Orlando, Florida Fire Department Pre-storm Hurricane Training Unit

Chapter 6, Part 4: How the System Works

In the event of a disaster or imminent disaster, the Director of Orange County Emergency Management will notify his ESF lead agency contacts and have them respond to the Orange County Emergency Operations Center(EOC).

Each municipality within Orange County will have someone designated as the head of their emergency operations, will have identified the location of their EOC, and will dictate who is to respond there.

In the City of Orlando, the Fire Chief is the Director of Emergency Management and will coordinate all emergency operations. He will notify his ESF lead agency contacts and have them respond to the City EOC. During operations this group is referred to as the "Disaster Operations Committee", and is responsible for all activities necessary to handle the situation at hand. The Disaster Committee is made up of the following:

These individuals will address each of the ESF categories or designate personnel to do so. The responsibilities of the Disaster Committee include:

At the same time the EOC is activated, the "Executive Group" is notified to gather. The Executive Group is comprised of the Mayor, Commissioners, the Chief Administrative Officer of the City and any of their staff they deem appropriate. The function of this group is to:

Emergency Management in Advance of a Hurricane

The Research & Planning Section of the Orlando Fire Department is responsible for developing and maintaining the "Disaster Plan" for the City of Orlando. Once personnel in this section become aware of a tropical disturbance of any kind, they assume the role of ESF #5 (Information & Planning) and begin tracking the storm and keep the Fire Chief advised of its status.

Once the disturbance turns into a Tropical Storm, ESF 5 will try to determine the path and projected arrival of this system in the Central Florida area. Once a time of arrival is estimated, ESF 5 personnel will notify the Fire Chief as to the precautions that might be considered based on the size, direction, and intensity of the storm. Subsequent actions could be anything from minimal precautions to those taken in advance of a Hurricane. Minimal action might include topping off station fuel tanks and notifying emergency crews of the potential for severe weather for a period of time.

In the event that a Hurricane has formed in the Atlantic, ESF 5 will perform the same tasks as before, however, tracking and estimating the storm's movement will be performed at every new update given by the National Hurricane Center.

It should be noted that Orange County Emergency Management will be performing the same functions at this point. ESF 5 will stay in touch with and place heavy emphasis on information received from OCEM due to their direct communication links with the National Hurricane Center.

The primary concern for the Orlando Fire Department is not when a Watch or a Warning will be issued; but, based on information received from OCEM, how long before the storm "could" reach the Central Florida area. Due to the amount of preparation necessary to be ready for a Hurricane strike, OFD prefers two to three days warning. One of the major factors is that emergency response personnel will be required to report for duty at some point and may not be able to leave for several days. The warning period gives these employees the time they need to prepare their homes and families in advance of that extended duty period.

Once a Hurricane Watch has been issued for the Florida East Coast where it could reach Orlando, the Orlando Fire Department will go into the "Readiness Phase" of the City Disaster Plan and other City departments will be notified by ESF 5 that the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) is being activated. The primary members of the Disaster Operations Committee are notified and advised to begin activation of their portions of the City Plan.

Meanwhile OCEM is activating their EOC, if they haven't already done so, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) in Tallahassee will activate theirs as well. Depending on the circumstances leading up to the "Watch" being issued, the DEM may have already opened their EOC due to the fact that it was apparent that some portion of the state would be largely affected by the storm. Certainly every coastal county within the Watch area has activated their EOC's and a tremendous amount of communication will ensue between DEM and the concerned locales.

City activities at this juncture will focus on the functions needed to be performed by each City department in order that preparatory efforts for the Readiness Phase will be in place prior to the issue of a Hurricane Warning. All employees that are considered "Critical" will be notified of the need to prepare their homes and families, and to report for duty as soon as those preparations are complete.

City ESF's activate and accomplish various tasks depending on the level of alert, Watch or Warning:

ESF 1, Fleet Maintenance (Watch) verifies the status of all City vehicles, brings all vehicles that are under repair on-line where possible, tops off vehicle fuel tanks, and assigns personnel to report to the EOC when summoned. (Warning) Assigns emergency crews and critical employees, start storing City vehicles in safe locations, backup computer records and secure all buildings assigned, order filling all City fuel tanks.
ESF 2, Information Systems (Watch) dispatches personnel to the EOC to confirm the status of existing phone and computer lines and evaluates the working condition of EOC equipment. Extra communications lines can be installed in a matter of hours if required.
(Warning) Assign trouble crews to EOC, back up City systems, provide battery backed up computers to EOC.
ESF 3, Public Works (Watch) confirms the status of all rolling stock, critical facilities, and personnel and assigns crews for emergency operations. Delivers up to date maps of water, sewer, storm lines and critical facilities to the EOC. (Warning) Dispatches a team to the EOC to coordinate PW activities, assigns field crews for emergency operations and sends Task Force Units to fire stations, takes appropriate steps to protect employees, rolling stock and critical facilities. Install protective storm panels at EOC.
ESF's 4, 9, & 10, Orlando Fire Department (Watch) puts all stations, units and personnel on alert, prepares rosters and advises crews of 12 hours shift assignments, should it be necessary. (Warning) Go to 12 hour shifts, remove all unnecessary equipment from units and replace with appropriate supplies, clear areas around stations to prevent flying debris, review emergency SOP's, board up Communications Office, fully activate combat operations EOC at Station 1.
ESF 5, OFD Research & Planning (Watch) mans the EOC with minimal staff, confirms inventories, coordinates bringing the EOC on-line, keeps the Fire Chief and members of the Executive Group informed as to the status of the storm and the City preparedness effort.
(Warning) Notify all pertinent staff of "Full Activation" of EOC, set up for Disaster Operations Committee and support staff, keep Fire Chief and Executive Group abreast of status.
ESF's 6, 17 & 18, Community & Youth Services (Watch) notifies all pertinent personnel, determines status of buildings designated for mass care, and reviews checklists for People with Special Needs. (Warning) Assign personnel to EOC, notify critical employees of duty assignments, order boarding up where necessary.
ESF's 7 & 11, Finance & Purchasing (Watch) notify contract vendors of status and coordinate with the Bank for the City as to the process necessary to obtain cash in a short period of time. (Warning) Order delivery of supply and equipment orders from vendors, withdraw cash from Bank, dispatch team to EOC.
ESF 8, Emergency Medical Services (Watch) inventories, orders and stocks needed supplies for delivery to field units. (Warning) Deliver all requested supplies to field units and station storerooms, report to Combat Operations EOC at Station 1.
ESF 12, Orlando Utilities & Peoples Gas (Watch) confirm notification of the status of the City and determine what field crews will interact with emergency units in "Task Force Operations". (Warning) Dispatch team to EOC and Task Force Units to stage at fire stations.
ESF 13 & 16, Orlando Police Department (Watch) performs the same functions as the Orlando Fire Department for their specific areas of responsibility. (Warning) Send team to EOC and Task Force Units to fire stations.
ESF 14, Mayor & Executive Group (Watch) Stay advised of City and storm status. Review City Disaster Operations Plan. (Warning) Notify Commissioners and staff of status and prepare to report or report to City Hall.
ESF 19, Building Department (Watch) Notify damage assessment teams of status and make necessary preparations for possible assignment. (Warning) Assign teams, dispatch personnel to EOC, prepare multiple work kits for field teams, recall critical personnel.

Hurricane Watch Preparations

Begin to stock up on things that you will need during the hurricane but that you can still use if the storm does not strike. Remember to include your children in the preparations for the storm. The more you include them the more comfortable they are going to be with the situation. Sit down with them and explain exactly what is happening and what your family is going to do to weather the storm.

Top off your gas tank now

Get a hundred dollars in cash and an additional amount in Travelers Checks

Organize the tools you would need in your safe room.

Refill your prescriptions.

Buy various sizes of batteries

Call family and friends and tell them what you are going to do, i.e. stay or evacuate

Now is the time to set up a phone tree. Have one person you can call to tell them you are OK. That person will then notify other family and friends of your condition. This alleviates the need for you to try and make a number of calls from an area with damage to phone lines.

If you plan to stay in a hotel or motel make your reservations now.

Buy last minute supplies now - supplies you can still use if the hurricane does not strike.

Clean and sterilize the bath tub with bleach.

Let your child begin to put together some items they might need.

Games and toys

Favorite blanket or stuffed animal

Favorite books

Favorite food

Toothbrush and toothpaste

Rain gear

Paper, pencils, coloring books and crayons

Flashlight with extra batteries

These items can be used at a shelter as well as at home during the storm.

Hurricane Warning

The Hurricane Warning is the time to batten down and get ready for the storm.

Home Preparations

There are a number of things that must be done around the house in the next hours no matter what the decision is about evacuation.

Outside your home

Do not drain you swimming pool. The lack of water will increase the chances of the pool popping out of the ground. Add additional chlorine to your pool to protect against contamination.

Do not throw furniture into your pool, it may ruin the pools surfacing.

Do not try and trim your trees now. The debris will not be picked up and it will only add to the debris flying around your house.

Check that all of your battery operated equipment is in working order i.e. radios, flashlights etc.

If you have a cell phone make sure to charge it properly as it could be your only link to the outside world.

Close shutters or put plywood over your windows.

If you are going to evacuate, shut off your electricity and gas before you leave.

Store anything that might blow around; such as toys, bicycles, barbecue grills etc.

Take your TV antenna down if you have one. Be careful not to get close to a power line in your hurry to prepare.

Inside your home

Turn your refrigerator and freezer to its coldest setting. If you loose power later this will keep your perishable food safer longer.

Start freezing gallon size freezer bags and almost full 12 oz. bottles of water. This will provide cooling for stored foods and good drinking water as these melt.

Check your medicines. Those who need daily doses of medication should have at least two weeks supply on hand. Contact your physician and get your prescription refilled.

Sterilize plastic containers so you can store more water if needed. Use household soap to clean, then swab out with bleach. Rinse thoroughly then let dry.

Top off your food supply, make sure you have enough to last at least a week.

If you have decided to evacuate to friends or family then contact them and begin to make plans for your arrival. Ask what you might bring that will make your stay easier on them.

Bring trash cans into your garage or tie them together around a pole or tree.

Turn off power to pool lights, pump and chlorinator.

Move important items such as food, furniture, rugs, books, clothing, electric motors and controls to upper floors. If the house is only one level, place important items above flood level. Remove dust ruffles and bedspreads from the beds since they will absorb water if flooding occurs.

Collect valuable and small appliances (such as toasters) and secure them in plastic bags. Place them on the counter tops. If you have to evacuate take your important legal papers, medications and valuables with you.

Fill all portions of the domestic water system with clean water and cap openings. Seal wells to keep out silt and debris.

If flooding occurs, shut off utilities (electricity, water, gas) at the main switches. DO NOT TOUCH ELECTRICAL SWITCHES WHILE WET OR STANDING IN WATER.

Remove toxic or flammable materials from your home.

If You Evacuate

Leave long before the storm arrives. A worst case scenario would be for you and your family to be trapped on a highway with your car as your only protection. Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, at least twice as long as it normally takes you.

Know additional places you can take shelter along your evacuation route. That way if you are unable to reach your destination you will have shelter.

Shelters

Shelters are not hotels or motels. Shelters are typically large community facilities capable of withstanding the winds of a hurricane and high enough to be out of danger of flooding. The have none of the luxuries of a hotel. You must bring with you the things that will make you personally comfortable.

Flashlight with extra batteries.

Radio with extra batteries.

Medicines.

Baby food and diapers if you have an infant.

Cot or a foam sleeping mattress. There may not be enough cots to go around.

Pillows

Identification showing where you live, so you will be able to re-enter your neighborhood after the storm.

Copies of valuable documents such as insurance or house papers.

Playing cards, games, books.

Eyeglasses.

Hearing aids.

Dentures.

If you require a special diet for health reasons, bring along needed foods.

Snacks for the first 24 hours in the shelter.

Shelters will vary in what types of facilities are offered. Shelters typically do not have medical professionals and are usually manned by volunteers. So be prepared to take care of yourself to a certain extent.

In addition, remember that you will be living with a large cross section of your community. People from all walks of life. Respect others privacy. Work at getting along. It could be a long few days.

During the Storm

The winds are beginning to howl. The storm is upon you. It is time to go into your safe room. Your safe room should be a windowless room in the middle of your home. A hallway, large closet or bathroom will do. A place that you and your family can set up to wait out the storm.

There is nothing you can do at this point but wait. You have done everything you could to prepare. Now it is time to wait. Bring with you into your safe room supplies that will help you weather the storm.

Flashlight and extra batteries

Radio and extra batteries

TV and extra batteries

Eyeglasses and medicine

Playing cards and games for the children

Blankets and pillows to make a bed

Two mattresses; one to lay on and one to cover yourself if you lose your roof.

If you need to protect yourself from falling objects then bring a table into your safe room, if it will fit. Place one mattress on top and one underneath. You and your family should get underneath the table to ride out the rest of the storm.

Children's items:

Favorite blanket or stuffed animal

Favorite book

Favorite food

Pencil, paper, crayons and coloring book

Their own flashlight with extra batteries.

If the children need reassuring then tell stories or engage them in games that require singing and clapping. Try very hard not to let them see you worried or scared. This only accentuates the child's fears. Put on your best face for the kids.