STANDARD FOUR
TANGIBLE COMPONENTS OF EMERGENCY READINESS: FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
DISCUSSION
Readiness to save lives and protect property during a peacetime or attack caused emergency or disaster requires a basis of tangible assets. Many of these assets already exist in local jurisdictions, while others have to be specially developed, as outlined in this Standard.
STANDARDS
1. Emergency Operating Center
Each jurisdiction shall have an EOC facility from which key officials can exercise direction and control in extraordinary emergencies, whether peacetime or attack-caused. The EOC facility shall have adequate working space for emergency operations; communications to local operating forces, as well as to higher-level and adjacent local EOC's; and shall have all maps and displays needed by the key executives to understand developing emergency situations as a basis for decision-making.
Where a county and one or more municipalities conduct combined operations, a single EOC facility may suffice, but in larger cities, support EOC's may be needed.
a. Fully-Qualified EOC - The EOC facility is ready at all times for emergency operations and meets Federal criteria including the following;
(1) Protection - The EOC must have PF 100 or better fallout protection. (In jurisdictions identified by the Federal government as facing potential high risk from fallout radiation, a PP of approximately 200 is highly desirable, though not required for the "fully-qualified" rating.) EOC's should have their communications and electrical systems protected against electromagnetic pulse (EMP). In addition (though not required for the "fully-qualified" rating), EOC's in areas of high risk from direct effects of nuclear weapons should include protection against blast over- pressures of 15 pounds per square inch. It is also highly desirable that such EOC's have back-up, quick~rect antennas to replace those damaged from direct weapons effects, or high winds of hurricanes and tornadoes.
(2) Emergency Power - A reliable source of emergency power must be provided to carry the demand loads of the EOC, with a l4-day fuel supply.
(3) Communications and Warning - The EOC contains communications equipment and facili- ties required to support its mission, as outlined in section 5 below of this Standard for the "fully-qualified" level of emergency communications. Included is capability to receive and disseminate warnings.
(4) Operational Facilities - The EOC has an Operations Room or similar central area for use by key officials, equipped with maps and displays needed to understand developing emergency situations, and adequate working space for other operational functions. Operational supplies needed are on hand.
(5) Life Support - The EOC has adequate ventilation for the emergency staff (15 cu. ft. per min. per person to the occupied space, of which at least 5 cfm shall be outside air), It also has food and medical supplies, independent water and sanitation systems, and other equipment and supplies (in-place) to sustain emergency operations for a two-week period without outside support.
(6) Day-to-day Use - The EOC is used on a day-to-day basis by the local civil preparedness agency and in addition is used daily for an emergency-related purpose. Desirably) this is 2~hour use for police, fire, or ambulance dispatching, but as a minimum, the EOC is used on a day4o-day basis by a representative of at least one emergency service department of government (in addition to the civil prepared- ness agency) which has an emergency function or assignment in the EOC.
b. Minimum-Level EOC - The EOC is ready for emergency operations, and meets at least the following minimum operational requirements:
(1) Fallout protection of PP 100 or better;
(2) a reliable source of emergency power for the EOC load, with a 14-day fuel supply;
(3) minimum-level communications capability as outlined in section 5 below of this Standard and capability to receive and disseminate warnings;
(4) adequate space for emergency operations, with minimum essential displays in place.
2 Shelter
a. Fully-Qualified Shelter Standard - To be fully- qualified, a jurisdiction shall have brought to full operational status all shelter spaces identified by the National Shelter Survey, which are planned for use under the local community shelter plan allocation (part of local Nuclear Civil Protection plans), except that stocking with RADEF Instrument sets and food and water may, if necessary, be completed during a crisis period. Shelters planned for use are (1) licensed; (2) marked (or there are detailed Increased-Readiness Plans including who/what/where/how-for marking such facilities during a crisis); (3) stocked with food, medical supplies, sanitation supplies, and water, if Federally-furnished supplies are still available and useable (or there are detailed Increased-Readiness plans for stocking such facilities during a crisis with locally-procured food and other austere survival supplies); and (4) have shelter management guidance in place (e.g., wall charts, pamphlets, etc. describing how to organize and run any shelter, as well as a diagram showing where the shelter areas are located in each facility). In addition, it is highly desirable that there be a telephone instrument (or other means of communication with the EOC) located in the shelter area of each facility planned for use.
b. Minimum-Level Shelter Standard - The jurisdiction meets criteria 2.a(2) and (3) outlined above for marking and stocking. In lieu of having general shelter management guidance and RADEF Instrument Sets pre-positioned in shelters, such guidance material and RADEF Instrument Sets are available in the jurisdiction, and there are written plans to place them in shelters during a crisis period.
3. Radiological Defense
a. Fully-Qualified RADEF Standard. To be fully- qualified, a jurisdiction shall have:
(1) Obtained the number of shelter RADEF sets required for shelters planned for use in the jurisdiction's Nuclear Civil Protection plans (for the in-place protection and the crisis relocation options). Sets should normally be stored in bulk repositories where proper and secure storage is available. At least one set of radiological instruments should be obtained for each public shelter planned for use. An additional set may be obtained for each 1,000- person capacity to a maximum of 6 sets per large facility. In large buildings, shelter areas that are separated by three or more floors may be considered separate shelters and issued a set of instruments; the population factor would then be determined for each shelter area.
(2) Obtained the number of dosimeters and chargers required for use by emergency workers for post-attack exposure control and recovery operations. These should be stored in bulk repositories. An average of one CD V-750 charger should be provided for each 25 high range dosimeters. One dosimeter should be provided for each two emergency workers.
(3) Obtained the number of radiological instrument sets required by emergency services, vital facilities and essential industry personnel (e.g., fire, police, public works, medical, rescue, utilities) for monitoring radiological fallout and, where appropriate, for use in peacetime incident monitoring. These instrument sets would primarily be located at the emergency service or facility; however, in some instances, a portion of the instruments may be located in a local bulk repository. Each emergency service and vital facility location should have a minimum of one radiological instrument set; however each emergency service group that is expected to conduct independent operations should have a RADEF set. The total number of sets required by the jurisdiction will be dependent upon each service's emergency operations annex and the number of vital facilities and essential industries identified in the jurisdiction.
(4) Designated weapons effects reporting stations and have equipped each station with one radiological instrument set. Weapons effects reporting stations should be designated so as to provide for (a) geographical coverage, (b) communications, and (c) protection from radiation. To provide adequate geographical cover- age in metropolitan/urban areas, stations should be no more than two to three miles apart. In rural areas, stations should be no more than seven to ten miles apart. Stations should be located where reliable communications will be available for reporting radiological data from the weapons effects reporting station to the EOC. Radio communications which do not rely on commercial power are preferred. A communications capability using telephones will be accepted as a minimum; however, when this method is relied on primarily, an alternate communications capability must be provided for a portion of the weapons effects reporting system. A PF of 40 or better is desirable for weapons effects reporting stations; however, crisis upgrading can be planned to improve the station's fallout protection.
(5) Inspected and maintained all RADEF equipment within the jurisdiction in accordance with the schedule provided by the State Maintenance and Calibration facility. This should include provision for annual inspection and operational check of the radiological instruments by the jurisdiction. Defective instruments will be replaced by the State maintenance facility.
(6) Obtained replacement batteries from the State maintenance facility for all radiological equipment at least once every two years.
b. Minimum-Level RADEF Standard. To meet the minimum-level RADEF standard, the jurisdiction must have:
(1) Obtained at least 75% of the number of shelter RADEF sets required for shelters planned for use in local Nuclear Civil Protection plans.
(2) Obtained at least 75% of the number of dosimeters and chargers required for use by emergency workers for postattack recovery.
(3) Obtained at least 75% of the number of RADEF sets required for use by emergency services and vital facilities (e.g., fire, police, medical, rescue, utilities).
(4) Obtained equipment for at least 75% of the required weapons effects reporting stations. Each station must have at least one means of communicating with the EOC.
(5) Maintained all RADEF equipment within the jurisdiction in accordance with the schedule provided by the State Maintenance and Calibration facility.
(6) Obtained batteries for all operational RADEF equipment at least once every two years.
4. Warning System
Warning is an area where "risk orientation" is of special importance. This is because of the great life-saving payoff from getting warning to people facing imminent danger from a tornado, the blast and heat effects of nuclear weapons, or other hazard where rapid action can save many lives. Accordingly, the warning standards outlined below for high-risk areas are more stringent than those for low-risk areas.
For high-risk areas, the overall aim is to give the population both an alerting signal (e.g., from a siren) and an explanation of the threat, and what to do about it, shortly after initiation of warning. (For attack threats, this is after warning initiation by one of the National Warning Centers; for tornado or other peacetime threat, this is after warning initiation by the National Weather Service or other source of warning). In low-risk areas, the need for rapid warning is not as great. This difference in warning needs is reflected in the standards below.
a. Fully-Qualified Warning Standard - To be fully qualified, a jurisdiction deemed to face high risk from blast effects of nuclear weapons, or from tornadoes or other peacetime hazards in which rapid warning is essential, shall: (1) Be served by a warning point, manned 24 hours per day, where warning is received directly over the National Warning System (NAWAS).
(2) The warning point has the capability to immediately and simultaneously sound public warning signals, initiate alerting of key officials, and initiate emergency public information to supplement the warning signal.
(3) Be able to alert through public warning systems at least 85% of the urban population, preferably by sirens but in their absence by other means such as industrial sirens or whistles.
(4) Achieve full dissemination of warning, alerting and emergency public information within 3 to 4 minutes of receipt of warning.
(5) Have communications links and procedures to assure receipt of severe-weather warning from the National Weather Service.
(6) Have arrangements with local radio and television stations to get warning information to the public.
(7) Have arrangements for warning the rural population as well as any urban population not covered by outdoor warning devices, as by telephone fanout or sirens on police or fire vehicles.
(8) Test the operation of all warning system equipment periodically (minimum of once per month).
(9) Have emergency power as appropriate for warning equipment.
In addition, it is highly desirable that high-risk jurisdictions provide indoor warning for schools, industries, and similar places of public assembly. The fully-qualified warning standard for low-risk jurisdictions is the same as that for high-risk jurisdictions except that the jurisdiction (1) need not be served by a Warning Point having direct access to NAWAS, but may receive warning via fanout from such a Warning Point, provided this occurs no more than 10 minutes after initiation of warning; and (2) has 75 percent or greater outdoor warning coverage for its urban population.
b. Minimum-Level Warning Standard - The minimum level warning standard for a high-risk jurisdiction is the same as the fully-qualified standard above, except that outdoor warning coverage for the urban population is 70 percent or greater.
A low-risk jurisdiction meets the minimum-level standard if it (1) has procedures by which a higher level, 24-hour warning point can reach appropriate local officials directly, to notify them to activate local warning devices; and (2) has outdoor warning coverage for at least 50 percent of its urban population. In addition, it is highly desirable that a low-risk jurisdiction have procedures to warn the rural population, and the urban population not covered by outdoor warning devices.
5. Emergency Communications
(NOTE: The following applies only to a jurisdiction which has an EOC meeting at least the minimum-level EOC standard in lb above. If the local EOC does not meet this standard, the jurisdiction does not meet either communication standard outlined below.)
a. Fully Qualified Emergency Communications Standard - The jurisdiction has communications facilities and equipment adequate to permit key executives to direct and control emergency operations. This includes:
(1) Wire line communications with the following forces or facilities which have missions assigned in the local emergency plan; (a) Primary local operating forces (e.g., police, fire public works, and similar forces, which in most cases are governmental, and with RADEF monitoring stations); (b) other forces (e.g., hospitals, ambulance dispatch points; transportation companies, or other local groups or forces with emergency capabilities, such forces often being non-governmental in nature); (c) radio or TV stations serving the jurisdiction; (d) public shelters or shelter complex headquarters (where such facilities have telephone instruments in or reasonably accessible to the shelter areas within the facility); and (e) the next higher level EOC (e.g., for a county, the State-Area or State EOC; for a city, the county EOC, if separate from the city's EOC).
(2) Reliable radio backup communications with the forces and installations listed in (1) preceding, with radio base stations located in the EOC, subject to these exceptions: Radio communication is needed with most but not all RADEF monitoring stations, as noted in section 3a(4) above in this Standard, on radiological monitoring; and backup radio communication with shelters is desirable but is not required to meet the "fully-qualified" standard. It is also highly desirable that radio communications located in the EOC be used on a day-to-day basis, as the centralized emergency services communications for the jurisdiction. In larger jurisdictions, it is desirable that there be a mobile communications vehicle available for use at a major disaster scene.
(3) A reliable source of emergency power, with a 14-day fuel supply, for emergency communications (this requirement will be met in most cases by the EOC emergency generator and its fuel supply).
(4) Critical communications (e.g., radio base stations) in jurisdictions facing potential high risk from blast effects of nuclear weapons, or from tornadoes or hurricanes, shall be located below-grade, to provide some protection against blast and wind damage. In addition, it is highly desirable (though not required for the "fully- qualified" rating) that critical communications in blast risk areas be in EOC's or other areas affording protection against blast overpressures of up to 15 psi, and be shock-mounted.
(5) In areas of high risk from direct weapons effects, hurricanes, or tornadoes it is highly desirable (though not required for the "fully-qualified" standard) that there be back-up, quickerect communications antennas to re- place those damaged.
(6) In all areas it is highly desirable (though not required for the "fully-qualified" standard) that communications systems be protected against electromagnetic pulse (EMP) so that there will be at least an 80 decibel (10,000 fold) reduction in the unattenuated EMP. This applies particularly to the principal direction and control radio base station and to remote control facilities (if any).
b. Minimum-Level Emergency Communications Standard-The jurisdiction meets criteria outlined above for the "fully-qualified" standard, with the following exceptions: In item (2), radio base stations may be located elsewhere than in the EOC, provided they have fallout and other protection at least equal to that afforded by the EOC; they have a reliable source of emergency power, with a 14-day fuel supply; and there are reliable radio communications between the EOC and the facility where the base station is located. Also in item (2), there need not be radio backup communications with "other forces".
6. Emergency Public Information
a. Fully-Qualified Emergency Public Information Standard - The jurisdiction (1) has on hand emergency public information and guidance materials for all contingencies likely to confront the community, ready for immediate dissemination via local news media (includes standby emergency public information materials based on the CSP shelter allocation, and the CRP, if completed, as well as materials for broadcast and newspaper use, based on "In Time of Emergency," "Disaster Operations," or similar sources); (2) has reliable means of communicating between the EOC and the news media, with periodic tests conducted; and (3) has access from its EOC to broadcast station(s) serving the area. Stations designated to be part of the EBS system should have a fallout protection factor of 100, and a reliable source of emergency power with a 14-day connected fuel supply, and be linked to an EOC by a remote pickup unit radio.
b. Minimum-Level Emergency Public Information Standard - The jurisdiction meets criteria noted above for the "fully-qualified" standard with the exception of item (3).
1 Law Enforcement
a. Fully-Qualified Law Enforcement Standard - The jurisdiction has (1) police communications tied in to the local EOC; (2) protection for the police dispatch center (if not in the EOC) of the same level as recommended for the EOC; and (3) one set of radiological monitoring instruments assigned for each patrol vehicle.
b. Minimum-Level Law Enforcement Standard - The jurisdiction meets criteria for the "fully- qualified" standard with the exceptions that in item (2) the dispatch center has best-available existing protection (desirably PF 100 or better); and in item (3) there is one radiological monitoring set available for each four patrol vehicles.
8. Fire Service
a. Fully-Qualified Fire Service Standard - The jurisdiction has (1) fire service communications tied in to the local EOC; (2) protection for the fire dispatch center (if not in the EOC) of the same level as recommended for the EOC; and (3) one set of radiological monitoring instruments assigned for each fire company or equivalent unit.
b. Minimum-Level Fire Service Standard - The jurisdiction meets criteria for the "fully-qualified" standard with the exceptions that in item (2) the dispatch center has best-available existing protection (desirably PF 100 or better); and in item (3) monitoring instruments are available but not actually distributed to fire companies.
9. Rescue
a. Fully-Qualified Rescue Standard - The jurisdiction has (1) rescue communications tied in to the local EOC; (2) protection for the rescue dispatch center (if not in the EOC) of the same level as recommended for the EOC; and (3) one set of radiological monitoring instruments assigned for each rescue vehicle.
b. Minimum-Level Rescue Standard - The jurisdiction meets criteria for the "fully-qualified" standard with the exceptions that in item (2) the dispatch center has best-available existing protection (desirably PF 100 or better); and in item (3) there is one radiological monitoring set available for each four rescue vehicles.
10. Emergency Medical
a. Fully-Qualified Emergency Medical Standard - The jurisdiction has (1) centralized dispatch of ambulances, with ambulance and related emergency medical communications tied in to the local EOC; (2) two-way communications between ambulances and hospitals; (3) protection for the ambulance dispatch center (if not in the EOC) of the same level as recommended for the EOC; (4) one set of radiological monitoring instruments assigned for each ambulance; and (5) provided radiological monitoring sets as required by each hospital in the jurisdiction.
b. Minimum-Level Emergency Medical Standard - The jurisdiction meets criteria for the "fully-qualified" standard with the exception that in item (3) the dispatch center has best-available existing protection (desirably PF 100 or better); in item (4) there is one radiological monitoring set available for each four ambulances; and in item (5) one radiological monitoring set has been provided to each hospital.
11. Public Works Engineering
a. Fully-Qualified Public Works Engineering Standard - The jurisdiction has (1) provided for the use, in emergencies, of both public and private engineering facilities, equipment, and supplies; (2) completed a detailed inventory of engineering resources; (3) tied PWE communications in to the local EOC; (4) provided as necessary for use of PWE resources from other jurisdictions, by mutual aid agreements; (S) where applicable, assigned one set of radiological monitoring instruments to each PWE field team with an emergency assignment; and (6) provided radiological monitoring instruments as required for vital facilities located within the jurisdictions (e.g., water works, power plants, telephone companies, etc.); and (7) developed plans and procedures for the radiological decontamination of vital facilities and essential industries.
b. Minimum-Level Public Works Engineering Standard - The jurisdiction meets criteria for the "fully-qualified" standard with the exceptions that in item (1) arrangements for use of private engineering resources are general rather than specific; in item (2) the resource inventory is by general category rather than in detail; there are no mutual-aid agreements of the type noted in item (4); and in items (5) and (6) monitoring instruments are available in the jurisdiction, rather than actually distributed to PWE teams and vital facilities, provided there are plans for crisis distribution.
12. Emergency Welfare
a. Fully-Qualified Emergency Welfare Standard - The jurisdiction has (1) completed a detailed inventory of facilities and equipment with emergency welfare potential (e.g., schools, churches, motels, restaurants); and (2) designated specific resources for use in major emergencies (e.g., congregate care facilities identified by the Host Area Survey, or otherwise, have been designated for use by hurricane evacuees or crisis relocatees).
b. Minimum-Level Emergency Welfare Standard - The jurisdiction meets criteria for the "fully-qualified" standard except that the inventory of resources is general rather than detailed, and provisions for emergency use of facilities and equipment are not detailed to the level of individual facilities.
13. Schools
a. Fully-Qualified School Standard - Schools in the jurisdiction (1) have been surveyed (desirably by Qualified Shelter Analysts) for best-available protection against attack effects (fallout in all areas, and direct effects as well in blast high-risk areas); (2) have brought to full operational status school shelters planned for emergency use, as described in the Shelter standard in 2 above; and (3) receive warning directly from the Warning Point serving the jurisdiction. In addition, it is highly desirable (though not required for the "fully-qualified" standard) that school buildings in areas subject to tornadoes be analyzed to deter- mine the best-available areas for protection against tornadic winds.
b. Minimum-Level School Standard - Schools in the jurisdiction meet criteria for the "fully- qualified" standard except that in item (2) detailed Increased-Readiness plans for bringing shelter to full operational status may be substituted for having done so prior to a crisis.