Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 330-06City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Repor TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER DATE: AUGUST 7, 2006 CMR: 330:06 SUBJECT: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS UPDATE This is an informational report and no Council action is required. DISCUSSION Staff has assembled an update top demonstrate the work that has been completed since Council selected Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Response as one of its top priorities (Attachment A). In addition, a more in-depth summary of the Pandemic Flu preparation effort is also provided. (Attachment B). ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Attachment B: EmergencyPreparedness/Response Update for Top 3 Priorities City Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan PREPARED BY: - CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: CHRIS MO GYE~SEN Assistant to the City Manager Assistant City Manager CMR:330:06 Page 1 of 2 Attachment A Emergency Preparedness/Response Update for Top 3 Priorities The following are a list of actions taken by City staff under the direction of Council, to prepare (he City for emergencies and disasters The new draft Emergency Operations Plan has been completed and submitted to City staff for comment and review. It contains a public health armex, a recovery annex, volunteer responsibilities (including RACES and PANDA) and meets NIMS and SEMS requirements Prepared 17 document templates - from resolutions to ordinances to requests for National Guard support - that can be quickly and easily implemented in case of an emergency Installed a panoramic camera at Fire Station No. 8 for early visual detection and reporting of fires in the foothills Distributed a draft of the Neighborhood Disaster Planning Guide to Palo Alto Neighborhood (PAN) leaders and several neighborhood associations for comment and input. The Office of Emergency Services will work with PAN to finalize and distribute Coordinated training for Palo Alto Unified School District personnel; OES volunteers assisted with PAUSD’s disaster preparedness trailers Conducted Palo Alto Amateur Radio Emergency Services/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services ("ham radio") training sessions and exercises. Volunteers then conducted a fire watch in the foothills for July 4: Appointed an emergency coordinator for the local ARES / RACES group Coordinated community participation in the Vulnerable Population Coalition Plan to identify citizens with special needs Trained 98 new Community Emergency Response Team members and 181 Palo Alto Neighborhood Disaster Activities members in advanced courses Scheduled and provided Terrorism Awareness (AWR-160) and National Incident Management System classes for City employees, with 225 employees completing the program to-date Conducted 27 community outreach presentations on disaster preparedness for 800 people. Attendees have included Avenidas, Boy Scouts, Red Cross volunteers, hotel staff, assisted living facilities and neighborhood associations Scheduling numerous meetings with community neighborhood groups to discuss disaster preparedness Implemented Palo Alto Police Department Special Operations Group to assist the city in emergency planning, resource coordination and response Conducted terrorism intelligence analysis and survey of critical infrastructure, including schools Obtained a $50,000 Buffer Zone Protection Program grant to improve tactical response Provided training to private security at Stanford Shopping Center on terrorism response Became a participant in a new Bay Area regional communications interoperability planning workgroup Conducted training exercise for PAPD including a SWAT field exercise at Stanford Shopping Center Utilities and Office of Emergency Services staff attended disaster recovery workshop in New Orleans and relayed information to staff upon return Conducted an inventory of an emergency response trailer stored at the Municipal Services Center Attachment B City Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan A cross-department committee was established in June by the Assistant City Manager to develop the City’s response plan for a possible pandemic influenza emergency in cooperation with Palo Alto Area Red Cross, Palo Alto Unified School District, and Santa Clara County. Work is planned to be completed by September 30, 2006. The following is an update on the work of each of the five staff subcommittees. Continuity Plans: Chair Chris Mogensen Scope: Oversee department preparation of continuity plans. Each City department is developing a plan for continued delivery of core services with a limited number of employees. The plans include identifying critical functions/operations, essential personnel, essential facilities, non- essential functions that can be suspended and related reassignment of personnel, critical functions that can be performed via telecommuting, and equipment and supplies that should be stockpiled to ensure staff can conduct and deliver essential services. Public Education/Outreach: Co-chairs - Linda Lenoir (PAUSD), Barbara Cimino Scope: With City Council leadership, deliver a series of presentations for neighborhood, business, nonprofit, and school groups and the general public that includes an overview on the pandemic influenza, how community members can prepare themselves, and the City’s preparedness plan. A preliminary presentation has been developed. The subcommittee will meet on August 1 to develop a plan for a fall series of community outreach and education sessions. The goal will be to publicize these sessions to a large and diverse number of community groups. The subcommittee will work with the City Manager’s Office to insure Council leadership at each session. A Pandemic Flu Planning Web site was created, which includes guides, checklists and presentations. City Employee Education/Outreach: Chair- Charlotte Carlson Scope: Prepare presentations for City staff that include an overview on what the pandemic influenza is, the City’s preparedness plan, and related staff policies and procedures (see below, Policies and Procedures). Plans are underway for the first staff awareness training that will include a City facilitator talking about the City’s preparation planning and then a public health professional speaking on the flu pandemic. The aim is to hold the first training on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in the last week in August and again in the first or second week of September pending availability of experts from the County or Stanford. The second staff awareness training on policies and procedures will happen later in the fall. Procurement/Stockpiling: Chair- Lalo Perez Scope: From continuity program, prepare plan for procurement of supplies and materials in the event of a reduction in supply availability; also identify supplies and materials to be stockpiled. Policies and Procedures: Chair- Dennis Burns Scope: Identify City policies and procedures (vacation, sick leave, telecommuting, purchasing,, vehicle use, etc) that will be need to be created or amended to address special circumstances of an influenza pandemic. Updates will be completed by September 30. In addition, Police Lieutenant Lacey Burt is representing the City on a County committee focused on large-scale prophylaxis in a mass casualty event such as a bio-terrorist attack or influenza outbreak. The initial priority is the protection of first responders (police, fire, public works, and utilities). She is currently surveying City departments to get a count of the total numbers of first responder staff and their families. Subsequently, the committee will develop plans for security and distribution of prophylaxis for priority responders and the general public.