CC SR 20181218 G - Emergency Preparedness UpdateRANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 12/18/2018
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to receive an update on the City’s Emergency
Preparedness Exercise Program
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file the update on the City’s Emergency Preparedness Exercise
Program.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Tracy Bonano, Senior Administrative Analyst/Emergency Manager
REVIEWED BY: Gabriella Yap, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Doug Willmore, City Manager
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
At the April 17, 2018, City Council meeting, Councilmember Eric Alegria, with the
consensus of the other Councilmembers, requested an update of the City’s Emergency
Preparedness Program. The City held a full exercise on November 8, 2018. In
addition, the City participated in the annual Great Shakeout earthquake drill on October
18, 2018.
As background, the City is a member of the Los Angeles County Operational Area (OA),
and all agency and department staff who have designated roles or are responders in an
emergency (e.g., in the field or in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)), must
receive appropriate Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), National
Incident Management System (NIMS), and other specialized training as required by
SEMS regulations, NIMS policy, or their job function, respectively. Training and
exercising are essential to make emergency operations personnel, and their support
systems, operationally ready.
In addition to the above-mentioned state and federal training requirements, the City of
Rancho Palos Verdes requires that new employees attend training on their
responsibilities as Disaster Service Workers (DSW s).
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The best method for putting training to the test and for allowing Staff to demonstrate and
practice their skills in a near real-world situation is through exercises. Exercises allow
personnel to become thoroughly familiar with the procedures, facilities and systems
which will be used in emergency situations.
The City’s annual exercise schedule was activated in 2010. The City normally conducts
its EOC annual exercise during November. As a precursor to each annual exercise, the
City’s Emergency Manager conducts training for City Staff to familiarize them with their
EOC positions in case a disaster and/or extreme emergency occurs. In addition, as part
of the City’s exercise program, the City invites an EOC exercise evaluator from the
California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) to measure City Staff performance
during simulated disaster situations based on a rating scale of 1–10 points. Beginning in
2017, the City also designed the exercise scenarios to be less static by incorporating
additional challenges during the exercise, creating a “real-time” effect and the
opportunity for Staff to adapt as new situations arise.
The following are summaries of the City’s last two annual exercises:
2017 EOC Exercise (Coordinated Terrorist Attack)
• Average Score: 8.5 (out of 10) points)
Exercise Scenario:
• At 7:45 AM, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes was notified that many cities in Los
Angeles County has received threatening phone calls regarding possible terrorist
attacks (type of attack unknown).
• Many cities activated their EOCs in response to these threats.
• The weather forecast called for Santa Ana wind conditions.
• All resources from County Sheriff’s and Fire Departments were notified about the
threats and were monitoring the situation as it unfolded.
• The City Manager activated the EOC.
• Telecommunications (Internet, Intranet, phone landlines and cell phones) were
functional.
• Scenario injects/issues included, but were not limited to:
1) Needed replacements for EOC Staff injured by sniper(s);
2) Los Angeles County EOC requested a situation report;
3) Needed Sheriff’s assistance due to snipers shooting at City Hall;
4) Fuel tanker overturned at Palos Verdes Dr. W. and Terranea Way;
5) Reports of major building damage at Hesse Park due to an explosion; and,
6) Numerous bomb threats at City facilities.
• Not having enough EOC training and public safety personnel to supplement City
emergency needs was the main challenge of the exercise.
During the exercise on November 16, 2017, the City earned an “8.5” average EOC
exercise rating from the CalOES Staff evaluator. Comments from the CalOES evaluator
included: 1) “Staff grasped the terrorist scenario relatively well. Coordinated attack was
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a difficult concept to grasp initially. Once the gravity of the incident became clear, the
coordination improved.” 2) “Great consideration of problem not addressed re
utilities/infrastructure threats.” “Tracy – excellent teaching with participants relating
events to daily duties. Fantastic movement by almost all EOC staff to other sections for
support and information. Good – surprise exercise.”
2018 EOC Exercise (6.9-Magnitude Earthquake on the Cabrillo Fault)
• Average Score: 10 (out of 10) points
Exercise Scenario:
• At 12:30 PM, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Cabrillo Fault.
• County Sheriff’s and Fire Departments reported extensive damage to the Palos
Verdes Peninsula.
• The City Manager activated the City EOC.
• Telecommunications (Internet, Intranet, phone landlines and cell phones) were
functional.
• Scenario injects/issues included, but are not limited to:
1) Major structural damage to private and City-owned property reported;
2) Significant damage to the Ladera Linda Community Center (two classrooms
collapsed), with children injured and trapped in the building;
3) Houses on fire on Seaclaire Dr.;
4) Houses in Portuguese Bend at Palos Verdes Dr. S. and Narcissa Dr.
experiencing sewage backing up into toilets and loss of water pressure; and,
5) American Red Cross advised they could not send personnel to set up
evacuation shelters - City advised to set up its own shelter using City Staff.
• Again, as in previous years, not enough EOC training and a shortage of City Staff
and public safety personnel available to respond to all injects/issues is a major
concern.
During the exercise on November 8, 2018, the City earned a “10.” Comments from the
CalOES evaluator included: 1) “This group was large, but communicated effectively and
treated each other with respect even though some were frustrated. Great
communication, teamwork and record keeping. 2) This group had less participants,
however, worked very hard to fill multiple roles. In my opinion this is what a real
scenario covers and works through.”
Future Emergency Management Program Goals – 2019 & Beyond
In the coming year and beyond, there are several emergency management actions that
Staff expects to undertake in order to maintain preparedness and resiliency in the event
of an emergency or disaster:
1. Update the City’s 2014 Hazard Mitigation Plan (required every 5 years in order to
qualify for reimbursement from FEMA).
2. Inventory and stock/re-stock the City’s emergency supply cache containers.
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3. Invest in upgrading the City’s EOC (e.g., build a freestanding EOC/training
facility; replace/upgrade computers and communications equipment; implement
an automated Staff call-out and/or City-wide public notification system).
The City should continue to prepare its residents by hosting Emergency Preparedness
Committee community presentations, having emergency preparedness subject matter
experts available at City special events, and using City social media outlets to promote
emergency preparedness. Staff also recommends maintaining the City’s Emergency
Preparedness Exercise Program by following a continuous cycle of planning,
organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating and taking corrective action, and
well as incorporating basic emergency preparedness training classes as requirements
for City new hires.
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