ESF 2 – Communication THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY Table of Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................ ESF 2-1 1.1 Purpose ................................................................................ ESF 2-1 1.2 Scope ................................................................................... ESF 2-1 2 Situation and Assumptions ................................... ESF 2-2 2.1 Situation ............................................................................... ESF 2-2 2.2 Assumptions ........................................................................ ESF 2-2 2.2 Capabilities .......................................................................... ESF 2-3 3 Roles and Responsibilities .................................... ESF 2-4 3.1 Tasked Agencies .................................................................. ESF 2-4 4 Concept of Operations ........................................... ESF 2-5 4.1 General ................................................................................ ESF 2-5 4.2 Direction and Control ........................................................... ESF 2-5 4.3 EOC Activation ..................................................................... ESF 2-6 4.4 EOC Operations ................................................................... ESF 2-6 4.5 Alert and Warning ................................................................ ESF 2-7 4.5.1 Evacuation Warnings ....................................................... ESF 2-9 4.6 Communications Systems .................................................... ESF 2-9 4.6.1 Interoperable Communications ...................................... ESF 2-10 4.6.2 Capital Planning ............................................................. ESF 2-10 4.7 Access and Functional Needs Populations ........................ ESF 2-10 4.8 Coordination with Other ESFs ............................................ ESF 2-11 5 ESF Annex Development and Maintenance ....... ESF 2-11 6 Appendices ........................................................... ESF 2-11 Appendix A ESF 2 Resources ................................................. ESF 2-13 Appendix B ESF 2 Responsibilities by Phase of Emergency Management ......................................................... ESF 2-15 Appendix C ESF 2 Representative Checklist ........................... ESF 2-23 Appendix D Polk County Emergency Communications System Policy .................................................................... ESF 2-25 Appendix E Polk County Emergency Management Warming/ Emergency Information Response Process .......... ESF 2-27 Appendix F Emergency Alert System for the Greater Capitol Areas (Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties) ......... ESF 2-29 ESF 2-iii Polk County EOP Emergency Support Functions ESF 2. Communications THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY ESF 2-iv Polk County EOP Emergency Support Functions ESF 2. Communications ESF 2 Tasked Agencies Willamette Valley Communications Center (Alert and Primary County Agencies Warning) County Sheriff’s Office (Communications Systems) Polk County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (PCARES) Supporting County Agencies County Information Services Department Polk County Public Works Department Yamhill County Communications Area Fire Districts/Departments PCARES Community Partners FlashAlert Newswire Local radio/TV stations Oregon Department of Administrative Services Primary State Agencies Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Oregon State Police 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose Emergency Support Function (ESF) 2 describes how the County will provide for, support, and enhance the requisite technology (hardware and software) for emergency communications systems; alert, warning, and notification systems; and redundant communications systems during all phases of the emergency management cycle, including response and recovery operations. 1.2 Scope The following activities are within the scope of ESF 2: Alert and Warning ■ Maintain a reliable alert, warning, and notification system. Communications Systems ■ Establish and maintain an effective communications system, including County-owned and commercially leased systems, for use in a disaster. ■ Coordinate the provision of redundant and temporary communications as required. ■ Monitor and report on the overall status of the County’s communications infrastructure during a disaster. ■ Maintain the County’s critical information technology infrastructure, including, but not limited to, the provision of cybersecurity measures. ■ Coordinate County support of local and tribal communications systems as required and/or requested. ESF 2-1 Polk County EOP Emergency Support Functions ESF 2. Communications 2 Situation and Assumptions 2.1 Situation The County is faced with a number of hazards that may require communications support. Certain considerations should be taken into account when planning for and implementing ESF 2 activities, including the following: ■ For the purposes of this document “communication” is defined as the transference of information and may involve the representation, transfer, interpretation, and processing of data among persons, places, and machines. The term may also refer to the transmission, emission, or reception of signs, signals, writing, images, and sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic systems. ■ The distribution of accurate and timely information is a critical component of any effective emergency response effort. ■ A large-scale incident may result in a surge of user requests for utilization access to the local telecommunications infrastructure (e.g., jammed cell and landline phone switches, high-speed internet bandwidth degradation, etc.). ■ Depending on hazard conditions, access to communications equipment and infrastructure may be limited and prevent the timely restoration of services. ■ Polk County has a service area of 745 square miles, much of which comprises rural and densely forested areas. During severe weather or other types of emergencies, portions of the population could be isolated from cities and their resources. 2.2 Assumptions ESF 2 is based on the following planning assumptions: ■ To the extent possible, operational local telecommunication capabilities will be utilized to support response operations even in a diminished capacity. ■ Local first responders have identified frequencies to be utilized for operational coordination, direction, and control communications. ■ The loss of some or all telephone service may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and/or other County offices (including Departmental Operations Centers). ESF 2-2 Polk County EOP Emergency Support Functions ESF 2. Communications ■ Large-scale incidents may require extensive coordination of inter- and intra-community communications. ■ If electronic emergency information systems are not available, redundant incident management documentation protocols may be required (e.g., paper logs may be used to record events, communications, and messages; damage assessments; situation reports; resources utilized; staff hours expended, etc.) 2.2 Capabilities ■ The Willamette Valley 9-1-1 Communications Center in Salem is the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Polk County. Emergency calls for service are received by the 9-1-1 Center and dispatched to the appropriate public safety agencies in Polk County. ■ The Polk County Emergency Communication Center is located in the Sheriff’s Office at 850 Main Street, Dallas. The Emergency Communications Center is equipped with radio equipment capable of receiving and transmitting on all frequencies used by Polk County public safety agencies. ■ The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Mobile Command Center, located at the Public Works Yard, contains mobile radio equipment capable of receiving and transmitting on all frequencies used by Polk County public safety agencies as well as neighboring jurisdictions. This mobile communication capability provides Polk County Emergency Management the ability to establish an EOC, either in the field or at alternate sites. ■ Polk County Fire District #1, located at 1800 Monmouth Street, Independence, maintains a functional dispatch center capable of communicating with all fire and medical apparatus in Polk County. ■ There are numerous public safety/service radios operated by County and city personnel. In the event of telephone failure, these daily operations radios will be used as the primary means of communication. ■ The Emergency Alert Service (EAS) may be activated to disseminate emergency information via radio, television, and the County website (see the Greater Capitol Area [Polk, Marion, and Yamhill Counties] Emergency Alert System Plan). ■ PCARES, composed of radio operators licensed by the Federal Communications Commission for non-commercial (amateur) communications, has voluntarily registered its services and formed an organized pool of trained communications specialists to assist Polk ESF 2-3 Polk County EOP Emergency Support Functions ESF 2. Communications County Emergency Management in providing emergency and disaster communications. ■ Polk County has no County-wide siren warning system. Some fire departments have outdoor sirens and have procedures for their use as a public warning system. Emergency vehicles equipped with sirens may be a viable means of getting the attention of the public in localized emergencies, but emergency instructions must be provided via public address