Fall 2003 Volume 6, No
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
HENRIC Fall 2003 Volume 6, No. 4 TODAY Confronting Isabel challenges, but our staff did exactly what it was trained to do.” Henrico ready for the challenge Unlike many natural disasters, hurricanes do he birth of a hurricane is not an unusual But Isabel soon began to distinguish itself, not often arrive unexpected, affording some time Tevent. expanding into a “storm of historic proportions,” for the people in their path to board windows, Each year, an average of 10 significant storms according to the National Weather Service. It ready generators and emergency supplies, or to take shape over the warm water and tropics of the grew rapidly, spreading over a vast expanse of evacuate. But a few days’ advance notice is not Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of ocean and packing winds approaching 150 mph. sufficient time for an entire community— Mexico. Each year, six of these tropical storms It also began tracking a northwesterly course, especially a densely populated suburban county gain sufficient strength and wind speed to become pointing for the United States’ mid-Atlantic like Henrico—to prepare for the massive damage hurricanes; each year, on average, one or two of coastline—a landfall destination that was that follows in a hurricane’s wake. Months, even these hurricanes strike the U.S. coastline. The rest unusually far north for an Atlantic dissipate over the open ocean. hurricane. Then another weather So it wasn’t unusual in early September when condition—a high-pressure zone over a depression formed over the Atlantic tropics, Canada—joined forces with Isabel, grew into a tropical storm and acquired the name preventing the hurricane from Isabel. And it wasn’t entirely unexpected when spinning harmlessly out to sea and Isabel’s winds topped the 74 mph mark, elevating guaranteeing it a path that would it to hurricane status. affect millions of lives along the Atlantic seaboard. Early the week of Sept. 15, it was clear that Isabel would be much more than an “unusual event” for residents This Issue of southeast and central Virginia in general, and Henrico in particular. Hurricane experts charted a course that projected the storm to make 4 Short Pump opening landfall on the North Carolina- Virginia coastline and spin into Just after Isabel hit, residents woke to a multitude of crews from Henrico’s 4 Book examines central and northern Virginia. Public Works and Utilities departments removing debris throughout the Suddenly, the common had county. county government become remarkable: A lumbering, rolling wrecking ball the size of Colorado was on years, of planning and practice are needed to 5 The cost of winter the way, and Henrico was in its path. The county allow a community to respond appropriately to had not seen a storm of this proportion or such a dramatic emergency situation. 5 HCTV airs new potential in at least 30 years. Confronting Isabel, day by day programs Henrico ready to respond Sept. 16. With Isabel churning steadily An unusual combination of conditions and toward the mid-Atlantic coastline, the county’s circumstances had directed Isabel toward central storm preparations are well under way. 6 Tuckahoe library Virginia, but the storm did not surprise Henrico The Henrico Emergency Operations Center reinvents itself officials. The hurricane’s arrival might have been (EOC)—a team of leading officials and staff from accidental, but the county’s response was a case more than 15 county agencies, including Fire, study of planning and preparation. Police, Health, Public Works and Public Utilities, 6 Special debris “Henrico County’s principal concern, which serves as the county’s crisis command removal program regardless of the situation, is always the safety center—makes final staffing arrangements, and welfare of our residents,” said County positions emergency units and work crews to key Manager Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E. “Our staff has response locations, and plans for around-the- 7 Recreation trained and prepared to respond to any clock operations. Roundup emergency, hurricanes included. Isabel presented Sept. 17. The destination of the hurricane no a number of emergency situations and unusual longer in doubt, residents of Virginia and North H e n r i c o T o d–CONTINUED, a y NEXT Fall PAGE– 2003 1 Carolina’s coastal communities evacuate inland, which loses power to its treatment plant and a key force in the county. A wind gust of 73 mph is many streaming toward central Virginia and pumping station. Henrico, in turn, loses power at recorded in eastern Henrico, while sustained Henrico. The county opens six shelters to the its Three Chopt pumping station; pressure levels winds reach their top speed of 62 mph at 11 p.m. public, offering emergency lodging and services begin dropping in buildings countywide. When Five-and-a-half inches of rain fall in the county’s for its displaced residents and for refugees from the city shuts down its water system at 7 p.m., the west end, while rain gauges in the east end collect the coast. News of the shelters is announced to county has to follow suit. Faucets run dry a full four inches. area media, which spreads the word; although throughout the county, and hospitals and other Sept. 19. Residents wake to blue, cloudless Isabel would not reach the area for a number of emergency facilities are forced to conserve and skies, but the calm weather of the first day after hours, several families take advantage of the tap their reserve supplies. Isabel belies the destruction left in the storm’s county’s shelters that first night. Braving torrential rains, flooded roads and wake. Hundreds of felled trees block dozens of Anticipating the need for enhanced wind-driven debris, Henrico’s public safety roads; in some places, rampaging storm waters communication with its residents, Henrico creates personnel respond to hundreds of emergencies have stripped asphalt from roadways, making a special public phone line—501-7800—that and additional service calls. By 6:30 p.m. high them impassable as well. Roads that are open lack quickly is dubbed the “Hurricane Hotline.” winds have made travel perilous on the county’s functioning signal lights, posing problems for Designed to answer residents’ storm-related roads, especially for oversized emergency drivers and traffic police. Hundreds of residents questions and provide non-emergency vehicles, but fire, EMS and police continue to find uprooted trees resting against or—in many information around-the-clock, the hotline also is respond to life-threatening calls. Fire and EMS cases—inside their homes. Most of Henrico’s intended to keep police and fire phone lines open units will respond to 585 calls before the day is homes and businesses have neither electricity nor for emergency communications. The hotline stays over, while police will respond to another 1,165 water. active for more than two weeks, providing calls for service. But clean-up and recovery efforts are well information on a variety of key storm-related under way. issues. In the three days following Isabel, the Hurricane Hotline fields calls at a rate of 175 to 200 per hour; all told, it handles well in excess of 5,000 calls from Henrico residents that weekend and another 3,400 calls the following week. County staff log more than 160 hours to operate the special public-service line. The county shifts its regular communications programs into emergency mode as well. Henrico County Television Comcast Channel 37 provides a continuous stream of emergency bulletins, broadcasting information on road closings, health advisories, water availability, debris removal and more. The county Web site offers up-to-the- minute emergency updates as well. Anticipating the likelihood of power outages throughout the region, staff also maintain constant contact with print and broadcast media to ensure that residents receive timely, accurate information. The Board of Supervisors officially activates the EOC; the center will operate continuously the next 11 days, directing the county’s on-the- ground response and recovery efforts. By 9 p.m. The Emergency Operations Center Policy Room: (left to right) Assistant Chief of Fire Services Nicholas J. Caputo, Fire Marshal Roy E. Sprouse, Fire Chief Ronald L. Mastin, Police Major W. M. Bullock, Jr. and Chief of Police the center is fully operational—all that remains is Col. Henry Stanley, Jr. the arrival of Isabel. Sept. 18. By the time Isabel makes landfall at 1 p.m., smacking North Carolina’s Outer Banks “We are working to ensure public safety in all “In many ways, recovery after a hurricane is a with 100 mph winds and a storm surge that makes aspects and meet our residents’ needs in every more significant problem than going through the rivers flow backward, the hurricane’s outer bands way possible,” said Chief of Police H. W. Stanley, storm itself, when the focus is on providing are already lashing Henrico with heavy rains and Jr. “Our officers are doing that.” emergency and safety services,” Hazelett said. steadily strengthening winds. Meteorologists say Fire Chief Ron Mastin applauds the group “But your response both during and after the the storm’s course will carry it directly over effort involved in protecting Henrico’s residents. storm will be inadequate if you haven’t planned Henrico. “The coordination and cooperation among well in advance.” The combination of rain and wind begins departments has been very good,” Mastin said. Public Works crews, working 12-hour shifts, proving lethal for Henrico’s trees. They fall in “We’ve asked for a lot from our people, and they begin the daunting task of clearing the county’s scores, covering roadways and snapping power have really stepped up to the plate and met the roads of debris.