MONROE - Lane Heins, deputy emergency management director for the City of Monroe, unveiled a key component of the city's emergency management plan Monday at a meeting of the Public Safety Committee.
Heins has prepared a map of the city's critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR), pinpointing vulnerable elements that need to be identified in the event of any emergency.
The color-coded map gives emergency responders a quick reference to identify items possibly damaged in areas hit by a disaster, such as hazardous materials, utility lifelines, transportation networks, tall structures, public occupied buildings and retail and warehouse buildings, so they can respond with the appropriate equipment.
The map also identifies staging areas in the city's six emergency districts, which need to be large, open spots to accommodate responders from other communities. The Green County fairgrounds, and the Monroe High School and Colony Brands lots are just three of the 12 staging spots.
Heins also has prepared a mutual aid box alarm system (MABAS) chart, clearly identifying the order in which emergency responders from other communities should to be called for assistance, starting with the nearest communities first. MABAS is a mutual-aid organization consisting of more than 550 members of regional emergency response and fire departments.
Identifying assets and resources is the first step and "one of the most misunderstood steps in emergency management," said Daryl Rausch, Monroe's emergency management director. "I hope ... in eight years, all this stuff is still theoretical, and we won't have to use it."
Rausch pointed out that a large-scale disaster in the area, such as an ice storm, could isolate the city when other communities are dealing with their own emergency situation and cannot respond.
"The first 24 hours - putting out fires, stopping the gas leaks, rescuing people - we're good at that," Rausch said. "It's after that it gets difficult."
Most of that difficulty comes with tracking the costs associated with the disaster and rescue, the paperwork that needs to be filled out to qualify for reimbursements and long-term help for people, he said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends communities prepare for no federal help arriving for the first 72 hours.
"It's more like 96 to a 120 hours before we get any definitive help," Rausch said, "and that's if neighboring communities aren't affected."
In a disaster such as a tornado or wide-spread fire that damages homes or businesses, residents could see staging areas filled with emergency vehicles.
"That's because (for search and rescue efforts) every home takes a crew," Rausch said. But first, the streets and roads need to be cleared for rescue vehicles to respond.
Still in its first year, the City of Monroe three-year emergency management plan is on schedule.
This is the year of laying down the "nuts and bolts" of preparation - identifying and updating electrical, telephone and communication needs for the emergency operations centers. Shelters around the city have been identified, and the Red Cross will be called in to verify their usefulness.
If all the shelters are approved, they will be able to shelter 1,175 people, a capacity that is "more than adequate," according to Rausch. About 6 percent of people go to a shelter in an emergency, he added.
Rausch said he will look at including pet-friendly shelters in the emergency plans. "A lot of people won't leave their homes if they can't take their pets to a shelter," he said.
Next year, plans include emergency power supply hookups and training for city employees and elected officials.
Heins has prepared a map of the city's critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR), pinpointing vulnerable elements that need to be identified in the event of any emergency.
The color-coded map gives emergency responders a quick reference to identify items possibly damaged in areas hit by a disaster, such as hazardous materials, utility lifelines, transportation networks, tall structures, public occupied buildings and retail and warehouse buildings, so they can respond with the appropriate equipment.
The map also identifies staging areas in the city's six emergency districts, which need to be large, open spots to accommodate responders from other communities. The Green County fairgrounds, and the Monroe High School and Colony Brands lots are just three of the 12 staging spots.
Heins also has prepared a mutual aid box alarm system (MABAS) chart, clearly identifying the order in which emergency responders from other communities should to be called for assistance, starting with the nearest communities first. MABAS is a mutual-aid organization consisting of more than 550 members of regional emergency response and fire departments.
Identifying assets and resources is the first step and "one of the most misunderstood steps in emergency management," said Daryl Rausch, Monroe's emergency management director. "I hope ... in eight years, all this stuff is still theoretical, and we won't have to use it."
Rausch pointed out that a large-scale disaster in the area, such as an ice storm, could isolate the city when other communities are dealing with their own emergency situation and cannot respond.
"The first 24 hours - putting out fires, stopping the gas leaks, rescuing people - we're good at that," Rausch said. "It's after that it gets difficult."
Most of that difficulty comes with tracking the costs associated with the disaster and rescue, the paperwork that needs to be filled out to qualify for reimbursements and long-term help for people, he said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends communities prepare for no federal help arriving for the first 72 hours.
"It's more like 96 to a 120 hours before we get any definitive help," Rausch said, "and that's if neighboring communities aren't affected."
In a disaster such as a tornado or wide-spread fire that damages homes or businesses, residents could see staging areas filled with emergency vehicles.
"That's because (for search and rescue efforts) every home takes a crew," Rausch said. But first, the streets and roads need to be cleared for rescue vehicles to respond.
Still in its first year, the City of Monroe three-year emergency management plan is on schedule.
This is the year of laying down the "nuts and bolts" of preparation - identifying and updating electrical, telephone and communication needs for the emergency operations centers. Shelters around the city have been identified, and the Red Cross will be called in to verify their usefulness.
If all the shelters are approved, they will be able to shelter 1,175 people, a capacity that is "more than adequate," according to Rausch. About 6 percent of people go to a shelter in an emergency, he added.
Rausch said he will look at including pet-friendly shelters in the emergency plans. "A lot of people won't leave their homes if they can't take their pets to a shelter," he said.
Next year, plans include emergency power supply hookups and training for city employees and elected officials.