Title
Receive an Update on the City of Alameda's Disaster Preparedness Program and the Community Emergency Response Team's (CERT) Activities. (Fire 3240)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John A. Russo, City Manager
Re: Receive an Update on the City of Alameda's Disaster Preparedness Program and the Community Emergency Response Team's (CERT) Activities. (Fire 3240)
BACKGROUND
The City of Alameda Disaster Preparedness Program was reestablished in January of 2013. The program's oversight, management and direction is the assignment of an Assistant Fire Marshal within the Fire Department. This individual is the City's Disaster Preparedness Coordinator. Since January 2013, much progress has been made in the areas of personal preparedness training and overall awareness for our citizens, local businesses, business parks, and City employees. This report outlines the progress to date and plans for the future.
DISCUSSION
Because Alameda is an island located in the San Francisco Bay, it is directly impacted by tectonic shifts in the Pacific Ocean. The Hayward fault is located just 4.2 miles away from our City. According to the United States Geological Study (USGS), this active fault has a 31% chance of creating a 6.7 magnitude earthquake or greater in the next 30 years. Alameda is also susceptible to other natural disasters such as tsunami, storm surge, and rising tides. Manmade events such as acts of terror, plane crashes, natural gas leaks and explosions are also possible disasters for which the City must prepare.
Alameda is densely populated with residential and business properties. Alameda's population is more than 75,000, and the population density is 4,000 people per square mile. Roughly 21% of Alameda's inhabitants are under the age of 18, 66% are age 18-64, and more than 13% are 65 years of age or older. The City's housing is made up of 32,000 units and growing, with a density of 1,400 units per square mile. Vital business and community services consist of a hospital, board and care facilities, nursing homes, marine and boating businesses, business parks, large and small retail shops and more. The impact of a disaster may jeopardize a large number of individuals and critical services throughout the community, depending on the type and size of the event.
Alameda's Disaster Preparedness Program consists of various, strategically planned and implemented activities and procedures including a Disaster Mitigation Plan, the Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee, City employee preparedness training and planning, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), education and preparedness technical assistance to businesses and community members, and various other special projects. With guidance and direction from the City's Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, many objectives have been met over the last eighteen months. Some of these include:
• Free disaster training to five community based organizations (CBO), and 95 public and private businesses in Alameda. Employees and volunteers were trained in personal preparedness. A disaster preparedness rally was held in October 2013 where 75 City employees learned the importance of personal preparedness and their role as a Disaster Service Workers (DSW);
• Collaboration efforts with Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) included school site safety inspections and the Police Department's Safe Schools Active Shooter Program;
• The Disaster Preparedness Coordinator reached out to business owners, CBO's and residents and engaged with over 1,400 citizens to deliver nearly 100 personal preparedness trainings and property safety inspections;
• Fire Department members trained 114 (CERT) volunteers in 2013. Each of the volunteers was sworn in as a DSW;
• Each City Department received disaster planning technical assistance from the Coordinator; and
• Staff worked with the project manager and architect on the plan and design of an Emergency Operations Center.
Many CERT volunteers have licenses to operate specialized communication equipment which is an essential post disaster resource. Some 2013 CERT accomplishments include:
• In August of 2013, the Fire and Police Departments and Alameda CERT participated in a joint effort National Night Out earthquake training exercise. It was conducted at South Shore Center with 75 CERT volunteers.
• A Fire Department Rescue Truck was decommissioned and donated to Alameda CERT for repurpose as a mobile communication and command post. CERT grant funds were used to refurbish the vehicle.
FUTURE GOALS
• Continue and repeat outreach and education efforts that occurred in 2013;
• Continue training for disasters at all levels of City government to include city-wide disaster drills;
• Become an even more resilient city by working with local, state, and federal agencies such as the American Red Cross, Cal Emergency Managers Association (CALEMA), California Geological Survey, Cal Office of Emergency Services, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop resilience plans for all levels of risk. It is Alameda's goal to provide a resilient framework of government, business and community to insure readiness to respond, recover and rebuild after a disaster.
• Promote the use of Nixle360 and market this free communication tool for citizens to become subscribers. The City's ability to alert and update citizens is dramatically increased via this medium.
• Increase the number of CERT volunteers in under-represented areas of the City by promotional and marketing concentration in these areas.
In conclusion, the City's Disaster Preparedness Coordinator has been very active in organizing, training, and providing direction, while working towards a prepared and resilient future for Alameda. The goals outlined above are obtainable by developing relationships with our local businesses, CBO's, regional partners and citizens. Some key elements to this include increasing personal preparedness training and disaster awareness; organizing community participation in the strategic plan development; searching for opportunities to support programs with funding and resources; establishing governing practices that make preparedness and resiliency a priority; and, the promotion, support, and training provided for our Alameda CERT Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The funds for this activity are budgeted in the Disaster Preparedness program (Fund 001, Program 3240).
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Not applicable
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Receiving an update on the City of Alameda's Disaster Preparedness Program and the Community Emergency Response Team's (CERT) activities is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
RECOMMENDATION
Receive an Update on the City of Alameda's Disaster Preparedness Program and the Community Emergency Response Team's (CERT) Activities.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael D'Orazi, Fire Chief
By,
Michael DeGrano, Fire Captain, Assistant Fire Marshal for Disaster Preparedness
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Fred Marsh, Finance Director