ESF 3 - PW - PU - Plan Dept - Blg. Insp

Emergency Support Function (ESF) #3

Public Works\Public Utility,

Planning Department/Building Inspector

Primary Agency

Department of Public Works/Public Utility

Community Development

Building Inspector

Secondary/Support Agencies

Emergency Management

Public Schools

Water Authorities

Fire and EMS

Law Enforcement

Department of Transportation

City/County Attorney

Virginia Department of Transportation

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Introduction

Purpose:

Emergency Support Function #3 (Public Works and Engineering) will assess the overall damage to public and private property. ESF #3 will also conduct necessary inspections to ensure the integrity of a building, assist with debris removal, and ensure that any rebuilding complies with existing zoning and land-use regulations.

Scope:

ESF #3 is structured to provide public works and engineering-related support for the changing requirements of incident management to include preparedness, prevention, response, recovery, and mitigation actions. Activities within the scope of this function include:

Conduct pre- and post-incident assessments of public works and infrastructure.

• Execute emergency contract support for life saving and life-sustaining services.

• Provide technical assistance to include engineering expertise, construction management, and contracting and real estate services: and

Provide emergency repair of damaged infrastructure and critical facilities.

Policies:

Personnel will stay up to date with procedures through training and education.

The Primary Agency will develop work priorities in conjunction with other agencies when necessary; and

Local authorities will obtain required waivers and clearances related to ESF #3 support.

Concept of Operations

General:

In a disaster, buildings and structures may be destroyed or severely damaged. Homes, public buildings, bridges, and other facilities may need to be reinforced or demolished to ensure safety. Public utilities may be damaged and partially or fully inoperable. Access to the disaster areas may be dependent upon debris clearance and roadway repairs. Debris clearance and emergency road repairs will be given top priority to support immediate lifesaving emergency response.

Prompt assessment of the disaster area is required to determine critical response times and potential workloads. Early damage assessment must be made rapidly and be general in nature. Following an incident, and in coordination with ESF #14, a multitude of independent damage assessment activities will be conducted by a variety of organizations including the Locality Damage Assessment Teams, Insurance Companies, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Utility Companies and Federal Agencies.

Organization:

The Coordinator/Deputy Coordinator or designee will be responsible for deploying damage assessment teams, consolidating damage data, and compiling reports. At the Incident Commander’s request, the Damage Assessment Teams’ first priority will be to assess structural damage to critical buildings/infrastructure.

Local Damage Assessment Teams will assess damage to the extent of their resources and their expertise. The Health Department may assist the Department of Public Utilities with damage assessments related to health hazards that may be caused by the disrupted disposal of sanitary wastes/sewage systems.

An Initial Damage Assessment Report will be completed by the Coordinator of Emergency Management and submitted to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management within 72 hours of the event, outlining the severity of the problems and the determination of need for further assistance. Federal/State supported damage assessment precedes delivery of a Presidential Disaster Declaration and defines the specific needs for a long-term recovery.

To minimize threats to public health, the Department of Public Works will serve as liaison with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the City of Harrisonburg/Rockingham County Attorney to secure the necessary emergency environmental waivers and legal clearances that would be needed to dispose of emergency debris and materials from demolition activities. The Department of Public Works will coordinate with DEQ to monitor disposal of debris materials.

The Building Inspections Department will inspect all affected buildings for structural, electrical, gas, plumbing and mechanical damage following a disaster situation. They will ensure that any repairs or rebuilding that occurs following the incident will comply with the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County building codes, zoning and land-use regulations and the comprehensive plan.

The Building Inspections Department is responsible for determining the state of a building and placing notification on the facility. The building owner retains responsibility for deciding whether to demolish or restore the structure. During the recovery phase, the Building Inspector is responsible for facilitating the building permit issuance process and for the review and approval of the site-related and construction plans submitted for the rebuilding/restoration of residential and commercial buildings.

The Director of Public Works will be responsible for resource coordination of the physical recovery and debris removal. The Department will be assisted by, and work in conjunction with, a variety of local departments and state agencies, private utility companies, contractors, heavy equipment operators, and waste management firms to fulfill their mission.

The following provide utilities to the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County:

Electric: Harrisonburg Electric Commission, Dominion Energy, Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative

Telecommunications: Verizon, Sprint, Shenandoah Communications

(Shenandoah Telecommunications Company or Shentel)

Natural Gas: Columbia Gas of Virginia.

Actions:

Alert personnel to report to the EOC.

Review plans.

Begin keeping record of expenses and continue for the duration of the emergency.

Prepare to make an initial damage assessment.

Activate the necessary equipment and resources to address the emergency; and

Coordinate response with local, state, federal departments, and agencies.

Maintain records of cost and expenditures and forward them to the designated financial authority.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in conducting initial damage assessment.

• Submit initial damage assessment to EOC/VEOC.

• Assist in coordinating response and recovery.

• Prioritize debris removal (see Debris Management Annex).

• Inspect building for structural damage; and

• Ensure all repairs comply with City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County building codes, zoning, land-use regulations, and comprehensive plan.

Emergency Support Function #3 – Attachment 1

WATER CONTAMINATION

Water supply contamination would quickly have a negative impact on the health and economic well-being of any community. In any water supply contamination situation, whether localized or involving a general area, the public would have to be notified immediately to mitigate the impact of the situation.

In the event of water supply contamination, the staff of the Harrisonburg Public Utilities Department and the Rockingham County Department of Public Works would make an initial assessment of the extent of the problem, and the potential impact on the public. The impacted public would be notified promptly and given the proper guidance until the problem was corrected. Coordination with and assistance from other local, state, and federal agencies as well as private concerns would be necessary to address the problem promptly and effectively and ensure the continuation of essential services during the process. Liaison with private organizations, nursing homes, major industrial users, hospitals, dialysis clinics, etc., must be maintained to ensure their cooperation and allow them to implement their own contingency plans.

Harrisonburg Public Utilities – Emergency Response Plan

The Harrisonburg Public Utilities Department has developed and updated their Emergency Response Plan identified hazards and can be found with the ESF #3 Resource Guide.

Emergency Support Function #3 – Attachment 2

• No damage to structural elements.

• No damage to utilities.

• Minor damage to walls or roof affecting weather resistance.

• Generally, 10% or less damage

• There is structural damage to a portion of the building.

• The building needs utility or weather resistance repairs.

• The building may be occupied safely.

• Generally greater than 10% and less than 50% damage.

C. “THIS BUILDING IS NOT SAFE” RED POSTER

• There is major structural damage.

• No occupancy is allowed

• May or may not need to be demolished.

• Generally, more than 50% damage.

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