NORMALCY 21

5.3.4 EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUNCTION 22

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ADRA - Adventist Development and Relief Agency

CEO - Chief Executive Officer

ESF - Emergency Support Function

EOC - Emergency Operations Centre

LGA - Local Government Authority

MOFA - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

MOLG - Ministry of Local Government

MOPU - Ministry of Public Utilities

MOSD - Ministry of Social Development

MOT - Ministry of Tourism

MOWT - Ministry of Works and Transport

ODPM - Office for Disaster Preparedness and Management

PFBC - Point Fortin Borough Corporation

RHA Regional Health Authority

SJAB - St. John’s Ambulance Brigade

TTARS - Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society

TTDF - Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force

TTFS - Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service

TTPS - Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

TTRCS - Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society

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EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN

PURPOSE

The purpose of this plan is to minimize the loss of life and damage to property and the environment in Trinidad and Tobago by detailing actions to be taken to prepare for, respond effectively to and recover quickly from, the impacts of major earthquakes and tsunamis.

AUTHORITY

This Plan is promulgated under the general direction of the Minister of Local Government. There are, however, several pieces of legislation that have dealt with matters related to disaster management (see Annex). Chief among these are: a) The Disaster Measures Act No. 1978 b) The Municipal Corporations Act No. 21 of 1990 c) The Fire Service Act Rationale As difficult as the promotion of hurricane and other hazard countermeasures has proven to be in the Caribbean and elsewhere in the world, the promotion of earthquake countermeasures has proven to be even more so. This is because, in the Caribbean, the occurrence of serious earthquakes (magnitude 6.0 or greater) tends to be rare. It therefore appears to be unreasonable to expend scarce resources on countermeasures against such a rarely‐occurring event. Thus, earthquake risk management activities tend to be low‐priority items on governmental agendas. Another reason for this difficulty is the fact that, unlike most other more commonly‐occurring hazards, earthquakes tends to occur without warning. This not only makes it impossible to take preemptive action, it also tends to promote a feeling of powerlessness. Policies The following policy statements govern the operation of this plan:‐ a. Assumptions In preparing this plan the following assumptions were made:

(i) There is a National Emergency Management Plan. (ii) All stakeholders are both aware and capable of performing their assigned

roles (iii)All Memoranda of Understanding with key stakeholders required for the

execution of the Plan would have been put in place.

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(iv)Efforts have been made, and continue to be made to organize and train communities (however geographically defined) across Point Fortin to respond appropriately to emergencies.

b. Management of Emergencies:‐ Regardless of their particular level, all emergencies occurring within and requiring a multi—agency response will be managed using the Incident Command System (ICS).

c. Activation of the EOC:‐ When a serious earthquake occurs the EOC will be activated as soon as possible to coordinate the activities of all emergency response agencies. The Command Centre in conjunction with the EOC will indicate the strategies to be adopted to respond to the emergency, establish the priority of activities to be undertaken and coordinate the various actions being undertaken by emergency response organizations. The merits of this approach are that:

(i) It facilitates efficient coordination through the collection of all information on emergency related activities.

(ii) It enables the taking of effective action by providing direction and advice to emergency response organizations in a consistent and coordinated manner.

(iii) It clarifies responsibilities for the various countermeasures.

d. Suspension of Routine Activities: Day‐to‐day functions of state agencies that do not contribute directly to disaster relief operations may be suspended for the duration of any emergency. Similarly, Point Fortin Borough Corporation resources normally required for routine activities may be redirected to accomplish emergency‐related tasks.

e. Non‐Discrimination:

No aspect of emergency relief will be denied to anyone on the basis of political affiliation, race, physical or other disability, religion, sex, marital status, age, sexual orientation or nationality.

f. Individual Preparedness:

The existence of this Plan does not absolve citizens of their individual responsibility to be aware of, and prepare for, hazards to which Point Fortin is subject.

All citizens are expected to be aware of developing events and take appropriate steps to ensure personal safety and protect property.

The Point Fortin Borough Corporation will make every reasonable effort to provide information, via various media, to assist citizens in dealing with an earthquake emergency.

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g. Review and Update:‐ This Plan will be reviewed annually by agencies in the National Disaster Management System. Additional revisions or enhancements deemed necessary, either following an actual earthquake event or as a result of findings of an exercise, may also be made.

h. Related Documents It is anticipated that the following documents will be relevant to the smooth implementation of this plan:

National Disaster Management Plan National Mass Casualty Plan National Shelter Plan National Debris Management Plan

Chapter 2 – ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

2.1 General

The Caribbean is an area of considerable tectonic complexity and almost every sort of tectonic activity can be observed within relatively short distances. Western Caribbean islands such as Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands sit on top of small crustal blocks that characterize the ever‐shifting boundary between the massive North American and Caribbean tectonic plates. Each year, the Eastern Caribbean experiences about 1200 earthquakes greater than magnitude 2.0. It is also estimated that the region will experience at least one magnitude 6 earthquake every 3 – 5 years. Thus, although there is considerable variation in their respective levels of risk and vulnerability, no island in the region is completely free from the threat posed by earthquakes. In Point Fortin, as in other parts of the world, social conditions are also changing. The ‘aged’ population (persons 65 years and older) is increasing. So, too, is the number of persons who own vehicles. The major industries are oil and gas. In recent times, Point Fortin has attracted migrant workers who do not have a command of the English language. Increases in population density, poor land use practices and the absence of effective building codes for dwelling houses and other small buildings have exponentially increased the potential this rapid‐onset hazard has to impart destruction. These environmental and social factors underscore the need to give greater priority to the enhancement of earthquake preparedness and response. Especially as Point Fortin is situated along the Los Bajos fault.

2.2 Characteristics of an Earthquake

The potential consequences of an earthquake differ from those of other hazards because of its unique characteristics. These include:

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Ground Shaking ‐ The potential severity of ground shaking and its consequential impact on buildings and life‐lines depend on several factors. The magnitude of the earthquake at epicentre (point of origin) determines the amount of energy released. Both the distance and the type of materials through which an earthquake travels attenuate its seismic waves. Therefore, the intensity of the same earthquake could differ at two locations that are equidistant from the epicentre. The nature of the ground on which affected structures are located as well as the duration of the shaking are other contributing factors to the destructiveness of an earthquake event. Induced Ground Failures ‐ Ground shaking could trigger landslides or rock falls, and could also cause liquefaction which, in turn, could result in casualties or damage to structures. Secondary Hazards ‐ Secondary hazards, such as dam failure or fires due to ruptured gas lines, may be caused by collapsed or damaged structures.

2.3 The Trinidad and Tobago Earthquake Experience

In Trinidad and Tobago an earthquake may be felt as often as once per month. These felt

earthquakes represent about 2‐6% of all earthquakes in the region, recorded by

seismometers.

The largest earthquake on record directly impacting Trinidad and Tobago took place in 1766.

There have been eight (8) events of magnitude 6.0 or greater between 1899 and 1952

occurring within 250 km of Trinidad and Tobago. One of these –occurring on 10 January

1910 – was of magnitude 7.2. The earthquakes of 1925 caused significant damage to all the

buildings in Port of Spain, most of which were just two storeys tall and constructed of un‐

reinforced masonry.

Prior to 1982, most of the earthquakes in Trinidad were concentrated in two significant

zones west of the island. One zone lies north of the Paria peninsula with events trending

northeast‐southwest. The other lies in the Gulf of Paria, with events having a northwest‐

southeast trend. However, in 1982, a swarm of earthquakes (numbering several hundred

tremors) occurred of the southwest coast of Tobago. The strongest of these measured 5.26

magnitudes on the Richter scale.

Similarly, in 1988, the area east of Trinidad, which up till then had seen only a few low

intensity events, experienced a magnitude 6.2 event. This was followed by hundreds of

aftershocks spanning a number of years.

There is an inverse relation between the hypo‐central distance from populated centres and

the damage caused by an earthquake. This was recently demonstrated by the millions of

dollars in damages wrought by the two strongest events of 1997 in Tobago; the focal points

and epicenters of which were shallow (approx. 28 km and < 5 km respectively) and relatively

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close (30 km and 15 km respectively) to Scarborough. Table 1 lists some of the large

earthquake affecting Trinidad and Tobago since 1766.

Table1.

Date

Magnitude

Intensity Notes

21 October 1766 ‐ 7.9 San Jose (Capital) destroyed

29 September

1825

VIII ‐

24 February 1918 VIII ‐

04 December

1954

VIII >6.5 One death; several injured

September

1968

V – VII 5.1 Damages to churches

March 1982 ‐ 5.4 Tobago swarm

March 1983 ‐ 5.8 Several injured at the coast

March1988 ‐ 6.2

01 January 1996 VI 5.0 One home destroyed; several damaged

02 April 1997 ‐ 5.6

22 April 1997 ‐ 5.9 Over TT$18m in estimated damage in

Tobago

09 July 1997 ‐ 5.7

04 October 2000 ‐ 5.8

Source: http://www.nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/earthquakeriskin

trinidadandtobago.pdf.

2.4 Social Considerations

In planning to respond to the impacts of serious earthquakes, particular attention will be

paid to ‘special’ populations such as the aged, children, the physically challenged, and

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tourists. The Point Fortin has been compiling a Special Needs Log Persons comprising data

on the Special Population. Persons falling into these categories may have trouble hearing or

understanding warnings, instructions or other information. Some will have difficulty in

moving quickly, when quick movement is required. Persons falling into these A high

‘vehicles‐to‐persons’ ratio means that there is every likelihood that roads will become

congested should people be required to evacuate an area. In addition to the means (radio,

television, cable network, siren, public address systems, etc) by which information is passed,

consideration will therefore be given to the use of symbols or pictures in communicating

earthquake‐related information. Consideration will also be given to restricting the use of

vehicles completely or, alternatively, on designated routes, to facilitate emergency

response.

Chapter 3 – CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS.

3.1 General. It is recognized that the occurrence of certain hazards often takes place with little or no warning. In such circumstances, or when the duration of the emergency is estimated to be relatively short, initial management of the emergency will be undertaken by First Responder Agencies on site or as close to the site as possible. For Level 1 emergency, the management of response operations will take place at the EOC with consultation with the Command Centre headed by the Mayor and the CEO, located at the Town Hall George Road, Point Fortin. The CEO will initiate the Point Fortin Borough Corporation Earthquake Response Plan as necessary. In the absence of the CEO, the Disaster Coordinator will initiate the plan. In the absence of both of these officials the responsibility for the initiating this plan falls to the Deputy CEO in consultation with the Municipal Police Inspector. For Level II and Level III earthquake emergencies, the management of response operations will take place at the NEOC, located at # 3 Orange Grove Road, Trincity, TACARIGUA. The CEO ODPM will initiate the National Earthquake Response Plan as necessary. In the absence of the CEO ODPM, the deputy CEO will initiate the plan. If both of these officials are unavailable the responsibility for initiating this plan falls to the (state the office of the person so designated). 3.2 Phases of Response In the immediate aftermath of a serious earthquake event there are often many activities that need to be undertaken in a relatively short space of time. To ensure scarce resources are used in the most effective and efficient manner the Government must indicate the importance placed on, and the priority level of, each of these activities. To ensure that a management structure is put in place to determine the priority and importance of these necessary activities, the following phases are recommended.

Phase 1 – Initial Stage. Activities in this phase will concentrate on establishing an organized response. This phase begins immediately following the occurrence of the earthquake and

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continues until the EOC is fully activated, and the Command Centre at the Town Hall is convened and is capable of controlling all emergency response activities. The duration of this period should be as short as possible within the first 24 hours. The main activities of this period include: Mobilising personnel and resources to fully establish the EOC. Response agencies activating their respective EOCs and instituting systems to carry out response activities in a comprehensive and efficient manner. Establishing channels of support through collaboration with other organizations

within and outside of the Borough. Phase 2 – Response Stage. Activities in this phase will focus on the saving of lives and the protection of property and the environment against secondary hazards. The length of this period typically extends from 24 hours after the event to about seven days maximum (depending on the scale of the earthquake event). 3.2.1 Phase 2 – Response Stage

3.2.2 This phase typically begins about 24 hours after the event and should last for

about seven days maximum (depending on the scale of the earthquake event). The

main activities in this stage are geared towards the saving of lives and the prevention

of damage to property and the environment. Consequently, key actions include:

The activation of the EOC

Prompt gathering and transmission of information on the

details of the earthquake, the securing of a reliable means of

communication and the initiation of the initial damage

assessment (IDA).

Determining the need to declare a “Disaster Area”, as

appropriate, by the Mayor or a State of Emergency by the

President.

Preventing confusion resulting from rumours or false reports,

encouraging appropriate decision‐making and action‐taking by

transmitting correct information to both victims and the rest

of the population,

Provide support service to the Search and Rescue teams and

disaster victims.

Disaster prevention activities such as providing information on

preparedness measures in order to prevent secondary or chain

reaction emergencies,

Guiding victims to safe shelters,

Securing means of emergency transportation by controlling

vehicular and pedestrian traffic to support smooth rescue,

medical assistance and fire‐fighting activities and to issue

emergency supplies to victims, and

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Ascertaining the risk of secondary hazards such as flooding,

landslides etc., and, where necessary, evacuating residents

and implementing countermeasures against these potential

hazards. Identify emergency/evacuation routes that were not

compromised after the earthquake.

Phase 3 ‐ Return to Normal Stage. Activities in this phase will focus on stabilizing peoples’ daily lives and economic activities. This phase typically starts approximately three days after the earthquake event and can last from a few weeks to a few months (depending on the scale of the earthquake event).

CHAPTER 4 – PREPAREDNESS

4.1 Introduction

To ensure the implementation of a prompt and smooth response to an earthquake

emergency, the following preparedness actions shall be taken:

Establishing emergency response and management information systems in

advance so that response and recovery activities can be carried out quickly

and smoothly.

Preparing a manual that provides details of the evacuation plan of the major

municipal jurisdictions.

Stockpiling of food, water, medical supplies, tents, body bags, etc.

Educating both emergency response staff and the general public about the

earthquake hazard.

Organising and training communities to respond appropriately to all types of

hazard emergencies.

Hardening earthquake monitoring systems and promoting research on these

systems

4.2 Emergency Response Systems

Mobilisation & Communication

The Point Fortin Borough Corporation Emergency Team will be mobilized. All emergency

response organizations (both state and non‐state) shall institute systems for the rapid

assembly of their personnel. The ICS system will be initiated among emergency response

organizations. Communication will be channeled through the Disaster Management

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Coordinator. In doing so, particular attention will be paid to issues such as the means by

which personnel will assemble and the securing of means of communications.

4.3 Core Emergency Response Functions:‐

Point Fortin Borough Corporation, Central and local government bodies, other public

institutions and emergency related organizations shall take steps to ensure the

survivability of their respective facilities and equipment so that they will be in a position

to discharge their responsibilities in the aftermath of a serious earthquake.

They shall also consider instituting an appropriate system for stockpiling food, water and

other supplies and equipment for their own use in the event that they have to mobilize.

4.4 Mutual Aid Agreements

4.4.1 In earthquake emergencies, mechanisms for mutual support and cooperation

among emergency response organizations are vital to the achievement of an efficient

response. The Point Fortin Borough Corporation, MOLG, ODPM, other central and local

government bodies, other public institutions and emergency response agencies shall

therefore take steps to strengthen cooperation and mutual support through

Memoranda of Understanding and other similar instruments.

4.5 Information Management

4.5.1 Information Gathering. To ensure prompt and reliable communications among

national and local government bodies, other public institutions and emergency response

agencies, the Point Fortin Borough Corporation shall institute systems for the gathering

and exchange of information among such bodies.

4.5.2 In doing so, the MOLG shall, through the Point Fortin Borough Corporation, also

ensure that such systems can operate, if the situation warrants it, on a 24‐hour basis

over an extended period.

4.5.3 The PFBC, MOLG, ODPM, local government bodies, other public institutions and

emergency response agencies will strive to use the people‐ in‐ place system for

collecting disaster‐related information from diverse sources, including the media,

citizens, and private sector organizations and companies, among others.

4.6 Communications

4.6.1 In anticipation of a situation where damage from a serious earthquake has severely

impacted their core functions, the PFBC will contact MOLG, ODPM, other national and local

government bodies and other emergency related organisations to acquire multiple channels

of communications, including land lines, cellular phones, satellite telephones, wireless radio

networks, and the Internet, among others.

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4.6.2 All staff shall be trained in the operation of all aspects of the emergency

communications system.

4.6.3 All staff of national and local government bodies and other emergency related

organisations shall be exercised regularly to ensure they achieve the expected level of

competency.

4.7 Public Information

4.7.1 When an earthquake event has happened, the Point Fortin Borough Corporation and

local government bodies shall inform affected communities of possible secondary hazards

(e.g. tsunamis, landslides, etc). They should also provide information on the level of

damage, any recommendation of an evacuation, traffic restrictions, and so on.

4.7.2 To ensure that disaster‐related information gets to the community quickly, national

and local government bodies shall install radios or cabled loud speakers in each community.

In addition, the Point Fortin Borough Corporation shall provide such information to the

general public via the national media (newspapers, radio stations, and television and cable

networks).

4.7.3 All shelters shall be outfitted with radio or cable communication systems to ensure

that shelterees receive necessary information.

4.8 Protection of Data

4.8.1 It is vitally important that basic information such as emergency facilities lists,

citizens registers, structural diagrams of important facilities, hazard maps, etc, are

stored in earthquake‐resistant structures.

4.8.2 It is also critical that a copy of all this data is stored in another place that is similarly

earthquake‐resistant.

4.9 Search And Rescue & Emergency Medical Treatment

4.9.1 Search & Rescue (SAR)

4.9.1.1 Studies of large‐scale earthquakes have shown that the survival ratio of persons

trapped under debris falls off rapidly to 10‐20% after the event. It is therefore very

important that the Fire Service, Ministry of Works and Transport, Regional Health

Authority, Water and Sewerage Authority, ODPM and local government bodies ensure

that SAR activities begin immediately following the earthquake.

4.9.1.2 Because the first 72 hours are the most important all available resources should

be pooled and directed to the SAR effort.

4.9.1.3 Periods of silence should be observed frequently during SAR operations to listen

for sounds of survivors.

4.10 Community Preparedness.

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4.10.1 There will always a time lag between the occurrence of a major hazard event and

the response from a state or non‐state agency. It will therefore always be left to

individuals and groups in affected communities to initiate an immediate response. It is

therefore essential that communities are educated about the hazards they face and

organized and trained to respond to them.

4.10.2 The responsibility of education, organization and training of communities to

respond to hazard emergencies does not rest solely with the Point Fortin Borough

Corporation. Both non‐state agencies and individuals can play an invaluable role in

ensuring that communities are prepared to respond to emergencies.

Chapter 5 – RESPONSE

5.1 General The earthquake response phase commences immediately after the impact of an earthquake. The Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), located in St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, is responsible for the notification of earthquake occurrences. The SRC has a series of remote sensing stations throughout the eastern Caribbean that enables its staff to advise on the severity and epicentre of an earthquake. Reports of all earth tremors are routinely forwarded from the SRC to all client states on a regular basis. In the event of an earth tremor that results in damage, First Response agencies will be responsible for notifying the NDO. Once it has been determined that a Level II or Level III emergency, exists, the NDO will initiate the National Earthquake Response Plan. Factors which will influence initiation are:

an earthquake has seriously impacted a community;

a severe earthquake affects more than one municipality and requires a multi‐agency response; or as determined by the NDO.

5.2 Individual Immediate Action When the earthquake shaking starts, your first action should be to DROP, COVER, and

HOLD; preferably under a table, desk, or something sturdy. If this is not an option, move

away from windows toward the interior of the room. However, be aware that when the

shaking starts you probably won’t be the only thing moving. Objects in and outside the

building or home will be moving such as light fixtures, lamps, computers, bookshelves, signs,

chimneys, plus many others. They could be falling, toppling, sliding, rolling or even flying.

Not only is there the potential for these objects to be damaged, but their movement can

cause damage, injury or even loss of life. Often the most damage, injury and loss of life

during an earthquake are the result of the movement of these “non structural”

components. Therefore, it is important to move quickly to protect yourself.

When the shaking stops and you begin to move about, do:

Check your surroundings for other dangers (e.g. fires, escaping gas,

live electricity wires, etc)

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Check for other persons who might have been injured. Assist them if

you know what to do (and can do so safely and without injury to

yourself or the injured person)

Contact any one of the following agencies and inform them of who

you are, who else are with you, what injuries have been sustained,

what immediate additional dangers you face, what kind of damage

the structure suffered, etc.)

a) Fire Service – 648‐2245/0100

b) Police Service – 648‐3337

c) Municipal Police‐ 648‐4634

d) Point Fortin Borough Corporation office –

648‐2124/2868/2869/0555

d) Emergency Operations Centre‐ 648‐1486/6656

e) ODPM – 640‐1285

f) Point Fortin Area Hospital Director‐ 648‐2191

Move to a safer location.

5.3 Action by the State In keeping with the concept of operations, the State’s response will be executed in three phases. 5.3.1 Phase 1 – Initial Stage 5.3.1.1 Activation of NEOC. The ODPM and all other public agencies having emergency response‐related responsibilities shall nominate personnel responsible for emergency response in advance. 5.3.1.2 Such nominated persons shall immediately answer the call to mobilize whenever such a call is issued or when they deem it necessary. 5.3.1.3 Once activated, the NEOC and other EOCs shall operate in accordance with established SOPs. 5.3.2 Phase 2 – Response Stage

5.3.2.1 This phase typically begins about 24 hours after the event and should last for about

seven days maximum (depending on the scale of the earthquake event). The main activities

in this stage are geared towards the saving of lives and the prevention of damage to

property and the environment. Consequently, key actions include:

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Prompt gathering and transmission of information on the

details of the earthquake, the securing of a reliable means of

communication and the initial assessment of the damage

caused.

Determining the need to declare a State of Emergency or a

“Disaster Area”, as appropriate,

Preventing confusion resulting from rumours or false reports,

encouraging appropriate decision‐making and action‐taking by

transmitting correct information to both victims and the rest

of the population,

Searching for and rescuing disaster victims and providing

prompt medical attention to casualties,

Disaster prevention activities such as fire‐fighting and tsunami

countermeasures in order to prevent secondary or chain

reaction emergencies,

Guiding victims to safe shelters,

Securing means of emergency transportation by controlling

vehicular and pedestrian traffic to support smooth rescue,

medical assistance and fire‐fighting activities and to issue

emergency supplies to victims, and

Ascertaining the risk of secondary hazards such as flooding,

landslides etc., and, where necessary, evacuating residents

and implementing countermeasures against these potential

hazards.

5.3.3 Phase 3 – Return to Normalcy Stage

5.3.3.1 This phase typically starts approximately 72 hours after the earthquake event

and can last from a few weeks to a few months (depending on the scale of the

earthquake event). Activities in this phase are aimed at stabilising peoples’ daily lives

and economic activities. Key activities undertaken during this stage include:

procuring and distributing food, water, medicines and other

daily supplies necessary for maintaining an acceptable level of

comfort for disaster victims,

establishing law and order through crime prevention and suppression activities, and implementing measures to ensure the reliability of supply and the stability of commodity prices,restoration of lifelines and utilities,

acceptance of material and monetary donations from abroad,

preventing confusion caused by rumours and false reports,

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transmitting correct information to disaster victims and other

members of the public; thereby encouraging appropriate

judgment and decision‐making based on accurate information,

assessing the state of health of disaster victims, health and

hygiene activities such as waste disposal, quarantine activities,

and the recovery and handling of dead bodies,

Clearance of debris from roads, airports and ports. These

activities should include debris management considerations.

Reopening of roads, ports and airports.

Temporary repair of damaged buildings.

Consider possible isolation of some areas, and the resupply options available to assist them.

Re‐establishment of communications systems.

Establishment of procedures to deal with media enquires.

N.B. Aftershocks may continue to affect the community. National and local plans should take into account the effects these might have on response operations. 5.3.4 Emergency Response Functions 5.3.4.1 In the aftermath of any emergency, there is usually the need for one or more of

several Emergency Response Functions (ERFs) to be performed. The following matrix lists these ERFs and indicates the phases when they are likely to be required.

RESPONSIBILITY MATRIX –EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE

SER Emergency Response Function Primary Agency

Alternate Agency Response Phase

1 Search and Rescue TTFS TTDF Phase 2

2 Emergency Medical Treatment MOH/GHRSTT TTRCS/StJAB Phase 2

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3 Requesting External Assistance MOFA ODPM Phase

4 Shelter Operations MOLG MOSD/TTRCS/ADRA Phase

5 Firefighting TTFS TTEMAS Phase 2

6 Communications TSTT TTARS/REACT Phase 2

7 Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis

MOLG TTRCS/ADRA Phase 2

8 Hazardous Materials response TTFS TTEMAS Phase 2

9 Inspection/Clearing of Roads and Bridges

MOWT TTDF Phase 2

10 Airport and Seaport Operations MOWT TTDF Phase 2

11 Inspection of Dams, Reservoirs, etc

MOWT TTDF Phase 2

12 Inspection of Silos, Tank Farms, MOWT TTDF/TTEMAS Phase 2

13 Public Information MOI ODPM Phase 2

14 Restoration of Public Utilities MPU TTDF Phase 2

15 Environmental Protection/Pollution Control

EMA TTFS/TTEMAS Phase 2

16 Law Enforcement and Security TTPS TTDF Phase 3

17 Handling of Dead Bodies MOH/RHA TTDF Phase 3

18 Overseas Relief Coordination ODPM MOFA Phase 3

19 Relief Supplies Distribution TTDF MOLG Phase 3

20 Continuation of Government MOLG MPA Phase 3

21 Inspection and Demolition of Unsafe Buildings

TTFS TTDF Phase 3

22 Welfare of Visitors/Tourists MOT MOH/MOSD Phase 3