City Finally Produces Emergency

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By Michael Webster

Captain Danell Adams of the Laguna Beach Police Department faxed the Journal the seven pages we requested a couple of weeks ago when the Journal was able to look over the cities 4 inch thick "Emergency Plan". The Journal at that time again requested a copy of the evacuation part of the emergency plan. (See related story “Laguna Beach Not Ready for Disasters Past Or Future” by scrolling down in this section)

This evacuation plan is part of the cities over all emergency plan called "Evacuation Unit". According to this document "The purpose of the evacuation plan is to provide guidance for the conduct of evacuation, dispersal or relocation operations during a natural disaster, technological incidents and nuclear defense emergencies". It also describes the organization responsibilities for conducting evacuation operations. The Laguna Beach Police Department has primary responsibility for evacuation supported by Marine Safety, Volunteers may also supplement the work force, if available.

According to Capt. Adams, " the cities emergency plan nor the evacuation part of that plan has been exercised or practiced. However both of been activated during real emergencies like the recent landslide and the mudslides of a few years ago."

Donna Boston of the Orange County Sheriff's Dept. Emergency Services recently said, on local TV Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Orange County Emergency Plan requires all cities in Orange County to exercise their respective emergency plans on a regular basis. If the plan is not exercised you have no plan.

When the Journal asked if the city planned to exercise the evacuation part of the plan Capt. Adams replied "No". Capt. Adams also stated that the City Manager Ken Frank has the ultimate responsibility to order an evacuation for the city of Laguna Beach. She went on to say " that the city of Laguna Beach has no shelters or food, water, ice, or other emergency supplies stock piled. But there is a Disaster Preparedness Team that meet on a regular basis at Laguna Presbyterian Church They actually have a meeting scheduled for next Wednesday, October 12th @ 8:30 AM. We would also rely on local grocery stories and churches to provide that sort of thing just like they did during the recent landslide."

Capt. Adams continued, "I have spent some time with the North Laguna Home Owners Association (HOA) president as well as EBay's HOA president. There is a great deal of discussion in the works about getting the word to our residents....once again...about disaster preparedness. Everyone is working hard and utilizing the best communications options available. The City is getting ready to send out it's annual newsletter which will go to all homes and it will include a section on preparedness and resources to help citizens be better prepared. We are also going to ask for assistance from our designated block captains in our neighborhood watch group, to assist. Anyway, we are doing all that we can to get everyone on the same page. It is an arduous task. But it is truly my goal to saturate this community with as much information on preparation as possible, given the potential that everyone be in a position to have to help themselves versus depending on communications systems remaining in tact and public safety personnel handling everything."

The Journal wanted to know if the city would have local buses available in time of a disaster and who would drive them? So that Laguna would not have a problem similar to the cities of New Orleans and Houston with their bad experience of having no buses available as there reserve buses became part of the flood disaster and were not available and the city of New Orleans could not find drivers to drive them anyway after Katrina and Rita respectively.

The plan points out that some of the population will not have access to automobiles. Additionally people with disabilities or infirmities may require special transportation. Once the number of those requiring transportation assistance has been determined by the Police, they will advise the Logistics Section/ Supply Unit who will locate and request needed vehicles and operators. Both public and private vehicles will be used to transport people. Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) and the Laguna Beach Unified School District will be notified if buses are needed.

Capt. Adams indicated that the buses the city would rely on would be the school buses parked in the canyon at the Unified School District lot. Even though the Laguna Canyon has a history of flooding many residents feel that is too dangerous and the city should have other viable options such as some buses parked on high ground within the city out of harms way. Capt. Adams points out that there are other buses available in emergencies such as the city tour buses and there could be some commercal buses in town that the city could use in a time of need.

The Journal has learned that there is available to Laguna citizen’s emergency training though Community Emergency Preparedness Teams referred to as CERT. The United States Civil Defense provides this service. Capt Adams said, "to the best of my knowledge we have no CERT training through the City of Laguna Beach." When asked if the City of Laguna Beach has any arrangements for local volunteer training or volunteer resources such as the U.S.C.D.A. The Capt said, "No", only the Police volunteers and some HAM radio operators."

FEMA’S web site AT WWW.FEMA.GOV and by clicking on GEMS the United States Civil Defense Assoc. states “ Cities have had to rely on volunteers in times of crisis throughout history. It is the citizen that supports emergency government and agencies. It is the trained volunteer who provides needed extra manpower during times of extreme crisis. The dollar saving to the government is immeasurable. It is neither practical nor economically feasible to maintain such a sizable establishment under ordinary conditions. But, in times of real crisis they are necessary and must be readily accessed. Like the military, fire, police, and emergency medical organizations. The hierarchical system used by the USCDA is a line authority system proven most efficient and functional in a crisis. Large numbers of volunteers can be accessed and quickly pressed into service more efficiently. Much of the training provided members are though Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Fire Academy, California Specialized Training Institute and other state and federal agencies. USCDA centers on these areas and of accessing, organizing, and utilizing volunteers as a backup resource for national state and local governments. The USCDA provides a structure and organization whereby equipment like bulldozers to back boards may be provided and/or maintained by, individuals, companies, and private organizations for low-cost, or no cost, to the government. These reserves of working heavy equipment and skilled operators are an economic necessity in time of disaster. Equipment provided by private sources is often equal to, or exceeds, that provided by the government. USCDA will respond to world wide disasters with all our resources including search and rescue teams and volunteers when invited to do so by the government entity or other leaders in the area effected including Cities, Counties in the USA and abroad.

The USCDA site goes on to say. You want to help, but what can you do if? Terrorists destroy a government building and a friend is trapped inside large earthquake has destroyed much of the city and all local agencies are overloaded. A child may have been exposed to chemical or biological agents. A major fire is spreading to your neighborhood, but all firefighters are busy elsewhere. A building collapsed, people are injured and no immediate medical attention is available. Your worried about the legal aspects of providing help Young hikers are lost in the forest. Homes have been destroyed and people need shelter and food. A neighbor may be experiencing a heart attack. A building has caved in and hasty rescue efforts might cause even more damage and loss of life. If prepared you could show loved ones what to do when the next big earthquake comes administer emergency first aid. Set up an emergency communications network. Provide help while avoiding legal complications. Utilize emergency preparedness or disaster preparedness kits. Organize search and rescue teams. Be the person who knows what to do in an emergency.

You can also utilize your Current Skills? USCDA Teams need volunteers with a variety of skills to perform the various functions of a well-organized team. TEAM. LEADERS are also needed to provide cohesion to the various USCDA groups and functions. It is necessary that USCDA Teams jump into action in the first critical hours of a major emergency. USCDA Teams must be mobilized on a moment’s notice.

INSTRUCTORS & ADMINISTRATORS do you have skills that can help get other team member up to speed for that future disaster that could be a few years or a few days away?

CLERICAL PERSONNEL support USCDA emergency operations, document actions taken, provide information to the Teams, and maintain records.

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS Provide emergency communications support to Emergency Operations Centers, Mobile Command Vehicles, Field Command Posts.

EQUESTRIAN ENTHUSIASTS Four wheelers 4X4 Search and Rescue operations in rugged terrain can be greatly enhanced by mounted team members & 4X4 four wheelers.

JOIN A USCDA TEAM TODAY! PREPARE FOR TOMORROW! CALL, E- MAIL OR WRITE: USCDA 301 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Office (949) 494-7121 Fax (949) 583-0154 Web Site: www.michaelwebster.net e-mail wibcom@aol.com

Or mail In the Application on their website to become a member and/or to take CERT training.

The cities plan further states that the overall objectives of the evacuation plan operations are to expedite movement of persons from hazardous areas, control evacuation traffic, coordinate transportation for those without vehicles and for those with special needs. Provide perimeter control for the affected scene and evacuated areas, accomplish objectives of the "Action Plan, determine the safety of evacuation routes in a post-earthquake or devastated environment.

The situation and assumptions are that Laguna Beach may be impacted by a major emergency incident, which impacts large areas of the City. If residents are displaced as a result of a large-scale incident, it is the City's responsibility to relocate persons in impacted areas to safe location. Evacuation plans will be prepared, on an ad hoc basis by the Police Dept. in conjunction with Emergency Operation Center (EOC) staff and the Plans Section. In general, those persons closest to the hazard, or those most at risk, will be warned and evacuated first.

In a large-scale incident, the EOC will be activated for the coordination of emergency evacuation and relief efforts. When the EOC is activated, the Law Enforcement Unit will also be activated. If evacuation of any area of the city is necessary, the Police Dept. will be the lead agency and will be responsible for the implementation and execution of evacuation plans. Police will be assisted by the Fire Department, Municipal Services and Marine Safety.

Should an evacuation order go out it will contain the following elements, at a minimum. The reason the evacuation is being ordered, evacuation routes, road conditions, what to do if vehicle breaks down, assembly points for those without transportation, and location of shelters if any are available.

The plan states that the LBPD is the lead agency for evacuations and has the overall responsibility of evacuation operations within the city. Either field personnel or EOC personnel will determine the necessity for evacuation. The Police Operations Centers (POC) who will direct the actual operations will manage tactical operations. Police personnel will carry out the evacuation and ensure the safety of the evacuation route with support from other departments if necessary. Once areas have been evacuated, the Police Dept. has the exclusive responsibility for protecting private and public property in all areas that were evacuated. Police in the field will control entry. The PD will make special arrangements for prisoners within the Laguna Beach jail.

Marine Safety will assist with the evacuation of all areas at the direction of the POC. Primary responsibility will be for the evacuation of the beach areas especially upon a Tsunami warning. Known risk areas include: Main Beach, Pacific Coast Highway, Aliso parking lot, El Moro Trailer Park, All buildings on the ocean side of PCH and all other public and private access beaches. Known risk areas include, but are not limited to Laguna Canyon Road leading to the downtown area Broadway Avenue, Ocean Avenue, Forest Avenue and PCH if the flooding is the product and high tides and storm surges.

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