Public Works the first responders who are there until the emergency is over eRoadTrack – A Proven Snowplow AVL since 1999 Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) Integration Real-time Plow Progress Tracking (Mileage and %) Real-time Material Usage Tracking and Control Advanced AVL for Managing Multiple Fleets Control and Reduce Material Usage Cost Fully GIS Integrated .NET COTS Application Scalable & Expandable System Architecture January 2011 Vol. 78, No. 1 The APWA Reporter, the official magazine of the American Public Works Association, covers all facets of public works for APWA members including industry news, legislative actions, management issues and emerging technologies. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUE INSIDE APWA 2 President’s Message 8 New rating system to take sustainability to the next level 10 APWA partners with PNS for joint Snow Conference 13 Environmental Engineers: Attain recognition as a Board Certified Environmental Engineer 14 Index to 2010 articles 23 2011 Editorial Calendar 6 COLUMNS 6 Washington Insight 22 The Road to Excellence 24 International Idea Exchange 62 Ask Ann FEATURES 30 Texas Public Works Response Team: On the front lines of disaster response 34 Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network: An active and successful first two years for IPWMAN 25 36 Exercising your Public Works Emergency Operations Plan: Planning and conducting a tabletop exercise 40 New Madrid Fault National Exercise 42 DPW’s as first responders: that’s nice, but what does it mean? 44 How are local governments ensuring energy assurance for their communities? 46 The need to have temporary debris storage and reduction sites 49 Communication interoperability 50 Interoperability: Why should we care? 52 Am I responsible…protecting animals from disasters? 54 Public Works: The first responders who are there until the emergency is over 30 56 Harness the power of social media in disaster response 59 New emergency management training for the public works community 60 The Public Works Field Operations Center: a key to a successful disaster response MARKETPLACE 64 Products in the News 65 Professional Directory CALENDARS 27 Education Calendar 68 World of Public Works Calendar 68 Index of Advertisers 46 January 2011 APWA Reporter 1 APWA must take a lead role in disaster preparedness George R. Crombie, MPA APWA President ne of my top five priorities 1. Benchmark the current APWA as APWA President is to cre- emergency management ini- ate the foundation for an tiatives and training outcomes APWA Emergency Response with other comparable organi- Official Magazine of the Plan. In my remarks at our annual zations. The goal is to identify American Public Works Association Congress this past August, I stated the “best practices in the emer- PUBLISHER the following: “Since the 1980s we gency management field.” American Public Works Association 2345 Grand Blvd., Suite #700 have encountered more natural di- Kansas City, MO 64108-2625 2. Evaluate existing mutual aid saster insurance claims than ever be- (800) 848-APWA (Member Services Hotline) systems currently up and run- (816) 472-6100 (Kansas City metro area) fore. The droughts in the South and ning in the public works and FAX (816) 595-5330 West, hurricanes in Florida and Lou- e-mail: [email protected] utility sector. The goal is to Website: www.apwa.net isiana, floods in the Midwest, and identify “best practices in class.” EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR record-breaking snowstorms in the Peter B. King Mid-Atlantic states are all signs of 3. Investigate funding opportuni- EDITOR a changing climate. Man-made and ties at the federal level that can R. Kevin Clark natural disasters signal a call to ac- be dedicated to public works GRAPHIC DESIGNER tion to the public works community training, education and resourc- Julie Smith to come together to craft a National es. The goal is to ensure that ADVERTISING SALES Amanda Daniel R. Kevin Clark APWA Emergency Response Plan. public works as a first responder Chris Myers Kansas City Liaison is getting the training and sup- (800) 800-0341 (816) 595-5230 “If public works is going to be a first port at the national level that is APWA WASHINGTON OFFICE responder, then we need to put in required to prepare public works 1275 K Street NW, Suite 750 place the legislation, legal agree- officials in the time of an emer- Washington, D.C. 20005-4083 (202) 408-9541 FAX (202) 408-9542 ments, training and partnerships gency event. Disclaimer: The American Public Works Association that will allow public works officials assumes no responsibility for statements and/or to share resources across the country 4. Examine current emergency opinions advanced by either editorial or advertising and the world in the time of man- management training activities contributors to this issue. APWA reserves the right at the chapter level and the sup- to refuse to publish and to edit manuscripts made and natural disasters. to conform to the APWA Reporter standards. port being provided by APWA Publisher’s Notice: The APWA Reporter, January “This year’s APWA budget includes National. The goal is to ensure 2011, Vol. 78, No. 1 (ISSN 0092-4873; Publications twenty thousand dollars of seed that our chapters are getting Agreement No. 40040340). The APWA Reporter is published monthly by the American Public money dedicated to building a Na- consistent guidance on emer- Works Association, 2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite tional Emergency Management Re- gency training. 700, Kansas City, MO 64108-2625. Subscription rate is $169 for nonmembers and $25 for chapter- sponse Plan for public works.” sponsored students. Periodicals postage paid at 5. Prepare and submit recommen- Kansas City, MO and additional mailing offices. To meet these goals, I’m happy to re- dations to the APWA Board of POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the APWA port that I have appointed an Emer- Directors by this June as to the Reporter, 2345 Grand Boulevard, #700, Kansas City, MO 64108-2625. Canada returns to: Station A, P.O. gency Management Think Tank steps that APWA should take as Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5. comprised of APWA members to re- an organization in crafting a Reprints and Permissions: Information is available at port back to the Board of Directors National APWA Emergency Re- www.apwa.net/Publications/Reporter/guidelines.asp. in June on recommended actions to sponse Plan. The goal is to chart © 2011 by American Public Works Association position our membership in the best a pathway forward with clear Address Change? goals and objectives as to how To alert us of a change to your membership record, possible way to address man-made contact an APWA Membership Specialist at (800) and natural disasters. I have asked APWA should prepare and train 848-APWA or [email protected]. the members of this special commit- its members for man-made and The APWA Reporter is printed by Harmony Printing tee to address the following issues: natural emergency events in the & Development Co., Liberty, MO. future. 2 APWA Reporter January 2011 “In preparing for battle I have always ter 9/11, FEMA became part of the De- (ICS), multi-agency coordination sys- found that plans are useless, but planning partment of Homeland Security (DHS). tems, and public information systems. is indispensable.” – Dwight D. Eisen- hower The terrorist attacks on 9/11 became The federal emergency response um- the catalyst for the federal enactment brella was intended to provide for a What message do you think the gen- of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. seamless response by the federal gov- eral was trying to convey and how does The goal of the Act was to coordinate ernment during an emergency event. it relate to public works and managing the federal response to all natural and (Many agencies within the federal disasters? By looking at the three stages human-made disasters. DHS is a single government also provide assistance of disaster planning we can hopefully federal response structure for dealing and funding depending on the nature answer this question. with training, planning, and coordi- of the incident.) The organizational Stage: I Federal, State and Local nating response and recovery efforts structure created by the federal gov- Roles in Emergency Planning stemming from terrorist attacks, major ernment to deal with emergencies has disasters, and other designated disas- been duplicated in most states; some In 1979, President Carter by executive ters. The Secretary of Homeland Securi- communities at varying degrees have order formed the Federal Emergency ty was directed by Directive 5 (HSPD-5) followed suit. The system was designed Management Agency (FEMA). In 1988, to develop a National Incident Man- as a pathway providing for the flow of the U.S. Congress passed the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency agement System (NIMS) and a National resources, expertise, communication Assistance Act (P.L. 100-707), giving Response Plan (NRP). The goal of NIMS and coordination in the time of an FEMA the responsibility for coordinat- was to create three key organizational emergency. In non-emergency times ing government-wide relief efforts. Af- systems: Incident Command System this system is a pathway in providing “When aligned with organizational objectives, diversity Diversity can be a powerful contributor to the organization’s Awareness competitive advantage.” – Dr. Edward E. Hubbard, Author, Corner Measuring Diversity Results AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION Mission Statement: The American Public Works Association serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DIRECTOR, REGION IV DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE, (Past APWA Presidents) George R. Crombie, MPA Tommy Brown ENGINEERING & Senior Faculty Member, Public Superintendent of Fleet TECHNOLOGY Larry T. Koehle, Chair Works Administration Services Patty Hilderbrand, P.E. Norwich University City of LaGrange, GA Program Management & Robert Albee Erwin F.