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April 2009                                                                       Volume 16 - Number 3

    

 

Disaster Preparedness...

     

 

 

Report on the response to the Kentucky Ice Storm.

By Jay VanHoose

 

On January 26-27th a severe winter storm struck the States of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky and Ohio. The Commonwealth of Kentucky experienced power outages to over 700,000 customers, dangerous road conditions and extremely low temperatures.  This was the largest disaster in Kentucky’s modern history, and the Commonwealth mobilized their entire National Guard for the first time.

 

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was tasked by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Commonwealth of Kentucky for assistance on the emergency power and critical facility assessments, emergency road clearance, debris technical assistance and public assistance/project worksheet assistance missions. I arrived at the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Frankfort, KY at 12:30 p.m. on Friday Jan 30th as an ESF-3 USACE Assistant Team Leader.  Due to the bitter cold and the number of people in shelters and without power, the emergency power and critical facilities assessment mission took front stage and became priority one.

 

As with any disaster or event that happens quickly with little to no notice, all agencies military and or civilian alike are organized and mobilized with the maximum preplanning and strategies as possible, knowing everyone must be flexible.  

 

Communication issues throughout the state hindered multiple missions for everyone in the first days of the event. Cellular and landline phones systems were spotty to non-existent in much of the state in the first days. With true backbone and undying resolve agencies and the strong people of Kentucky prevailed. With the exposure and visibility of this event, all responding personnel and agencies learned quickly the data flow needed to be immediate. FEMA provided extra satellite phones to the 249th EN BN assessment teams which became very helpful. The USACE generator installation contractor was able to provide satellite phones to all installation crews.

 

A Power Operations Cell (POC) was formed composed of USACE personnel and contractor assets, the 249th EN BN Prime Power Soldiers, FEMA, KY Army National Guard (KYARNG) and Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM). This group worked together to formulate plans and perform mission essential tasks to get as many facilities assessed for power needs and emergency generators deployed as possible and to communicate execution in all avenues. This group of highly talented individuals from many different agencies and disciplines worked together as a cohesive productive team. The team had no organizational boundaries or issues, everyone worked together equally to do all they could for the greater good for the people of the Commonwealth. During this mission more generators were installed in a quicker amount of time than on any other previous USACE mission.

 

County emergency management officials determined the need for a critical facility assessment list for the commonwealth, and more than 2300 critical assessments were identified and completed by USACE Contractor, 249th EN BN and KYARNG Escort teams.  This critical facilities assessment list will put the Commonwealth in a much better situation for current and future planning and preparedness efforts.

 

Some big issues to watch if you ever work a cold weather event in the future;

 

§         Additional safety and accountability issues for responders during dangerous road conditions and harsh cold weather environments.

§         A good State wide critical facilities list is a must have.

§         Cold weather emergencies require a pre-declaration/pre-positioning of assets in the future.

§         Increased need for shelters and urgency for power to shelters during winter storms.

§         Increase in transportation and communication challenges during cold weather events.

§         Carbon monoxide poisoning major public safety issue. Need to educate public regarding carbon monoxide.

§         Change culture regarding acceptability of going to a shelter.