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HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformational Item - 2009 Public Safety Disaster SubcmteTo: From: Subject: Date: Memorandum City of Palm Desert Office of the City Manager The Honorable Chair and Members of the Public Safety Commission Gary Rosenblum, Risk Manager 2009 Public Safety Commission Disaster Planning Subcommittee Report December 9, 2009 The mid -year reorganization of city management and personnel resulted in the loss of a key staff person, which along with budget cutbacks has slowed some initiatives that were in progress. However, the Disaster Preparation Program has been moving forward with the coordination and oversight of the Public Safety Commission Disaster Planning Subcommittee. Disaster Plan Updates The City has changed its disaster plan to be coordinated with the State and Federal disaster agencies. The City's plan is now based on the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is a Federal requirement for FEMA eligibility. NIMS was based on California's Standard Emergency Management System that uses the Incident Command System (ICS), so the procedures are already in effect. The City is using its SEMS plan as an operational supplement to the NIMS plan. The City also updated its planning by writing and adding a heat disaster plan. Citizen Emergency Response Team Training (CERT1 The City funded and produced two CERT classes in 2009, in conjunction with COD and the Public Safety Academy. Over 45 Palm Desert residents received this federally certified disaster training, and many are forming teams at their gated communities. The classes received excellent feedback from the participants and there remains demand in the City for more classes. All 2009 classes were fully funded by the City to determine a true cost estimate for future classes. The cost of future classes for up to 30 participants will include: $6,000 for training, $1,200 for trainee equipment and backpacks, and $2,000 for written materials totaling $9,200 per class. Memorandum to Public Safety Commission 2009 Annual Report December 9, 2009 The City would also need to invest a one-time expense for the training equipment that provides the hand -on elements of the required training. The cost of the equipment, which includes a storage trailer, is around $15,000. Disaster Consulting Contingency Contracts The City has set-up contingency contracts with three firms to provide immediate assistance in key areas. Belfor USA is an international sized firm that can provide a wide range of disaster cleanup logistics, people, and back-up power generators in the event there are none locally available. Adiusters International is a national FEMA recovery specialist firm that can provide financial documentation experts to assist the City in filing proper FEMA paperwork and expedite FEMA reimbursements. Brudvik is a local supplier of back-up generators. More contracts are planned for 2010. Debris Management Plan The City required Burrtec to develop a disaster plan for the City when it negotiated its Franchise Agreement this year. The disaster plan was received and filed. The City has also begun to develop a debris management plan that would include the creation and operation of a city debris transfer station. Disaster Supplies The City has stocked a wide variety of supplies; however, budget cutbacks have curtailed further purchases during this current fiscal year. The City maintains supplies for employees to use during a disaster, but does not stockpile supplies for the use of city residents. The City replaced its expired stock of emergency water that provides for 100 employees; for a week. It has also purchased several days of disaster food for its field crews. The City maintains a stockpile of several thousand N-95 masks for possible use during a pandemic flu disaster. Emergency Power Generators The City has installed a generator plug in and transfer switch system at the Joslyn Senior Center. The City is coordinating with DSUSD to install the same system in its new gymnasium, which would enable the City to provide a tow -in generator to power the gym's air conditioning and lights. This will give the City another much needed potential venue for a shelter in the event of a major disaster or blackout. Plans to proceed with other city buildings, such as the Community Center or the YMCA, are on hold. Coachella Valley Regional Early Warning System (CREWS) The City's Emergency Manager, through involvement with the Coachella Valley Emergency Manager's Association (CVEMA), is actively involved with the development and 2 Memorandum to Public Safety Commission 2009 Annual Report December 9, 2009 implementation of the nation's first regional earthquake warning system network. The network, "CREWS," is planned to be a partnership between CVEMA, CVAG, the three school districts, and the technology vendor, Seismic Warning Systems (SWS) of Scotts Valley, California. For the purposes of acquiring the necessary funds to install the equipment and network infrastructure necessary to provide all schools in the Coachella Valley with access to an earthquake early warning alarm, training for all students, teachers and staff in how to appropriately respond to the alarm, funding for the project is being sought from three sources. The Government, the private sector, and philanthropic donations are the entities that will be used so that the schools are protected at no cost to them. Plans are to develop a subscription base to provide funds for on -going operation and maintenance, with subscribers receiving the alarm signal through the network. Safety Fair Planning has begun for a Palm Desert Safety Fair in the spring of 2010. Residents will be informed about disaster planning and what kinds of supplies they need to have on -hand, as well as a full range of public safety services the City provides. Employee Training The City's post -organization Disaster Management Roster has been updated and all employees have received updated information. All employees will receive a short basic training lecture for disaster response in January, and planning is underway for management staff to participate in a full day table top Earthquake Disaster Management Systems exercise in the first quarter of 2010. CITY COUNCILIA`ION APPROVED DENIED RECEIVED `* 1-e-a OTHER r1-f-lrrnar5 a 71- MEETING DATE (72r1(1trL,, f1, 020'D AYES•, �,'(lYl. fe.fCISC z cyk FinCr i� NOES: Nk v ABSENT: VI/ v, ABSTAIN? A VERIFIED BY: /2]) K Original on File with City ierk's Office 3