Emergency Evacuation Procedures

Purpose of Evacuation Procedures

• Guidelines established for organizing citizen evacuations during emergencies.
• Emphasis on early establishment of an Incident Command System and continual plan updates.

Evacuation Planning Factors

• Command structure must be established.
• Assess the need for evacuation versus in-place sheltering.
• Early notification to the Police Department is crucial.
• Identification of evacuation areas and required resources.
• Evacuation time frames and shelter site preparations should be determined.

Areas of Consideration in Evacuation

• Activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is necessary.
• A designated Police Liaison Sector and robust communications are essential.
• Establishment of a Transportation Branch for evacuees is required.

Levels of Evacuation

• Site Evacuation: Small number of citizens, quick return (1-2 hours).
• Intermediate Level Evacuation: Involves larger groups, duration of 2-4 hours, requires off-site shelters.
• Large-Scale Evacuation: Thousands may need evacuation, lasting hours to days, high resource demand, EOC activated for support.

Duration and Updates on Evacuation

• Sustained until risk in the area is resolved, with updates for evacuees essential to avoid re-evacuations.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Red Cross manages shelters post-evacuation, requiring timely notification for preparation.
• Evacuation plans must include identified shelter sites and necessary personnel.

Command Structure in Evacuations

• Planning Section: Responsible for creating and modifying the evacuation plan.
• Operations Section: Manages the actual evacuation process, supported by various branches.

Command Responsibilities

• Rapid assessment of evacuation necessity and perimeter establishment.
• Ensure communication of shelter locations and manage police and fire resources.

Communication Protocols

• Utilize a separate radio frequency for Evacuation Branch communication.
• Notify public through media about evacuation instructions and shelter information.

Police and Evacuation Branch Involvement

• Police to provide ranking officers for effective communication and coordination.
• Evacuation process largely facilitated by police departments, ensuring traffic control and zone security.

Action Plan for On-Site Notification

• Door-to-door outreach may involve uniformed personnel providing clear evacuation instructions.
• Utilize PA systems and sirens for rapid notifications when needed.

Refusal to Evacuate

• Document refusals for follow-up but do not enforce evacuations against individual decisions.
• Employ persuasive techniques while respecting personal autonomy.

Information and Public Communication

• Establish an information hotline for citizens to address concerns and queries regarding the evacuation.
• Coordinate media involvement to disseminate consistent and accurate information during evacuations.### Refusals and Reporting
• Refusals must be documented and relayed to the Branch Officer via radio communication.

Transportation Sector within Evacuation Branch

• Establish a Transportation Sector to facilitate citizen transportation during evacuations.
• Stage ambulances and transport vehicles to assist individuals needing shelter transport.
• Identify non-ambulatory individuals to ensure they receive necessary transportation.

Responsibilities of Transportation Branch/Sector

• Acquire at least two buses and additional transport vehicles for evacuation needs.
• Prepare all transportation resources in advance for immediate deployment.
• Assign a firefighter or police officer to each transportation vehicle equipped with a radio for communication.
• Coordinate pick-up points and locations for citizens requiring transportation assistance.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

• Activation of the EOC occurs during significant or major evacuations, involving key city department heads.
• The EOC focuses on deploying city resources to manage incidents and support evacuation operations.
• The Planning Section is tasked with maintaining communication between Command and the EOC.

Communication Protocols for Planning Section's EOC Liaison Officer

• Establish a radio link with the EOC using a separate communication channel.
• Set up a cellular phone connection with the EOC, utilizing specific phone numbers.
• Gather immediate status updates from Command to relay to EOC Fire Officer.
• Report any strategic changes, problems, or planning updates promptly to the EOC.
• Provide progress reports every 30 minutes, or more frequently if requested by the EOC.
• Serve as the communication bridge between the EOC and Command.

Operations Duration and Return of Evacuees

• The EOC remains operational throughout the evacuation process, including the return phase of evacuees.
• The Incident Commander of the fire department makes decisions regarding the return of evacuees.
• EOC staff has exclusive authority to approve the return process, not permitting other city agencies to interfere.
• The Planning Section collaborates to create a structured return plan for evacuees.
• Reactivation of the Transportation Sector may be necessary to facilitate the return of evacuees to their homes.

Purpose of Evacuation Procedures

• Guidelines established for organizing citizen evacuations during emergencies.
• Emphasis on early establishment of an Incident Command System and continual plan updates.

Evacuation Planning Factors

• Command structure must be established.
• Assess the need for evacuation versus in-place sheltering.
• Early notification to the Police Department is crucial.
• Identification of evacuation areas and required resources.
• Evacuation time frames and shelter site preparations should be determined.

Areas of Consideration in Evacuation

• Activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is necessary.
• A designated Police Liaison Sector and robust communications are essential.
• Establishment of a Transportation Branch for evacuees is required.

Levels of Evacuation

• Site Evacuation: Small number of citizens, quick return (1-2 hours).
• Intermediate Level Evacuation: Involves larger groups, duration of 2-4 hours, requires off-site shelters.
• Large-Scale Evacuation: Thousands may need evacuation, lasting hours to days, high resource demand, EOC activated for support.

Duration and Updates on Evacuation

• Sustained until risk in the area is resolved, with updates for evacuees essential to avoid re-evacuations.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Red Cross manages shelters post-evacuation, requiring timely notification for preparation.
• Evacuation plans must include identified shelter sites and necessary personnel.

Command Structure in Evacuations

• Planning Section: Responsible for creating and modifying the evacuation plan.
• Operations Section: Manages the actual evacuation process, supported by various branches.

Command Responsibilities

• Rapid assessment of evacuation necessity and perimeter establishment.
• Ensure communication of shelter locations and manage police and fire resources.

Communication Protocols

• Utilize a separate radio frequency for Evacuation Branch communication.
• Notify public through media about evacuation instructions and shelter information.

Police and Evacuation Branch Involvement

• Police to provide ranking officers for effective communication and coordination.
• Evacuation process largely facilitated by police departments, ensuring traffic control and zone security.

Action Plan for On-Site Notification

• Door-to-door outreach may involve uniformed personnel providing clear evacuation instructions.
• Utilize PA systems and sirens for rapid notifications when needed.

Refusal to Evacuate

• Document refusals for follow-up but do not enforce evacuations against individual decisions.
• Employ persuasive techniques while respecting personal autonomy.

Information and Public Communication

• Establish an information hotline for citizens to address concerns and queries regarding the evacuation.
• Coordinate media involvement to disseminate consistent and accurate information during evacuations.### Refusals and Reporting
• Refusals must be documented and relayed to the Branch Officer via radio communication.

Transportation Sector within Evacuation Branch

• Establish a Transportation Sector to facilitate citizen transportation during evacuations.
• Stage ambulances and transport vehicles to assist individuals needing shelter transport.
• Identify non-ambulatory individuals to ensure they receive necessary transportation.

Responsibilities of Transportation Branch/Sector

• Acquire at least two buses and additional transport vehicles for evacuation needs.
• Prepare all transportation resources in advance for immediate deployment.
• Assign a firefighter or police officer to each transportation vehicle equipped with a radio for communication.
• Coordinate pick-up points and locations for citizens requiring transportation assistance.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

• Activation of the EOC occurs during significant or major evacuations, involving key city department heads.
• The EOC focuses on deploying city resources to manage incidents and support evacuation operations.
• The Planning Section is tasked with maintaining communication between Command and the EOC.

Communication Protocols for Planning Section's EOC Liaison Officer

• Establish a radio link with the EOC using a separate communication channel.
• Set up a cellular phone connection with the EOC, utilizing specific phone numbers.
• Gather immediate status updates from Command to relay to EOC Fire Officer.
• Report any strategic changes, problems, or planning updates promptly to the EOC.
• Provide progress reports every 30 minutes, or more frequently if requested by the EOC.
• Serve as the communication bridge between the EOC and Command.

Operations Duration and Return of Evacuees

• The EOC remains operational throughout the evacuation process, including the return phase of evacuees.
• The Incident Commander of the fire department makes decisions regarding the return of evacuees.
• EOC staff has exclusive authority to approve the return process, not permitting other city agencies to interfere.
• The Planning Section collaborates to create a structured return plan for evacuees.
• Reactivation of the Transportation Sector may be necessary to facilitate the return of evacuees to their homes.