I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this annex is to organize existing personnel in St. Clair County, and the communities therein, in such a manner that a damage assessment can be completed in a timely manner with results that will be consistent with federal and state guidelines.

It is necessary to (1) establish priorities for repair of public facilities and roads, (2) determine if outside assistance is necessary, (3) insure the safety of local residents, and (4) plan mitigation measures that will lessen the effect of future occurrences.

II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS

A. Situation

1. Any of the identified hazards that could affect St. Clair County and its communities (see Basic Plan, Situation and Assumptions) have the potential for causing extensive public and private damage.

2. A thorough damage assessment is essential before a community can:

a. Conduct effective emergency operations.

b. Recover from the effects of a disaster in a manner that will insure safety while minimizing the time required for the recovery.

c. Mitigate against future disasters.

3. All disaster relief programs exist at the federal level, therefore, damage estimation will be completed following federal guidelines.

B. Assumptions

1. This annex and all procedures therein will be developed with the assistance of state personnel.

2. Following a major disaster, federal and state personnel will be available to assist in the final damage estimation.

3. A properly completed Damage Assessment will initiate legislation that can mitigate or lessen the effects of future disasters.

III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

A. General

1. Damage assessments in St. Clair County and its communities will be made by survey teams dispatched from their respective EOCs.

2. These teams will consist mainly of county/city officials and personnel, but also should include skilled persons from the private sector (real estate agents, insurance agents, contractors, etc.).

3. There are three types of Damage Assessments:

a. Those made before an emergency exists. These assessments are made every day by county and/or city employees or the man on the street. They simply indicate a certain potential problem exists and should be examined. It is the responsibility of each department head to recognize these and act accordingly.

b. Next are the damage reports that come in during actual emergency response operations. Again, they can come from government employees operating in the field or from private citizens. They are useful in allocating resources during the disaster and in prioritizing recovery operations afterwards.

c. The third type is the assessment completed after the disaster. It is made by selected individuals (damage survey teams) and is important in developing recovery plans, seeking outside assistance, and mitigating future disasters.

4. Communications support for the survey team will be provided by the Communications and Warning section (see Annex B). Support may also be required from other emergency sections.

5. When federal/state damage survey teams are working in St. Clair County, they will be accompanied by a member of the local damage survey team and/or a local official.

6. There will be two damage surveys completed. One will be of private damage and the other will be for public (government) losses.

B. Actions to be Taken by Operating Time Frames

1. Mitigation

a. Participate in the hazard vulnerability analysis and identify potential hazard zones.

b. Prepare damage assessment procedures and formats (See SEMA Publication - Local Public Officials Handbook for Disaster Damage Assessment).

c. Recruit and train Damage Assessment personnel.

d. Identify and establish liaison with private individuals or companies who could provide assistance in Damage Assessment.

e. Review communications procedures with Communications and Warning section.

f. Maintain a file of maps and pre-disaster photos.

g. Work to pass and enforce building codes that discourage development in hazard-prone areas.

h. Review the Red Cross damage assessment procedures and guidelines.

i. Conduct Damage Assessment drills, tests, and exercises.

2. Preparedness

a. Alert personnel of potential hazard.

b. Insure that an adequate amount of maps and damage assessment forms are available.

c. Review communications plans and procedures.

d. Identify potential problem areas and report to Direction and Control.

e. Review the potential hazards' effects.

f. Maintain increased readiness status until response begins or the situation returns to normal.

3. Response

a. Activate enough Damage Assessment personnel to survey damaged areas in a timely manner.

b. Deploy personnel to affected areas.

c. Collect damage information and indicate damaged areas on maps.

d. Maintain a list of damaged critical facilities requiring priority repairs.

e. Develop public information releases on unsafe areas and report these to Direction and Control and the Public Information Officer.

f. Assist in documenting emergency work performed.

g. Support other emergency activities as much as possible as directed by Direction and Control.

h. Prepare damage assessment forms for use in recovery phase.

4. Recovery

a. Post unsafe buildings and roads.

b. Assist in establishing priorities for emergency repairs.

c. Conduct private damage assessment.

d. Conduct public damage assessment.

e. Advise elected officials on requesting federal and state assistance.

f. Accompany and assist federal and state Damage Assessment teams.

g. Assist in preparing damage repairs reports to receive federal aid.

h. Participate in recovery activities until the situation returns to normal.

i. Participate in after-action reports and critiques.

j. Incorporate changes in plans and procedures.

IV. ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Organizational Chart

The organizational chart for the Damage Assessment function is shown in Appendix 1 to this annex.

B. Assignment of Responsibilities

1. Overall coordination and operational control of the Damage Assessment section for St. Clair County will be the responsibility of the County Assessor. He/ She will be the Damage Assessment Coordinator for St. Clair County.

Appleton City will appoint several local contractors as their Damage Assessment Coordinators.

2. Communications support for the Damage Assessment functions will be provided by the Communications and Warning section (see Annex B).

3. Transportation support will be provided by the Resource and Supply section.

4. Preparing recommendations from damage reports to mitigate the effects of future disasters will be the responsibility of that jurisdiction's Emergency Management Director.

5. The Emergency Management Director has the responsibility to participate in and support all the activities in this function.

V. DIRECTION AND CONTROL

A. The Damage Assessment Coordinators are important members of their EOC's Direction and Control staff. They will control operations from their EOCs.

B. All damage reports that come to the EOC will go through the Damage Assessment section for analysis and plotting.

VI. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT

A. Lines of succession for the various Damage Assessment Coordinators will be decided by their jurisdiction's chief elected official.

B. The Damage Assessment section will control their operations from the affected area's EOC or, if relocated, from an alternate EOC.

VII. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

A. Administration

1. Damage assessment survey teams will consist of local government employees and designated private sector personnel when necessary (i.e., real estate, engineering, building trades, etc.). State, federal, and volunteer agencies will provide support as appropriate.

2. Required damage assessment report forms are referenced in Appendix 2 to this annex.

3. Records of actions taken and recommendations made will be compiled by appropriate county and/or city personnel in their EOCs.

4. Damage assessment information will be provided to the State Emergency Management Agency for necessary release to the federal agencies.

B. Logistics

All logistical requirements will be submitted to the Resource and Supply section, with the exception of the following:

1. Communications requirements will be submitted to the local law enforcement agencies.

VIII. ANNEX DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

A. The Damage Assessment Coordinators are responsible for developing, maintaining, and updating this annex and its appendices.

B. The Emergency Management Directors will instigate an annual review and updating of this plan.

Appendices

1. Damage Assessment Organizational Chart

2. Disaster Damage Assessments (Handbook)

Damage reports could come into an EOC through the various county and/or city departments such as law enforcement, public works, fire, etc. Also, other response agencies and private sources could contribute to the overall damage assessment.

The State Emergency Management Agency has prepared a Local Public Officials handbook for disaster Damage Assessment (two parts). The first part has been developed to assist officials of political subdivisions (Public Agencies) in understanding the complex subject of federal disaster assistance. This manual primarily addresses the assistance provided by Public law 93-288 (as amended by PL 100-707). The purpose of part two is to furnish guidance for public officials in identifying and properly assessing/evaluating the impact of a disaster.

This handbook is contained under a separate cover furnished to the various Emergency Management Directors as part of the development of this plan.