1996 High Water Flood: Difference between revisions

Finance is responsible for tracking all incident costs and evaluating the financial considerations of the incident. They estimate preliminary damage assessment needed for the disaster declaration; purchase all equipment and supplies acquired by logistics, keep track of personnel time and perform risk management functions. The main issue surfacing during the event was the difference between the two shifts activities. From this, the Staff learned about their need to be better trained in the Finance Section so to guide the incident organization. Also it was learned that there isa need of for additional training of the Finance Section in the activities of preparing for and transitioning to the recovery phase while the event is in process. The Finance Section should have moved aggressively, evaluating the purchase, rental and contract agreements that were being made. The time at the EOG during the event should have been used to create a more efficient service .delivery and tracking system of the Finance Section during the night shift so that the day shift could expeditiously respond to the needs at hand. A report from the Finance Section was only in the Incident Action Plans once. LIASION The Liaison Officer and Staff serves as a conduit between the City and the outside agencies which have expertise and resources to serve the specific incident. They workout interagency agreements and extend the City resources under the declaration of a disaster. The main need identified was for the appointment of a Liaison Officer and Staff that would make sure needs were met and information shared for all parties involved. SAFETY The job of the Safety Officer and Staff is to alert the Incident Commander, Managers and public about the safety concerns of the event. Safety'' personnel exercise emergency authority to stop and prevent unsafe acts. Field Safety personnel monitor the operations in the field to protect city personnel. They also investigate accidents to determine the cause. The main concerns of the Safety Section were the need for greater sanitation supplies and drinking water in the field and emergency field kits, radio kits and office supplies for the Safety Section staff. Procedural training is on the top of the list for Safety including participation in staging area check -in, EOG response, team rotation and personnel, and crowd control. The staffing of the Safety Section needs to include more City wide participation of safety personnel. PUBLIC INFORMATION The responsibility of the Public Information Officers (PIO) was to coordinate all information for the public and the media. The main job is to provide one voice for the citizens from the authorities within the City. They are to facilitate the access of the. media to the incident without impeding the activity of the responders. The Public Information function has the challenge of working with the field, the other bureaus and the EOC so that information dispersed to the public is timely, accurate and the top priority for citizen knowledge. . .The Public Information Staff was challenged by many first time Emergency Operations Center activities such as the President landing on the river front, and the prioritization of information flow to the public. The PIO coordinated the visit of the FEMA Director, the Federal Highway Administration Secretary, and Army Corps of Engineers Commander. The needs identified were more staffing so that field PIO personnel could be available; greater understanding of the Incident Command System by the City Bureaus so that Bureau PIO's would work effectively with the City PIO's; EOC needs improvements such as computers with designated fax capabilities and Internet connection, TV proximity to PIO section and identified clerical support. STAFF The EOC Staff's major responsibility is to facilitate the efficient operation of the Emergency Operations Center. From the Office of Emergency Management, the staff is responsible for development & maintenance of the EOC and for conducting training and exercises to develop the knowledge and ability of all responders. Identified as the most important areas of needed improvement are communications, training, facility improvements and additional personnel. The EOC Staff learned that they need to be trained better in the details of each sections operation, so that they can coach participants in job responsibilities. They need to train responders more thoroughly in the operation of ttie equipment. They need to prompt frequent incident briefings and correct report preparation. They need to make sure that there is the proper format for communications at the change of shifts.''