Emergency manager magazine, Fall 2000

Emergency
MANAGER

FALL 2000
Special Section: School Safety
Drought Update
Big Bird 2000 Lands at Hartsfield
Governor's Public Safety Award Winners

Emergency Manager is the official newsletter of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency
Lisa Janak, Editor
Honorable Roy E. Barnes Governor
Gary W. McConnell Director
Lisa Ray Public Affairs Director
Ken Davis Public Affairs Officer
Buzz Weiss Public Affairs Coordinator
Lisa Janak Multi-Media Coordinator
Jeff Jellets Constituent Services
Coordinator
Published by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency Post Office Box 18055 Atlanta, Georgia 30316
PHONE 1-(800)-TRY-GEMA
(404) 635-7000 FAX (404) 635-7205
Web site www.state.ga.us/GEMA

From the Director
GEMA Helps Students Return to Safer Schools
When Georgia's more that 2 million school children returned to the classroom in August, it was against the backdrop of unprecedented and aggressive efforts to make those classrooms safer and more conducive to learning than ever before.
In only two years, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency's (GEMA) School Safety Project has become a nationally recognized model. The project gained impetus in April 1999 when Governor Roy E. Barnes signed Senate Bill 74 into law, requiring every public school in Georgia to develop and maintain a safety plan that addresses the entire gamut of risks including the potential for natural disasters, weapons, gang activity, drugs, bomb threats and acts of violence.
Since its inception, the School Safety Project has developed a comprehensive and wide-ranging program that has provided extensive training opportunities for more than 25,000 educators and public safety and emergency management personnel across the state.
This past fiscal year, more than 20 statewide conferences and regional workshops were conducted. In addition, GEMA's area school safety coordinators continued to work closely on a daily basis with individual schools in designing safety plans, conducting site surveys and carrying out exercises. Approximately 275 site surveys were conducted, two dozen exercises were designed and evaluated, and at least 600 school safety plans were submitted for review. Training in visual screening for weapons was provided to 2,500 school bus drivers around the state. Copies of the 2000 Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Guide for Schools also were distributed to every public, private and adult technical school in Georgia.
The Project's most recent initiative is the "In The Zone" web site (www.ganet.org/inthezone), where students can anonymously report threats, tips on weapons or drugs, and other information to promote school safety. Since going online in August, the web site has received more than 2,500 hits.
No school or community is immune from the potential for violence, but we can take some comfort and optimism in the knowledge that school violence can be prevented. Doing so is a cooperative and collaborative effort on the part of many diverse people and organizations. We are grateful for the support of Governor Barnes and the Georgia General Assembly, and for the constructive partnership of Georgia's education and public safety communities, as well as parents and students.
Sincerely,

GARY W. McCONNELL

1

Fall 2000 EMERGENCY MANAGER

Exceptional EMAs
GEMA Recognizes Ray Jarrett

A common thread running through most emergency management agency (EMA) directors in Georgia is that they usually wear more than one official "hat" in their communities.
Blakely-Early County EMA Director Ray Jarrett is no exception. At last count, Jarrett held three posts that fit within the realm of public safety and public service. Not only is he the local EMA director, but he is also the Early County Code Enforcement Officer and one of the assistant postmasters for the city of Arlington.
When asked why he takes on so much responsibility in this county of approximately 12,000 people, Jarrett replied, "When you live in a place with folks who you know and care about, you do as much as you can to make sure that everything runs smoothly."
As EMA Director, Jarrett is responsible for protecting the lives, health and property of the people in the city of Blakely and Early County from all types of hazards through a comprehensive, risk-based program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Jarrett says he even feels responsible for hurricane evacuees from the Florida panhandle who travel north on U.S. Highway 27 to escape storms from the Gulf of Mexico.
Since becoming EMA Director in 1980, Jarrett and his staff have coordinated local efforts with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and other state and federal agencies during several natural disasters.
"We received Presidential Disaster Declarations in 1990, 1994 and 1998 because of severe flooding. The county sits in two river basins. The Chattahoochee River and River Basin are located along the western border of the county and the eastern part of the county is in the Flint River Basin," Jarrett said. Add to that the county's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and it
EMERGENCY MANAGER Fall 2000

is easy to see why severe storms and flooding rank high on Early County's hazard list.
Another fixture on the Chattahoochee that impacts the county is the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant. The plant is located in Houston County, Alabama, adjacent to the Chattahoochee River and Early County. Plant Farley generates electrical power for customers in the Southeast and is operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNOC). Alabama Power Company owns the 25,000-acre facility.
"We maintain a higher than normal state of preparedness for a county this size because half of the ten-mile emergency planning zone surrounding Plant Farley is in Early County," says Jarrett. "The way we [maintain increased preparedness] is through training, training and more training."
Although the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) require the county to conduct evaluated radiological emergency preparedness (REP) exercises every two years, BlakelyEarly County EMA, along with GEMA and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division, conduct at least three drills a year to demonstrate their response capabilities in the unlikely event of an accident at Plant Farley.
"You never know when you may have to use your training for the real thing," Jarrett says.
The real thing happened August 16, when a small pump fire at Plant Farley's water intake structure approximately one half mile from the main reactor building resulted in SNOC officials declaring an "alert," the second least severe of the four emergency classifications designated by the NRC. The fire did not cause any injuries or interrupt plant operations, and the "alert" was cancelled after Plant Farley's fire brigade quickly extinguished the fire.

Blakely-Early County EMA Director Ray Jarrett

"This was the first time in my 21

years as EMA Director that an `alert'

was declared at Plant Farley. It boosted

my confidence in the notification

system and the necessity of our

training. I would rather err on the side

of safety," said Jarrett.

Jarrett follows state and federal

training standards, and he successfully

completed

the

International

Association

of

Emergency

Management (IAEM) curriculum

requirements to be designated a

Certified Emergency Manager in 1995.

He is one of three people in Georgia

currently holding this designation.

Jarrett is now studying to achieve

GEMA's Master Certified Emergency

Manager designation.

One of Jarrett's greatest sources of

pride is the Blakely-Early County EMA

web site. "Several departments in local

government and the school system use

it, particularly to monitor weather

conditions. I am glad we are able to

provide this worldwide service for

anyone who wants information about

our county or agency," he said.

In order to view the web site and

learn more about Blakely-Early County

EMA, go to www.state.ga.us/GEMA

and click on Disaster Resources. At

Georgia EMA web sites, click on

Georgia EMA Links. Ken Davis n

2

In Brief
New Field Coordinators Join GEMA Staff
By Lisa Janak Multi-Media Coordinator

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) welcomes three new area field coordinators. With these newest hires, eight field coordinators are now located throughout Georgia to assist local emergency managers and government officials with emergency management activities and federal and state assistance after a disaster. Field coordinators also provide specialized technical and management consultation services to local governments as well as private industry. They are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support emergency response and recovery operations anywhere disaster strikes in Georgia.
Gary Rice serves southwest Georgia, including Baker, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties. With more than 14 years' experience in the public safety field, Rice has been a firefighter and a certified emergency medical technician and paramedic who has been awarded four Pre-Hospital Save Awards. Most recently, he was a Special

Gary Rice

Allen Robinson

Timothy Taylor

Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) medic for the Special Response Team of the Crisp County Sheriff Office.
Allen Robinson serves southeast Georgia, including Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce and Wayne counties. Robinson has been active in emergency management for more than 20 years, serving as Emergency Management Director of Wayne County for more than 10 years. He has assisted with numerous Presidentially Declared Disasters, including Hurricane Hugo, Tropical Storm Alberto and

Hurricane Floyd. Robinson is a certified

emergency manager who will soon

receive his Master Certification.

Timothy Taylor serves south central

Georgia, including Appling, Atkinson,

Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley,

Clinch, Coffee, Dodge, Echols, Irwin,

Jeff Davis, Lanier, Montgomery, Pulaski,

Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Ware, Wheeler

and Wilcox counties. Taylor has an

extensive risk management background,

having worked in the insurance industry

for more than 10 years, and was most

recently a Screener/Validation Officer

with GEMA.

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Disaster Losses Kit Available

The Disaster Losses Kit: Help from the IRS (Catalog No. 24928R) offers tax

advice from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service on dealing with losses from

disasters. The kit contains tax forms needed to claim a casualty loss for property

destroyed by a natural disaster and answers to common questions, such as how to

extend the time needed to file a return and how to identify which disaster losses to

claim. Because many disaster victims may have lost tax records, the IRS also

explains how victims can obtain copies of previously filed tax returns free of

charge. Call 1-800-829-3676 for to obtain a free copy. For more information on

federal taxes and disasters, visit www.irs.gov.

n

System Helps Find Alzheimer's Patients
The Laurens County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has received "The Beacon of Hope," an emergency mobile locator system that will be used to find missing people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. The system, sponsored by Advocates for Alzheimer's Care, Inc., helps find patients who wear a special wristband that can be leased on a monthly basis. For more information on the system, contact Laurens EMA at (912) 277-2911.

3

Fall 2000 EMERGENCY MANAGER

Rainfall Deficit, Dry Conditions Still A Problem
By Buzz Weiss Public Affairs Coordinator

Despite welcome rains in September, the drought still persists and the need for water

As of mid-October, the KeetchByram Drought Index, which is used to gauge the threat of wildfires, still showed

conservation in Georgia remains. The areas of the state where the potential for

drought is now in its third year, and fire was a concern. The time of year also

precipitation levels and other important creates some anxiety because after the

indicators linger below normal.

first frost, the fire danger rating worsens

"The situation has improved, but we as a result of the low humidity, occasion-

are still on the edge," warns Dr. David al high winds, and other factors, accord-

Stooksbury, state climatologist and a ing to the Georgia Forestry Commission.

professor of engineering at the University

Statewide restrictions on outdoor

of Georgia's College of Agricultural and water use, imposed earlier this year, are

Environmental Sciences.

expected to remain indefinitely. Several

According to Dr. Stooksbury, the communities have also put tougher

September rainfall was above average, restrictions in place, although some have

but the level of rainfall in October offered been lifted since late summer.

no relief. The resulting impact on Georgia

"We cannot become complacent,

has been mixed, he adds. For the most because the drought continues to present

part, Georgia's growing season has con- a potential health and safety threat to

cluded, and the state's farmers are now Georgia," says Georgia Emergency

focusing on their harvest. However, rye Management Agency (GEMA) Director

and wheat seedlings need adequate Gary W. McConnell. "The rainfall deficit

rainfall to develop good stands.

threatens our economy, increases the risk

Agricultural experts say the state's of wildfires and threatens our supply of

farming and agribusiness losses are drinking water."

estimated at nearly $750 million as a

In July, GEMA, in cooperation with

result of the drought. "This could very the Georgia Association of Broadcasters,

well be the costliest drought that we've distributed public service announcements

had on record," says University of to nearly 300 radio and TV stations

Georgia agricultural economist John statewide to encourage water

McKissick.

conservation and offer tips on how to

Although surface water levels are reduce water usage.

good in southeast and south-central Georgia, the surface water levels elsewhere in the state are a "major concern," says Dr. Stooksbury.
"If you were to draw an imaginary

Among the tips: l Observe the outdoor water
restrictions. l Check for plumbing leaks. A small
leak can waste as much as 15 - 20

line across the state from southwest to northeast, the area along and northwest of that line is experiencing extremely low flows," Dr. Stooksbury explains. "The surface water conditions are not only low, but they are notably low for October, which is a traditionally dry month to

gallons of water each day. l Make sure the washing machine or
dishwasher is fully loaded. l If washing dishes by hand, do not let
the water run. l When preparing meals, use a pan of
water instead of running water to

begin with." Surface moisture levels, meanwhile,
were reported near normal for October.

clean vegetables and fruits. l Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the
refrigerator instead of running the

But that was not necessarily good news because normal rainfall for October is so low.

faucet until the water becomes cool.

l Do not let the water run while

brushing teeth or shaving.

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EMERGENCY MANAGER Fall 2000

4

Time Off Means Hard Work for GEMA Search and Rescue Expert
By Buzz Weiss Public Affairs Coordinator

"If you ever watched `Survivor' on TV, that's what this was like, except we had lives at stake." That was GEMA Exercise Training Officer Tracy Sargent's description of a grueling week-long search and rescue operation in the remote wilderness of mountainous central Mexico in August, for which she and 13 fellow searchers and their four dogs had been hand-picked at the request of the U.S. Department of State.
The quest began when 15-year-old Jorge Contreras of Colima, Mexico, and his uncle, 42-year-old Randolf Jaffee of Chicago, got lost in the fog during what was supposed to have been a brisk one-day hike in the rugged and isolated Nevado de Colima National Park in Jalisco, Mexico.
They were reported missing by worried relatives that night. Their vehicle was discovered the following day, but there was no sign of either hiker. Soon, the hunt moved into high gear. Because one of the missing men was an American, Mexican authorities requested assistance in the search from the U.S. Department of State.
The Department of State turned to the elite 1st Special Response Group (1SRG), a California-based volunteer search and rescue organization with an international reputation for its high standards and distinguished track record. Fourteen highly skilled 1SRG members and four specially trained search and rescue (SAR) dogs were selected from around the nation, based on their training and experience.
Sargent and her German shepherd, Brooke, were among those chosen. Sargent is a veteran of almost 10 years in search and rescue operations. Brooke, who has been her partner for more than four years, is cross-trained in air scent, tracking and cadaver search. Like her 1SRG colleagues, Sargent took more than a week of personal leave and paid her own expenses to help conduct the search.
At its best, the environment of

Standing at an elevation of approximately 12,000 feet in front of an active volcano inside the Nevado de
Colima National Park in Mexico are (from left to right): Larios, Jalisco Proteccion Civil Member; Joel Hardin, Lead Mantracker; Tracy Sargent, K-9 Handler; Brooke, Search and Rescue dog; and Juan, Jalisco Proteccion
Civil Member. Jorge Contreras was found in the canyon to the left shortly after this picture was taken.

Nevado de Colima is harsh. Its weather system can change suddenly and unexpectedly, deteriorating from sunny skies to impenetrable fog or brutal, stinging hailstorms. Temperatures can plunge from a balmy 65 degrees to a chilling 30 degrees within hours. There are few wild animals but with both active and dormant volcanoes that give way to brushy, secluded canyons, the beautiful, yet foreboding landscape can be unforgiving to all but the most experienced and skilled outdoorsmen.
According to Sargent, the missing hikers were clearly "out of their league." In a situation like this, the unfortunate usually succumb to hypothermia or some other type of exposure.
The 1SRG team left Atlanta and arrived in Guadalajara on August 11, four days after Jaffee and Contreras were reported missing, and drove to the village of LaJolla, where their primitive base camp was located. The team was well prepared for its mission, with members

carrying their own supplies and equipment, including extra clothing, rain gear, food and bedding, and radio equipment. A medical officer checked members' vital signs daily and administered medications designed to help compensate for the thin air at the 14,000 foot elevation. Interestingly, dogs' stamina and tracking abilities are not affected by high altitudes
"It was physically demanding," Sargent recalled. "After about every ten steps we would have to stop and try to suck in enough air to keep going."
The hunt covered thousands of acres, with team members rising before 7:00 each morning to begin the 90-minute drive from the spartan base camp to the search area. The actual search would forge on for up to seven hours before the trackers made the punishing return drive to camp to evaluate the day's progress and plan for the next day.
But even a return to camp did not mean a return to the creature comforts we

5

Fall 2000 EMERGENCY MANAGER

take for granted. There was no heat nor running water. No utilities, whatsoever. Rescuers slept on cold floors and went for seven days without the simple luxury of a shower.
Searchers followed standard SAR protocols, a systematic process based on "lost person behavior" which presumes that the subject of a search will likely travel in a downhill direction and follow waterways.
Jorge apparently followed that pattern. After scouring selected areas for four days, specially trained "mantrackers," who look for footprints and physical debris, descended the barren slops of an inactive volcano into a forested ravine. They were followed by the dog teams, whose animals alerted to Jorge's scent. A short time later, the boy was spotted, waving his jacket, by a helicopter assisting in the search.
After transporting the boy to a hospital and interviewing him, the rescuers learned that he and his uncle became separated while following a winding creek down into a ravine where the older man apparently lost his footing and fell, disappearing from sight. Unable to reach him because of the steep drop, the boy moved to higher ground for a better view. His efforts to spot and rescue his uncle were unsuccessful, and he became lost.
"When we found Jorge, he was in pretty good shape, except for some scratches, bruises and an infected wound," said Sargent, who added that he had apparently survived his nine-day ordeal on candy bars and carefully rationed water.
The search for his uncle was terminated two days later, and as of late September, his body has not yet been found. Although searchers always hope that the person is still alive until evidence shows otherwise, Sargent speculated that Jaffee likely died from injuries related to his fall or from exposure.
Sargent has some advice for adventurous hikers, particularly those with little experience or know-how.
"If you are inexperienced, stay on the trail," warns Sargent. "Have a map and know how to read it. Take a compass and know how to use it. Be prepared for inclement weather and have a good supply of water, because it is more important than food in surviving a crisis like this."
She says hikers should let someone know where they are going, and those who do become lost should sit and wait,

The SAR Base was located at 12,000 feet on top of an inactive volcano. All staging, communications, briefings and debriefings for the search were held at the central radio communications site (top), which was was powered by generators and manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sargent and approximately 20
other people involved in the search along with four dogs slept inside the Base Camp building, located at an altitude of 9,600 feet (below). The building did not have electricity or indoor plumbing .

because they have a better chance of being found. Above all, Sargent says, "Do not panic."
Although Sargent and Brooke have been involved in hundreds of searches, the Mexican expedition helped them set some records. It was their longest search, and the highest altitude at which they have worked.
After a brief period of rest and relaxation, the team was ready to hit the trails again, embarking on a fugitive search and a hunt for a missing three-year-old in the weeks following their return home.
Search and rescue is clearly more than a job to Sargent, who is also an SAR

instructor and an incident command

specialist as well as a firefighter, certified

dog trainer and evaluator, emergency

medical technician, certified mantracker,

ham radio operator and scuba diver. The

Mexican assignment means more than

another line on her impressive resume,

however.

"This mission left me with memories

of a lifetime, and I am ready to do it

again," said Sargent on her return. "Not

only was it a privilege to represent the

United States, but it was a way for me to

pursue the three things that I enjoy most

. . . being outdoors, working with animals

and helping people."

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EMERGENCY MANAGER Fall 2000

6

Quake in Rockdale County Shakes Up Earthquake Perceptions in Georgia
By Lisa Ray Public Affairs Director

While parched plants and diminishing water supplies have been common and predictable consequences of continuing drought conditions across the state, residents of Rockdale County experienced a mild version of another calamity this summer an earthquake.
Although the August 30 earthquake only registered a 2.0 on the Richter scale, paling in comparison with the 6.0 or higher readings experienced by Californians, the rumblings alarmed residents in Rockdale County's Lake Capri and Paces Landing subdivisions.
According to Dr. Tim Long, a seismologist in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech, the association of the earthquake with the drought was indirect, although there may be a statistical variation in events following an increase in groundwater supplies. Long is quick to point out that there are many factors that can contribute to earthquakes, including filling a reservoir, draining a quarry or removing groundwater at some depth.
"Anything that changes the conditions of water concentration in an area of strong rocks under stress has the possibility of triggering an earthquake of this small size," Long explains.
Long said that while these small earthquakes create fairly intense noises, they usually are not large enough to cause severe damage. Residents reporting the noise to the Rockdale 911 center compared the rumblings to everything from blasting in a nearby rock quarry to lightning strikes.
Measurable seismic activity has not been limited to Rockdale County this year. The Lake Sinclair area experienced an even larger earthquake registering a 3.5 magnitude on January 18. "There are four or five areas that are generally active

in the Lake Sinclair area," says Long. Earthquakes also may occur near Lake Oconee, the Norris Lake community, Dacula, Clarks Hill Reservoir, Richard B. Russell Reservoir, Columbus and Macon.
"Earthquakes tend to occur in any area of the Piedmont Province and the area from the Coastal Plain to the Brevard Fault, but they may be more prevalent in an area of weakly fractured rock near the surface (i.e. stronger rocks) or near large reservoirs, which provide a trigger for the activity," says Long.
According to Long, Georgians should expect an earthquake with a 4.0 to 4.5 magnitude, which would cause minor damage such as cracking plaster or knocking items off shelves, approximately every 10 to 20 years.

"About every 100 years, we can expect a

magnitude of 5.0 to 5.5 in the Piedmont

that could cause more extensive damage,

such as widespread cracking of walls, and

toppling of chimneys," Long adds. "In

the Eastern United States, a major

earthquake has occurred every 100 years,

with the last in Charleston, South

Carolina in 1886. These large

earthquakes could cause extensive

damage over a wide area."

While the causes of earthquakes may

vary, one characteristic remains

constant earthquakes are highly

unpredictable. For more information on

earthquake activity in Georgia and how to

prepare for earthquakes, call Tyra Gore,

All Hazards Planner at (404) 635-7238 or

visit www.state.ga.us/GEMA.

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7

Fall 2000 EMERGENCY MANAGER

Georgia's School
Safety Project
Get In
THE ZONE
report tips and threats on school violence
www.ganet.org/ inthezone

SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPLEMENT
About GEMA's School Safety Project
School Bus Safety
Strategies to Reduce Bomb Threats
School Training Exercises

Emergency Manager is the official newsletter of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency
Lisa Janak, Editor
Honorable Roy E. Barnes Governor
Gary W. McConnell Director
Michael Dorn School Safety Specialist
Karen Franklin State School Safety Coordinator
Joe Adams Area School Safety Coordinator
Shauna Barnes Administrative Assistant
Yvette Calzadilla Area School Safety Coordinator
Tyler Cruse Area School Safety Coordinator
Brian Doss Area School Safety Coordinator
Steve Harris Area School Safety Coordinator
Andy Hester Area School Safety Coordinator
Brock Long Area School Safety Coordinator
David Morris Area School Safety Coordinator
Sonayia Shepherd Area School Safety Coordinator
Published by the Georgia Emergency Management
Agency Post Office Box 18055 Atlanta, Georgia 30316
PHONE 1-(800)-TRY-GEMA
(404) 635-7000 FAX (404) 635-7205
Web site www.state.ga.us/GEMA www.ganet.org/inthezone
1

GEMA's School Safety Project Makes the Grade
By Lisa Ray Public Affairs Director

Most parents do not think about it they just expect it. They assume that their children will be educated in a safe environment free from violence. However, incidents such as Heritage High in Rockdale County and countless reports of students bringing weapons to school have shattered this image.
The Georgia Emergency Management Agency's (GEMA) School Safety Project is working to help schools restore confidence by helping the state's schools recognize potential problems and intervene before acts of violence or unexpected crises occur.
Since the School Safety Project was initiated with the passage of Senate Bill 74 in April 1999, GEMA has continued to expand training and technical assistance on school safety issues in the education, emergency management and public safety communities. These services are provided through GEMA's 13 full-time school safety professionals.
Senate Bill 74 requires that every public school in Georgia develop and implement a wide-ranging safety plan to address acts of violence or terrorism, natural disasters, hazardous materials and radiological incidents. The law also requires GEMA to develop a model safety plan as a guide for local schools and to provide training and technical assistance to schools to develop their plans. This training includes crisis response team development, site surveys and safety audits, crisis management planning, exercise design, safe school planning, bus driver training, emergency operations planning, search and seizure, and bomb threat management. GEMA school safety coordinators also respond to school-related incidents.
In less than two years, GEMA's School Safety Project has made impressive progress. GEMA has provided training to more than 25,000 school faculty, public safety officials and others in 95 courses

offered throughout the state. More than 2,500 school bus drivers have been trained on visual screening for weapons in partnership with the Georgia State Patrol. An additional 400 participants attended the "Warning Signs of Youth Destructive Behaviors" workshop series presented throughout the state, while 200 participants attended the "In the Zone" school safety conference focusing on gun and crime interdiction within the 1,000 foot school safety zone.
In addition, GEMA has provided its "Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Guides for Schools" to every public, private and adult technical school in the state. With this guide, schools can enhance their existing plans and develop comprehensive strategies to deal with any crises that might occur. The "Safe Schools" video, distributed to both schools and emergency response agencies, provides further guidance and direction to educators and first responders.
With the launch of a new web site, www.ganet.org/inthezone, GEMA set a precedent by becoming the first state emergency management agency provide a forum for students to anonymously report potential problems and threats.
The site also features safety information and a youth resources directory for students, parents and schools. Developed in partnership with the Georgia Technology Authority and Georgia Bureau of Investigation, it has had more than 2,500 hits since it was unveiled in August.
"Georgia students deserve the opportunity to attend a school that provides a safe learning environment," said GEMA Director Gary W. McConnell. "School safety includes keeping campuses free of violence, weapons and drugs, as well as making sure that schools have plans in place for dealing with severe weather and other disasters. I am proud of the positive impact GEMA has made in helping make safe schools a reality." n

EMERGENCY MANAGER/SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPLEMENT

School Bus Safety Rules

For some 23 million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. Unfortunately, each year many youngsters are injured or killed in school bus incidents.
School bus-related crashes killed 128 people and injured an estimated 19,000 nationwide in 1997, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and General Estimates System (GES).
Over the past six years, approximately 66 percent of the deaths in fatal school bus related crashes were occupants of vehicles other than the school bus and 24 percent were pedestrians. About 6 percent were school bus passengers, and 1 percent were school bus drivers.
Of the pedestrians killed in school bus related crashes over this period, approximately 76 percent were struck by the school bus.
Although drivers of all vehicles are required to stop for a school bus when it is stopped to load or discharge passengers, children should not count on them to stop. The National Safety Council encourages parents to teach their youngsters these rules for getting on and off the school bus:
l When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness. Do not stray onto streets, alleys or private property.
l Line up away from the street or road as the school bus approaches. Wait until the bus has stopped and the door opens before stepping onto the roadway.
l Use the hand rail when stepping onto the bus.
l When on the bus, find a seat and sit down. Loud talking or other noise can distract the bus driver and is not allowed. Never put head, arms or hands out of the window.
l Keep aisles clear books or bags are tripping hazards and can block the way in an emergency.
l Before you reach your stop, get ready to leave by getting your books and belongings together.

l At your stop, wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat. Then, walk to the front door and exit, using the hand rail.
l If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk at least ten feet ahead of the bus along the side of the road, until you can turn around and see the driver. Make sure that the driver can see you. Wait for a signal from the driver before beginning to cross. When the driver signals, walk across the road, keeping an eye out for sudden traffic changes.
l Do not cross the center line of the road until the driver has signaled that it is safe for you to begin walking.
l Stay away from the bus' rear wheels at all times.
The Council also suggests that parents review the correct way to cross the street with their children.

l Always stop at the curb or the edge of the road and look left, then right, and
then left again before crossing. l If students' vision is blocked, they
should move out to where drivers can
see them then stop, and look left-right-left again. Joe Adams n

Tips for Bus Drivers

Be aware of large groups of students who normally do not get off the bus together at the same time. l Notice the dynamics of these bus
stops. What usually goes on there? Who is normally there? l Listen to what is being said by the students. l Be aware of their body language. Are they poised for conflict?
Look at what they are doing when they get off the bus. l Is there an immediate flurry of
activity? l Are they retrieving things from
bookbags or behind bushes or picking up sticks? l Check your rearview mirror as you drive away.
Notice if someone different meets them at the bus stop. l Is this person an adult and not a
parent or guardian? Be aware of child predators.

l Are they meeting up with older kids who do not ride the bus or attend school? Be on the lookout for possible gang affiliation.
Notice changes in personal characteristics of your riders. l Are they usually outgoing and
suddenly detached and sullen? l Do they appear to be intoxicated in
some way?
Develop a good rapport with students. l Always make eye contact and speak
to each person as they board the bus. If they have anything deviant in mind for that trip, they may be less prone to act on it since you have looked them in the eye and called their name. l Know which riders have medical and/or emotional problems. This information could be helpful to first responders.

EMERGENCY MANAGER/SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPLEMENT

2

GEMA Helps to Improve School Bus Safety

Numerous studies show that students are safer traveling to school on a school bus than riding in a car. Nevertheless, there are 26 school bus-related fatalities in the United States each year. Emergency responders, public safety personnel and schools need to ensure that they are doing all they can to improve the safety of the approximately 997,000 students in Georgia who ride the bus to school every day.
This fall, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) began providing a one-hour presentation on school bus safety to schools upon request. A wide range of school transportation safety issues are covered, including the integration of school transportation issues into the school's emergency operations plan; current Georgia laws relating to school bus and school transportation operations; issues a school should

consider before and after a school bus accident; field trips and "activity bus" procedures; new technology; and suggestions on how to resolve disciplinary issues on the bus.
GEMA also initiated school bus extrication training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. Engineers from Blue Bird Body Company provided a firsthand look at bus design and construction and instruction on how to most efficiently begin the extrication process.
"This is the kind of training we all hope we never need to use," said GEMA Director Gary W. McConnell. "But with incidents such as the Murray County crash earlier this year, we must be prepared to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible, when these tragic events do occur."
This course was made possible

Resources
School Transportation News, a monthly newsletter for school pupil transportation directors: http://stnonline.com/stn/index.htm
National Transportation Safety Board: www.ntsb.gov
through a grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. Plans are under way to make the course available to local public safety and emergency response units throughout the state, pending future funding.
For more information, contact Grant Moore, Training Director, at (912) 993-4621. Karen Franklin n

A Comprehensive Look at School Safety

School safety is a very complex issue one that should be continuously viewed from new perspectives to ensure a comprehensive approach is taken to provide the safest environment possible.
Statistically, schools remain one of the safest places for our young people to be; however, incidents of bullying, harassment, fighting and weapons remain epidemic when compared to the lifetime impact they often bring.
As communities evaluate their school safety efforts, key areas identified include:
Policies and Procedures: Do student codes of conduct, policy manuals and disciplinary procedures support a comprehensive safe school environment?
Prevention Strategies: What methods are in place to prevention criminal acts, bullying, gang activity and discipline problems? How efficient and effective is the school's response to these problems?
Environmental Safety Issues: Has the school considered the impact of the
3

school facility and grounds in promoting a safe environment? Is the school facility "disaster resistant" and prepared for an emergency?
Emergency Operations Plans: Has each school developed an emergency operations plan that has been coordinated with local officials, implemented with all aspects of the school community and tested for feasibility?
Threat Management: Does each school have a systematic method for evaluating threats received, including bomb threats and threats to commit acts of violence, suicide, etc.?

Emotional Response and

Recovery: Has the school identified

early intervention techniques and

developed a system for referral and

response to the early warning signs of

violence? If a crisis occurs, do adequate

resources exist to respond to the needs

of the students, staff, parents and

community?

There is no one ready made solution

to school violence. It is critical that

every community develop strategies that

address local issues to ensure that

these measures can be supported by

each of partners in the school safety

community.

Karen Franklin n

EMERGENCY MANAGER/SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPLEMENT

Operation Lifesaver Provides Safety Tips
By Joe Adams Area School Safety Coordinator

Operation Lifesaver is a

nationwide, nonprofit public

information

organization

dedicated to reducing collisions, injuries,

and fatalities at highway-rail crossings as

well as discouraging trespassing on tracks

and trestles. It is sponsored cooperatively

by a wide variety of partners, including

federal, state and local government

agencies, highway safety and

transportation organizations, and the

nation's railroads. Operation Lifesaver

has the following tips:

Operation Lifesaver's tips for school bus drivers
l When approaching the crossing, slow down by shifting to a lower gear
(manual transmission) and test your
brakes. l Activate the four-way hazard lights
approximately 200 feet before the
crossing. l Scan your surroundings and check for
traffic behind you. Make sure your
intentions are known. l Choose an escape route in the event of
a brake failure or problems
behind you. l Stop no closer than 15 feet and no
farther than 50 feet from the nearest
rail, where you have the best view of
the tracks. l Look beyond the tracks to see if there
is traffic congestion, a signal, or a stop
sign. Is the containment area large
enough to allow the bus to completely
clear the crossing when stopped? Are
you absolutely sure? l Place the transmission in neutral and
press down on the service brake or set
the parking brakes. l Turn off the AM-FM radio and noisy
equipment, and silence the passengers. l If your laws and policies permit it,
open the service door and driver's
window. Look and listen for an
approaching train. l Check the crossing signals again
before proceeding. l At a multiple-track crossing, only stop
before the first set of tracks. When you

are sure no train is approaching on any track, proceed across all of the tracks until you have completely cleared them. l Cross the tracks in low gear. Do not change gears while crossing.
Special procedures
l Police Officer or Flagman at the Crossing: If a police officer or properly-identified railroad flagman is at the crossing, obey directions. If there is no flagman, and you believe the signals are malfunctioning, call your dispatcher to report the situation and find out how to proceed. Some crossings have an 800 number posted for reporting problems.
l Obstructed View of Tracks: Plan your route so it provides maximum sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings. Do not attempt to cross the tracks unless you can see far enough down the track that no trains are approaching. Be especially careful at "passive" crossings without gates, flashing lights, or bells. Even if there are active railroad signals, and they

EMERGENCY MANAGER/SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPLEMENT

indicate the tracks are clear, you must look and listen to be sure it is safe to proceed. l Containment or Storage Areas: If it will not fit, do not commit! Know the length of your bus and the size of the containment area at highway-rail intersections on the bus route. When approaching a crossing with a signal or a stop sign on the opposite side, pay attention to the amount of room. Be certain the bus has enough containment or storage area to clear completely the railroad tracks on the other side, in case there is a need to stop. l Evacuating a Bus: If your bus stalls or is stopped on the tracks, evacuate immediately. Have everyone get off the bus, moving far away from the tracks at an angle in the direction of the approaching train.
For more information or to schedule a free highway-rail safety presentation in your community, contact Operation Lifesaver by calling 1-800-537-6244 or visiting www.oli.org/oli.
Track Facts
Fact #1: You cannot judge the distance and speed of an oncoming train.
Fact #2: Railroad tracks, trestles, bridges and railroad yards are private property.
Fact #3: A train can appear on any track at any time.
Fact #4: Climbing between railcars is a deadly game.
Fact #5: Items thrown at a train or placed on the tracks can injure bystanders or you.
4

GEMA Offers Strategies to Reduce
Bomb Threats in Schools
By Steve Harris Area School Safety Coordinator

Since January, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) has received more than 60 reports of bomb threats in schools. Some were called in to the school or the local 911 center, others were written on a wall in the facility, and many were transmitted via e-mail or tip hotlines.
Many threats are not reported to GEMA, however, because school systems and local public safety agencies are not required to report them. In order for GEMA to compile accurate numbers that reflect the reality of the problem, all schools are encouraged to report these incidents when they occur.
The following information was compiled to enable educators to develop comprehensive bomb threat procedures and plans It is crucial for educators to coordinate with public safety, local prosecutors and juvenile court officials before implementing major changes in their school.
Applicable Georgia Statutes Relating to Bomb Threats
School officials and local public safety responders should become familiar with the following code sections.
Transmitting a False Public Alarm (O.C.G.A. 16-10-28) Terroristic Threats (O.C.G.A. 16-11-37) Disrupting a Public School (O.C.G.A. 20-2-1181) Hoax Devices (O.C.G.A. 16-7-85) Manufacturing, Transporting, or Distributing an Explosive Device (O.C.G.A. 16-7-82)
**Check with local law enforcement or a prosecutor for specifics in reference to the above charges.
Listed below are several suggestions your school, in conjunction with public

safety, may wish to consider if persistent bomb threats plague your facility or school system l Consider the reimbursement of the
emergency response effort to the community if the perpetrator is apprehended. Publicize this as a possible deterrent as the cost of the response effort often totals $1,000 to $4,000, depending on the jurisdiction and the amount of resources used in the response. l Offer rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals who make bomb threats. In some cases, community anti-crime groups will raise or supplement monetary efforts for the reward. Please note that law enforcement may have to devote an extra investigator to sort through legitimate and false leads in some cases. l Utilize a caller identification and/or recording system on the main switchboard of the facility to capture and trace incoming calls. Surveillance cameras monitoring pay phones on your school site can aid in your efforts to identify a suspect if the call is made from that particular phone. Also,

locating the pay phones within view of the main office could possibly deter a would-be bomb threat caller. l Make intercom announcements or publicize the arrests of anyone charged in relation to bomb threats in the local newspaper in order to deter future threats. Due to juvenile confidentiality laws, the names of juvenile offenders cannot be publicized or made known to the students or public with this method. l Announce to the student body that they will have to make up the extra instructional time missed at the end of the year due to the frequency of bomb threat calls received in your facility. Funding received by schools is based on minutes per day in class. Losing hours for repetitive bomb threats may financially impact the school. Please note that this may not be the best solution if the potential bomber is not a student or specifically wants the school to implement an extended schedule because of frequent threats. l Utilize a credibility assessment of each bomb threat call to determine whether or not an evacuation should ensue. A credibility assessment team comprising the principal, the school resource

5

EMERGENCY MANAGER/SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPLEMENT

officer (or a conference call to local law enforcement, fire and emergency management officials), and a counselor would work well to assess the call. Considerations such as the age of the caller, language, description of the device, knowledge of materials, motivation and occurrence of special events in the community could be included in your assessment. A bomb threat checklist could be utilized at every phone to assist the call-taker in obtaining vital investigative information. Consult with local, state, and federal officials on the development of a credibility assessment tool. l The daily school attendance report could be used to note which students were absent from school when a threat was received at the school and cross-referenced the next time a threat is received in order to provide a potential suspect list.

Below is a condensed list of

recommended bomb threat protocols to aid

educators and public safety officials in

coordinating evacuations:

l Eliminate the use of portable radios

and cell phones during a bomb threat

within a 1,000-foot radius of the

facility containing the suspected

device.

l Establish distinctive warnings to

differentiate between a fire alarm and a

bomb threat.

l Coordinate with public safety to have

several bomb threat evacuation sites,

which are 1,000 feet away from the

center mass of your school. These sites

should remain confidential until they

are needed.

l Sanitize the evacuation site. Use

personnel who are trained to recognize

possible explosive devices or who are

familiar with the evacuation site area to

be able to recognize objects not

normally there. This should be

completed prior to students and staff

being evacuated to these areas.

l Plan bomb threat evacuation routes for

students with mobility problems,

ensuring that all evacuation routes do

not pass near parked vehicles,

dumpsters, or unoccupied buildings.

l Identify staff at your evacuation sites

with by red, yellow and green status to

communicate accountability.

n

Georgia's Technical Colleges Meet the Challenge
By Karen Franklin, State School Safety Coordinator

Creating safe schools is not just a challenge for grades K-12. Issues such as workplace violence and technology have only complicated an already complex task. However, an increasing number of educational facilities are seeking strategies to improve safety.
Last fall, the Council of Presidents of Georgia's technical colleges voted to comply with the provisions of O.C.G.A. 20-2-1185 and develop school safety plans, even though these facilities are not required to comply with the law. Gary McConnell, Director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, commended this effort, saying "I am proud of the leadership demonstrated by the presidents of Georgia's technical schools. They are have required themselves to make safety a priority and we are pleased to assist them in this endeavor."
Middle Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins was the first technical school to submit a plan that meets the mandates of the law.

Community leaders as well as

McConnell and members of GEMA's

school safety staff attended a

presentation September 19, 2000, to

commemorate this achievement.

The GEMA School Safety Project

has been working closely with all of the

technical colleges across the state to

address their unique challenges in

implementing a safety plan in their

facilities. "Many of these facilities

have no public address system that

reaches across campus and must look

at alternative ways to communicate in

an emergency," says McConnell. "Our

goal is to look for creative ways to

address very real challenges." As more

technical colleges develop safety plans,

the next steps will include training staff

and testing these plans.

For more information about

safety planning with adult

education facilities, please call the

School Safety Project at

(404) 635-7000 or toll free in Georgia

at 1-800-TRY-GEMA, or visit

www.state.ga.us/GEMA.

n

GEMA Director Gary W. McConnell presents a certificate honoring Middle Georgia Technical College's
school safety plan to Arthur Head, Chairman of the Board of Directors. Billy Edenfield, President of Middle Georgia Technical College, looks on.

EMERGENCY MANAGER/SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPLEMENT

6

School Crisis Exercises: Will Your Plan Pass the Test?
By Tracy S. Sargent, Exercise Training Officer and Michael S. Dorn, School Safety Specialist

Public schools in Georgia are required by state law to develop and implement a detailed emergency operations plan. However, even though a school has followed the steps to develop a plan, will the plan really work in an emergency? The best way to test response capabilities is to conduct exercises that simulate real-life crises.
The first step in creating an exercise is to develop a scenario that will test all components of the school safety plan as well as the abilities of all responders. Local, state and federal emergency management agencies can assist schools in assessing the hazards that are most likely to affect them and selecting appropriate exercises to develop a realistic scenario, such as a school shooting or tornado drill. In addition, the scenario may need to be tailored for the geographical location. For example, schools in south Georgia may implement a hurricane scenario, while schools in north Georgia may focus on winter storms.
It is important for each agency to determine its objective in the exercise in order to gauge the effectiveness of the plan. All responders, as well as parents, school personnel and neighboring businesses, should be involved in developing the exercise.
The old saying, "You must crawl before you walk and walk before you run" applies in exercise development. Think small do not immediately jump into a full-scale exercise. Begin with an orientation seminar, an informal group discussion where response agencies learn the scope of the exercise and the roles, plans and equipment that will come into play during a crisis.
Each agency should then conduct drills, which are coordinated activities used to evaluate and improve specific skills under realistic conditions. The drills should include actual field response, activation of emergency communications
7

School crisis exercises are an excellent way to test emergency operations plans and provide valuable training to key players. (Left) The Sheriff Department's SWAT Team advances during a full-scale exercise in
Muscogee County. (Right) Firefighters move to assist a victim during a Carroll County school exercise.

networks, and equipment that would be used in a real emergency.
A tabletop exercise should be performed several weeks prior to the full-scale exercise. During this activity, the scenario is presented to all responders for group discussion in a low-stress environment. Participants talk out response coordination and resolve problems based on the guidelines of the school safety plan. The exercise enables participants to increase their understanding of each agency's role, responsibilities and response when an incident occurs.
Schools may then elect to conduct a functional exercise, which is a fully simulated interactive activity that occurs in real-time sequence with a high degree of stress and realism. This is not as intensive as a full-scale exercise, but it requires more preparation time, personnel and planning than a tabletop exercise. Functional exercises are usually conducted in an emergency operations center, where written messages describing the simulated event are

delivered to role players. This exercise

enables oversights to be identified and

corrected before a full-scale exercise is

conducted.

Once these steps have been

completed, responders are ready to

complete the full-scale exercise. A

properly designed full-scale exercise is

the closest possible simulation of a real

disaster and thoroughly tests the

operations plan. Response personnel and

equipment are deployed to the mock

scene, where they coordinate with other

agencies to resolve the situation. Often

taking six to 12 months of preparation,

the full-scale exercise tests the response

of the entire community.

The

Georgia

Emergency

Management Agency (GEMA) provides

support to local communities throughout

the exercise process. GEMA staff can

assist in the development of exercise

scenarios, facilitate tabletop exercises and

serve as evaluators for specific functions

during the exercise For more information,

call 404-635-7000 or toll-free in Georgia

at 1-800-TRY-GEMA.

n

EMERGENCY MANAGER/SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPLEMENT

GEMA and Pardons and Parole Partnership Strengthens Disaster Community Relations Program
By Lisa Ray Public Affairs Director

When disaster strikes, getting information about government assistance to victims is critical and perhaps one of the most challenging operations to accomplish. But, as a result of a partnership between the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, victims will be able to receive this vital information from those who live and work in their communities. Trained counselors from the agency's 60 offices throughout the state are now available to serve in a community relations function should a Presidential Declaration be issued in the event of a hurricane, tornado or other disaster in Georgia.
Last August, Pardons and Parole employees participated in training led by GEMA Operations staff members Charley English, Donna Martin, Chuck Ray and

Vickie Thompson. Participants were briefed on responsibilities during disasters, the Individual and Public Assistance Program, and how to transition from law enforcement to community relations functions. With this training complete, more than 270 local Pardons and Parole officers and staff are prepared to assist impacted communities and neighborhoods in the event of a disaster. Under GEMA's direction, they will assume community relations responsibilities to inform individuals, communities and religious organizations about available disaster assistance.
"Since Pardons and Parole Officers are located throughout Georgia, it just makes good sense to have individuals who are already familiar with an area helping residents identify assistance alternatives," said GEMA Director Gary W. McConnell. "This is just another

example of how state agencies can work

together to better serve our citizens,

particularly during a time when they need

it most."

Parole Board Chairman Walter Ray

noted that the program provides the

opportunity for Pardons and Paroles to

play an integral role in providing

grassroots assistance during times of

disaster. "Our agency is honored to have

this opportunity to provide aid and

support to the citizens of Georgia. As a

community partner, the Parole Board

recognizes its obligation to keep the

public safe and informed."

"Not only is this partnership a

`win-win' situation for Georgia disaster

victims, the Pardons and Parole

employees are truly excited to have the

opportunity to assist communities and

individuals in need during a crisis,"

concluded McConnell.

n

Area Four Helps in Hurricane Season Preparations
EMERGENCY MANAGER Fall 2000

In preparation for the 2000 hurricane season, GEMA Area Four Field Coordinator Vickie Thompson enlisted the help of emergency management agencies in her area. Area Four emergency management agency (EMA) directors and staff helped load two tractor trailers with cots and personal care kits to be used at shelters throughout middle and south Georgia. The two supply trailers will be staged at the Georgia Agricultural Exposition in Perry. Lending a helping hand were (in trailer, left to right) Jimmy Williams, Houston County EMA Director; Jeff Doles, Peach County EMA Director; (ground, left to right) Kenny Calhoun, Dooly County EMA Director; Roy Callahand, Troup County EMA; Keith Bonner, Troup County EMA; Tim Duffey, Troup County EMA Director; and John Turner, Macon County EMA Director.
8

Big Bird 2000 Lands at Hartsfield Airport
By Ralph Reichert Consequence Management Program Manager

The scene of the Delta Air Lines corporate parking lot on the north edge of Hartsfield International Airport was somber for the media and other observers held behind the yellow tape. The remains of a Boeing 737 fuselage burned, and the lot was strewn with luggage, wreckage, fuel and people in all directions. Some of the 88 passengers and crew of the flight wandered aimlessly. Others ran from one still body to another, either in a futile attempt to help, or maybe in search of a friend or loved one traveling with them. The eerie silence was punctuated occasionally by the sound of crackling flames, the moans of the injured, or the screams for help from the unhurt survivors. Although it seemed like hours to those watching, within minutes the distant sound of sirens could be heard, harbingers of the help that was moments away.
This was the scene at the Hartsfield Airport Big Bird 2000, an annual exercise that tests the capabilities of all responders in the event of an airplane crash. Unlike previous years, this year's staged disaster was conducted away from the busy runways of Hartsfield in order to test "off-site" response capabilities, making the scene more difficult to access. Also, a corporate challenge was issued this year, and Delta Air Lines accepted it. The company was involved in the exercise design from the beginning in order to test its plan to care for the uninjured passengers and its reunification procedures during an emergency.
Planning for the full-scale exercise began months in advance. More than 350 people from 35 agencies, including fire and police, mutual aid, triage and transport, hazardous materials, traffic control, hospital emergency room care, medical examiner's procedures, and emergency management were involved in the exercise design or emergency response. Volunteers from Delta Air Lines and the Georgia Emergency
9

(Above) Firefighters assist the injured, surrounded by Jaguar Airport FIre Trucks. (Below) Two Jaguar Airport Fire Trucks and a crash truck try to extinguish a burning fuselage during Hartsfield Airport Big Bird 2000.

Management Agency as well as off-duty emergency responders from throughout north Georgia donated their time on a Saturday to help make the exercise a huge success.
All departments and agencies involved were impressed with the realism of the crash, and the victims' role-playing in particular. Firefighters found that the victims were not always cooperative. Some demanded help, while others wandered off in a daze. Tears were in abundance at a Delta Air Lines lounge that was designated as the area where uninjured

passengers gathered as "victims"

challenged the counseling skills of mental

health caretakers from the American Red

Cross. The professional moulage (a

practice scenario where a patient is

assessed and managed appropriately) of

the victims shocked a number of legiti-

mate passengers in the terminal, requiring

a hasty explanation of the exercise.

All planners agreed that the exercise

and evaluation better prepared the

emergency response community, Delta

Air Lines and the American Red Cross for

an airline disaster.

n

Fall 2000 EMERGENCY MANAGER

Columbia County Conducts
School Violence Exercise
By Pam Tucker Columbia County Emergency Services Division Director

Since 1992, there have been 22 deaths in Georgia as a result of school violence. Recently, acts of violence have occurred in Rockdale, Jasper and Carroll counties. Columbia County also has not been immune from violence in the past years.
To prepare for an incident of school violence, 15 Columbia County agencies including its Board of Education, Emergency Management Agency, six fire departments, three law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services, County Medical Director and 9-1-1 Communications Center worked together to develop a school safety plan and revise the county's emergency operations plan (EOP) with assistance from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA).
These plans were put to the test on August 16 during a full-scale school violence exercise. Approximately 620 people participated, making it the largest exercise Columbia County had ever attempted.

The scenario
Two students, armed with firearms, enter a school through a side door near the cafeteria during lunch. One student pulls the fire alarm and takes three administrators hostage. The other student rushes into the cafeteria and orders everyone to the floor. Then he begins to randomly execute people as he walks around the room yelling and talking to students on the floor.

Exercise objectives

This exercise had eight objectives. l Involve all Columbia County public

safety agencies that operate under the

"incident command" system in the

exercise. l Test components of the school's

safety plan, including activation of

crisis

management

team,

communication with the media,

EMERGENCY MANAGER Fall 2000

Teachers role-playing as students duck for cover during a full-scale simulated shooting incident at Columbia County schools. The exercise tested the county's emergency operations plan in a crisis situation.

responding to extreme emergencies requiring 9-1-1, and hostage or terrorist event. l Establish a Sheriff Department Special Response Team. l Utilize the fire departments to provide manpower and equipment. l Arrange for Horizon Emergency Medical Services to provide emergency services l Dispatch the 9-1-1 Communications Center to send appropriate agencies to the scene. l Create a media staging area. l Assign an evaluation team to review the exercise and provide a report.
The exercise
To prepare for the full-scale exercise, the Columbia County Sheriff's Department's Special Response Team (SRT) performed drills at each school to learn their floor plans and emergency functions. In addition, 37 people attended a tabletop exercise on August 10, 2000.
The full-scale exercise was conducted two days before the first day of school. Teachers and school administrators from all 25 Columbia County schools acted as student hostages as the scenario unfolded.
When the exercise was completed, participants assembled in the gymnasium

for a debriefing. The teachers' smiling faces reflected an overwhelming sense of pride and appreciation for the lessons learned.

Evaluation
The following improvements were
suggested: l Acquire a unified radio
communications system. l Improve incident command system
coordination and control planning. l Limit one representative from each
participating agency to be at the
Incident Command Post. l Develop Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) to define the roles
of assisting agencies and set training
standards. l Establish SOPs regarding patient
triage. l Improve mass casualty/health and
medical planning and training. l Conduct training and briefings to
ensure that all agency personnel are
familiar with the revised EOP.

The community gets top marks

The community worked together to

develop emergency plans, test the plans

and identify areas of improvement. This

support was instrumental in ensuring the

exercise's success.

n

10

Georgia Hosts RecordBreaking Ninth Annual VOAD Conference
By Jeff Jellets Constituent Services Coordinator

Arecord number of more than 390 delegates attended the Ninth Annual Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) Conference. This international event, which was held October 29 - 31, 2000, in Atlanta, Georgia, focused on the contributions charitable and volunteer organizations make during disaster relief operations. Hosted by National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) and its state counterpart, Georgia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (GAVOAD), participants traveled from 47 states and as far away as Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico and the Pacific Islands to attend. Representatives from 28 state emergency management agencies also attended.
The theme of this year's conference, "The Volunteer Mission ... Touching Lives in Need," underscored the basic goal of all charitable disaster relief agencies: to provide meaningful assistance that meets the disaster victim's physical and emotional needs.
"This year's VOAD conference addressed many of the issues that lie at the cutting edge of disaster work," says Doug Watson, Disaster Director for the Salvation Army and President of the Georgia chapter of VOAD. "There were workshops on addressing incidents of school violence and terrorism; animal issues; mental health and spiritual care; and cultural sensitivity. Perennial challenges, such as donated goods and spontaneous volunteer management, also were addressed."
Georgia's Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor and Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Gary W. McConnell were first to welcome the delegates to Georgia. In his opening remarks, McConnell praised the
11

(Left) FEMA Director James Lee Witt addresses participants during his keynote address October 30. (Right) Doug Watson, President of the Georgia VOAD chapter, presents Georgia's Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor
and GEMA Director Gary W. McConnell with a plaque of thanks. GEMA Chaplain Jim Dykes observes.

volunteer organizations for their hard work and dedication in assisting disaster victims in Georgia and across the country, saying, "I am reminded of the disaster sites I have been to and I cannot think of one where volunteer agencies have not worked side-by-side with us. It is a privilege to have this opportunity to say thank you to these groups on behalf of both GEMA and the citizens of Georgia."
The following evening, James Lee Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), cited the long and successful partnership between the federal government and the National VOAD organization. "FEMA is committed to working with the voluntary agencies because we know that together, we can accomplish great things for the welfare and safety of this country."
Other speakers at the conference included Michael C. Caison of the Southern Baptist Disaster Services; Sharon Collins, a producer for CNN Newsstand; Lanita Hausman, Vice President of the National Air Disaster Alliance and Suzanne H. Apple, Vice

President of Community Affairs for The

Home Depot. The conference also

presented a panel of American Red Cross

youth volunteers, who discussed ways to

involve younger people in

disaster response and preparedness

activities.

The cornerstone of the VOAD

movement is the belief that the best time

for disaster response professionals to

meet and learn to work together is before

the next disaster strikes. Regular VOAD

meetings at the state and national level

allow volunteer and government agencies

to share information and develop cooper-

ative systems of coordination. While only

nonprofit, volunteer-based organizations

can become full VOAD members, other

organizations, such as emergency man-

agement agencies and social service

organizations, are asked to attend VOAD

meetings, help guide discussions and are

often recognized as affiliate members.

For more information about the

conference and the volunteer disaster

relief organizations, visit the NVOAD

web site at www.nvoad.org.

n

Fall 2000 EMERGENCY MANAGER

DNR Holds CoastFest
By Buzz Weiss Public Affairs Coordinator

More than 4,500 southeast Georgia area residents took part in this year's annual CoastFest at

Brunswick, sponsored by the Georgia

Department of Natural Resources (DNR),

Coastal Resources Division.

Billed by DNR as a celebration of

Georgia's rich and vast coastal natural

resources, CoastFest 2000 drew a record

number of attendees who visited 73

displays and exhibits sponsored by various

local, state and federal agencies, as well as

educational and nonprofit organizations.

Exhibitors ranged from the University of

Georgia Marine Institute to the Coastal

Georgia Audubon Society and the Nature

Conservancy to the U.S. Coast Guard.

"This was, by far, the most enjoyable

and well attended CoastFest ever," said Dr.

Stuart Stevens, director of DNR's Coastal

Resources Division. "Everyone had a

wonderful time and learned many things

about our coastal natural resources."

As a part of the educational and

interactive environmental theme,

CoastFest visitors also had the opportunity

to tour DNR's 30-foot mobile Coastal Ark

and a DNR coastal resources research ves-

sel, in addition to DNR law enforcement

and Coast Guard craft. "Touch tanks"

provided an opportunity for visitors to

handle horseshoe crabs, blue crabs and

various other sea creatures.

Georgia Emergency Management

Agency (GEMA) personnel exhibited the

agency's display on natural and manmade

disaster preparedness, as well as its mobile

Animal Disaster Operations Clinic

(ADOC), showing videos and dispensing

materials and information on emergency

preparedness and mitigation.

In addition to displays and exhibits,

CoastFest also featured programs and

characters such as Creek Indian Jim

Sawgrass, whose encampment offered

valuable insight into Creek Indian tradi-

tion, lore and culture; and Mr. and Mrs.

Fish, whose skits and presentations

provided a clear description of the ocean

and its sea life.

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EMERGENCY MANAGER Fall 2000

THE STORM
When we were moving around some boxes in the storm cellar, we found some important information on school safety issues. Do you know the answers to the following questions?
1) According to the best estimates, how many times do students carry guns to school each year across the nation: a) 500,000 b) 2 million times c) 10 million times d) 18 million times
2) According to the National School Safety Center, how many violent deaths have been documented in public and private schools across the nation since 1992? a) Less than 50 b) More than 250 c) More than 700 d) More than 1,500
3) A school safety zone extends how far beyond the school property line? a) 500 feet b) 1,000 feet c) 2,500 feet d) one mile
4) Firearms can be brought onto school property by students or teachers under what circumstances? a) If they are locked in the trunk or glove compartment of a vehicle b) If they are unlocked or concealed c) After regular school hours d) They can never be brought onto school property
5) Senate Bill 74 requires that: a) All public schools have a comprehensive safety plan b) All public and private schools have a comprehensive safety plan c) Public schools opened after July 1, 1999 have a comprehensive safety plan d) Public schools in counties with a population more than 100,000 have a comprehensive safety plan
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Governor Roy E. Barnes poses with all nominees

Winners of the Third Annual Governor's
Public Safety Awards Announced
By Jonna Wheeler Special Assistant to the Director

The Third Annual Governor's Public Safety Awards (GPSA) Ceremony was held Wednesday, October 25, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. Thirteen public safety professionals from across Georgia were honored for their heroic actions and outstanding service.
During the ceremony, Governor Roy E. Barnes recognized the recipients, presenting them with a medallion. Their names also were engraved into the granite GPSA monument platform at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.
"We often take for granted the profound impact the public safety community has on our well-being and quality of life," said Barnes. "This award gives us the opportunity to honor those public safety professionals who daily risk their lives and sacrifice time away from their families to protect Georgians." Barnes also officially proclaimed the week of October 22 - 28 as Public Safety Appreciation Week to honor the thousands of professionals in Georgia's Public Safety Community.
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This GPSA program recognizes public safety professionals in the following two categories:
l "Act of Heroism" Recognizes those who performed an exceptional deed that resulted in saving lives and/or protecting property
l "Outstanding Contribution which Enhanced the Profession" Recognizes job performance that had an overwhelming positive affect on the overall profession

Personnel from each public safety discipline as well as state employees with public safety authority were eligible for the awards. A total of 75 nominations were submitted from local governments and state agencies, including emergency management agencies, emergency medical services, 9-1-1 operators, fire departments, police departments, sheriff's offices, Department of Corrections, Department of Defense, Department of Human Resources/Emergency Medical Services, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Public Safety, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Department of Transportation, Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, Georgia Forestry Commission and the Georgia Public Service Commission.
Recipients
Outstanding Contribution to Profession J. Barry Woodward, Sr. DeKalb County Department of Public Safety 911
Fall 2000 EMERGENCY MANAGER

Timothy Mark Padgett Carroll County Rescue and Emergency Management Agency James Frank Cannupp Gwinnett County Police Department Tommy Morgan Rockdale County Fire Department L. Stephen Mobley MedStar Ambulance Services Donnie Haralson Crisp County Sheriff Charles J. Topetzes State Board of Pardons and Paroles

Acts of Heroism William Clint Jones Fannin County Emergency Management Agency Eric L. Brown MARTA Police Department Michael D. Simmons Atlanta Fire Department James Robert Long Fannin County Emergency Medical Services Tim Harper Clayton County Sheriff's Office Thomas A. Blalock Georgia Forestry Commission

Public safety celebrates heroes

The

Georgia

Emergency

Management Agency congratulates

Padgett and Jones, as well as all other

recipients and nominees, and is proud to

be associated with the fine men and

women who represent law enforcement,

fire services, 911 communications,

emergency management, emergency

medical services, prosecuting attorneys

and state public safety agencies in

Georgia.

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Outstanding Contribution to
Profession EMA Award Recipient Timothy Mark (Tim) Padgett

As director of the Carroll County

EMA, Padgett has managed the

successful operation of the county's

emergency management agency,

promoting cooperation among the

agencies with which he works. In

1998, he coordinated the writing and

submission of a $283,000 Hazard

Mitigation Grant for the purchase and

installation of an Emergency Alert

Siren System. In 1999, Padgett

worked with the Haralson and Heard

County EMAs to form the Local West

Georgia Emergency Planning

Committee, a partnership between

government and private industry to

plan for disaster management. He

coordinates

a

minimum of four disaster drills with-

in his county each year, working to

ensure smooth operations with local

and state agencies.

Padgett was designated a Master

Certified Emergency Manager, one of

the first two people in the state to

receive this designation, and was

named "EMA Director of the Year"

by the Emergency Management

Association of Georgia. Padgett has

been a key player in the increasing

role of emergency management in

Georgia.

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Act of Heroism EMA Award Recipient William Clint (Bill) Jones

On March 31, 2000, a large truck struck an automobile at the intersection of highways 76 and 515 in Blue Ridge, Georgia. The heavily damaged automobile burst into flames. The driver, an elderly woman, was trapped inside and had stopped breathing. Volunteers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel began to extinguish the flames, while

emergency medical technician Jones

risked his own life to remove the

woman from the burning car. Jones

suffered minor burns and mild smoke

inhalation during the rescue, and the

woman was transported to a local hos-

pital, then airlifted to Erlanger

Hospital in critical condition. Thanks

to Jones, this patient survived and is in

rehabilitation today.

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EMERGENCY MANAGER Fall 2000

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