I. PURPOSE

This annex establishes an option of sheltering the residents of St. Clair County in-place to protect them from the effects of a disaster that threatens or actually strikes the county.

II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS

A. Situation

1. In the event of a natural or technological disaster, in-place protective shelter will provide essential shelter to the public in an area near their residence.

2. Potential disasters that could cause in-place sheltering in St. Clair County include:

a. Hazardous materials incidents - People will be advised to stay indoors and reduce the air flow into the structure (home, public facility, etc.).

b. Tornado - Private homes can offer protection in basements or other protected areas of the house. Public buildings, schools, nursing homes, etc., have designated shelter locations. Some communities have identified public shelter facilities for temporary shelter (see Annex L).

c. Nuclear Weapon Detonation - Public buildings have been identified and surveyed in St. Clair County which offer protection from radioactive fallout. Home basements may also have adequate fallout protection or they may be upgraded. See Appendix 1 to this Annex for shelter information.

B. Assumptions

1. St. Clair County officials will determine the best option for ensuring the safety of the public and will take action to implement that strategy.

2. County/City officials will advise the public on what protective actions to take.

III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

A. General

1. The two options for protecting the population are evacuation and shelter. St. Clair County officials will implement one or the other or possibly both options, depending on the best available estimate of the disaster situation.

a. Evacuation will be considered based on the conditions at the selected destination and any risk of exposure to the disaster agent while in route. Evacuation operations are discussed under Annex J.

b. Sheltering in place will depend on the relative protection from potential disaster agents provided by the available residential, commercial, and recreational structures in the community.

2. If people are displaced from their homes by the disaster situation, temporary housing and mass care must be provided. Reception and Care operations are discussed under Annex L.

3. County and city officials will develop and maintain the capability to provide protective shelter for the population in any situation for which such action is appropriate.

4. Special facility populations must be identified. In-place shelter may be the only available option for these facilities (see Appendix 2 to Annex J).

B. Actions to be Taken by Operating Time Frames

1. Mitigation

a. Review National Facility Surveys and Reception and Care Surveys to identify shelter facilities suitable to protect people from the assumed risk conditions.

b. Work with local officials to develop in-place protective shelter plans.

c. Develop Emergency Public Information materials for distribution to the public. (Emergency Public Information, Annex C)

d. Assist in the development of special plans and procedures (i.e., shelter stocking, shelter marking, traffic control, etc.).

e. Provide training for shelter managers and staff.

f. Participate in Radiological Emergency Support planning efforts to include the allocation of radiological instruments for shelters (Annex H).

g. Participate in tests, exercises and drills.

h. Conduct public awareness programs.

2. Preparedness

a. Review in-place protective shelter plans and procedures.

b. Brief key government officials and department heads. (Direction and Control, Annex A)

c. Check the Reception and Care Surveys.

d. Publish and distribute information on:

(1) Public shelter location and allocation

(2) Shelter upgrading measures

(3) Shelter stocking

(4) Warning signals

(5) Expedient shelter measures

e. Report the requirements and deficiencies to Direction and Control.

3. Emergency Response

a. Upon the receipt of a warning that threatens an area, recommend to the local jurisdictions that the all hazard shelters be opened and staffed.

b. Furnish emergency public information for broadcast.

c. During the shelter phase, maintain communications with the SEOC.

d. Assist in the transmission and receiving of Damage Assessment information.

e. Report all problems to Direction and Control.

4. Recovery

a. Monitor the release of shelterees.

b. Assess the damages.

c. Prepare after-action reports.

d. Conduct any other actions necessary to assist in returning the situation to normal.

IV. ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. The County and/or City Emergency Management Director has the primary responsibility for In-Place Protective Shelter in their respective jurisdiction. Specific tasks include:

1. Develop a system and procedures for evaluating the evacuation and in-place shelter options in the event of a large-scale hazardous materials spill or release.

2. Identify shelter and warning procedures in the event of a tornado (for shelter see Annex L, for warning see Annex B).

3. Develop and maintain an in-place protective shelter system to protect the residents from the effects of a nuclear weapon detonation (see Appendix 1 to this Annex).

B. Communications and Warning Coordinator will assist with warning the public.

C. The Reception and Care Coordinator will assist with shelter and feeding operations.

D. The Fire and Rescue Coordinator will assist/advise the Emergency Management Director concerning hazardous materials incidents.

E. The Public Information Officer will assist with notification of the public through the news media.

V. DIRECTION AND CONTROL

A. A disaster or potential disaster that generates a requirement for protecting people from a harmful environment will activate the EOC.

B. Situation analysis, planning, policy making, coordination, and ultimate direction and control for in-place protective shelter will be carried out from the EOC.

VI. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

Procurement of necessary supplies will be accomplished through normal acquisition channels and coordinated with Resource and Supply when necessary.

Appendices

Appendix 1: All Hazard In-Place Protective Shelter Planning

I. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT

A. In a chemical emergency where air safety is affected, in-place protection keeps people inside a building, and out of danger. People should either stay within the building they are already in, or seek shelter in the nearest building. In some cases, in-place protection is the safest defense.

B. At the time of an emergency involving a chemical release, the local authorities will be in command of the situation. It will be their responsibility to order either in-place protection, or evacuation.

C. Local officials (i.e., Police, Fire, Emergency Management) will keep the public advised of the situation. Information will be broadcast over radio or television. Full instructions will be given including information on reducing air flow into the structure, as well as, when it is safe to go back outside.

II. TORNADO

A. The National Weather Service monitors atmospheric conditions and issues weather forecasts. When threatening conditions are detected, the Weather Service will issue either a tornado watch to indicate when conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop, or a tornado warning when a tornado is sighted or indicated by radar.

B. The burden of heeding warnings and taking proper action, rests with individual communities and citizens. Local Emergency Management Agencies have developed effective community warning system.

C. Although there is no guaranteed safe place during a tornado, some locations are better than others. The safest place in the home is the interior part of the basement, preferably under something sturdy, like a table. If a basement is not available, an inside room on the lowest floor, like a closet or bathroom with no windows, should be used. Public buildings, schools, nursing homes, etc., have designated shelter locations.

III. NUCLEAR WEAPON DETONATION

A. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) is responsible for assisting local government in the development of local in-place protective shelter plans in the event of a nuclear attack. These plans have been developed for each county in the state. Copies are on file with SEMA and local emergency management agencies.

Information on in-place sheltering for St. Clair County is on file with the County and/or City Emergency Management Director. It can be found in the Local Emergency Operations Reference Handbook under nuclear attack.