STATE OF TEXAS

HURRICANE RESPONSE PLAN

APRIL 30, 2010

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STATE OF TEXAS

HURRICANE RESPONSE PLAN

APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION This plan is hereby accepted for implementation and supersedes the State of Texas Hurricane Evacuation and Mass Care Plan dated June 5, 2007.

Date Jack Colley Assistant Director/Chief Texas Division of Emergency Management

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RECORD OF CHANGES

CHANGE NUMBER DATE OF CHANGE INITIALS AND DATE ENTERED

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. AUTHORITY AND REFERENCES .......................................................................................... 1

A. STATE ................................................................................................................................. 1 B. FEDERAL ............................................................................................................................ 1 C. MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS AND CONTINGENCY PLANS ............................................. 2 D. EVACUATION AUTHORITY ................................................................................................ 2

II. PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................... 3 A. PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN .................................................................................................. 3 B. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANNING DOCUMENTS .................................................... 3

III. EXPLANATION OF TERMS .................................................................................................... 4 A. ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................ 4 B. DEFINITIONS ...................................................................................................................... 6

IV. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS ........................................................................................ 10 A.SITUATION ........................................................................................................................ 10 B.ASSUMPTIONS ................................................................................................................. 10

V. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS ............................................................................................... 13 A. HURRICANE RESPONSE STRATEGY AND POLICY ...................................................... 13 B. HURRICANE RESPONSE PHASES ................................................................................. 13

VI. ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES .......................................... 24 A ORGANIZATION ............................................................................................................... 24 B. ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES ............................................................................ 25

VII. COORDINATION AND CONTROL ........................................................................................ 38 A.STATE LEVEL PROCEDURES .......................................................................................... 38 B.LOCAL LEVEL PROCEDURES .......................................................................................... 39

VIII. EMERGENCY RESPONSE LEVELS/ACTION GUIDES ....................................................... 39 IX. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT ......................................................................................... 39

A. LINES OF SUCCESSION .................................................................................................. 39 B. TRAINING ......................................................................................................................... 39 C. RECORD KEEPING .......................................................................................................... 39

X. ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT ..................................................................................... 40 A. SUPPORT ......................................................................................................................... 40 B. AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDING ......................................................................... 40 C. STATUS REPORTS .......................................................................................................... 40 D. EXPENDITURES AND RECORD KEEPING ..................................................................... 40 E. CRITIQUES ....................................................................................................................... 40

XI. DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE ................................................................................ 41 A. DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................... 41 B. MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................................. 41

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ATTACHMENTS 1. Hurricane Response Organization 2. Hurricane Response Action Guide 3. Texas Hurricane Preparedness Program 4. Mass Care Tab A Press Release Information Tab B Catastrophic Sheltering Tab C State Hurricane Evacuation Shelter Hub Map 5. Medical Special Needs Evacuation and Sheltering Tab A Ground and Air Ambulances Utilization Criteria for Statewide Disaster Response Tab B Medical Special-Needs Shelters Tab C DSHS medical Special Needs Toolkit 6. Animal Care 7. Regional Traffic Management and Contraflow Plans 8. Evacuation Comfort Stations 9. Hurricane Response Resource Summary 10. Texas Special Needs Evacuation Tracking System 11. Texas Fuel Emergency Operations Center 12. Rapid Response Task Force 13. Disaster Area Re-Entry 14. Commodity Distribution Plan

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STATE OF TEXAS

HURRICANE RESPONSE PLAN I. AUTHORITY AND REFERENCES

This plan applies to emergency management operations during hurricane response. Strategic planning guidance and authorities governing its enactment and implementation include:

A. STATE

1. Constitution of the State of Texas. 2. Chapter 418 (Emergency Management), Texas Government Code. 3. Chapter 421 (Homeland Security), Texas Government Code. 4. Chapter 433 (State of Emergency), Texas Government Code. 5. Chapter 778 (Emergency Management Assistance Compact), Texas Health and

Safety Code. 6. Respective State Agency, Department, and Commission enabling legislation. 7. The Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan, Part III, State of Texas Emergency

Management Plan, November 2000. 8. State of Texas Hazard Analysis, September 2000.

B. FEDERAL

1. Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93-288, as amended.

2. The National Strategy for Homeland Security, July 2002.

3. Emergency Management and Assistance, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 44.

4. Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 1988, Public Law 100-408, as amended.

5. Emergency Management Assistance Compact, Public Law 104-321.

6. National Response Framework, March 2008.

7. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5: Management of Domestic Incidents.

8. Executive Order 13347, Federal RegisterIndividuals with Disabilities in

Emergency Preparedness.

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9. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

10. ADA Guide for Local Governments, U. S. Department of Justice, July 2005.

11. ADA Best Practices Tool kit for State and Local Governments. 12. Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006. 13. FEMA Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101. 14. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996. 15. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 2008.

C. MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS AND CONTINGENCY PLANS

1. Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).

2. Interstate Emergency Response Support Plan (IERSP), October 2009

D. EVACUATION AUTHORITY

1. The Governor, County Judges, and Mayors are vested with certain emergency management powers by Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code and by Executive Order of the Governor. These authorities are delineated in Section V of the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan.

2. The County Judge or the Mayor of a municipality may order the evacuation of all or

part of the population from a stricken or threatened area under their authority if they consider the action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response, or recovery.

3. The Governor may recommend the evacuation of all or part of a population from a

stricken or threatened area in the State if the Governor considers the action necessary for the preservation of life, or other disaster mitigation, response or recovery. By executive order or proclamation the Governor may declare a state of disaster if a disaster has occurred or the occurrence or threat of disaster is imminent.

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II. PURPOSE

A. PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN

1. The purpose of this plan is to define the organization, operational concepts, responsibilities, and procedures to adequately prepare for and respond to a catastrophic hurricane landfall on or near the Texas Gulf Coast and subsequent operations. The plan outlines state, regional, and local government responsibilities for the effective movement of people and resources to an area of safety. This includes post-move reception and care. It also outlines the responsibilities of governments in the re-entry process that occurs immediately after storm conditions have ended.

2. This plan is applicable to all locations and to all agencies, organizations, and

personnel with hurricane response responsibilities.

B. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANNING DOCUMENTS

1. Relationship to Other State Plans.

This plan is intended to supplement the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan. It does not replace the State Emergency Management Plan. This document includes detailed incident-specific planning information on response to all hurricanes and tropical storms that may affect the State. This plan addresses a catastrophic evacuation and activation of the State shelter hub system and therefore may be applicable to other large scale disaster responses. There are several other specialized plans that address complex large-scale hazards, such as the Drought Contingency Plan, and other plans developed to address special emergency situations. This document is not intended to replace any of those documents.

2. Relationship to Local Emergency Management Plans.

This plan provides for coordination with local officials concerning hurricane threats and the effective integration of state support for local emergency operations when local officials request state assistance. Local emergency management plans provide guidance for the employment of local emergency resources, mutual aid resources, and specialized local response resources under a local incident commander, who may be supported by a local Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Local emergency plans include specific provisions for requesting and employing state resources to aid in managing and resolving emergency situations for which local resources are inadequate.

3. Relationship to Regional Emergency Management Plans.

This plan provides for coordination with regional officials concerning hurricane threats and the effective integration of state support for regional emergency operations. Regional emergency management plans provide guidance for the employment of regional emergency resources, mutual aid resources, and catastrophic regional response under the regional incident commander, who may be supported by a regional coordination center.

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4. Relationship to Federal Contingency Plans.

Relationship to Federal plans is provided for in the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan.

5. Relationship to Interstate Agreements.

Relationship to the interstate agreements is provided for in the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan. FEMA Region VI states, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana entered into an Interstate Emergency Response Support Plan in October 2009 to expedite the provision of assistance during a disaster or catastrophic event such as a hurricane.

III. EXPLANATION OF TERMS

A. ACRONYMS

AARC Alamo Regional Command Center ARC American Red Cross CIKR Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources COG Councils of Government CSA County Staging Area BCFS Baptist Child & Family Services DADS Department of Aging and Disability Services DARS Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services DDC Disaster District Committee DFPS Department of Family and Protective Services DHS Department of Homeland Security DOE Department of Energy DPS Department of Public Safety DRC Disaster Recovery Center DSHS Department of State Health Services EAS Emergency Alert System EMAC Emergency Management Assistance Compact EMC Emergency Management Coordinator EOC Emergency Operations Center ESF Emergency Support Function FCO Federal Coordinating Officer FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency GLO General Land Office HHSC Health and Human Services Commission ICS Incident Command System IMAT Incident Management Assistance Teams IMT Incident Management Team JFO Joint Field Office JIC Joint Information Center LSA Logistics Staging Area MACC Multi-Agency Coordination Center MSN Medical Special Needs MOA Memorandum of Agreement

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MOU Memorandum of Understanding NERRTC National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center NHC National Hurricane Center NIMS National Incident Management System NIPP National Infrastructure Protection Plan NRF National Response Framework NWS National Weather Service PIO Public Information Officer PFO Principal Federal Official POD Point of Distribution PUC Public Utility Commission PWRT Public Works Response Team RACES Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service RLO Regional Liaison Officer RRT Regional Response Team RRTF Rapid response Task Force RSA Resource Staging Area SAR Search and Rescue SEMC State Emergency Management Council SITREP Situation Report SLOSH Sea, Lake and Overland Surge from Hurricanes SOC State Operations Center SOP Standard Operating Procedures TAHC Texas Animal Health Commission TCEQ Texas Commission on Environmental Quality TDA Texas Department of Agriculture TDCJ Texas Department of Criminal Justice TDEM Texas Division of Emergency Management TEA Texas Education Agency TEEX Texas Engineering Extension Service TFS Texas Forest Service THCA Texas Health Care Association THP Texas Highway Patrol TPASS Texas Procurement & Support Services TPWD Texas Parks and Wildlife Department TRRN Texas Regional Response Network TSA The Salvation Army TxDOT Texas Department of Transportation TXMF Texas Military Forces TXSART Texas State Animal Resource Team TXWARN Texas Water/Wastewater Response Network UCGS Unified Coordination Group and Staff USACE United States Army Corps of Engineers USGS United States Geological Survey

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B. DEFINITIONS 1. Catastrophic Hurricane: A hurricane defined by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind

Scale as producing catastrophic damage equal to a Category 4 or 5 storm.

2. Catastrophic Incident: Any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism, which results in occurrence that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions.

3. Comfort Station: A designated rest area on a hurricane emergency evacuation route

that offers water and ice to evacuees. Some may offer additional portable rest room facilities and additional services, depending upon volunteer capabilities. No fuel services are offered at comfort stations.

4. Congregate Household Pet Shelter: Any private or public facility that provides

shelter to rescued household pets and/or the household pets of evacuees in response to a declared major disaster or emergency.

5. Disaster: An occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury,

loss of life or property that is beyond the capability of the governments within the affected area(s) to resolve with their resources.

6. Emergency: Absent a Presidential declaration, any incident(s), natural or man-

made, that requires responsive action to protect life or property. Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, an emergency means any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the President, federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States.

7. Emergency Evacuation Traffic Management Plans: Plans issued by the Texas

Department of Public Safety that designate specific evacuation routes, describe law enforcement assignments and incorporate Texas Department of Transportation contraflow procedures and controls to ensure the efficient movement of traffic during hurricane evacuations.

8. Emergency Public Information: Information that is disseminated primarily in

anticipation of an emergency or during an emergency. In addition to providing situational information to the public, it also frequently provides directive actions required to be taken by the general public.

9. Evacuation: Organized, phased, and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or removal

of civilians from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in safe areas.

10. Evacuation Area: Geographic coastal areas identified by officials as at risk from

coastal winds and storm surge associated with hurricanes. In some areas, these are called Risk Areas; in others Evacuation Zones.

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11. Evacuation Zone: Hurricane evacuation area defined by either geographic or governmental features (e.g., roads, railroads, rivers, city/county jurisdictional lines) or ZIP code. As of 2008, the Coastal Bend Area (Aransas, Refugio, San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, and Kenedy Counties) are using the former and the Houston area (Brazoria, Harris, Galveston, and Chambers Counties) the latter. The remainder of Texas evacuating counties use risk areas.

12. Fuel Coordination Team: A group of private sector partners from the fuel industry that ensures the availability and distribution of fuel during emergency events.

13. H- Hour or Day: H- (H minus) is a term used to designate the amount of time

remaining before the predicted arrival of tropical storm force winds (sustained winds of 34 KTS/39 MPH) somewhere on the Texas coast. It is used as a benchmark for the timing of pre-landfall response activities.

14. H+ Hour or Day: H+ (H plus) is a term used to designate the amount of time that

has elapsed since the hurricane or hurricane force winds made landfall on the Texas coast. It is used as a benchmark for the timing of post-landfall response, re-entry and recovery activities.

15. HAZUS: A computer program that calculates potential damage estimates for

hurricane wind, coastal flooding, river flooding and earthquakes.

16. Host Counties: Designated inland counties offering coordinated mass care and shelter support to evacuating coastal communities.

17. Household Pet: A domesticated animal, such as a dog, cat, bird, rabbit, rodent, or

turtle that is traditionally kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes, can travel in commercial carriers, and be housed in temporary facilities. Household pets do not include reptiles (except turtles), amphibians, fish, insects/arachnids, farm animals (including horses), and animals kept for racing purposes.

18. HURREVAC: A computer program that displays the projected hurricane track and

provides wind and evacuation timing information for decision-makers.

19. Hurricane Warning: An announcement issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for specific areas of the coast when hurricane force winds (sustained winds of 64 KTS/74 MPH or higher) are anticipated within 24 hours.

20. Hurricane Watch: An announcement issued by the NHC for specific areas of the

coast when hurricane force winds are anticipated within 36 hours.

21. Immediate Care Strike Team: A group of responders who manage a distribution site for life-sustaining resources (food, ice, water) in areas where these items are not available immediately after a storm.

22. Incident Action Plan (IAP): An oral or written plan containing general objectives

reflecting the overall strategy for managing an incident. It may include the identification of operational resources and assignments. It may also include

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attachments that provide direction and important information for management of the incident during one or more operational periods.

23. Major Disaster: As defined under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and

Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) as amended, means any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought) or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this Chapter to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, tribes, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby.

24. Mass Care: Meeting basic human needs for people who have been impacted by the occurrence of a disaster or emergency event. It includes the capability to provide immediate shelter, feeding operations, emergency basic first-aid. It can also include resources including crisis counseling, emotional and spiritual care and/or distribution of disaster related supplies donations and other essential life supporting requirements necessary to meet the immediate needs of disaster survivors and emergency response workers.

25. Medical Special Needs Population: Individuals who need assistance during

evacuation and sheltering because they have physical or mental disabilities or who are minors under the age of 18, and/or who require a level of care and resources that is beyond the basic first aid level of care available in general population shelters.

26. Multi-Agency Coordination Center: A coordination and control element responsible

for preparing for and responding to catastrophic events on a regional basis. The MACC is established by the County Judge(s) and Mayors from a multi-jurisdictional area who also appoint a Coordinator to mange MACC operations. Some State agencies and other organizations also have MACCs. In this document, the term MACC refers to the center established by the County Judges and Mayors, unless there is an agency/organization name associated with it.

27. Point-to-Point Shelters: A component of the Shelter Hub system consists of pre-

designated sites, identified by local jurisdictions, and coordinated and documented by agreements between evacuating coastal areas and receiving inland jurisdictions to ensure unpublicized shelter accommodations for evacuees involved in mass transportation operations.

28. Public Works Assessment Team: A team of technical experts in one or more Public

Works disciplines that will deploy to a disaster stricken area to assist local jurisdictions with critical infrastructure assessment and essential functions of government.

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29. Public Works Resource Team: A team of specialized personnel, tools, and equipment required to build a specific response capability in one of several Public Works disciplines such as certified water/wastewater personnel, inspectors, or road maintenance crews.

30. Public Works Response Team: A team of public works personnel with the resources

and expertise to support assessment and damage repair in the planning for, and recovery from, a catastrophic event. This includes liaison and planning support in the State Operations Center and on-scene assessment and operational support.

31. Re-entry: A phased process of allowing appropriate agencies and vendors access

to damaged areas affected by hurricane-related hazards. Re-entry marks the transition from the response phase into the recovery phase of the disaster. It includes efforts to restore continuity of government and critical infrastructure/key resources to support the community.

32. Reception Center: Pre-designated facility within a shelter hub to process evacuees

entering a city or county. Evacuees will be registered, triaged, and directed to an appropriate shelter.

33. Resource Staging Area: Central location where equipment, food, water, and ice are

received and distributed in support and shelter operations.

34. Risk Area: Hurricane evacuation areas whose boundaries are tied directly to anticipated surge and wind penetration depth of a tropical storm or hurricane. As of 2009, Texas coastal areas using the risk area approach are Lake Sabine (Orange, Jefferson, Hardin, Jasper, and Newton Counties), Matagorda (Calhoun, Victoria, and Jackson Counties) and the Valley (Cameron and Willacy Counties). There are five risk areas corresponding to the five categories of hurricanes defined by the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale and the Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) model.

35. Service Animal: Any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to

provide assistance to an individual with a disability including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.

36. Shelter: Short-term lodging facilities opened for evacuees prior to, during, and after

an incident. Shelters are typically places where mass care operations are conducted and are generally located away from known hazards.

37. Shelter Hub: A pre-identified, inland city possessing sufficient infrastructure and

resources to logistically support and deploy resources for large-scale evacuations and mass care operations. Generally, a shelter hub would be located along a coastal evacuation route and away from known hazards.

38. Special Needs Population: Individuals who cannot self-evacuate for whatever

reason.

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39. State Transportation Assistance Registry: A local registry of people who request

State evacuation assistance via the 2-1-1 Texas Information and Referral Network. IV. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS

A. SITUATION

1. The State of Texas Hazard Analysis, published by TDEM, provides detailed information concerning the occurrences and impact of hurricanes in Texas.

2. The State of Texas has periodically experienced hurricanes so widespread or

severe that local and State resources were insufficient to meet response and recovery needs. In such instances, the State sought assistance from other states and the federal government.

3. The hurricane threat facing the State has the potential to cause catastrophic

damage, mass casualties, and mass fatalities. The occurrence of a catastrophic hurricane could quickly overwhelm affected local governments and rapidly deplete State resources. It is essential all levels of government remain prepared to continue to operate effectively during crisis and continue to ensure public safety, essential services, and uninterrupted coordination and control capabilities.

4. The Constitution of the State of Texas and state statutes require state and local

governments to implement certain continuity of government programs, to include providing emergency succession of government officials, identification of alternate operations facilities, preservation of vital records, and protection of government personnel, materials, equipment and facilities. Measures shall be in place before hurricane threats materialize to ensure continuity of government is maintained following emergencies or disasters.

5. Effective prevention and preparedness operations, early warning and evacuation,

and well-trained and equipped response forces can reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by a hurricane. Effective pre-disaster prevention and mitigation initiatives can also reduce the amount of damage to private and public property and facilities resulting from a disaster. Successful re-entry operations are critical to the rapid restoration of infrastructure and services in the impacted area.

6. The ability of the State and local governments to respond to and provide for the

safety and welfare of the public during an emergency or disaster is directly influenced by the effectiveness of preparedness, response, and continuity of government operations. The ability of state and local governments to recover and resume normal operations following a disaster is directly influenced by the effectiveness of continuity of government, continuity of operations, and recovery planning.

7. The availability of critical emergency response and recovery capabilities and

resources can be expanded through employment of intrastate and interstate mutual aid. Local governments will enter into local and regional mutual aid agreements to supplement their capabilities.

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8. Although the State and local governments have a wide variety of emergency response assets, and staging areas, emergency contracts are available to provide certain specialized emergency response equipment, supplies, and services to supplement organic resources.

9. Chapter 418, Government Code, provides that state or local government employees

or volunteers acting at the direction of an Officer or Employee of the State or local agency who are carrying out sheltering or housing of disaster survivors, due to an evacuation are considered to be members of the state military forces for purposes of civil liability.

B. ASSUMPTIONS

1. The State and its political subdivisions will continue to experience emergency

situations and disasters that may cause injury, damage and death, or may necessitate emergency evacuation, search and rescue, sheltering, and mass care for at risk citizens.

2. Local governments will develop, maintain, and implement comprehensive all

hazards emergency management plans, pursuant with NIMS, contain prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery elements and procedures in accordance with State Planning Standards.

3. Emergency response and recovery capabilities will be enhanced by employment of

supplemental resources through intrastate and interstate mutual aid agreements and actions.

4. Local emergency operations, including mutual aid, will be directed by officials of the

local government, except in those situations where State law requires a state agency to exercise lead responsibility or where local government personnel require special expertise to cope with the problem(s) at hand.

5. State resources will be committed when local and regional resources are

inadequate to cope with an emergency situation or threat, and a valid request for supplemental state assistance is received from the Mayor, County Judge or their designee(s) pursuant to procedures established in the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan.

6. A number of hazards threaten Texas capable of causing a catastrophic incident or

major disaster. The most probable is a Category 3 or greater hurricane, with sustained winds in excess of 110 miles per hour.

7. The occurrence of a catastrophic event may cause widespread damage to the

infrastructure and curtail emergency response capabilities of state and local governments. Such an event could result in government being unable to adequately provide for the safety and welfare of the general public.

8. It is expected state-owned facilities and resources in a catastrophic disaster area

will suffer widespread damage and destruction. This may severely limit or eliminate immediate response capabilities of state agencies within the disaster area.

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9. Federal response and recovery assistance will be necessary to provide for public safety before, during, and after a catastrophic incident in Texas. It is expected federal assistance provided to Texas will be based upon specific requests and priorities provided by the State.

10. Although this plan outlines procedures for coordinating the provision of

supplemental emergency assistance, it is essential for all levels of government to be prepared to carry out emergency response and short-term recovery actions on an independent basis.

11. Under all conditions, actions will be taken to maintain a representative form of

government in the State.

12. A consequence of an emergency or disaster could be the death or injury of key elected, or appointed officials. Should this occur, emergency response operations will be more effective if lines of succession clearly identify who is in charge, where those persons are located, how to contact them, and what emergency powers are authorized and may be duly executed.

13. Day-to-day operations or work centers may be destroyed or become inoperable

during a disaster. Emergency response operations will be more effective if the State Operations Center (SOC) is protected and if personnel know where pre-selected and prepared alternate sites for all government operations are located. Additional effectiveness may be possible through use of a mobile coordination and control capability.

14. Normal communications systems may be destroyed, degraded, or rendered

inoperable in a disaster. Emergency response operations will be more effective if compatible, alternate, and/or mobile communications capabilities are available and operational. Comprehensive planning will be necessary to ensure effective communications during crisis situations.

15. The destruction of critical infrastructure and key facilities as well as essential

equipment and supplies located in hazard vulnerable areas can be greatly reduced through pre-planned protection and relocation actions.

16. The identification and continued protection of vital records is essential to the

continuity of government and the effective return to normal operations of an area affected by a disaster.

17. Proper implementation of this plan by all levels of government in Texas will save

lives, reduce human suffering, and reduce or prevent disaster-related losses.

18. Flooding and loss of power can cause critical public works infrastructure components to be out of service for days or weeks. These include commercial electric power, water, wastewater, storm water drainage, and roads/bridges. This impacts the ability of key businesses to re-open and citizens to return. Alternative and redundant power services may limit outages and should be considered in assessing the criticality of these services.

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V. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

A. HURRICANE RESPONSE STRATEGY AND POLICY

1. Hurricane response activities are conducted pursuant to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and certain requirements of the National Response Framework (NRF). Evacuation operations will include work in an Incident Command System (ICS) environment.

2. Hurricane response consists of seven (7) distinct and mutually supporting phases

applicable to all hurricane response operations and to all levels of government:

a. Early Warning

b. Coordination and control

c. Evacuation and Care of Citizens during Evacuation

d. Search and Rescue

e. Mass care and Sheltering Operations

f. Rapid Response Immediately after Impact

g. Disaster Area Re-Entry Operations

B. HURRICANE RESPONSE PHASES

1. Early Warning

a. The National Hurricane Center will monitor and provide the Texas SOC periodic updates on any storm system development that could potentially enter the Gulf of Mexico and threaten the State of Texas.

b. The Southern Region National Weather Service will also track and report to the

SOC any development in the Gulf and evaluate potential impact on the State of Texas.

c. If a storm develops with the potential to enter the Gulf, the SOC will initiate a

conference call schedule and invite local, state, and federal partners to participate in the calls. The calls provide information on the current situation and proposed preparation activities, as warranted.

d. Evacuation decision tools (HURREVAC, HAZUS, etc.) are available to assist

state and local officials in determining potential storm impact. Previous evacuation studies along with Storm data is required to determine appropriate evacuations times. These are addressed further in Attachment 3.

e. Public Information dissemination is a critical component of the warning. Many

traditional emergency notification methods are not accessible to or usable by some people in the special needs population. Warning methods must ensure all

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citizens receive the information necessary to make sound decisions and take appropriate, responsible action. Using a combination of warning methods will be more effective than relying on one method alone. This will include the use of traditional as well as social/new media outlets, press release, and door-to-door communications.

f. The SOC publishes a daily Situation Report as soon as a potential threat is

known to the State. The Situation Reports capture the current threat(s), resources committed or staged, and mission priorities. The Situation Reports will be available on the TDEM website.

2. Coordination and Control

a. The size and complexity of response operations require coordination and control

capability that is both extensive and redundant. During pre-storm operations, the State must be ready to assemble the resources and personnel to assist in large scale evacuations, possibly from more than one area of the coast. The State may be required to assist local jurisdictions with resources and personnel to open and staff sufficient public shelters for evacuees. The state hurricane evacuation matrix consists of over 1,000 activities necessary to execute an evacuation along the coast.

b. The hub of the coordination and control system is the State Operations Center

(SOC). State agencies and the public and private organizations that have a response role provide representatives to this organization. The SOC seeks to maintain the most current picture of the response effort. Information flows into the SOC from the impact area and other areas of the State where response resources are located or response operations are planned or on-going. The information comes from the Disaster District Committee(s) (DDCs) and Regional Liaison Officers (RLOs). It may also from response teams, and/or elected officials. The SOC, in turn, publishes a daily situation report that summarizes the overall situation, actions taken in the last reporting, and the objectives for the next circumstance reporting period. The SOC also hosts daily conference calls that provide the current situation and offers impacted jurisdictions the opportunity to report directly on their situation and to ask questions as necessary.

c. The Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) is a key coordination and control

node for allocating resources in the impact area. Jurisdictions identify resource needs to the MACC which then attempts to locate the resource at another jurisdiction within the same COG or another MACC. If successful, the MACC coordinates the temporary transfer of the resource to the requesting jurisdiction.

d. If the MACC cannot meet resource requests, jurisdictions turn to the DDC, which

manages all state assets in that DPS region. If the DDC is not able to fill the request, it is forwarded to the SOC for response. The DDC maintains communications with all the jurisdictions in its region and provides daily situation reports to the SOC.

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e. At the request of the DDC, MACC, and/or individual local jurisdictions, the Texas Forest Service deploys full Incident Management Teams (IMT) or smaller elements to assist with response efforts and resource tracking. This support is available prior to storm landfall, if requested.

f. Two Regional Command Centers and two State Disaster Resource Support and

Staging Sites have been established to support hurricane response operations: the Alamo Area Regional Command and Disaster Resource Support and Staging Site in San Antonio and East Texas Regional Command and Disaster Resource Support and Staging Site in Lufkin. These centers and sites function as logistic hubs for resources and in some cases personnel, destined for the impact area in the aftermath of the storm.

g. A final coordination and control capability is provided by the Rapid Response

Task Force (RRFT) set up to enter after the storm has passed in the initial rapid response phase. In addition to having resources and personnel to assist in area security, search and rescue, initial assessment, restoration of infrastructure and other post storm response operations, the task force will also have mobile command posts equipped with robust communications capability to provide communications internally as well as with the DDC, local jurisdictions and the SOC.

h. Communications

1) The State has made many advances in interoperable communications and

continues to enhance these capabilities. The Texas Radio Communications Interoperability Plan employs a network approach using the demonstrated leadership at the regional level through Texas Councils of Government (COGs) and adherence to the DHS national technical requirements for wireless public safety communications and interoperability. This plan leverages existing radio systems rather than the costly replacement of the existing public safety radio infrastructure in Texas.

2) Procedures should address standardized emergency data reporting to ensure

a clear, concise, and common operating picture. A common operating picture will allow incident managers at all levels to make effective, consistent, and timely decisions.

3) Communications Coordination Group will facilitate interagency planning and

execution of communications support for joint, interagency, and intergovernmental task forces.

3. Evacuation and care during evacuation

a. General

1) The authority to order an evacuation rests with County Judges and City

Mayors. Chapter 418, Government Code, provides that a county judge or mayor may order and evacuation.

2) To successfully implement a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional evacuation, it is

16 Rev 1.0

essential all affected local communities, regions, and the State work closely together prior to and during the evacuation process. An effective evacuation is closely dependent upon the provision and coordination of evacuation information and instructions as well as the expeditious flow of traffic out of the threatened area.

3) TDEM, DSHS, health care facilities, county officials and other entities will

work in coordination with the State Planning Regions, subject to Texas Government Code; Section 418.1882 will develop required plans for personnel surge capacity during disasters, including provisions for lodging and meals for disaster relief workers and volunteers. The MACS will provide basic guidance for this task and facilitate the planning initiatives in each region. Local officials should be prepared to advise the public how, when, and where to evacuate from the existing or anticipated risk areas. Additionally, jurisdictions must implement contingency plans to provide warning and evacuation assistance to special needs and medical special needs populations.

4) Once the decision to evacuate is made, local government officials should

advise the appropriate DDC(s) and adjacent/inland jurisdictions. During a large-scale evacuation, the DDC will normally assist in coordinating evacuation flow with other jurisdictions and regions. The notification will assist other jurisdictions in deciding if and when to recommend or direct an evacuation of their citizens. Local governments must also execute responsibilities in accordance with DPS-developed traffic management plans.

5) The evacuation population can be divided into two groups: (a) citizens who

can self-evacuate and need no assistance (general population) and (b) citizens who require some level of assistance to evacuate (special needs population). The special needs population has been further divided into: (a) citizens who are otherwise able-bodied and only need transportation assistance and (b) citizens who require transportation and some level of medical or supervisory assistance to evacuate (medical special needs). The Medical Special Needs has been subdivided based on the type and level of assistance required. These groupings are detailed in Attachment 5.

6) A phased approach to evacuation will be necessary in most storms with

special needs evacuees departing first followed by the general population. Special needs evacuees will start the evacuation process as early as 72 hours prior to landfall of 34 KT winds in the coastal area. The general population will evacuate after special needs evacuees are en route inland, normally around 48 hours prior to landfall. At 24 hours prior to landfall, evacuation operations transition to search and rescue operations. The objective is to get both groups out of the immediate danger area before the arrival of tropical storm force winds.

b. Special Needs Evacuations

1) The State has established a voluntary confidential registry for individuals who

may need evacuation assistance. These special needs individuals living in hurricane evacuation zones are encouraged to register with the 2-1-1

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Transportation Assistance Registry if transportation is required during an evacuation. Local officials will use the registry information to develop local transportation plans and arrangements. Registration with 2-1-1 does not ensure a person a ride; it does alert local officials to their need for transportation. As a storm and evacuation draw near, 2-1-1 may transition, or refer these calls to emergency 911 for assistance.

2) Local governments must coordinate with public health professionals and

other resources to compile and maintain a list of individuals within their jurisdictions requiring special notification, evacuation, and shelter during emergency events. All licensed special needs facilities are required by state law to maintain emergency evacuation and transportation plans. Local governments should review for viability evacuation plans maintained by licensed special needs facilities.

3) People with disabilities may face a variety of challenges during a hurricane

evacuation. The evacuation may require lengthy travel on transportation assets not equipped to accommodate special needs individuals. Evacuation plans should ensure people with disabilities can either safely self-evacuate or be evacuated by responsible parties via appropriate transportation assets. Care during evacuation is an essential planning component of transportation.

4) Special needs evacuees, who travel on state-contracted buses, including

school district and/or contracted commercial buses, will be registered in the Texas Special Needs Tracking System (TxSNETS). Additional information concerning the tracking system is addressed in Attachment 10.

5) Planning at all levels of government shall also address mass care support

requirements for the special needs population.

a) Local officials should pre-identify shelters and survey the facilities to identify barriers to access. Barriers should be removed, when feasible. If barriers cannot be eliminated, the shelter may not be appropriate for persons with disabilities.

b) All emergency shelters should have accessible parking, exterior routes,

entrances, interior routes, and restrooms serving the shelter area.

c) People with disabilities should not be segregated; they should use the same shelters as their neighbors and coworkers except when medically necessary.

d) Plans must address household pets and service animals traveling with

the special needs population. Service animals will be allowed to stay with their owners in general population shelters. Consideration should also be made for the evacuation and sheltering of household pets and livestock.

e) Local officials should invite representatives of group homes and others

from the disability community to meet with planner during routine shelter planning. Representatives may be helpful in identifying disability-related concerns with the proposed shelters. It may also be possible to develop

18 Rev 1.0

site-specific instructions for volunteers and staff to address these concerns.

f) A reasonable number of emergency shelters should have back-up

generators and a means to keep medications cool. Shelters with electricity and refrigeration should be made available on a priority basis to people whose disabilities require these services.

g) Special consideration should be given to identifying and segregating

registered sex offenders from the shelter population. Shelter SOPs and staff training shall address how this is done and who is responsible.

h) Texas Government Code Section 418 provides that entities responsible

for care of individuals with medical special needs shall develop information on volunteering. DSHS is the lead state agency responsible for coordinating medical volunteers and assignments.

c. General Population Evacuation

1) When the special needs phase of the evacuation is complete or nearly

complete, local officials will notify the general population that it is time for departure. If traffic management plans have not been activated by this time, they will go into effect for the general population evacuation. The objective is to complete this phase of the evacuation prior to the arrival of 34 knot winds in the local area.

2) Unless it conflicts with the established traffic management plan for the area, the general population evacuation will be self-directed and evacuees will be allowed to use any route out of the coastal area.

d. Transportation

1) While transportation responsibility primarily rests with local jurisdictions, the State anticipates and deliberately plans to support transportation augmentation during a catastrophic hurricane evacuation. All available modes of transportation, to include independent school district and contract buses, local public transportation systems, aircraft, helicopters, rail and emergency service resources, will be employed during evacuation operations, where practical. Transportation resources will be prioritized to best support movement of the special needs population. Texas is also a party to the multi-state Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). The compact includes provisions for requesting transportation assistance during disasters from other states. TDEM has also entered into an agreement titled, the Interstate Emergency Response Support Plan (IERSP) with FEMA Region VI states to provide an immediate response and support capability when requested in preparation for, during, or after a catastrophic event.

2) The State of Texas has contracted for commercial buses to assist the

movement of persons with medical special needs and those that do not have transportation to evacuate. These buses will be provided to areas that have the highest threat of impact. Generally, commercial bus companies will be

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alerted at H-120 hours and activated for deployment at some point between H-94 and H-48 hours.

3) The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will contact, Independent School

Districts across the State, through Regional Education Service Centers to provide buses to assist with transporting individuals in the impact area(s) to areas of safety. Generally, these districts will be alerted at H-120 hours and the buses will be activated for deployment at some point between H-94 and H-48 hours.

4) Buses will be tracked through a component of the evacuee tracking system. Manifests will be maintained to cross reference buses and passengers. In addition, buses will be tracked via GPS. This is spelled out in Attachment 10 of this plan.

5) The State contracted for a limited number of aircraft for evacuation support.

This resource will be deployed based on priority of need.

6) DSHS has also contracted for ambulance support for large scale evacuations requiring augmentation.

7) Military air support will be requested during a catastrophic event. It may not

be available in sufficient capabilities to effect the evacuation. Therefore, all jurisdictions should maintain a effective evacuation plan.

e. Logistics

1) Resource Support will work with state agencies, local, government and

voluntary agencies, as appropriate, to establish a state-to-local resource distribution system to ensure goods and services can be obtained, stored, secured, and distributed to agencies or people in need after a disaster.

2) The Resource Support group will locate, obtain, equip, and operate State

LSAs. These facilities will serve as permanent storage areas for supplies and materials introduced into disaster areas for response and recovery operations and distribution to disaster victims.

3) Materials and supplies stored in the LSAs acquired by the state, federal,

and/or local governments will remain under the control of the government entities that requested or procured them. Similarly, supplies and donations given to or procured by individual voluntary agencies, with space set aside for their operations in the RSAs, will remain under the management and control of those individual voluntary agencies.

4) The Resource Support group will locate, obtain, equip, and operate State

RSAs. These facilities will serve as temporary storage areas for supplies and materials introduced into the disaster areas for response and recovery operations and for distribution to disaster victims. The RSAs will provide resources to County Staging Areas (CSAs) and Points of Distribution (PODs).

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5) Local jurisdictions are responsible for establishing, managing, equipping, operating, and staffing all PODs within their jurisdictions. The State will assist local jurisdictions in the operation of POD(s) in affected areas when the local jurisdiction is not capable of providing the resources to manage and/or operate POD(s) within their jurisdiction.

6) A County may also elect to open additional PODs but they will be responsible

for securing, managing, equipping, operating, and staffing any County Staging Area(s) (CSA) located within their jurisdiction.

f. Evacuation Comfort Stations

TxDOT will manage designated comfort stations along the route to primarily support the use of school buses during. Contract long-haul buses are capable of travelling greater distances without services. Evacuation comfort stations are addressed further in Attachment 8.

g. Emergency Fuel Operations

1) A group of private sector partners from the fuel industry serve as a Fuel Coordination Team in the State Operations Center during activations for a hurricane or other catastrophic disaster. The Fuel Coordination Team will ensure availability and distribution of fuel during the emergency event. Team members include representatives from the Texas Oil and Gas Association, the Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, supply terminals, distributors, retailers, and third party Common Carrier transporters. The team can allow for non-traditional supply arrangements among carriers and retailers in order to meet the demand for fuel, while observing safety considerations. The Texas Fuel Emergency Operations Center, Operations plan is located in Attachment 11.

2) Beginning at least five days (H-120) before the onset of tropical storm winds, the public will be encouraged to fuel their vehicles to capacity through a series of public service announcements. These announcements are intended to stimulate demand for fuel while there is still time to replenish the fuel system and avoid sudden depletion of fuel during evacuation and/or other emergency operations.

3) DPS will provide law enforcement officers with GPS equipment to escort fuel vehicles and expedite the delivery of fuel.

4) As conditions warrant, fuel vehicles will be diverted around areas with high traffic congestion by the Fuel Coordination Team.

5) Incremental fuel storage at identified locations is possible through the

deployment of temporary fuel storage tanks.

6) The Fuel Coordination Team will assess the need for extra equipment to meet shortfalls and can request waivers as needed. Actions will also be taken to prepare resources for fuel availability in potentially impacted areas for post-landfall use.

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7) The Fuel Coordination Team will continue operations in the SOC to expedite

fuel re-supply through re-entry operations.

4. Search and Rescue

a. Some citizens will choose not to or unable to evacuate and may request evacuation assistance as the storm approaches and conditions worsen. The State plans to pre-position Search and Rescue (SAR) assets in the potential impact area prior to the arrival of the storm assist with this mission. The objective of State SAR efforts is to rescue individuals and move them to a safer location in the immediate area before the storm makes landfall. The State SAR team is made up of Texas Task Force 1 and 2 and the United States Coast Guard. SAR Operations will terminate when it is no longer safe to fly.

b. SAR efforts will begin again during rapid response operations as soon as

conditions permit after storm landfall.

5. Mass Care and Sheltering

a. General

1) The ultimate responsibility for mass care support for persons located within a jurisdiction rests with the local government. Local governments are responsible for developing a plan to coordinate and provide mass care support for persons affected by a disaster, either at the disaster location or at a point of refuge away from the disaster area.

2) The requirements for mass care support may vary depending upon the

nature, type, and level of the emergency. Mass care support may include providing temporary shelter, water, food, ice, short-term medical care, clothing, identification of disaster victims, crisis counseling, pastoral care, and other essential life support assistance to people who have been displaced from their homes because of a disaster or a disaster threat situation.

3) The high demand for mass care support during a catastrophic hurricane

event necessitates a partnership between voluntary agencies and local and state government. Voluntary Agencies provide the majority of mass care assets, expertise, and operations for shelters. However, the scope of operations during a catastrophic disaster may prompt some local governments to establish and operate shelters. In either case, these partnerships ensure gaps in service are identified and resolved in the most efficient manner.

4) The State receives, prioritizes, and tracks requests for mass care assistance

that cannot be resolved at the local level. Throughout the emergency, agencies working in tandem at the DDCs and the SOC, collect and analyze local information, monitor the status of mass care activities, prioritize need, and provide additional resources as necessary.

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5) The Shelter Hub System concept was developed to address substantial

demands of a catastrophic hurricane evacuation. The system is supported by pre-designated inland cities possessing sufficient infrastructure and resources to support large-scale mass care operations. Within each hub, shelters are pre-identified by geographic clusters to best facilitate efficient mass care support. Shelter Hub System operations are detailed in Attachment 4.

6) Point-to-Point Shelters are a component of the Shelter Hub System and

support the efficient movement and sheltering of mass transportation evacuations. Point-to-Point shelters are pre-coordinated and documented by Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between evacuating coastal cities and receiving inland cities. These shelters are strictly reserved for evacuees in transit and are not announced to the general public.

7) Reception Centers are a key component of the Shelter Hub System, which

provide pre-designated locations where evacuees are received. Upon arrival, evacuees are triaged, registered, and assigned a shelter within the hub to match their immediate needs.

8) Each shelter hub is also supported by a pre-identified Resource Staging

Area, which provides the capability to receive, store, and distribute essential mass care resources.

9) Provisions are made at the host area to permit evacuees to shelter their

household pet and service animals at specific locations. Attachment 6 outlines evacuation procedures for household pets and service and large animals.

b. Evacuation Hubs

1) Due to the large number of individuals that need assistance to evacuate

during a catastrophic event evacuation, the State will provide various means of transportation to local governments. These consist of buses, and possibly air assets to evacuate the most medically-challenged individuals.

2) The TXMF will manage evacuation hubs pre-identified by local governments.

3) Local governments are responsible for transporting their special needs

citizens to the pre-identified evacuation hubs in their jurisdictions.

4) Evacuation hubs will generally establish operations between H-72 and H-48 hours.

5) Individuals requesting transportation assistance will be provided with a

tracking device when available to ensure positive identification of evacuees during evacuation and upon arrival at the shelters. The information obtained will be provided to local governments at the evacuation points and to organizations that specialize in locating family members, such as the

23 Rev 1.0

American Red Cross. It will also be provided to sheltering jurisdictions to assist in ensure sufficient shelters are opened to house evacuees.

c. Rapid Response Task Force operations

1) If it appears a catastrophic hurricane will impact the Texas Coast, the State

will pre-stage specialized teams with a capability to rapidly respond and provide immediate assistance as soon as it is safe to enter the disaster area.

2) The State formed four deployable RRTF to provide immediate response and

assistance. The mission of the teams will be to enter and secure the impact area after impact, coordinate search and rescue, support continuity of government, initiate immediate mass care, and assess damages to begin recovery operations. At the request of area jurisdictions, no later than 60 hours prior to landfall, teams will establish and implement a preparedness and readiness posture by pre-positioning fully mission-capable forces forward in the area.

3) The teams will operate under the Unified Command ICS structure and

interface with the DDC and local Emergency Management Directors. Forward Coordinating Elements (FCE) will deploy to the impact area DDC in advance of the teams to coordinate deployment. An essential function of Incident Command will be to synchronize the local, state, and federal response.

4) The task force will consist of one heavy team (Task Force Texas) and three

light teams (Dallas, Waco, and Austin). The heavy team will stand up at H-96 and stage at the ARCC. The teams will deploy based upon storm impact. The heavy team will deploy to the area of greatest impact. The number of teams deployed is situational. One may used or all four it there is a need. The three light teams will stand up at H-72 and deploy after the storm, as directed. All teams are expected to be self-sustaining for 72 hours without re-supply. This includes food, water, fuel, and shelter.

5) Attachment 12 to this plan addresses procedures for team mobilization,

deployment, conduction of operations and demobilization.

d. Disaster Area Re-Entry Operations

1) After the initial entry of emergency response teams and elimination of major health and safety hazards, provisions are made for residents, business owners, insurance adjusters, industry repair crews, and business suppliers, and other interested parties to be provided access to disaster areas. A phased approach to re-entry is intended to allow emergency resources into disaster areas quickly, minimize public exposure to hazardous conditions that often prevail in disaster areas, and provide timely entry to affected areas for local residents, businesses, and industry when conditions permit.

2) Disaster re-entry operations are typically ground operations, but may be

supported by aircraft and/or watercraft where these resources are available and appropriate.

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3) Re-entry operations are generally conducted in the following sequence:

a) Deploying emergency response forces to gain access to areas impacted by a major hazard.

b) Setting up access control points, preferably staffed by law enforcement

personnel, to limit public access to impacted areas that have significant life safety or public health threats.

c) Abating the most significant health and safety conditions within impact

areas to facilitate reasonably safe movement in such areas by emergency responders, and later, the public.

d) Allowing controlled re-entry of residents, business owners or operators,

repair crews for essential services, and other personnel to assess damage, salvage belongings, and implement expedient repairs to prevent further damage. During this phase of re-entry, curfews may be in effect. Identification may be required to enter the impact area.

e) Terminating most access restrictions for the general public except in

areas with large volumes of debris, uncontained hazardous substances, or biological hazards.

e. The disaster area phased re-entry plan shall:

1) Recognize the role of local Emergency Management Directors in making

decisions regarding the timing and implementation of re-entry plans for a disaster;

2) Provide local Emergency Management Directors with sufficient flexibility to

adjust the plan as necessary to accommodate the circumstances of a particular emergency.

3) Attachment 13, Disaster Area Re-Entry Operations, provides additional

information on re-entry operations to include emergency responder qualifications and credentials and phases of entry.

4) In the absence of a local or regional plan, this general guidance may be used

to establish a local disaster re-entry concept of operations. VI. ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

A. ORGANIZATION

All support groups are identified pursuant to the State of Texas Emergency Management Plan. Groups are composed of personnel and resources from several state agencies and/or organizations. Each group is directed by a primary agency selected on the basis of its authority and capability in a particular functional area. The other agencies and organizations within the group are designated as support agencies and organizations based on their ability to provide equipment, personnel, and expertise in support of

25 Rev 1.0

functional tasks. The agencies and/or organizations that comprise hurricane response group are listed in Attachment 1.

B. ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

1. General

All agencies and organizations assigned to the hurricane response group are responsible for the following tasks:

a. Designating and training representatives of their agency in accordance with

applicable NIMS requirements to serve as group members, and ensuring appropriate Action Guides and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are developed and maintained.

b. Identifying staff requirements and maintaining current notification procedures to

ensure appropriate trained agency personnel are available for extended emergency duty in the SOC and Disaster District EOCs, the MACC, JFO, field command posts, traffic control, and monitoring points as needed.

c. Developing and maintaining procedures to ensure current inventory of agency

resources and contact lists are available.

d. Developing and maintaining procedures for identification, location, commitment, deployment, and accountability of agency emergency support resources. Major resources paid for with Federal Funds should be entered into the Texas Regional Resource Network (TRRN), as required, to facilitate assistance pursuant to mutual aid agreements. The TRRN complies with the relevant NIMS performance and interoperability classification standards.

e. Providing personnel, equipment, and other assistance in support of response and

recovery operations as capable.

f. Providing assistance and coordination for the development and implementation of intrastate and interstate mutual aid.

g. Providing situational and operational status reports in accordance with existing

procedures and/or as requested by the primary agency.

2. Primary Agency

The primary agency responsible for the coordination of hurricane response operations is the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). TDEM is responsible for state-level coordination of assets and services. TDEM will accomplish the following tasks and situation reports.

a. Identify and coordinate staffing requirements appropriate to the emergency

situation.

b. Process requests for State assistance by coordinating the development of support recommendations by appropriate support agencies and by presenting

26 Rev 1.0

the most feasible recommendations to the designated direction and control authority for a possible mission assignment.

c. Collect information from support agencies and provide situation reports as

required by operational procedures, directives, and as requested by the appropriate direction and control authority.

d. Assist groups with actions to develop and implement mutual aid programs and

procedures.

e. Develop plans and agreements with independent school districts and public colleges, universities, and university systems to provide transportation assets and facilities to enable the execution of state and local evacuation and mass care operations. Develop policies and procedures to reimburse school districts and public colleges, universities and university systems for evacuation, mass care, or transportation-related expenses.

f. Within capabilities, coordinate resource needs to assist local governments in

conducting hurricane response operations.

g. Collect, maintain, and distribute information necessary for the development of comprehensive evacuation plans to include areas at risk, population affected, key facilities affected, and related consequences of hazards.

h. Ensure deployable Regional Response Teams (RRTs) are available to support

multi-jurisdictional operations during catastrophic incidents.

i. Facilitate the maintenance of a statewide database to assist in the evacuation of the special needs population.

j. Coordinate and maintain plans to address evacuation and sheltering needs of

evacuees with household pets, service animals, and livestock, where practical.

k. Review and implement prioritized fuel distribution procedures during an emergency. Maintain procedures to reimburse local governments and other support entities for evacuation-related fuel costs.

l. Partner with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to ensure utility companies

regulated by the PUC and serving counties in the hurricane zones distribute public awareness information during the hurricane season.

m. Maintain contingency contracts and MOUs with private sector partners to assist

with evacuation and sheltering operations.

n. Oversee the implementation of regional response and evacuation plans throughout the state. Encourage local jurisdictions and MACCs to review evacuation plans maintained by special needs facilities.

o. Provide planning assistance, sample planning documents, staff visits, and state

standards for evacuation and mass care planning.

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p. Conduct and/or facilitate emergency management training and annual exercises to enhance evacuation operations.

q. Develop, maintain, and distribute this plan.

3. Support Agencies/Organizations

All tasked hurricane response agency representatives must be aware of the capabilities of their parent organizations to provide assistance and support and be prepared to provide recommendations to primary agency representatives. Agency representatives must respond to mission assignments from the designated coordination and control authority for deployment and commit agency assets to support the response and recovery effort. Some agencies will provide agency personnel and/or equipment, while support from other agencies will be knowledge and expertise in working with response agencies, the vendor community, or commercial organizations or associations in supplying services, or in restoration of disrupted services.

a. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)

1) Identify and coordinate evacuation staffing requirements appropriate to the

emergency situation.

2) Process requests for State evacuation assistance by coordinating the development of support recommendations by appropriate support agencies and by presenting the most feasible recommendations to the designated direction and control authority for a possible mission assignment.

3) Assume responsibility for command, control, and communications, as well as

other operational tasks as directed by the Governor, during evacuations and other disaster response operations involving multiple MACCs.

4) Provide each MACC a senior-level commissioned officer with appropriate

staff to represent the state as each MACC prepares for and responds to a catastrophic event within the region.

5) Assume traffic management authority over designated evacuation routes

during multi-jurisdictional evacuations.

6) Coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Customs and Border Protection to expedite the flow of traffic through checkpoints on major hurricane evacuation routes. Assist in developing traffic management plans to accommodate increased volume at checkpoints during evacuations.

7) Collect information from support agencies and provide situation reports as

required by operational procedures, DPS directives, and as requested by the appropriate direction and control authority.

28 Rev 1.0

8) Develop and maintain comprehensive area-wide/statewide traffic management plans to support large-scale inter-jurisdictional evacuations.

9) Coordinate resource needs to assist local governments in conducting

hurricane evacuation and mass care.

10) Once evacuation operations are implemented, ensure other appropriate jurisdictions are aware of the operations in progress.

11) Provide for the safe and expeditious flow of traffic out of the threatened areas

and through adjacent jurisdictions.

12) Monitor the status of all evacuations within the appropriate Disaster District(s) and report the status of movements and problems affecting expedited traffic flow.

13) Take immediate actions as needed to ensure continued, expeditious traffic

movements out of areas of risk, to include emergency rerouting of evacuating vehicles.

14) Provide operational status reports on the evacuation traffic flow to the SOC,

through their DDC.

15) Develop, maintain, and distribute appropriate SOPs and the Evacuation Action Guide.

b. Public Works Response Team

1) The PWRT is deployed by the State Operations Center (SOC) under the

direction of the Assistant Director/Chief, Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), as required to support local jurisdictions in the event of a catastrophic incident.

2) The teams response effort is organized and functions in accordance with the

National Incident Management System (NIMS). This PWRT is designed to support local jurisdictions in their initial response and recovery efforts at three levels, planning, operational and liaison support.

c. The Salvation Army (TSA)

1) Serve as a member agency of the Disaster District Committees (DDCs) and the State Emergency Management Council. Perform as a liaison with the Voluntary agencies and sub-state Voluntary agencies, the American Red Cross, state agencies and departments, and other recognized voluntary agencies (VOLAGs).

2) Coordinate team member actions appropriate to the disaster situation.

3) Assist in locating a source for, procuring, transporting, storing, preparing, and

distributing emergency food, water and ice supplies.

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4) Provide services in the following areas:

a) On-site assistance to disaster workers and victims.

b) Spiritual ministry.

c) Pastoral counseling.

d) Individual and mass feeding.

e) Burial assistance.

f) Provision of and operation of emergency shelter facilities.

g) Assist in the registration and identification of victims and emergency workers.

h) Assist in administration and supervision of disaster relief operations.

i) Establish Resource Staging Areas for provisions of basic needs supplies

such as food, water, clothing, etc.

d. American Red Cross (ARC)

1) Conduct shelter and mass care operations.

2) Provide welfare inquiry services.

3) Provide first aid at feeding sites and shelters, as appropriate.

4) Assist in locating a source to procure, transport, store, prepare, and distribute emergency food, water, and ice supplies.

5) Provide mobile and fixed feeding capabilities, as appropriate.

6) Station as needed to distribute mass care supplies.

7) Provide advocacy and referral services for individual clients ad families.

8) Provide staffing to local and State Emergency Operations Centers.

e. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

1) Coordinate and process fuel waiver requests (EPA, DOE, and Fuel

Coordination Team).

2) Coordinate hazardous material emergency response along evacuation routes.

3) Assess and provide technical assistance to water and wastewater

infrastructure.

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4) Contact refineries in hurricane evacuation zones to make inquiries regarding

facilities.

f. Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)

Upon federal authorization, provide USDA commodities to assist local governments and voluntary agencies in emergency mass feeding operations through the Food and Nutrition Program. Coordinate with other animal-agriculture agencies and stakeholders to support a response involving animals.

g. Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)

1) Maintain hurricane evacuation plans for all state correctional facilities in the

evacuation zones and, when warranted, ensure inmates are appropriately evacuated to safe facilities in accordance with applicable laws, TDCJ directives, and operational procedures.

2) Provide available TDCJ personnel and their trustees as manpower and

provide equipment to assist in the provision, transportation, storage, and distribution of food, water, and/or ice supplies.

3) Within capabilities, conduct emergency feeding operations, if requested. This

provision is contingent on the Agencys mission requirements.

h. Texas Office of the Attorney General

1) The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) monitors, deals with complaints on, fly-by-night door-to-door contractors, and bogus charities during hurricane or other catastrophic events.

2) Some businesses raise their prices excessively on essential goods and services like drinking water, ice, groceries, fuel, towing, and car and home repairs. Charging excessive prices for necessities in an officially recognized disaster area can constitute price gouging. Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, price gouging is illegal, and the Office of the Attorney General has authority to prosecute any business that engages in price gouging after a disaster has been declared by the governor. The attorney general has issued stern warnings about price gouging to businesses in times of disaster.

3) After natural disasters, door-to-door salespeople flock to some

neighborhoods offering clean up and repair services. While many of these people are honest and reputable, some are not. The OAG will provide guidance to those individuals who may face these door-to-door contractors.

4) In the wake of a natural disaster the OAG will provide guidance and information or charitable donation scams.

i. Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

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1) Coordinate public health issues relating to safety of drinking water and food, and the disposal of contaminated or unsafe products.

2) Assist in developing and maintaining criteria for medical special needs facility

evacuation plans, to include both licensed and unlicensed facilities as well as correctional facilities.

3) Assist in developing and maintaining this plan as it relates to persons with medical special needs.

4) Identify medical special needs categories, categorizing the requirements of persons with medical special needs and establishing minimum health-related standards for short-term and long-term shelters. This includes but is not limited to the inclusion of those special needs individuals who need transportation.

j. Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)

1) Assist in the identification of nursing home facilities and persons with special needs.

2) Assist in developing, maintaining, and implementing plans to address the

evacuation and sheltering needs of individuals with special needs.

k. Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

Assist in developing, maintaining, and implementing plans to address the evacuation and sheltering needs of individuals with special needs.

l. Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)

Assist in developing, maintaining, and implementing plans to address the evacuation and sheltering needs of individuals with special needs.

m. Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)

1) Assist in developing, maintaining, and coordinating the implementation of

local plans to address the evacuation, transportation and sheltering needs of individuals with household pets and large animals.

2) Assist in developing and maintaining this plan as it relates to persons with

special needs traveling with animals.

n. Texas Education Agency (TEA)

1) Assist in acquiring school facilities and associated personnel to assist in operating shelters and feeding people in the shelters.

2) Work with independent school districts to provide school buses to assist in

the evacuation of persons requiring transportation.

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o. Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)

1) Serve as the primary agency for search and rescue; responsible for State-level coordination of assets and services.

2) Identify and coordinate staffing requirements appropriate to the emergency

situation.

3) Process requests for State Search and Rescue (SAR) assistance by coordinating the development of support recommendations by appropriate support agencies and by presenting most feasible recommendations to designated coordination and control authority for possible mission assignments.

4) Coordinate and maintains Texas Task Force 1 (TTF-1) for search and rescue

operations.

5) Maintain appropriate staffing to coordinate and assist local government, DDC, the State Emergency Management Council, and State agencies, as appropriate.

6) Coordinate the deployment and operation of other State agencies and

regional rescue teams involved in SAR to assist local governments.

7) Coordinate the deployment and operation of canine specialty resources to assist local governments. This may include SAR and/or Human Remains (HR) detection dogs.

8) Implement joint air/ground coordination for SAR operations.

p. National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC)

1) Assist in the administration of the Rapid Response Task Forces (RRTF)

operations including but not limited to training and exercises.

2) Provide Staging Teams capable of staging up to four RRTFs simultaneously.

3) Provide trained staff for the Texas State Operations Center (Forward) and develop an SOP governing SOC (Fwd) operations."

q. Texas Military Forces (TXMF)

4) Develop plans and procedures for establishing and operating evacuation

hubs for transporting individuals needing assistance in evacuating.

5) Provide military support as requested by the SOC.

r. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

Provide parking and lodging in state parks and on state lands for disaster victims and their vehicles, as appropriate.

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s. Texas State Animal Response Team (ART)

This team is a partnership group of state agencies, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas AgriLife Extension Service (ALEXT), and Texas A&M Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), along with industry stakeholder organizations and the Texas State Animal Resource Team (TXSART), all working together in an incident management team (IMT) setting response to emergency incidents involving animals. The primary animal agriculture-related organizations will handle the large animal/livestock challenges, while TXSART will be assigned to handle household pet/companion animal issues and TAMU-CVM will provide veterinary support to both.

t. Texas AgriLife Extension Service

1) Provides public information and educational resources, visual learning resources and promotes mitigation practices addressing.

2) Al