HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Government Committe 11-12-1996MINUTES
Emergency Government Committee
November 12, 1996
PRESENT: Art Jacobson, John Mortensen, Chuck Mehls, Bob Boche - County
Board; Jack Colvard, Pam Benson - Emergency Government; Bruce
Brantner - Emergency Communications, Ralph Robole -
Maintenance; Gary Brown - Pierce County Emergency Management.
The meeting was called to order at 9:20 a.m. by Chairman Jacobson.
Meeting agenda was adopted on a Boche/Mortensen MOTION. The minutes of
the October 15, 1996 meeting were approved on a Mortensen/Mehls MOTION.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: November 20, 1996
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
#1. Discussion/Development of County EOC (Emergency Operations Center)
Colvard spoke regarding EOC planning for St. Croix County. When
the Government Center was built, the Community Room was designated
as the County's primary EOC. The Emergency Government Committee's
goal should be to develop and equip a County EOC that can be
activated easily, and at minimal cost. Colvard then showed the
Committee a videotape produced by FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency), "The Role of the Emergency Operations Center,"
which explained what the purpose of an EOC is. After the video
presentation, two handouts were given to the Committee, one a
sample with possible EOC participants and their respective duties,
and another sheet identifying potential reasons for activating an
EOC. A main advantage in having an EOC is that responders to a
major incident as well as all concerned parties would have one
place to contact for assistance, resources, and coordination of
rescue/relief efforts.
Brantner next spoke on equipping the EOC. We already have tables,
chairs, some marker and status boards, as well as wiring for phones
and phone jacks. What is needed are the actual telephones and
easels or mounting devices for status or marker boards.. Also
necessary would be locks for the cabinets used to store EOC
equipment. Phones with visible ringers would cost approximately
$30 each. (Visible ringers are required so EOC participants can
tell which phone or phones are ringing.) All equipment would need
to be portable, so it could be moved to an alternate site. In
addition, each EOC participant would need a storage container with
materials for use, e.g. pens, paper, markers, etc.
Robole stated that the Maintenance Department would be able to
assist in hooking. up phones in the Community Center, as well as
install locks on cabinets.
Brown next spoke regarding Pierce County's EOC. He stated that
their EOC does have phones and wiring which are clearly marked for
each participant's use. Also, each participant has a labeled
1
basket with materials in it for use. Per Brown, St. Croix County
will be required to participate in 1998 in an EOC exercise
involving the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, as our county is an
"Ingestion" county and would be affected by radioactive fallout if
a major mishap occurred at that facility. Pierce County's Board
Chair and Vice Chair are participants in the Pierce County EOC.
Brown next explained the type of marker boards and pre-printed
plastic sheets that his County uses. Marker boards with plexiglass
could be purchased for a cost of $40 each.
Per Brantner, the County does have a UHF repeater for
communications and three hand-held radios, if phones are
inoperable. If St. Croix County villages or cities had UHF
equipment or hand-held radios, communications could be maintained
between the EOC and those communities even if the phones were not
working., St. Croix County's hand-held radios were recently used at
the three Clean Sweep sites, one at each site, for communication
between the sites. (Another avenue for communications could be
through the local radio amateur club, RACES).
Colvard showed the Committee a drawing of a U-shaped set-up for an
EOC. Agencies/departments that should be represented in an EOC
would include Emergency Government, law enforcement, fire, EMS,
Highway, Health and Human Services, as well as the County Board.
Training and a mock disaster exercise will be needed with EOC
participants so those taking part will know how an EOC functions
and their respective roles. A smaller EOC set-up could be located
in the Emergency Government Conference room, as there are jacks for
four phones located there. The County EOC also could be
shared/utilized by the City of Hudson.
After discussion, a Boche/Mehls MOTION was approved that Emergency
Government initially purchase 10-12 phones, phone jacks and wiring,
cabinet locks and 2 status boards for use in the St. Croix County
EOC. The Maintenance Department agreed to install this equipment.
#2. Public Comments
Colvard 'stated that he will be attending the SERB (State Emergency
Response Board) meeting in Madison on Thursday, November 14th, to
push for adoption of funding for EAS (Emergency Alert System)
equipment through the SARA Computer Equipment Grant.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m. on a Mehls/Mortensen MOTION.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles Mehls, Secretary