Florida Department of Transportation — Emergency Management
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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION — EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT 125 for COVID-19 Activation Day 143 Published 2020-07-27 1100 All Times Eastern CURRENT STATUS SEOC Level 1 Full Activation 2020-03-15 0800 DUTY SHIFTS DAY 0800–1900 FDOT Emergency Management NIGHT 24×7 FDOT Emergency Management Watch Officer DISTRICT STATUSES D1 Level 3 Monitoring 2020-03-24 0800 D2 Level 3 Monitoring 2020-03-24 0800 D3 Level 3 Monitoring 2020-03-24 0800 D4 Level 3 Monitoring 2020-03-24 0800 D5 Level 3 Monitoring 2020-03-24 0800 D6 Level 3 Monitoring 2020-03-24 0800 D7 Level 3 Monitoring 2020-03-24 0800 TP Level 3 Monitoring 2020-03-24 0800 STATE ACTIONS ▪ The State Emergency Operations Center activated to a Level 2 partial activation on 2020-03-07 at 1100. The SEOC upgraded to a Level 1 full activation on 2020-03-15 at 0800. ▪ SERT began daily 1115 conference calls with the counties on 2020-03-09. Calls were reduced to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as of 2020-05-15. ▪ The Florida Department of Health is posting regular updates to https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/ and has information specifically for travelers at https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/travelers/. ▪ The COVID-19 Call Center is available 24×7 at 866-779-6121 or [email protected]. o Residents may also receive the latest updates by texting FLCOVID19 to 888-777. ▪ FDOT is posting updates with emergency travel information to https://fdot.gov/emergency. ▪ FDOT, FDOH and FDEM social media channels are regularly updated with vital information. o https://www.fdot.gov/info/newsroom.shtm o https://twitter.com/MyFDOT https://facebook.com/FLDOT/ o https://twitter.com/HealthyFla https://facebook.com/FLDepartmentofHealth o https://twitter.com/FLSERT https://facebook.com/FloridaSERT/ ▪ An emergency declaration was issued on 2020-03-13 as EM-3432 for Florida and EM-3468 for the Seminole Tribe of Florida. ▪ Governor DeSantis requested a "major disaster" declaration for Florida on 2020-03-22 under the provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 401. o A major disaster declaration was issued on 2020-03-25 as DR-4486. 1 ▪ Governor DeSantis announced the "Safe. Smart. Step-By-Step." plan for Florida's recovery on 2020- 04-29 (see also Executive Order 20-112). AGENCY ACTION OVERVIEW ▪ In advance of Tropical Storm Cristobal, FDOT conducted pre-storm preparations with additional COVID-19 procedures; coordinated with ESF partners; and monitored roadways, waterways, airports, seaports and other critical infrastructure. ▪ FDOT distributed free meals to truck drivers on 2020-05-07 to recognize the commitment and work of professional truck drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was held at the I-75 southbound rest area at Mile Marker 346 and the food was sponsored by the Florida Trucking Association, Chick-fil-A, Publix Super Markets and Walmart Transportation. o Photographs and press release (2020-05-07) ▪ Restaurant services at the eight Turnpike service plazas resumed operations on a limited basis starting 2020-05-04 while adhering to the guidelines set forth in Executive Order 20-112. Food services had been discontinued on 2020-03-24. Fuel stations, public restrooms, dog walks and convenience stores have remained open. Protective guards were also installed at all service plaza convenience store check-out counters. ▪ Secretary Thibault was named a member of the Re-Open Task Force Industry Working Group on Tourism, Construction, Real Estate, Recreation, Retail and Transportation on 2020-04-21. o Floridians could send feedback to the task force at the public comment submission portal. ▪ Accelerating critical infrastructure projects during the reduction of traffic statewide o The initial project map and list were announced on 2020-04-01. o A second phase of accelerated projects was announced on 2020-05-08. o Governor DeSantis and Secretary Thibault announced the opening of five new Interstate 4/SR 408 flyover ramps on 2020-05-18. The ramps were completed more than three months ahead of schedule. ▪ Implemented traveler checkpoints pursuant to Executive Order 20-86. Commercial motor vehicles may bypass checkpoints to ensure the timely delivery of goods across the state. ▪ Activated the Selected Exempt Service Extraordinary Payment Plan and Career Service Regular Compensatory Leave Payment Plan effective 2020-03-27 through 2020-06-25. ▪ Honoring and recognizing those individuals on the front lines who are sacrificing so others can remain healthy and safe by lighting up FDOT facilities red, white and blue. o "FDOT officials hope patriotic project lights path to unity in anxious times" (2020-03-26) o "Coronavirus Florida: State bridges offer a beacon of hope" (2020-03-26) o "Ringling Bridge Illumination Part of Statewide Unity Effort" (2020-03-26) o "Capital Update Extended – FDOT Shows Support" (2020-03-26) ▪ Published a news release "FDOT Provides Guidance for Implementation of Executive Order 20-80" on 2020-03-24 regarding travelers coming from the New York Tri-State region. ▪ Assisted SERT with airport and seaport terminal geospatial coordinates for the potential use of FEMA Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to communicate quarantine and other recommendations to arriving passengers as recommended by the Florida Surgeon General. ▪ Coordinated with Florida airports, government partners and law enforcement to provide information on inbound flights pursuant to the requirements of Executive Order 20-80. ▪ Closed SunPass Customer Service Walk-In Centers located statewide on 2020-03-23. ▪ Coordinating with USDOT, the Florida Trucking Association, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Highway Patrol to help mitigate the impacts on the transportation and logistics industries. ▪ Increased the normal size and weight restrictions for divisible loads on any vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies and necessary agricultural commodities on state roads. 2 ▪ Posted COVID-19 educational materials, posters and signs at rest areas, welcome centers, service plazas, SunRail stations and FDOT offices/work sites. ▪ Hosting weekly teleconferences with Florida Department of Health officials, seaports and public use airports to provide briefings, receive updates and answer questions. ▪ Worked with counties to meet their requests to post new signage in FDOT rights-of-way and post messages to state dynamic message signs. ▪ Provided toll collectors with additional training, a requirement to wear gloves and continuing with enhanced cleaning. o Suspended all cash tolls in favor of SunPass and Toll-By-Plate on 2020-03-19. o Implemented a phased plan for the resumption of cash toll collection (Phase 1 on 2020-05- 18; Phase 2 on 2020-05-26; and Phase 3 on 2020-06-01). ▪ Cleaning and sanitizing SunRail trains daily; providing staff with sanitizing towelettes; and encouraging frequent hand washing. ▪ Communicated with asset maintenance contractors to ensure that cleaning products are of sufficient strength and disbursed on a regular basis. ▪ Coordinated the delivery of masks to harbor pilots working at seaports. ▪ Coordinated with local transit agencies to repatriate fifty-four Florida residents to their homes from federal quarantine at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia. ▪ Monitoring lane closures in proximity to hospitals and Florida Department of Health facilities, removing lane restrictions as needed to ensure mobility. ▪ Coordinating with state, local and law enforcement agencies to help ensure mobility around temporary testing sites and using social media channels to broadcast location details once open. ▪ Emailed all personnel to address key issues including hand washing; hand sanitizers; telework; leave rules and use; vigilance on symptoms; workplace safety; employee welfare; and supervisor roles in encountering symptomatic employees. ▪ Secretary Thibault is hosting internal "Town Hall" webinars to provide updates on the department's response; detail the activities taking place to ensure that all personnel remain safe while working at our facilities, in the field or remotely; and answer questions. ▪ Reviewing continuity of operations plans; analyzing the workforce to further determine essential functions that can be performed at the office versus remotely; assessing hardware and software needs for those working remotely; and determining for how long certain essential functions can be performed remotely. Other relevant policies and procedures are being reviewed for potential supplementation based on the needs of this event. For example, FDOT Human Resources created a new "Agreement for Temporary Telework Arrangement" form for employees, supervisors and directors to support personnel working remotely in fourteen-day increments. The new document supplements the existing Telework Program and supports the Continuity of Operations Plan. ▪ Communicated with other state transportation departments via the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to share best practices and strategies. EXECUTIVE AND EMERGENCY ORDERS Governor's Executive Orders ▪ Executive Order 20-51 (2020-03-01) Establishes Response Protocol; Directs Public Health Emergency ▪ Executive Order 20-52 (2020-03-09) Public Health Emergency ▪ Executive Order 20-68 (2020-03-13) Bars, Pubs and Nightclubs; Beaches; Restaurants ▪ Executive Order 20-69 (2020-03-17) Local Government Public Meetings ▪ Executive Order 20-70 (2020-03-20) Broward and Palm Beach County Closures ▪ Executive Order 20-71 (2020-03-20) Alcohol Sales; Restaurants