Livingston Parish All-H azards Emergency O perations Plan Created By: Livingston Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (LOHSEP) P.O. Box 1030/20355 Government Blvd. Livingston, LA 70754 Office: 225-686-3066 Fax: 225-686-7280 Last Updated: December 2013 Livingston Parish Emergency Operations Plan All-Hazards Table of Contents I. Purpose and Scope 4 A. Mission 4 B. Overview 5 II. Situations and Assumptions 5 A. Location 5 B. Situations 6 C. Assumptions 6 III. Concept of Operations 7 A. General 7 B. Emergency Action Levels 10 NTAS Alerts 11 C. Phases of Emergency Management 12 IV. Emergency Support Functions 13 A. Livingston Parish Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) 13 B. Louisiana Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) 15 V. Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities 15 A. LOHSEP 16 B. Law Enforcement 16 C. Fire Department 17 D. Department of Public Works 17 E. Information Services 17 F. Office of Public Health 18 G. Office of Children and Family Services 18 H. Parish Attorney 18 I. Finance Department 19 J. Department of Human Resources 19 K. Transportation Department 19 L. GOHSEP 19 M. American Red Cross 19 N. Council of Aging 19 O. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 19 P. Public Information 20 Q. Livingston Parish Animal Control Center 20 R. Parish School Board 20 S. Coroner's Office 20 T. Energy and Utilities 21 U. Others 21 2 Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness December 2013 Livingston Parish Emergency Operations Plan All-Hazards VI. Direction and Control 21 A. Authority to Initiate Action 21 B. Command Responsibility for Specific Action 21 C. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 21 C. Preservation of Records 23 C. Records and Reports 24 D. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 24 E. Relief Assistance 25 F. Consumer Protection 25 G. Nondiscrimination 25 H. Administration of Insurance Claims 25 I. Duplication of Benefits 25 J. Use of Local Firms 25 K. Preservation of Historic Properties 25 IX. Plan Development, Maintenance and Execution 26 X. Authorities and References 27 A. Legal Authority 27 B. References 29 XI. Definitions 29 XII. Apendices to Basic Plan 30 3 Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness December 2013 Livingston Parish Emergency Operations Plan All-Hazards Basic Plan I. PURPOSE AND SCOPE It is the purpose of this plan to provide guidance for the various departments within Livingston Parish government, municipalities within the Parish, where applicable, and all of those outside agencies and entities within the Parish of Livingston with an emergency assignment before, during and following any declared emergency. This plan details the overall responsibilities of local government as well as guidelines and organizational priorities necessary to insure a coordinated Federal, State, and Local government and business stakeholders’ response. This plan sets forth a detailed Parish program for preparation against, operation during, and relief and recovery following disasters as provided by Parish, State, and Federal statutes as well as other related or applicable emergency authorities or directives. A. Mission In time of emergency the mission of the Livingston Parish government is: 1. To plan and prepare practicable response programs for the protection of life and property in the event of disasters. 2. To take immediate effective action to direct, mobilize, coordinate and determine utilization of local resources to support political subdivisions in the conduct of disaster operations to save lives, protect property, relieve human suffering, sustain survivors and repair essential facilities. 3. To coordinate and direct restoration and recovery operations in the disaster area. 4. To insure that each parish department will plan and provide for an emergency operations capability which conforms in principle with this plan. 5. To coordinate all disaster services with the Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director, and direct restoration and recovery operations in the disaster area subject to governmental authority. 6. To provide each parish department with plans which conform to the guidelines and directions of the Livingston Parish Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). 4 Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness December 2013 Livingston Parish Emergency Operations Plan All-Hazards B. Overview 1. Primary responsibility for disaster preparedness rests with elected heads of government, both Local and State. To fulfill this responsibility, maximum attention must be given to the coordination of all disaster relief efforts by local, State, public and private organizations. 2. Existent organizational elements for emergency government response will be utilized to the fullest extent and augmented where necessary. 3. Assistance to overcome the effects of a disaster must be provided as soon as possible after its occurrence. Therefore, local response elements and State government will perform urgently needed emergency work immediately. NOTE: Possible reimbursement by the Federal Government for emergency work, restoration or replacement is contingent only upon a Presidential Declaration implemented under Public Law 93-288, Part II. It is the purpose of the General Plan to cover all aspects of local response only, not contingent on any extraordinary State or Federal assistance. 4. All local response elements will include provisions for necessary documentation for financial accountability from the onset of any disaster occurrence. The fact that emergency conditions exist does not preclude the need for documentation required by current disaster assistance regulations and directives. 5. It shall be the responsibility of all local response elements of government to: a. Control and use to the fullest extent all able manpower and material resources subject to the authority of the government entity, and b. Control and use to the fullest extent all manpower and material resources available in the general area of devastation by means of inter-city or inter- parish request, and c. Notify the Parish President of any deficiencies that exist. 6. All response elements of local government will adhere to the above general principles. II. SITUATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS A. Location 1. Livingston Parish is located in the southeastern portion of the state of Louisiana, in an area commonly known as “The Florida Parishes.” 5 Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness December 2013 Livingston Parish Emergency Operations Plan All-Hazards 2. The Amite River and the parishes of East Baton Rouge and Ascension border it on the west. Ascension and St. John the Baptist Parishes, as well as Lake Maurepas border it on the south. Lake Maurepas and the Parish of Tangipahoa border it on the east. The Parish of St. Helena borders it to the north. 3. There are eight incorporated communities: Albany, Denham Springs, French Settlement, Killian, Port Vincent, Springfield, Walker and Livingston, the Parish seat. Unincorporated areas include: Colyell, Holden, Maurepas, Satsuma, and Watson. 4. Livingston Parish covers a total land area of 648 square miles and has a population of approximately 134,053 (based on the 2013 Census estimates). Total area of 703 square miles (648 land and 55 water). B. Situations 1. Livingston Parish is exposed to many hazards, all of which have the potential to disrupt the community, cause damage, and create casualties. Possible natural hazards include hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes. There is also the threat of national security incidents such as a nuclear, biochemical, biological, conventional attack, or an act of terrorism. 2. Other disaster situations could develop from a hazardous materials accident, nuclear power plant accident, major transportation accident, terrorism, civil disorder, or conflagration. 3. Livingston Parish has capabilities, which, if effectively used in the event of a disaster, would enhance the preservation of life and property. These capabilities include the following: manpower, equipment and skills of the governmental agencies, medical, health and allied professions and groups, and knowledge of survival actions possessed by the public. 4. The objective of this plan is to ensure effective use of these assets should a disaster affect Livingston Parish. C. Assumptions 1. It is impossible to predict the specific effects of a disaster upon Livingston Parish, or to be sure in advance that any specific hazard would or would not occur. However, the parish could be subjected to numerous disaster situations. 6 Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness December 2013 Livingston Parish Emergency Operations Plan All-Hazards 2. Under any circumstances, it would be incumbent upon the government to take the necessary steps to reduce the effects of a disaster upon the population. 3. In most cases, proper preparations and preventive measures could reduce damage and loss of life. 4. In the event of a natural or technological incident, sufficient capabilities exist to handle the situation but, should a national security emergency occur, our resources would be utilized to capacity or exhausted so outside assistance would be required. 5. In the event of a catastrophic incident as defined by the National Response Framework, our local resources would be utilized to capacity or exhausted, as well as, regional and state resources, so outside assistance would be critical. III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS A. General 1. Locally, under the Incident Command System (ICS) structure, the Parish President is responsible by law for emergency preparedness