Planning:
Ensure the public is well
informed regarding winter storm watches and warnings.
Coordinate with the
National Weather Service for timely watches and
warnings affecting local jurisdictions.
Coordinate with local
broadcast media to ensure timely and accurate
Emergency Alert System activation.
Coordinate with schools,
daycare centers, hospitals, etc. in proper precautions
and emergency actions prior to winter season.
Coordinate and plan at
least one exercise (table top or practical) every six
years.
Coordinate with local planning boards and inspections
departments regarding building codes and code
enforcement to minimize damages.
Coordinate the
establishment of local laws to strengthen building
codes.
Conduct hazard analysis of
vital facilities and
the impact of a major winter storm on one or more of
those facilities.
Procure or produce
information pamphlets for distribution to the
public, as applicable.
Determine the availability of shelters and obtain
shelter agreements if the Red Cross (or designated lead
agency) has not.
Coordinate with Red Cross,
public agencies and/or the
Salvation Army for shelter operations.
Coordinate with department of transportation officials
for information regarding roads and bridges likely to
ice or be closed.
Coordinate
transportation for persons that may be stranded or
otherwise isolated or likely to need emergency
assistance.
Coordinate with electric
utilities to share information concerning power outages.
Response:
Identify immediate action
or response requirements.
Immediately carry out
those action requirements necessary to preserve life and
or property, including the deployment of required
resources.
Activate the EOC as
appropriate and implement winter storm plan, if
developed.
Organize or
establish the EOC, based on operational procedure or
guideline .
Issue
alert and warning based on procedure or guideline ,
as warranted.
If
areas are isolated, o n
order,
evacuate effected areas with assistance from
response or predetermined transportation forces.
Establish communications with responding agencies.
Establish traffic control
and security with law enforcement.
Through communications
with responding agencies determine as quickly as
possible:
Evaluate overall county situation. (i.e.: roads
impassable, power failures, traffic accidents, etc.)
Establish communications with the state.
Establish communications with the
National Weather Service .
Establish communications with and request a liaison from
affected telephone, electric and gas utilities.
Establish ongoing
reporting from the response forces, private agencies and
utilities.
Establish command post(s)
as needed.
Coordinate with Red Cross (or designated lead agency)
the opening of appropriate number of shelters in the
appropriate areas, based on
shelter procedure or guideline .
Conduct first staff
briefing as soon as practical after EOC / Command post
activation.
Activate or establish
rumor control through the
public information officer (PIO).
Establish a schedule for
briefings.
Brief
city/county/agency/utility executives.
Provide PIO with updated information.
Provide response forces
with updated information, as appropriate.
Cause public information
to be released, via the
public information officer (PIO) as soon as
practical.
Issue action guidance as
appropriate.
Establish 24/7 duty roster
for the EOC and or command post.
Develop and post any
required maps or diagrams.
Activate an events log.
Insure all appropriate forms
(ICS) are being used to track personnel and resources.
Review and follow
resource procurement procedure or guideline .
Inventory
additional resources that may be used or called upon
for use.
Activate formal resource
request procedure or guideline and resource tracking.
Coordinate all
resource requests being forwarded to the state.
Activate financial
tracking system coordinated by the
Finance Officer.
Activate damage assessment
and follow
damage assessment procedure or guideline.
Develop a 12 hour incident action plan outlining
actions that must be accomplished in the next 12 hours.
Conduct a "second shift" or relieving shift briefing, if
you a being relieved.
Discuss with and present to your relief,
the incident action plan for the next 12 hours.
Recovery:
Gather
damage assessment information (public ,
housing ,
business ) from damage assessment teams.
Obtain information from
Red Cross (or designated lead agency) regarding number
of shelterees and support necessary for continued
operation.
Obtain from Red Cross (or designated lead agency) an
estimated duration period for continued
shelter operations , if any.
Obtain information from
the National Weather Service and other sources regarding
duration, accumulations, etc.
Obtain information about
continued road closures and additional isolated persons
or communities.
Assess citizen / community
needs for individual assistance and or public assistance
if applicable.
Activate local unmet needs
committee if appropriate.
Gather financial information
from the Finance Officer.
As appropriate gather
additional information to include:
Develop or generate reports
for the following, as appropriate:
Coordinate recovery
organizations including federal and state agencies and
private or volunteer relief organizations.
Establish
donations management based on policy and
procedure or guideline.
If a Presidential
declaration of disaster is made, file "Request for
Public Assistance" to apply for assistance as soon as
possible with the proper state or federal agency.
Ensure
public officials are made aware of the assistance
application process, if applicable.
Ensure
the general public is made aware, through the public
information officer, of the assistance application
process, if applicable.
Perform
an incident critique as soon as possible with all
possible response organizations.
Review
agency and self performance.
Review
the weaknesses of the plan.
Correct
weaknesses.
Implement hazard mitigation or modify hazard mitigation
plan accordingly.
Brief
elected officials with updated information and disaster
recovery progress.
*** End Winter
Storm Checklist ***
