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FEMA Region II Hurricane Annex for Puerto Rico & US Virgin FEMA Region II Hurricane Annex for Puerto Rico & US Virgin Islands October 20, 2014 1 FEMA Region II Hurricane Annex for PR & VI This page intentionally left blank. For Official Use Only / Not For Public Distribution Page | 1 FEMA Region II Hurricane Annex for PR & VI Table of Contents Preface ........................................................................................................ 5 Purpose ....................................................................................................... 6 Situation ...................................................................................................... 7 Scope .......................................................................................................... 7 Planning Assumptions and Critical Considerations .............................. 8 Concept of Operations .............................................................................. 9 Concept of Support .................................................................................. 15 Key Federal Decisions ............................................................................. 16 Information Requirements ...................................................................... 17 Coordinating Instructions ....................................................................... 17 Oversight, Annex Development, and Maintenance ............................... 18 Authorities and References .................................................................... 18 Cultural Awareness .................................................................................. 18 Appendix 1: Planning .............................................................................. 20 Tab 1 to Appendix 1: Risk Management ................................................ 24 Tab 2 to Appendix 1: Situational Assessment ...................................... 36 Appendix 2: Operational Coordination .................................................. 55 Tab 1 to Appendix 2: Public Information and Warning......................... 63 For Official Use Only / Not For Public Distribution Page | 2 FEMA Region II Hurricane Annex for PR & VI Tab 2 to Appendix 2: Public Health and Medical Services ................... 77 Tab 3 to Appendix 2: Environmental Response / Health and Safety ... 83 Tab 4 to Appendix 2: Fatality Management ........................................... 89 Tab 5 to Appendix 2: Infrastructure Systems ........................................ 93 Tab 6 to Appendix 2: Mass Care / Emergency Services ..................... 100 Tab 7 to Appendix 2: Mass Search and Rescue Operations .............. 108 Tab 8 to Appendix 2: On-Scene Security and Protection ................... 112 Appendix 3: Operational Support ......................................................... 116 Tab 1 to Appendix 3: Critical Transportation ...................................... 121 Tab 2 to Appendix 3: Mass Evacuation ................................................ 127 Appendix 4: Operational Communications ......................................... 129 Appendix 5: Executive Checklist .......................................................... 132 Appendix 6: List of Acronyms .............................................................. 138 For Official Use Only / Not For Public Distribution Page | 3 FEMA Region II Hurricane Annex for PR & VI Figure List Figure 1: Operational Phases Figure A1-1: Map of Surge Zones – Puerto Rico Figure A1-2: Map of Surge Zones – US Virgin Islands Figure A1-3: Map of Flood Zones – Puerto Rico Figure A1-4: Historical Hurricane Tracks Affecting Puerto Rico/US Virgin Islands Area Figure A1-5: Flood Inundation Maps from Puerto Rico for Zone AE Figure A1-6: Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook: 48 Hour and Five Day Figure A1-7: Tropical Storm Force Wind Speed Probabilities Figure A1-8: Five-Day Track Forecast Cone Figure A1-9: Combined Hazard Threat Graphic Sample from NWS, San Juan Office Figure A1-10: Weather Prediction Center Rainfall Forecast for Bertha Figure A1-11a: River Gage Location Map Figure A1-11b: River Gage Observed Water Level Data Sample Figure A1-12: USACE Disaster Impact Model: Debris Model Sample Output Figure A1-13: National Hurricane Program Roles and Responsibilities Figure A1-14: Hurricane Liaison Team Communication Flowchart Table List Table A1-1: Classification of Tropical Cyclones Table A1-2: Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale Table A1-3: Core Capabilities and Projected Impacts from Hurricanes Table A1-4: Number of Recorded Storms affecting Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands Table A1-5: Mean Hurricane Return Periods – Caribbean Area. Table A1-6: Puerto Rico Housing and Population in Flood Zones Table A1-7: Availability of Federal Tropical Cyclone Products through Time Table A1-8: National Hurricane Program Components Table A5-1: Timelines of Expected Actions by Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands Table A5-2: FEMA Region II Caribbean Hurricane Executive Checklist For Official Use Only / Not For Public Distribution Page | 4 FEMA Region II Hurricane Annex for PR & VI Preface Disasters know no borders between nations, states, or tribal lands and communities, risks and vulnerabilities affect all of us. Working together, communicating with the whole community, we can leverage our resources to protect, prevent and minimize the impact of disasters and help each other recover. FEMA Region II is responsible for coordinating the Federal Response during emergencies and major or catastrophic events within Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands territories. These jurisdictions of the Caribbean Area demanding close attention not only because of their tourism value, bustling pharmaceuticals industry, rum production, and healthcare technological advances; it is home to 3,832,194 of U.S. citizens that may ultimately rely on off-island support in times of disaster. The Caribbean Area is familiar with the threat of tropical cyclones. We only need go back a decade or two to recall some severely destructive storms to affect the islands. Hurricane Hugo (1989) – wiped out most of St. Croix (USVI) destroying the entire infrastructure on the island. Twenty-three (23) foot waves came crashing ashore. Ultimately, to establish on- scene protection on St. Croix, the USVI government was forced to deploy over 1,000 US Military Police. Puerto Rico was next where thirteen (13) foot waves came ashore. Devastation continued inland with a huge loss of agricultural (coffee and banana) crops. Sadly, fourteen lives were lost, totaling from both Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Hurricane Marilyn (1995) – caused such significant amounts of debris in the Port of St. Thomas; it took well over ten days to re-open the port safely. There were over 10,000 people left homeless and ten deaths. Massive landslides occurred across Puerto Rico. Hurricane Hortense (1996) – struck Puerto Rico leaving over 1.1 million people without water and over 1.3 million people without power. The power failure ultimately led to dam gates malfunctioning, aiding to the widespread flooding. Floods caused the most deaths from the event, 19 in total. Crops and roads were damaged in excess of $150M. Hurricane Georges (1998) – moved from east to west over the island of Puerto Rico and inflicted the worst damage the island has seen. An unprecedented major disaster declaration for all 78 municipalities was issued by the President. 3.6 million Residents were left without electricity for several months, over 40 bridges damaged lacking access to the communities, and over 2.5M cubic yards of debris was collected. Electricity was unavailable as transmission lines that crossed mountainous terrain were destroyed and repaired via helicopters. The Federal Government deployed 4,800 employees to support Puerto Rico. In total, since Hurricane Hugo, damages in the Caribbean have exceeded $6 billion. FEMA’s programmatic efforts have been tremendous. Federal Mission Assignments to other Federal agencies during response operations have included deploying the US Marshals, supplying For Official Use Only / Not For Public Distribution Page | 5 FEMA Region II Hurricane Annex for PR & VI and delivering photovoltaic generators, providing helicopters to reconstruct the electrical transmission grid, transporting electrical crews, and providing vegetative debris chippers and grinders. Payouts from the National Flood Insurance Program have exceeded $80M dollars over the past 20 years. Federal preparedness grants for Puerto Rico alone have exceeded $205M. The amount of certified debris management plans is on the rise, bringing more jurisdictions into eligibility status for Public Assistance reimbursement. Mitigation projects and advances in technology have postured the islands to be much more resilient. A majority of critical facilities (including water distribution plants) have back-up power and over 95% of gas stations have generators. Wind retrofitting has been occurring across the islands to better handle hurricane force winds. Dams are being built and maintained across Puerto Rico as flood control and water collection efforts. The number of available shelters (for future events) is increasing. The Distribution Center – Caribbean is a tremendous support to the area keeping generators, tarps, water, meals, and other necessary resources nearest to the people who need it. Although a tremendous amount of work has been accomplished, we must still prepare for the inevitable “big one” that will test local, commonwealth, territorial, and Federal capabilities. This plan addresses those primary
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