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II BASIC PLAN MISSION It is the policy of the governments of Klickitat County, in order to protect lives, property and the environment, and in cooperation with other elements of our community, to endeavor to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all natural and manmade emergencies and disasters. This Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) has been written to assist in carrying out this policy. PURPOSE The CEMP is designed to address any disaster or major emergency situation in which there is a need for a coordinated response. This plan applies to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions, technological emergencies involving hazardous materials releases, and other incidents. The Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis (HIVA) Assessment Tables document these hazards and relative risk (see Section III and Appendix The CEMP describes the mechanisms and structures by which local government will mobilize resources and conduct activities to respond to disasters or major emergencies in Klickitat County. The CEMP serves as the foundation for the further development of detailed departmental and contingency plans and procedures to implement coordinated response activities in a timely and efficient manner. The Plan establishes a system for coordinated and effective response to disasters. The purpose of this plan is to: 1. Establish fundamental assumptions and policies 2. Establish a concept of operations 3. Assign specific functional responsibilities to appropriate departments, agencies and organizations 4. Identify actions that participating departments, agencies and organizations will take in the overall county response 5. Identify the roles and support abilities of the local jurisdictions and other agencies/organizations, and their relationship within the response organization. SCOPE This plan applies to all Klickitat County departments and all departments of the Cities of Bingen, Goldendale, and White Salmon. It describes Klickitat County’s response to any “disaster” or “emergency” that affects either the unincorporated area of the county or any participating jurisdiction. ---PAGE BREAK--- The Klickitat Emergency Management (KCDEM) serves as the emergency management organization for the participating jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction is urged to have its own written emergency plan that supports the CEMP. KCDEM will provide certain support functions to each participating jurisdiction, as outlined in the Interlocal Cooperative Agreement for Provision of Emergency Management Services (Interlocal Agreement) and as determined by the Emergency Management Executive Board (EMEB). During a disaster or an emergency, each participating jurisdiction is responsible for coordinating tactical operations within its jurisdiction. The Klickitat County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), per the Interlocal Agreement, may be used by any participating jurisdiction to plan and coordinate resources in a local or regional disaster. The term “emergency” as used in this plan means a set of circumstances that demand immediate action to protect life, property and the environment; a “disaster” is an emergency that is beyond the capabilities of the responding organizations or jurisdiction. This plan provides guidance to participating jurisdictions for: a) Mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery policy b) Disaster and emergency responsibilities c) Training and public education activities d) Emergency planning requirements of Title III of the Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA Title III). This plan supports, and is supported by, other plans required by the state and federal government. This plan is consistent with the National Response Plan and the Washington State CEMP. ORGANIZATION The Interlocal Emergency Management Agreement establishes Klickitat Emergency Management and authorizes the appointment of the Director of Emergency Management. All incorporated cities within Klickitat County, and Klickitat County government, have joined together to form the Emergency Services Executive Board as outlined in the Interlocal Agreement. Each participating jurisdiction makes a financial contribution. The EMEB also establishes a budget and sets policy for the KCDEM and emergency management operations. Per the Interlocal Agreement, the Emergency Management Executive Board will appoint personnel to the Emergency Management Advisory Board, to provide technical expertise and direction to the Director of Emergency Management. Such personnel may be recommended by the interest groups listed in this CEMP. ---PAGE BREAK--- The Emergency Operations Center is organized using the principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). All participating jurisdictions are encouraged to adopt NIMS for their emergency response organizations. POLICIES AUTHORITIES This plan is developed under the following local, state and federal statutes and regulations: 1. Interlocal Emergency Management Agreement 2. Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 38.52 and 39.34, as amended 3. Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) 118-04, 118-30, and 296-62- 40115(2), as amended 4. Public Law 93-288, The Disaster Relief Act of 1974, as amended 5. Public Law 920, Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950, as amended 6. Public Law 96-352, Improved Civil Defense 1980 7. Title III, Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act of 1986. 8. Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) – 5, Management of Domestic Incidents ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES This plan provides standing mission assignments to the designated departments and agencies with primary and support responsibilities to carry out emergency response activities. This section covers general emergency responsibilities of each listed department/agency. Additional duties may be listed in the supporting elements of this plan. 1. It is the policy of Klickitat County and of each city that the head of each department is responsible for the following: a) Developing plans for the continuation of essential departmental services and functions after a disaster b) Providing for the identification and preservation of essential department records c) Appointing a liaison and alternates to work with KCDEM in the development and maintenance of this plan and agency procedures d) Establishing 24-hour departmental contacts e) Developing the capability to continue operations in an emergency/disaster and to carry out the responsibilities outlined herein f) Developing Operating Guidelines (OG's) that address the following: 1) The department’s chain of command ---PAGE BREAK--- 2) Location of the departmental emergency operations 3) The resources needed to manage departmental emergency operations 4) The information needed to manage departmental emergency activities and how it will be obtained 5) Departmental capabilities and responsibilities 6) Departmental resources 7) How the department will coordinate with the EOC 8) Ensuring that department staff is aware of the department’s emergency plans, OG’s and contents of this plan. 2. It is the policy of Klickitat County and of each city that departments endeavor to make staff available at the request of the DEM or his/her designee for appropriate training and emergency assignments, such as Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activities, documentation, damage assessment, and liaison with other agencies and organizations. All costs for these activities shall be the responsibility of the respective department. LIMITATIONS The diverse nature of any emergency or disaster is such that it is likely no single government agency or jurisdiction will be capable of handling all potential incidents alone. It is neither implied nor should it be inferred that this plan guarantees a perfect emergency or disaster response. No plan can shield individuals from all events. While every reasonable effort will be made to respond to emergencies or disasters, resources and/or systems may be overwhelmed. Some events provide little or no warning to implement operational procedures and all emergency plans are dependent upon tactical execution, which may be imperfect. The CEMP is intended to provide reasonable response to disasters for citizen safety but not necessarily to provide full protection to any specific individual. GENERAL 1. Because of the nature of disasters, it is further the policy of Klickitat County and each city to advise its citizens to be prepared to be on their own for at least three days after a disaster. 2. Goals of KCDEM: Develop citizen self-sufficiency Develop first responder capabilities Have plans to coordinate organizational interaction Create an atmosphere of interagency cooperation ---PAGE BREAK--- 3. Response by departments and agencies to life threatening situations covered by this plan takes precedence over other county or city business. Support will be provided to the extent it does not conflict with other emergency missions a department or agency is required to carry out. 3. It is the policy of Klickitat County and each city that no services will be denied on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability and no special treatment, over and above what normally would be expected in the way of county services, will be extended to any person or group in an emergency or disaster. SITUATION EMERGENCY/DISASTER CONDITIONS 1. Disasters have occurred in Klickitat County and will occur again. 2. The Klickitat County Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Assessment (HIVA) provides information on potential hazards threatening Klickitat County, including the hazard analysis requirements of SARA Title III. PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS 1. A disaster may overwhelm the capabilities of the participating jurisdictions, preventing a timely and effective response to meet the needs of the situation. For example, the occurrence of a large or catastrophic earthquake may cause casualties, property loss, disruption of normal life support systems, and impact the county’s economic, physical, and social infrastructures. 2. A disaster or emergency has the potential to cause substantial health and medical problems. 4. A disaster or emergency may cause significant damage, particularly to the economic and physical infrastructure. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS GENERAL 1. The following list of management priorities, listed in order of importance, is provided to guide policy making during disaster events of major magnitude. a) Protect life b) Protect critical assets c) Protect public and private property d) Develop and disseminate public information ---PAGE BREAK--- e) Restore essential services f) Minimize economic disruption to the community g) Protect the environment 2. KCDEM is the lead agency for evaluating a situation to determine if the extraordinary authority of an Emergency Proclamation by the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners (Chair/BoC) is necessary. If so, KCDEM shall make such recommendation. 3. When a disaster occurs, it is anticipated that affected jurisdictions will implement their emergency plans. When agency resources cannot meet the needs created by a disaster, additional assistance may be requested through the EOC. 4. If the situation exceeds or is anticipated to exceed the capabilities of Klickitat County, the Chair/BoC may request assistance from the Governor, or from the federal government through the Governor. 5. It is the policy of Klickitat County and the cities therein to cooperate with and support the Indian Tribes, and other political jurisdictions within Klickitat County. Assistance provided by Klickitat County and the cities shall be supplemental to the efforts of those requesting assistance. 6. A local Proclamation of Emergency is the legal instrument that authorizes extraordinary measures to solve disaster-related problems. A proclamation allows for the emergency use of resources without regard to the time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by law, and activate extraordinary measures as outlined in this plan. 7. Klickitat County policy and state law authorize the Chair/BoC, or in the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair, to make a Proclamation of Emergency. 8. It is the policy of Klickitat County and the cities, that all Proclamations of Emergency be prepared and processed by KCDEM. 9. A proclamation may be accompanied by a “Request for Assistance” that states the situation is beyond the capabilities of local agencies and requests assistance from the state and/or federal governments. 10. There are some forms of assistance that may be obtained without this proclamation; however, there are many ramifications involving state expenditures, federal assistance, and audit trails that make obtaining one advisable. This proclamation is prepared by KCDEM, signed by the Chair/BoC, and then sent to the state EMD for consideration and presentation to the Governor. 11. The Director of Emergency Management shall request the Chair/BoC to issue a “Termination Proclamation”, when the event has subsided.