This annex presents a
system to coordinate damage assessment and reporting
functions, estimate the nature and extent of the damage and
provide disaster recovery assistance.
II.
SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
A.
Situation:
Most hazardous events
which may affect the County have the potential for
causing damage. A planned damage assessment program is
essential for effective response and is a basis for
recovery
actions.
An
initial damage assessment will determine the
severity and magnitude of the disaster and identify what
type of supplemental assistance is necessary to recover
from its effects.
If a disaster occurs of
such magnitude that it could result in a Presidential
declaration of "major disaster" or "emergency", a
county-wide initial damage assessment of public and
private property is required. This information will
provide a basis for the determination of actions and
resources needed, the establishment of priorities, the
allocation of local government resources in the disaster
area during the early stages of the recovery effort, and
what, if any, outside assistance will be required to
restore the affected area to pre‑disaster condition.
If a significant emergency/disaster
occurs, the following series of damage assessment
activities will be conducted by local government:
Initial impact assessment by field
services
Preparation of an Immediate Situation
Report for the
Control Group
Determination of the need for outside
assistance/resources
Notification/transmittal of Immediate
Situation Report
Initiation of detailed damage
assessment activities including dispatch of teams to
the field
Summarization of field information
gathered by damage assessment teams for the Control
Group
Submission of detailed damage
assessment information by the Control Group to area
office.
Electric power is essential in order to
duplicate County tax maps needed for detailed damage
assessment.
The magnitude of the emergency/disaster
may necessitate a need for additional personnel trained
in damage assessment.
Persons trained and experienced in damage
assessment can be found throughout the state, in local
and state government, and in the business community.
Following a disaster, independent damage
assessment activities will be conducted by a variety of
organizations including, but not limited to:
State and Federal Damage Assessment
team
American Red Cross
Insurance companies
Utility companies
B.
Assumptions:
The County will continue
to be exposed to various hazards resulting in damage to
both public and private property.
Implementing damage
assessment procedures will expedite relief and
assistance for those adversely affected.
A catastrophic disaster will exceed the
damage assessment resources of the County and will
require additional damage assessment personnel.
County and municipal personnel not
impacted by the emergency/disaster may be available to
assist with impact assessment.
A catastrophic disaster will impede the
ability of emergency services to provide immediate
situation reports.
The demand for information by the media
may interfere with the County's ability to conduct
impact assessment.
Damage to the utility systems and the
communications systems may hamper the impact assessment
process.
The thoroughness and accuracy of damage
assessment can affect the receipt of
recovery
assistance.
III.
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A.
General:
Initial responsibility for
damage assessment and recovery operations lies with county
and municipal government.
Damage assessment assistance will be obtained
from other counties and/or Area A as the situation dictates.
IV.
DIRECTION AND CONTROL
A.
The
local officials, in conjunction with the Emergency
Management Coordinator, will direct and control recovery
activities from the EOC.
B.
The
Damage Assessment Officer is a member of the EOC staff and
is responsible for the coordination of damage assessment
activities.
C.
All
County departments will provide personnel and resources to
support the damage assessment effort, as
requested. Personnel from operating departments assigned to
damage assessment responsibilities will remain under the
control of their own departments, but will function under
the technical supervision of the Damage Assessment Officer.
V.
CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
A.
The
line of succession is:
Damage Assessment
Officer / Tax Supervisor
Director of Inspections
County Manager
B.
Lines of succession for agencies supporting damage
assessment are in accordance with the agency's established
procedure.
Attachment 2
Performing Damage Assessment - Using Pre-printed Damage
Assessment Forms
There are two primary methods
for recording damage assessment information: 1) Using
pre-printed forms, and/or 2) using a computer database
entry form (see Attachment 3).
Pre-printed forms and instructions for completing the
various forms are available from Bertie County Emergency
Management or the Damage Assessment Officer (DAO).
Pre-printed forms and
instructions are available for:
Receive a briefing from the
Emergency Management Coordinator or Incident Commander
regarding the anticipated primary areas of suspected damage.
The briefing may include:
General
description of suspected damage area.
Maps.
Blocked roads or
blocked access.
Other damage
assessment teams from other organizations (i.e. fire
departments, Red Cross, State, etc.) that may be called on
or are already deployed.
Equipment
available (i.e. vehicles, drivers, computers, forms, etc.).
Location of
equipment and supplies and the time the equipment and
supplies will be available for use.
Locations of
security check points or roadblocks and credentials
necessary to gain entry into secured areas.
Contact damage assessment
teams and advise them where and when to report for a
briefing. Normally, briefings for your teams are not
conducted at the Emergency Operations Center. Determine a
location outside the EOC that will allow you to brief (and
debrief) your teams.
If
transportation and supplies have not been pre-arranged, then
arrange for transportation (including drivers) and necessary
supplies.
Once
DA Teams have assembled at the designated area, brief the
teams and include in the briefing:
Safety and
security. Be sure to include potential dangers in the area
(i.e. downed power lines, loose animals, etc.).
General
description of suspected damage area.
Maps.
Blocked roads or
blocked access.
Other damage
assessment teams from other organizations (i.e. fire
departments, Red Cross, State, etc.) that may be called on
or are already deployed.
Equipment
available (i.e. vehicles, drivers, computers, forms, etc.).
Location of
equipment and supplies and the time the equipment and
supplies will be available for use.
Locations of
security check points or roadblocks and credentials
necessary to gain entry into secured areas.
Other information
that may be important (i.e. predicted weather).
Advise teams to
log both vehicle mileage and their time and
return that information at the debriefing along with
reports, materials and supplies.
Assign
or issue necessary equipment and supplies (i.e. forms,
computers, pencils, pens, paper, camera, safety vests,
flashlights, hard hats, etc.).
Issue
security credentials as required.
Mark
vehicles if necessary or appropriate to indicate they are
official vehicles.
Establish times that teams are to report back and a location
they are to report to (not the EOC).
Track
each team and remain in contact by radio or telephone.
At the
appointed time and location greet each team and log the time
of their return.
Debrief each team individually:
Gather returning
supplies.
Gather damage
report forms or computer records.
Ensure each
returning team member is in good health and has received no
injury. If injury did occur, ensure prompt medical attention
and write a full narrative report.
If information is
received during the debriefing regarding the damaged area
that in your judgment warrants the attention of the
Emergency Management Coordinator or Incident Commander
and/or law enforcement, report it immediately to the
Emergency Management Coordinator or Incident Commander
and/or law enforcement.
Ensure
all teams and all personnel have returned safely. If a team
has not returned at the appointed time, attempt contact with
the team. If no contact is made, inform the Emergency
Management Coordinator or Incident Commander and/or law
enforcement.
Gather, collate and compile as necessary all damage reports
from all locations.
Calculate the total estimated dollar loss and report this
figure to the Emergency Management Coordinator and/or
Incident Commander.
Makes
copies of all reports. Deliver one copy to the Emergency
Management Coordinator and/or Incident Commander and retain
one copy in a secure location.
As
required or requested, meet with State and/or Federal damage
assessment teams or officials and make copies of your
reports as required or requested, for them.
As
required or requested, provide personnel to assist State
and/or Federal teams/officials.
Prepare and brief, as requested, the County Manager and/or
Board of Commissioners and include projected economic and
tax base impacts.
Perform other duties as requested or required by the County
Manager and/or Board of Commissioners.
Attachment 5 Damage Assessment Team Member Checklist
When
contacted by the
Damage Assessment Officer (DAO) report to the designated
location at the appointed time.
If you
are not familiar with the designated area by name, ask for
directions.
Dress
appropriately for the field and for the weather.
Work clothes
Boots or
appropriate footwear (generally tennis shoes or similar
footwear are not appropriate...there may be nails or other
debris that can easily penetrate soft sole footwear)
Rain jacket or
other appropriate jacket
Gloves
Hard hat (if not
to be issued at briefing)
Safety vest (if
not to be issued at briefing)
Security
credentials
Bring food, water,
personal medications or other items you deem necessary to
support you.
Paper
and pens / pencils.
Tell
your immediate family where you are going and (if known) the
approximate time of your return.
Attend
the briefing that will be conducted by the Damage Assessment
Officer. Take notes and/or gather instructions.
Be
familiar with the damage assessment report forms issued to
you and/or the computer database.
Meet
your driver or transportation provider.
Ensure
you have all the supplies you will need for the duration of
your assignment.
Receive your assigned area and maps of your area.
Familiarize yourself with the area assigned and address any
concerns with the Damage Assessment Officer during the open
briefing.
Understand your route and exactly what you are supposed to
do.
Begin
your route or assignment.
Safety is first!
As you enter your
assigned area, get the "big" picture by observing overall
damages (i.e. trees blown over, downed power lines, roads
blocked, emergency crews working in the area, etc.).
When you observe
a home or business that has obviously sustained damage,
Stop! Get out of the vehicle slowly, taking your forms
with you.
On the form, record the address
of the location (if known).
On the form, record the name of
the owner if it can be determined.
If the owner or occupant is
available, speak to them. Identify yourself as
a Damage Assessment team member. Ask if anyone is/was injured,
if so how badly? Is immediate emergency medical
attention needed? If so, call 911.
Ask the owner or occupant their
opinion of the amount (in dollars) of their
loss. Do not argue, simply record the
figure on the form.
Ask if the owner or occupant
has home owners insurance. Ask if they have
contacted their agent. Record the answers on
your form.
If the owner or occupant is not
available, estimate the total structural
damage and record it on your form.
If you are speaking with the
owner or occupant, do not give
information you do not have. If they need
information (i.e. location of shelters) get an
answer by contacting the Damage Assessment
Officer or Public Information Officer at the
Emergency Operations Center.
Be polite and professional, but
expedite gathering the information necessary to
assess the damage.
Ensure you have all necessary
information available before you leave that
location and move on to the next. Write it down!
Move to the next
home or business and follow the same process as above until
your assigned area has been covered.
Return
to the designated "debriefing" area at the appointed time.
Gather
from the vehicle all paper, computers and other issued
supplies.
Report
to the Damage Assessment Officer (DAO).
Present your written reports/forms to the DAO.
Advise
the DAO of any relevant information and your observations.
During
the debriefing turn in all issued equipment, paper, forms
and supplies to the DAO.
Turn
in all mileage and time reports to the DAO.
Be
prepared to accept a new assignment or return for a new
assignment at an appointed time and location.
If you
have questions, comments or suggestions that would be
beneficial to other damage assessment teams present that
information to the DAO during debriefing.
Bertie County Emergency
Management - PO Box 530 - Windsor, NC 27983-0530
