ANNEX L
EVACUATION
(excerpts)
1. PURPOSE
To provide for orderly and coordinated evacuation of the population in emergency situations. To establish the responsibilities for decisions relating to evacuation and for implementing an evacuation.
2. SITUATION
A. State Law
(35 PA C.S.), as amended, empowers the Governor to direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from any stricken or threatened area within the Commonwealth if the action is necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response or recovery. The Governor may also control ingress and egress to and from a disaster area. movement of persons within the area and the occupancy of premises within the disaster area.
B. Causes
Evacuations may be required due to flooding, industrial or transportation accidents, fires and tornadoes. They are relatively short-lived and involve only a portion of the population at one time.
C. General Evacuation
The only situation where most or all of the City would need to evacuate would be in a nuclear attack or general war.
D. Most of the population can provide their own
E. Transportation Required
Some transportation resources will be required for those without vehicle and where a disaster is disrupting normal transportation.
3. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A. General
1. Factors to Consider - The magnitude, intensity, speed of onset and the type of hazard are all factors to consider in a decision to evacuate or shelter in-place.
2. Site-specific Warning and Evacuation Plans - The City Emergency Management Agency will encourage development of site-specific warning and evacuation plans for down dam inundation areas, institutions and industries, as appropriate (see Annex J). This annex will provide general guidance for incidents for which no specific contingency plan exists.
3. Execution - Evacuation required as a result of a disaster emergency will be directed and controlled by the City and supported as necessary by county and state governments.
B. Emergency Phases
1. Preparedness
a. Identify Evacuation Areas - Identify areas potentially in need of evacuation (i.e., floodplains, areas near hazardous materials, etc.).
b. Special Evacuation Needs - Identify population groups requiring special assistance during evacuation (i.e. prisons, educational and health facilities, senior citizens, mobility impaired, etc.).
c. Evacuation Routes - Designate pickup points, staging areas, and evacuation routes to include rest areas where evacuees can obtain fuel, water, medical aid, vehicle maintenance, information and comfort facilities, as appropriate; taking traffic capacities and deteriorating conditions into account (Appendix 1). Make arrangements for handling vehicles with mechanical problems.
d. Public Information - Develop information on risk areas, evacuation reroutes and reception areas for site-specific hazards.
e. Assess Transportation Needs - Assess transportation needs and resources based on the number of persons needing transportation as determined by each municipality. Identify unmet needs.
f. Non-English Speaking Population - Develop alert information for non-English speaking population.
2. Response
a. Define specific area of evacuation.
b. Establish traffic and access control (Appendix 2).
c. Implement primary and supplementary means of warning.
d. EBS Announcements - Activate EBS announcements and other public information activities.
e. Keep the public informed.
f. Obtain police and fire protection for evacuated areas.
g. Designate reception and mass care areas, if necessary.
h. Provide transportation as necessary.
3. Recovery
a. Determine when evacuated area(s) is/are safe to reoccupy.
b. Initiate return to evacuated areas, where possible.
c. Control traffic.
d. Continue public information activities.
e. Establish Disaster Application Center (DAC), if appropriate.
f. Reestablish utility services.
g. Coordinate necessary cleanup and sanitation measures.
4. ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Mayor
1. Responsibility and authority for an evacuation order or recommendation rests with the Mayor or E.M.D.
2. Recovery and necessary will be ordered by elected officials.
B. City Emergency Management Director
1. Coordinate evacuation planning.
2. Recommend Evacuation - Recommend evacuation measures to the Mayor when needed.
3. Implement Evacuation Order - Implement an evacuation order form the Mayor.
4. Coordinate relocation into other jurisdiction.
5. Coordinate Special Evacuation Needs - Coordinate with school districts, private schools and institutions of higher learning, hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions for implementation of special evacuation needs.
6. Arrange police and fire prevention of evacuated areas.
7. Establish Disaster Application Center, if appropriate.
8. Establish liaison between relocation site and EOC.
9. Coordinate reentry.
C. City Officials
1. Evacuation Orders or Recommendations - The responsibility and authority to order or recommend an evacuation of City residents threatened by a disaster emergency rests with the Mayor. The Mayor's evacuation order will be communicated through the Emergency Management Agency to police, fire, and EMS officials for their implementation of that order within the City.
2. Protection of Life - Police, fire, and EMS/Rescue officials may evacuate persons immediately threatened by disasters.
D. Transportation Services Officer
1. Coordinate transportation support with resource providers.
2. Implement pick-up of persons needing transportation.
3. Break Downs - Arrange for maintenance or towing support for vehicles with mechanical problems.
4. Alternate Routes - In coordination with the Police Services Officer, identify major transportation arteries affected by the disaster and recommend alternate or by-pass routes and TCPs.
5. Coordinate with Public Information Officer and other staff.
6. Keep Operations Officer informed of status.
7. Review and Revise Annex - Review and revise, as necessary, the Evacuation Annex after emergencies and exercises.
E. Police Services Officer
1. Protect property in evacuated areas and maintain law and order.
2. Establish access and traffic control.
3. Assist in public information.
F. Mass Care Officer
1. Coordinate with EMD to determine need for mass care centers.
2. Operate mass care centers, as required.
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