HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-08-15; City Council; Resolution 2006-2371 RESOLUTION NO. 2006-237
2 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE
3 RESPONSE TO THE 2005-06 GRAND JURY'S LACK OF SAN
4 DIEGO COUNTY EVACUATION PREPARATIONS REPORT
5 WHEREAS, on or about May 31, 2006, the 2005-06 San Diego County
6 Grand Jury issued its report entitled Lack of San Diego County Evacuation Preparations
7 consisting of three findings and five recommendations with only two findings and two
8 recommendations directed to the Mayor and City Council of the City of Carlsbad for a
response; and
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WHEREAS, the Grand Jury found that the City of Carlsbad along with
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other cities and the County should do more and to commit additional resources and
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monies to a tsunami early warning system; and
WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad considers Emergency Preparedness and
15 life safety a core service that the municipal organization provides to the citizens and
16 residents of Carlsbad; and
17 WHEREAS, in an effort to further identify and prepare Carlsbad against
18 the myriad of natural and man-made disasters that could impact the City, the City
19 conducted an analysis in 2000; and
20 WHEREAS, the purpose of that report was to provide the City with a
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prioritized matrix of possible hazards and their potential impacts, and to identify ways in
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which those impacts could be mitigated to minimize the possible loss of life and property
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in the City; and
25 WHEREAS, the City Council responds to the Presiding Judge of the
26 Superior Court, County of San Diego regarding the Grand Jury's findings and
27 recommendations in Exhibit A, attached hereto; and
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad, California, as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the City Council approves of the response to the Presiding Judge
of the Superior Court, County of San Diego.
3. That the Mayor is authorized to sign and transmit the response to the
presiding judge on or before August 29, 2006.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City
Council of the City of Carlsbad held on the 15th day of August ,
2006 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members Lewis, Hall, Kulchin, Packard, Sigafoose
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
CLAUDE A. LEWIS, Mayor
»»««"«*/,
V -^ \
LORRAINE WOOD, City Clerk
\
LACK OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
EVACUATION PREPARATIONS
SUMMARY
The 2005/06 San Diego County Grand Jury investigated two instances in which citizens
could receive advance warning to evacuate: a tsunami and an impending nuclear disaster
at the naval bases. We are not suggesting that a Tsunami or nuclear disaster is imminent,
but caution is advised.
A tsunami is a series of giant waves, often a solid, fast moving, towering wall of water,
commonly caused by submarine earthquakes or landslides. Tsunamis can strike the
closest coastlines with terrific force, only minutes after the triggering event. They often
travel across the oceans thousands of miles away and many hours after the source event
occurred with sufficient energy to cause damage and loss of life.
What would the people of San Diego do in the event of a devastating nuclear accident on
the North Island Naval Base or at the Ballast Point Submarine Base? The U.S. Navy- has
an arsenal of nuclear weapons and reactors in their vessels in San Diego, that are
reportedly well safeguarded from terrorist activity; but what about a disaster occurring
without adequate warning?
These questions concerned the members of the 2005/2006 San Diego County Grand Jury.
This report covers the investigation done to assess the possibility of a tsunami caused
disaster affecting San Diego's coastline. It will also document the state of preparedness
that the governmental agencies of the Cities and in the County of San Diego, charged
with the safety of its citizens and visitors, have accomplished.
The Grand Jury found that the emergency operations personnel are not adequately
prepared. People are in danger from these disasters, due, in part, to a lack of
understanding and complacency on the part of the public regarding the forces that might
precipitate them, and they are not being educated as to how they should proceed if a
tsunami or other disaster did occur. Recommendations have been made hereinafter in
anticipation that they will aid in achieving greater public readiness in case of such
disasters.
PURPOSE
• To access the efficiency and effectiveness of the collection and dissemination of
tsunami disaster information by San Diego Governmental offices.
• To encourage knowledge of the possible threat to all citizens of the natural
forces that take place in our earthquake prone area.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31,2006) ^
o
PROCEDURES
Site Visits
• Emergency Operations Center, City of San Diego
• Emergency Operations Center, County of San Diego
Documents Reviewed
• San Diego County Sheriff Emergency Operations Manual, Section 9 (See
Appendix)
• National Weather Service Tsunami Safety Advice
• State of California Seismic Safety Commission - The Tsunami Threat to
California, December 2005
• The Los Angeles Times, January 12, 2006 edition
• La Jolla Village News, March 23, 2006 edition
Television Documentary Reviewed
• America's Tsunami, Are We Next? Discovery Channel December 7, 2005
Websites
• http: //tsunami. go v/
• http://www.stornireadv.noaa.gov/tsunamireadv/
• http ://www. sdcounty. ca. go v/oes/resources/CP EP .html
• http://sww.sdsheriff.com/oemanual/Section9/html
• http://www.seismic.ca.gov/Appendix A Tsunami Report.html
Interviews
• Manager from the City of Coronado
• Manager from the City of San Diego
• San Diego County Department of Emergency Services
• Public Safety Group of the Office of the Finance Director of the County of San
Diego
• City of San Diego Office of Homeland Security
• San Diego County Sheriffs Department
DISCUSSION
The entire western coast of the United States is currently at great risk from the Pacific
Ocean, quietly lapping our shores. A fault line affecting the continental tectonic plates
that gird the earth is located just fifty miles off the coast. The main zone, known as the
Cascadia subduction zone, lies along the coast of Oregon and Washington and California
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31,2006)
trending roughly southwest for about 680 miles. Fault lines emanate from this zone
southward past California, USA, and Baja California, Mexico.
One of the locations along this fault line is our own La Jolla Trench, which could play a
role in a possible tsunami event. A tsunami could also be generated by other offshore
faults, from a rapid uplift of the sea floor such as occurred in Sumatra, or from
underwater landslides generated by an earthquake.
Geologists, Oceanographers, and Seismologists have warned the people of Washington,
Oregon and California that a destructive earthquake triggering a tsunami is going to occur
along the Cascadia zone - and it will probably happen sooner rather than later.'
The State of California Tsunami Safety Commission, states in its December, 2005 report
titled The Tsunami Threat to California: Findings and Recommendations on Tsunami
Hazards and Risks: "Tsunamis, generated either locally, or from events elsewhere in the
Pacific Basin, pose a significant threat to life and property in California."2 This study
enumerates the potential population that could be drastically impacted by a tsunami when
it notes, "California has the largest population exposed to tsunami risk." 3
"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has estimated that more than
one million people in California live within coastal areas that are vulnerable to the terrific
force of earthquake driven water, flooding and battering the coastal areas, destroying
property and taking human lives. That number does not include the millions of visitors to
California's beaches on any given summer day."4
Interviews conducted by the Grand Jury revealed that Inundation Maps, prepared by the
San Diego County Emergency Operations Center, in collaboration with the San Diego
Sheriffs Department, gave depth of the flood waters for every 500 meters inland. This
distance was considered to be inadequate for areas such as Imperial Beach, Coronado,
and other coastal cities as movement to higher ground was impossible or limited.
Inundation levels for 50 meter intervals were considered desirable by the emergency
personnel interviewed.
The City's Director of the Office of Homeland Security, was also interviewed. He noted
that the plans for response and evacuation of the tsunami affected areas were to be made
by the community Police Departments in cooperation with the San Diego County
Sheriffs Department.
Recent decisions made by the National Office of Homeland Security have curtailed
funding to the City and County of San Diego, which necessitated a change in the
directorship of the local office. Information received from the Sheriffs lieutenant,
attached to the Emergency Planning Detail at the County Emergency Operations Center,
stated that the San Diego Police Department and the Sheriffs Department are working
1 Tsunami, Discovery Channel, December 7, 2005
2 The Tsunami Threat to California, Findings and Recommendations on Tsunami Hazards and Risks, State of
California Seismic Safety Commission, December, 2005, p.4.
3 Ibid, p.4
4 Ibid, p.5
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31, 2006)
closely together to ensure that warning and evacuation systems are efficiently
implemented in the event of a tsunami.
The Grand Jury inquired into the plans for warning and evacuating the public and found
there to be two areas that were deficient. The first area that needs improvement is that of
the warning itself. To its credit, the City of Coronado has installed sirens that would
warn its citizens that imminent evacuation is needed to save lives. These are acoustically
tested yearly and silently tested monthly. This system is not in operation in other
communities in San Diego County. The sirens appear to be a more effective way to warn
citizens of impending disaster than the public address systems used in helicopters and
police cars circulating throughout the city. These methods take time, and time is of the
essence.
The City of San Diego is not part of the 800 megahertz emergency communications
system of the San Diego County's Law Enforcement Communications Network. This
system activates the sirens of Coronado, and the Grand Jury received testimony from
officers of the San Diego Sheriffs Department, that it would be more efficient to have
the San Diego City's Police Department on the same system as the rest of the county for
emergency communications. There is no single entity charged with emergency
operations in all of the cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego County. The
Sheriffs Department is the coordinating body for the 17 cities that are responsible for the
emergency operations in their own jurisdictions and all should be operating on the same
radio frequency.
The second area needed is signage. Signs on all main thoroughfares are essential to direct
citizens and visitors to avenues of escape and to shelters from a tsunami. None of San
Diego's communities currently have appropriate "escape route" signage. If lives are to be
saved, this public posting is urgently needed.
The County of San Diego's Emergency Operations Center, after an in-depth study of the
effects of a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami, has noted that a two mile wide
inland corridor along the County's coast is the area that would be covered by an
evacuation order. The San Diego Sheriffs Department outlines their specific response to
a tsunami in its Emergency Operations Manual, Section 9. This outline has been
included in Appendix A. All of the communities of San Diego County sited on the coast
are especially vulnerable. Special evacuation procedures, emergency routing signage,
and shelter facilities are needed for them.
The Los Angeles Times newspaper, noted in the January 12, 2006 edition, that "Nearly
four dozen sirens have arrived in Humboldt County as part of a warning system for
earthquake generated waves along the north coast." The article goes on to say that "the
sirens will be placed in tsunami-prone areas and will be tied into the area's
communications system."5 This system of sirens is essential to improve the safety of the
San Diego County citizens in case of emergencies.
' The Los Angeles Times Newspaper, January 12, 2006.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31, 2006) .
v '
The City Manager of Coronado stated that there is an agreement in effect with the
Commander of the North Island Naval Base to inform the Mayor of Coronado
immediately if there is a possibility of a "nuclear incident" occurring on the Naval bases
of San Diego near the City of Coronado. This information is to be communicated to
governmental heads and emergency personnel in all other communities of San Diego
County.
The normal reporting of such an accident would be first to the Department of Defense,
from there to the White House, back to the Governor in Sacramento and then to the City
and County of San Diego. Such a lengthy string of reporting could be time-consuming
and deadly; see the problem of Katrina/New Orleans disaster.
All city and county emergency groups interviewed noted that evacuation would be ill-
advised in most scenarios of nuclear disaster in the San Diego area due to climatic and
wind conditions in the area. Therefore, "shelter-in-place" activities are advised. Such
activities include remaining in the present location and protecting oneself as much as
possible from the outside environment. Public education for this contingency is critical.
The American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
have established worthwhile programs to cover this eventuality.
The Grand Jury also found that the Escondido Unified School District has an excellent
Oceanography section in their science program directed at middle and senior high school
level students. Using suggested charts and diagrams, students are able to understand the
inception and forces of tsunami driven waves. This curriculum could serve as a model
for San Diego schools. Scripps Institute of Oceanography could also be utilized in the
composition of such a curriculum.
The Grand Jury urges San Diego's ocean front communities to follow the State of
California's Seismic Safety Commission (CSSC) recommendations: "that local
earthquake preparedness material should include tsunami safety." 6 They also suggested
"incorporation of tsunamis in safety training for workplaces in inundation zones,
especially ports."7 The CSSC also suggested "including multi-language education about
tsunami hazards and how to respond to large coastal earthquakes, sudden water level
changes and official tsunami warnings in all San Diego area schools."8
The San Diego County web site offers the following for the guidance of its citizens
telling them what to do, not how to do it, in the event of a life-threatening disaster.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
• Remain calm.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
6 The Tsunami Threat to California, Findings and Recommendations on Tsunami Hazards and Risks, State of
California Seismic Safety Commission, December, 2005, p. 13
7 Ibid. p. 13
8 Ibid. p. 13
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31,2006)
Have a family preparedness plan.
Stay informed.
If an evacuation is ordered, follow the instructions of local officials regarding
evacuation routes and the location of shelters.
If shelter in place is recommended, local officials will provide instructions on
necessary actions
Do not leave your sheltered location or return to the evacuation area until it is
deemed safe to do so by local officials.9
FA CTS AND FINDINGS
Fact: The scientific community has warned that a destructive earthquake triggering a
tsunami is going to occur along most of the western coast of the United States "sooner
rather than later."
Finding: Tsunamis pose a significant threat to life and property.
Fact: New mapping is crucial for emergency evacuation planning.
Finding: Inundation maps showing possible San Diego County shoreline which might
be submerged by tsunami waters is not adequate.
Fact: With the exception of Coronado, San Diego's coastal regions do not have sirens
to warn citizens of tsunami, nuclear, or other impending disasters.
Fact: None of San Diego's communities currently have signage to direct citizens, and
visitors, to avenues of escape and to shelters.
Fact: The San Diego Police Department does not use the county wide 800 megahertz
emergency communication system of San Diego County's Law Enforcement
Communication Network.
Finding: The San Diego Police Department needs to be on the same system as the rest
of the county for emergency communications.
9 Terrorism: A Guide to Domestic Preparedness, prepared by, the Unified San Diego County Emergency Services
Organization in cooperation with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency & Office of Emergency
Services.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31,2006)
RECOMMENDA TIONS
The Grand Jury recommends that the Mayor and the San Diego City Council:
06-65: require that the City of San Diego address the addition of the San Diego
County's 800 Megahertz Communications network into their emergency
communications systems.
The Grand Jury recommends that the San Diego County Sheriffs Office:
06-66: require that the inundation maps be revised to include inundation levels in
50 meter intervals.
The Grand Jury recommends that the San Diego Sheriff, the Mayors and City
Councils of the cities of: Chula Vista, Del Mar, National City, Coronado, San Diego,
Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside:
06-67: install emergency signage along the San Diego coastal
corridor, directing citizens and visitors to safety in case of a tsunami
emergency.
06-68: find funding sources for the installation of warning sirens for
an imminent devastating tsunami.
The Grand Jury recommends that the Boards of Education of San Diego County
and the San Diego City Unified School District:
06-69: develop a course of study available to all San Diego City and County
middle and high schools which includes the investigation of geological
forces and effects of underwater earthquakes that might trigger a tsunami.
REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS
The California Penal Code §933(c) requires any public agency which the Grand Jury has
reviewed, and about which it has issued a final report, to comment to the Presiding Judge
of the Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under
the control of the agency. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the
Grand Jury publishes its report (filed with the Clerk of the Court); except that in the case
of a report containing findings and recommendations pertaining to a department or
agency headed by an elected County official (e.g. District Attorney, Sheriff, etc.), such
comment shall be made within 60 days to the Presiding Judge with an information copy
sent to the Board of Supervisors.
Furthermore, California Penal Code §933.05(a), (b), (c), details, as follows, the manner in
which such comment(s) are to be made:
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31, 2006)
(a) As to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall
indicate one of the following:
(1) The respondent agrees with the finding
(2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the
finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion
of the finding that is disputed and shall include an
explanation of the reasons therefor.
(b) As to each grand jury recommendation, the responding person or entity
shall report one of the following actions:
(1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a
summary regarding the implemented action.
(2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but
will be implemented in the future, with a time frame for
implementation.
(3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an
explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or
study, and a time frame for the matter to be prepared for
discussion by the officer or head of the agency or
department being investigated or reviewed, including the
governing body of the public agency when applicable. This
time frame shall not exceed six months from the date of
publication of the grand jury report.
(4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is
not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation
therefor.
(c) If a finding or recommendation of the grand jury addresses budgetary or
personnel matters of a county agency or department headed by an elected
officer, both the agency or department head and the Board of Supervisors
shall respond if requested by the grand jury, but the response of the Board
of Supervisors shall address only those budgetary or personnel matters
over which it has some decision making authority. The response of the
elected agency or department head shall address all aspects of the findings
or recommendations affecting his or her agency or department.
Comments to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court in compliance with the Penal
Code §933.05 are required from the:
ADDRESSEE WHO MUST RESPOND RECOMMENDATIONS DATE
Mayor, City of San Diego 06-65, 06-67, 06-68 8/29/06
City Council, City of San Diego 06-65, 06-67, 06-68 8/29/06
Sheriff, County of San Diego 06-66, 06-67, 06-68 7/31/06
S
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31, 2006)
ADDRESSEE WHO MUST RESPOND
Mayor, City of Chula Vista
City Council, City of Chula Vista
Mayor, City of Del Mar
City Council, City of Del Mar
Mayor, City of National City
City Council, City of National City
Mayor, City of Coronado
City Council, City of Coronado
Mayor, City of Solana Beach
City Council, City of Solana Beach
Mayor, City of Encinitas
City Council, City of Encinitas
Mayor, City of Carlsbad
City Council, City of Carlsbad
Mayor, City of Oceanside
City Council, City of Oceanside
Board of Education, County of San Diego
Board of Education, San Diego City
Schools
RECOMMENDATIONS
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-67, 06-68
06-69
06-69
DATE
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
8/29/06
i
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31,2006)
APPENDIXA
Excerpts from:
THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
MANUAL
SECTION 9 Specific Incident Response Plans
9.9 TSUNAMI
9.9.1 PURPOSE
To establish general guidelines that ensure an appropriate response in the event of a
Tsunami watch, warning, or an actual tsunami.
9.9.2 POLICY
During a tsunami watch, warning, or actual tsunami, the San Diego County Office of
Emergency Services is responsible for local government notifications. The Sheriffs
Department serves as lead agency in notifying law enforcement and fire dispatch
agencies. The Sheriffs Department is responsible for evacuations in the unincorporated
areas of the county and in contract cities. If requested, the Sheriffs Department will
coordinate law enforcement mutual aid to assist other jurisdictions with evacuations. The
Sheriff will maintain public order in the Sheriffs area of responsibility. Sheriffs
Department personnel should use every effort to ensure citizen safety and well being
while remaining aware of both the dangers posed by tsunamis and the limitations of both
training and equipment.
9.9.3 PROCEDURE
A. Tsunami watches and warnings require the immediate attention of Communications
Center (CC) Personnel and Field Supervisors. Tsunami watches and warnings for
California are generated by the West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
(WCATWC). The WCATWC distributes the watches and warnings via the National
Warning System) NAWAS) to the California State Warning Center (CSWC).
1. Tsunami "Warning" - indicates that a tsunami may be
imminent and coastal locations in the warned areas should
take immediate actions to safeguard life and property.
Generally, areas within a 2 - 3 hour tsunami travel time will
be placed in a warning status.
2. Tsunami "Watch" - is an alert issued to areas beyond the
estimated three hour tsunami travel time but within an
estimated six hour tsunami travel time.
B. Notification - Normally, the Communications Center will be notified, via the beige
NAWAS "hotline" phone located on the "Bridge", by the California State Warning
Center (CSWC). Additionally, a message will be sent to the CC via CLETS (California
Law Enforcement Telecommunications System). Tsunami Watch/Warning information
can also be found on the internet at: http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov.
1. The tsunami watch or warning will include an estimated arrival time for the La
Jolla area. The La Jolla area is the pre-established San Diego location on which
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31, 2006)
10
the estimate will be based and does not mean that La Jolla is in any greater danger
than other areas in the county.
2. The tsunami warning or watch will be updated at least hourly.
The National Weather Service will activate the Emergency Alert System for all tsunami
warnings.
9.9.4 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Although tsunami notification generally will be received via the NAWAS phone or a
CLETS message as described above, tsunami warnings or watches may emanate from
other sources such as County OES. The person receiving the tsunami watch or warning
shall immediately notify the Communications Center Dispatch Supervisors and the
Watch Commander. The Watch Commander and the Dispatch Supervisor should
confirm the tsunami information if it comes from other than an official source. The
information can be verified on the internet at: http://wcatwc.arh.nooa.gov.
B. WATCH COMMANDERS RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The Watch Commander shall insure that the Tsunami Manuals from the Imperial
Beach and Encinitas Stations are present in the Watch Commander's Office.
a. The Emergency Planning Detail Lieutenant or Sergeant
(The Emergency Planning Detail will activate the
Department Operations Center for all tsunami warnings)
b. County Office of Emergency Services Duty Officer.
c. Captains of the Encinitas and Imperial Beach Stations.
d. The Duty Commander
e. Public Affairs
f. Other notifications per the Communications Center
Tsunami Check List.
C. DISPATCH SUPERVISORS RESPONSIBILITIES
The Communications Center Dispatch Supervisor shall:
1. Immediately notify all San Diego County Dispatch Centers
via LAW and FIRE CC, or by other appropriate channels
as determined by the CC Supervisors. The Supervisor shall
conduct a roll call to confirm receipt of the message.
Dispatch centers not monitoring the radio, or not having a
shared frequency shall be notified via the telephone. All
Dispatch Centers will then make the necessary notifications
within their areas of responsibility.
2. Centers to be notified:
Border Patrol
Carlsbad PD Dispatch
CDF Dispatch
Chula Vista Fire
Chula Vista PD
CHP
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SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31,2006) 1 Jf
Coast Guard
Coronado PD
El Cajon PD
Escondido
Heartland Fire Dispatch
La Mesa PD
Rancho Fire
National City PD
Oceanside PD
San Diego Fire
San Diego PD
San Diego Harbor PD
State Parks
3. County OES will make duplicate radio calls via "County
Call". These calls will likely be made after the Sheriffs
Dispatch Supervisor has made the original calls. These
duplicate calls serve as confirmation that the jurisdictions
have received notification of the incident. These calls also
meet the requirements for redundant notifications.
4. Insure field units are notified via the appropriate radio talk
groups and the field supervisors acknowledge the
notification.
5. If a "warning" has been issued the following steps should be
taken:
a. Designate a dispatcher to develop and send a Community
Emergency Notifications System message to the impacted
coastal communities within the Sheriffs areas of
responsibility.
b. Notify all call takers of the pertinent information. In
general, areas less than one hundred feet in elevation
and within two miles of the coast should be
advised to evacuate. Callers requiring general
information should be referred to 2-1-1.
c. Notify the Search & Rescue Coordinator
d. Notify the Reserve Coordinator
e. Request ASTREA conduct reconnaissance of the
coastal areas and issue warnings.
f. If only one helicopter is in-service, contact the
ASTREA Lieutenant or Sergeant and request
additional air resources.
D. DISPATCHER RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The Dispatchers responsible for Imperial Beach Dispatch
and Encinitas Dispatch will:
a. Notify the patrol sergeant in IB and Encinitas
b. Log all road closures, areas evacuated, Evacuation
Centers and other pertinent information into CAD.
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SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31,2006)
9.9.5 PATROL STATION RESPONSIBILITIES
A. INUNDATION & EVACUATION PLANS
1. The Imperial Beach and Encinitas Station shall develop
tsunami inundation and evacuation plans. A copy of these
plans shall be sent to the CC and to the Emergency
Planning Detail. The plans shall be updated by the
respective stations on an annual basis. The updates shall be
sent to the CC and the Emergency Planning Detail.
2. Tsunami evacuation plans should include the number of
personnel needed to rapidly and effectively evacuate the
inundation area.
3. Tsunami evacuation plans should include a traffic flow and
control plan.
4. I.E. and Encinitas Station shall conduct briefing training on
the Tsunami plans once a quarter. The training shall be
documented.
B. TSUNAMI WARNING;
1. Upon notification of a tsunami warning, the patrol supervisor
shall immediately activate the tsunami evacuation plans.
Time is of the essence.
2. A Command Post and Staging Area should be established
out of the inundation.
a. Request Emergency Response
Assistance team (E.R.A.T.) to assist with
Command Post responsibilities and Staging
Area management.
3. Request the Sheriffs Mobile Force / Platoon to assist
in evacuations and crowd control. Request that deputies
respond in the natural disaster configuration of two per
vehicle.
4. Activate off-duty personnel, reserve deputies, senior
volunteers and citizen volunteers as needed, maintain
rosters and report available resources to the
Communications Center or the Department Operations
Center when activated.
5. Provide public evacuations and warnings in affected areas.
6. In order to limit radio traffic to essentials, do not broadcast
"refusals" i.e. persons who refuse to evacuate. Refusals
should be noted in CAD or in the Deputy's Notebook.
7. Instruct deputies to place a short piece of yellow barrier tape
in a conspicuous location to indicate that a particular
residence has been given the evacuation advisement.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31, 2006)
13
8. Determine the areas to be evacuated, the safe routes of
evacuation, the Temporary Evacuation Points and the
Evacuation Centers. Coordinate Evacuation Centers with the
Red Cross.
9. Request the Communications Center activate the
Community Emergency Notification System, which will place
emergency phone calls to the impacted residences advising
them of the situation.
10. Notify Public Affairs and request media liaison. Remember
the Media cannot be denied access to the inundation /
evacuation area. 405.9(d). PC
11. Establish Communications with the impacted contract cities.
12. Advise the Communications Center, or the Department
Operations Center, of any requests for evacuation of
institutionalized or disabled persons if unable to handle with
available resources.
13. Conduct ongoing beat survey to discover further damage
and hazards. If the Tsunami strikes the coast, dispatch patrol
units or ASTREA to survey for casualties, damage and
collapsed structures requiring a "heavy rescue" effort.
14. Record any significant damage in a damage survey report
log maintained at the Law Enforcement Command Post.
15. Provide/coordinate security and crowd control at vital
installation, key industrial facilities, storage areas and
evacuation areas.
16. Provide the CC with an updated - Situation Report - at least
every thirty minutes. This may be done verbally.
17. Maintain records and write After-Action Report.
C. TSUNAMI WATCH
1. Upon notification of a tsunami watch, the patrol supervisor
shall:
a. Review the Station Tsunami Inundation &
Evacuation Plans.
b. Take steps to prepare and initiate the Stations
Tsunami Inundation & Evacuation Plan if the watch is
upgraded to a warning.
c. Monitor any changes in the tsunami status.
9.9.6 TSUNAMI SAFETY
a) A Tsunami will likely consist of a series of waves that can be
spaced from a few minutes, to over an hour, apart.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31,2006)
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b) A tsunami is not a single wave, but a series of waves. The first
wave may not be the largest or the deadliest.
c) Additional waves may carry greater debris and thus pose a
greater hazard.
d) Wave size may vary considerably along the San Diego County
Coastline. A small wave in one area does not mean that the rest of
the coast will not experience a big wave.
e) The following are key indicators of an imminent tsunami. Seek
higher ground or move inland immediately.
1) Noticeable rise or fall of coastal water
2) Loud roar like a train or aircraft
3) Sudden sea level withdrawal
4) Earthquake in coastal area that produces violent
shaking.
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SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2005-2006 (filed May 31, 2006)