Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout202.015e - Natural Disaster STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES TACTICAL OPERATIONS 202.015e NATURAL DISASTER EFFECTIVE: OCTOBER 2007 Current Revision Date: 06/04/19 Next Revision Date: 06/04/22 Author’s Name/Rank: Michael Hutcheson, Fire Captain Review Level: 2 Administrative Support: Tammy Williams, Management Analyst II Section 202.015e Page 1 of 8 PURPOSE This policy defines the responsibilities and actions to be taken in the event severe weather is forecast for, or occurs at the airport in accordance with the Airport Emergency Plan. APPLICATION This plan is to be a guide for overall natural disaster response to minimize the impact from a natural disaster or severe weather event for the Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department). OPERATIONAL POLICY In the event that any level of the airport's Severe Weather Emergency Plan is activated, the airport will remain responsible for the command and control of the response by utilizing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) for response management. The Public Safety Supervisor will assume the role of Incident Commander until Unified Command is established. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Activation: In accordance with (NIMS), there are five levels of Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation. A brief description of the levels follows: Section 202.015e Page 2 of 8 NAME OF LEVEL LE LEVEL DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE V Daily Operations Airport personnel are available to staff EOG As necessary. Normal Business IV Emergency Standby/ Special Events with Emergency Support Function (ESF) Support Conditions are or may be present that raise the potential danger to the airport or operations. Conditions have not yet caused, and may never cause damage to the terminal or interrupt operations. Airport personnel continue to monitor changing conditions and provide incident or event special support as necessary. Severe Weather Alert I I I Active Emergency Conditions Emergency conditions have occurred that are having a serious but limited impact on portions of airport operations. Imminent threat of severe weather II Significant Emergency Conditions Emergency conditions have occurred that are having a serious impact on the overall operation of the airport. Airport resources have been fully committed and the incident(s) continue(s) to expand. High winds, thunderstorms and earthquakes etc. thunderstorms and earthquakes etc. I Full Emergency Conditions National Command Authority declares a National Security Emergency. Highest level of awareness response, full activation of EOG. Elevation of Homeland Security Advisory System If a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued for an area within fifty (50) miles of the airport and it appears that the projected path of the storm could directly impact the airport, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) located for this emergency in the Airport Communications Center should be activated to a Level IV. At a minimum, Airport Public Safety and Operations units should monitor the situation. Representatives from other Departments may contact the Communications Center for updated information. If the airport comes under imminent threat of severe weather, the incident commander should activate Level Ill of the Severe Weather Emergency Plan and call for all persons in the airport to immediately take shelter. The Airport Communications Center may then make announcements and follow procedures as appropriate. Section 202.015e Page 3 of 8 PROCESS Response Agencies/Duties: 1. Law Enforcement Responsibilities. a. Provide continued law enforcement and security operations on the Airport, as needed, including those required by 49 CFR Part 1542. b. Upon a Level V alert, the designated command level officer should make contact with the AOC via phone, radio, or in person to monitor the weather situation and determine if the need to escalate to Level IV arises. c. Upon a Level IV alert, the designate d command level officer should report to the EOC. d. Participate in the Incident Command System in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG). e. Upon Level III activation, assist with the relocation of personnel.  LEOs are to initiate and assist with the evacuation of the terminal and concourse.  Once the terminal and concourse have been cleared, LEOs are to perform a sweep to assure complete evacuation. 2. ARFF Responsibilities. a. Upon notification the Level IV has been activated proceed to a standby location as directed by the incident commander. b. Conduct fire suppression and rescue operations as needed, and as weather conditions allow. c. Assist FFD and EMS with emergency medical services as needed, and as weather conditions allow. d. Survey ARFF property and equipment order to:  Determine integrity of buildings, including status of utilities.  Ensure functionality of all telephones, station and apparatus radios, and alerting systems. Section 202.015e Page 4 of 8 e. Assist in support operations as required. This includes, but is not limited to, search, inspections, personnel accountability, and management of displaced passengers. Equipment Transporting/Housing: 1. Vehicles to transport victims of incident. a. Injured/deceased victim transport is to be accomplished through the EMS branch of the incident command system. b. Request FAX busses to transport uninjured victims to designated locations. 2. Hangars/buildings to accommodate victims of incident. a. Hangars available for triage, medical, or morgue operations include the P3 hangar, the maintenance facility, and the two maintenance hangars. b. Uninjured victims may be transported to any of these facilities, the terminal, or the relief staging area as designated by the incident commander. Communications: 1. Emergency alarm system and procedures. a. A direct telephone hotline (crash phone) connects the Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) to the ARFF station, Station 10, the Air National Guard Command Post, and the Air National Guard Crash -Fire Rescue station. b. The alarm system is tested at least once a day. 2. Fire response communications. a. All emergency communications are to be assigned FFD operations channels (e.g. Fire01 or Tac01). b. Each vehicle is equipped with a Tower/Fresno ground radio, an FY I security hand held radio and a FFD Operations radio. Vehicle operators can monitor the radios at all times unless engaged in firefighting operations. Section 202.015e Page 5 of 8 c. Non-emergency communications between the incident commander and non-airport units responding to the incident is to be through designated or assigned channel by appropriate public safety dispatch center. 3. Law enforcement communications. a. All units responding to the incident must be equipped with suitable communications to facilitate incident command connectivity. Incident Command Post: Upon activation of the EOC (Level IV), an Incident Command Post is to be established. Notification and Activation: The Severe Weather Emergency Plan is activated in accordance with (NIMS) and the threat to the airport. Level V represents a severe weather watch; Level IV a severe weather warning; Level Ill represents an imminent threat to the airport and calls for fully activating the plan by taking shelter. 1. Level V: Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch a. The on duty Airport Public Safety Supervisor is responsible for activating Level V resources. The Severe Weather Emergency Plan is activated if the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch within 50-miles of the Airport. 2. Level IV: Severe Weather Warning a. Level IV is to be activated if a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Warning is issued for an area within fifty (50) miles of the airport AND it appears the projected path of the storm to directly impact the airport. Note: A severe thunderstorm is one which produces hail 1.0 inch or more in diameter (quarter sized), or winds of 50 knots (58 mph) or more. b. Upon Level IV activation, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is to be activated. Section 202.015e Page 6 of 8 3. Level III: Imminent Severe Weather Level III of the Severe Weather Emergency Plan is to be activated under the following conditions: a. Upon report of a confirmed tornado or large amounts of debris in the immediate area. b. At the discretion of the incident commander based on available sources including phone conversations with the National Weather Service and local radar. c. Upon the threat elevating to Level III, the incident commander is to call for immediate shelter-in-place. The Airport Communications Center is to make announcements over appropriate radio channels. They are to make an announcement over the public address system in the terminal. Return to Normal Operations: Once the severe weather threat has passed, the incident commander is responsible for an orderly return to normal operations. Command 1. The Airport Public Safety Manager, AP21 should establish the incident command system for all incidents for which it has management responsibility. All incidents involving aircraft on Airport property should be designated as the “Airport Incident” with AP21 officer assuming command until relieved by a FFD battalion chief or unified command is established. 2. If an Alert II occurs due to a severe weather event, “Airport Command” is to share a unified command of the incident with the aircraft pilot u ntil such time as the pilot terminates the alert and the airport incident commander verifies the incident to be stabilized and safe. 3. For Alert III, the airport incident commander is to share command with the aircraft pilot only if the pilot still has control of the aircraft and passengers; otherwise, the Airport Command is to have command. Transfer of Command 1. Airport command is to retain command of an incident until all emergency operations have been concluded and the incident has been declared safe. The Fresno Yosemite International Airport Director of Aviation or designated representative is to assume command of the incident at this time. Section 202.015e Page 7 of 8 INFORMATION Please see Unique Planning Considerations section in the Severe Weather, Tornado, and Flood portion of this AEP. Standard Operational Guidelines Fresno Yosemite International ARFF Severe Weather SOGS:  Provide firefighters with essential requirements for response to impending severe weather.  This guide applies to all members of the FAT ARFF unit.  All Public Safety Supervisors are required to ensure the provisions of this guide are adhered to as closely as possible. DEFINITIONS 1. Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop in the area. 2. Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Severe thunderstorms have developed in the area. 3. Tornado Watch: Conditions are favorable for a Tornado to develop. 4. Tornado Warning: A funnel cloud has been sighted and is threatening the area. 5. Winter Storm Watch: Conditions are favorable for a winter storm to develop and significant snowfall accumulations may occur. 6. Winter Storm Warning: A winter storm is approaching the area and significant snowfall accumulations can occur. 7. Blizzard Warning: Snowfall and blowing conditions are impending in the area, which will create blinding conditions; drifting snow and severe wind chill hazards. 8. White Out: A condition in which high winds and blowing snow create a blind environment in which nothing can be seen except blowing snow. 9. Flash Flood Watch: Conditions are favorable for a rapid flooding event to occur if rainfall is present. Section 202.015e Page 8 of 8 10. Flash Flood W arning: Rapid flooding is imminent in low or poorly drained areas due to the presence of rainfall. The FAT ARFF Unit responds to severe weathe r emergencies based upon the specific nature of the emergency at hand. In general, very little can be done to prepare for such emergencies; however, this guide is intended to provide proactive measures should such an emergency arise. In accordance with the FAT's Severe Weather Emergency Plan, the on duty Public Safety Supervisor is to assume unified command when a Level 2 "Severe Weather Threat" is issued. CROSS-REFERENCES This section intentionally left blank.