GA G b3D.E'3& Pl Emergency Manager is the official magazine of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency Lisa Janak, Editor Honorable Sonny Perdue Governor Mike Sherberger Director Lisa Ray Public Affairs Director Ken Davis Public Affairs Officer Buzz Weiss Public Affairs Coordinator Lisa Janak Multi-Media Coordinator Jennifer Collins Constituent Services Coordinator Katherine Huggins Public Information Specialist 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.gema .state.ga.us From the Director Georgia Welcomes the World at G-8 e should be accustomed to it by now. Georgia was once C'J t\ aga in in the global spotli ght this spring as world leaders W gathered on Sea Island for the annual G-8 conference. As with the Olympics and other events, Georgia rose to the occasion. In terms of safety and security, the G-8 conference was highly successful. Some critics have cynically noted that millions of dollars were spent and thousands of law enforcement personnel were deployed for an event that saw vi1tually no conflict or confrontation in the streets. However, that, of course, was the desired outcome and the measure of our success. What we accomplished with G-8 was not the product of simple luck. Rather, it was the result of intensive planning, hard work, cooperation and dedication. Homeland security is a work in progress. Much of what we did during G-8 was based on what we have learned over the past decade, including our preparations for the 1996 Olympics. And many of the lessons we learned in hosting the G-8 conference will be a model for future events, such as the recent national political conventions. I want to thank not just the GEMA and homeland security personnel , but all local, state and federal personnel whose commitment and professionalism created the safe environment that marked G-8 and made Georgia proud. 1 Summer 2004 EMERGENCY MANAGER Under the Dome T he 2004 Georgia General Assembly was productive for the state's emergency management and public safety communities. Crucial legislation was passed that will enhance emergency response capabilities. SB 243 , which passed both the Senate and House without opposition, requires state and local responders to implement a unified incident command system for disasters and emergencies. The bill was sponsored by Senator Preston Smith of Rome and steered through the House by Representative Mike Snow of Ch ickamauga. It was signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue on May 14. Although unified incident command is widely used throughout the state, the bill was introduced last year at the request of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to ensure consistency and continuity in on-scene incident management. Its passage became more critical with the issuance of a Presidential Homeland Security Directive last February that requires federa l agencies to implement the incident command system. Moreover, when the new federal fiscal year begins October 1, app licants must adopt an incident command system in order to be eligible for federal homeland security grants. The bill enjoyed the support of all public safety disciplines and was endorsed by Georgia 's Homeland Security Task Force, which represents GEMA, the Georgia Office of Homeland Security, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Department of Defense, Georgia Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Sheriff's Association, Georgia Association of Chi efs of Police and Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs. Implementation of the law is being coordinated by GEMA's Training Division at Forsyth in cooperation with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and the Georgia Forestry Commission. The measure also requires state agencies to develop safety plans, similar to those of public schools. Agenci es that already maintain secured fac ilities, such as the Department of Defense, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Safety, will be exempt. Georgia's Levi's Call Alert was strengthened with the passage of SB 400. The measure provides Georgia's radio and TV stations a degree of civil immunity for information on missing children that they broadcast at the request of GEMA and GBI. Before a Levi's Call Alert can be issued, strict criteria must be met so the program does not become overused. However, time is critical in missing child cases, and sometimes all of the facts about the case are not fully known. SB 400 will protect broadcasters from lawsuits in the un likely event that erroneous or damaging infonnation is aired. The bill was the product of collaborative effort between GEMA, GBI, Georgia Association of Broadcasters and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and was a part of the Governor's legislative package. "What we accompli shed thi s session was the result of cooperation and strong partnerships among the various agencies responsible for the safety of Georgia's citizens," said GEMA Director Mike Sherberger. "We also appreciate the support of Governor Perdue and the General Assembly. " Lawmakers gave the green li ght to a reorganization of the Crimin al Justice Coordinating Council. SB 427 adds the director of homeland security to the panel. He takes the place formerly held by a representative of the long-defunct Organized Crime Prevention Cou ncil , which was officially abolished. A measure to help beef up security for the G-8 summit at Sea Island won leg- islative approval late in the session. HB 1702 gave Pardons and Paroles officers fu ll arrest power for the duration of the summit. The officers' arrest authority is nonnally restricted to the parolees over whom they have jurisdiction. Loca l governments working to establi sh 9-1-1 systems got a reprieve with the passage of HB 1248. The meas- ure allows jurisdictions that are currently collecting the 9- 1-1 fee to extend collec- tions for an additional 18 months if they have been unable to implement service. Another bill that would have permitted local governments to raise the 9-1-1 fee from $1.50 to $2.00 a month and allowed a portion of revenues to be used to pur- chase interoperable communications equipment remained in a subcommittee when the General Assembly adjourned. Among the other public safety- related bills that passed: HB 480, which allows state employ- ees who are members of the Employees Retirement System to buy up to three years of credi bl e service toward retirement. SB 525, which requires that vehicles involved in a traffic accident on any pub- lic road be moved to the side of the road if they are driveable and if there are no injuries. HB 1179, which toughens the penal- ties for battery against school employees on school property, including buses and bus stops. HB 1113, which bans the non-official use of "traffic control device preemption emitters" that override traffic li ghts. SB 426, whi ch allows "pre-service" background checks on applicants for law enforcement jobs before they are hired. The state budget, meanwhile, includes 2 percent raises for state emp loyees, effective in January. More than 5,000 bills and resolutions were introduced during the 2003-2004 tenn of the General Assembly, which adjourned Apri l 7. - Buzz Weiss EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2004 2 ' Exceptional EMA L aurens County is that proverbial mixed bag. It has a relatively small population of about 45,000, but it spans more than 800 square miles, making it the state's fourth largest county geographically. While it retains a rnral flavor, it also is the stopping point for the countless coast-bound motorists from Atlanta and points beyond who stop off at the Dublin exit to gas up, grab a burger, and buy some Cokes and smokes for the road. Don Bryant is one of the top Laurens County officials responsible for the safety of the locals and travelers alike . He began his public safety career as a volunteer firefighter in 1980 and was the county 's rural fire coordinator when he was tapped to become emergency management director in early 1995. Bryant still wears both hats, running emergency management as well as the county fire department and its 135 volunteers. I-16 cuts across the center of Laurens County and keeps emergency responders busy with a variety of traffic accidents, including haz-mat incidents. Bryant recalls that a contaminated victim of one such event forced the evacuation of the local emergency room several years ago. Nevertheless, Bryant says severe weather is the county 's most significant hazard. Three tornadoes have touched down since Bryant took office, one in 1995 and two the following year. In 1998, the county was hit by flooding on the Oconee River and was one of 119 counties included in a far-reaching disaster declaration issued in response to a outbreak of severe weather that battered the state from the coastal beaches to the north Georgia mountains. The most ominous weather threat, however, came in 1999, when Hurricane Floyd menaced the Atlantic coastline and sparked the evacuation of3.5 million residents of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. Although the storm bypassed Georgia, much of the state was hit by an onslaught of evacuees, and 55 counties, including Laurens, were included under a federal emergency declaration. "That was the biggest activation we had," said Bryant, "and the majority of our work dealt with making sure that the 3 shelters were operating smoothly." Over the years, the threat of severe weath- er has spurred improvements in Laurens County ' s warning capa- bilities , and Laurens County EMA Bryant notes Director Don Bryant that there are now eight outdoor sirens - five in Dublin, one is East Dublin and one each in the cities of Dexter and Dudley. Laurens County met stringent standards and was certified as a "StonnReady" community in 2002. StonnReady is a program of the National Weather Service designed to recognize counties that have reached a high level of severe weather preparedness. Although severe weather has provided most of Bryant's challenges, he pointed out that emergency management is a work in progress. "Our biggest challenge is just keep- ing up," says Bryant, who earned his master emergency manager certification last year. "Things are changing so fast, especially as we try to stay abreast of homeland security issues. "I'm most proud of what we have accomplished in that area," Bryant con- tinues. "We have obtained a Jot of grant money for our haz-mat team. We have acquired a vehicle and equipment, and we are working to train more haz-mat technicians." Bryant says Laurens County public safety officials work closely with their colleagues in neighboring counties, and they also have good relationships with the private sector. He said efforts are ongoing to enhance the county 's LEPC. Bryant is dedicated to his profession, and his motivation as emergency man- agement director is clear. "I like helping people," Bryant declares, "I like helping them to be pre- pared and supp01ting them in as many ways as we can." - Buzz Weiss Hurricanes Miss Georgia Once again, Georgia got lucky. First, Tropical Storm Bonnie formed in the Gulf of Mexico, becom- ing the second named storm of the sea- son. As it headed toward the Florida Panhandle, state officials in Georgia prepared for heavy rain, flash floods and tornadoes. However, Bonnie lost its tropical characteristics as it entered Georgia, and the expected deluge never arrived. Even as Bonnie made its way north, emergency planners were eye- ing Charley, the third named storm of the season. Charley was churning in the Atlantic as a Category 2 storm, gathering strength and heading straight toward Tampa, Florida. It was projected to cross Florida, and officials feared it would go over Brnnswick and Savannah next. Florida officials ordered the evacuation of approximately 400,000 residents. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) acti- vated its State Operations Center to monitor the storm and respond to any local requests for assistance. Governor Sonny Perdue declared a State of Emergency as a precautionary measure to prepare for possible damage and localized flooding and to prevent price gouging of Georgians and evacuated Floridians in need of gas, food, lodg- ing and other supplies. Then Charley suddenly strength- ened to a Category 4 storm packing 145 mph winds and deviated slightly off course, turning to the right. As a result, Charley made landfall at Port Charlotte, Florida, 70 miles south of the original projected point of impact. It crossed Florida, but instead of graz- ing coastal Georgia afterwards, Charley headed into the open water of the Atlantic before it returned to land, arriving in North Carolina as a tropical storm. - Lisa Janak Summer 2004 EMERGENCY MANAGER EMAG Corner "Emergency management today is a constant educational process, and if the local emergency manager does not wish to continue their education, they will find they have been left behind and are ineffective in their community." - Jeny VeHaun, past president, International Association of Emergency Managers, DisasterCom, April 2004 A s we travel further and further into the 21st century, we realize that it is no longer business as usual in the emergency management profession. The days of planning for a tornado here and a flood there are long gone. Emergency managers, public safety personnel and volunteer agencies have some of our most complex and demanding challenges ahead. Daily intelligence dictates that we must constantly look one step ahead of our threats. Whether those threats emanate from a hurricane off the coast of Georgia, a dirty bomb in downtown Atlanta or a bio-terrorism event in multiple locations around the country, we must continue to plan, prepare, test, build relationships and coordinate with our neighbors at the local and state level. The emergency plans of the 20th century will no longer suffice in light of the threats that we now face . Planning and preparedness have become increasingly more complex with new players, a wider scope of risks, and, most importantly, a larger population to protect. The 2004 focus of the Emergency Management Association of Georgia (EMAG) is "raising the bar in emergency management." Emergency management of the 21st century requires that we take a long hard look at the requirements of our profession and improve upon our individual abilities. We must also look at programs and ensure that they are capable of meeting the high standards that are required in today 's environment. There are many opportunities available that can help us "raise the bar," including participating in the Emergency Management Accreditation program (EMAP). Cartoon by Ed Westbrook, Jasper County EMA Director 'l'IIE Al..I.,-llA7~\lll)S 1\7AY EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2004 EMAPis a voluntary accreditation process for state and local emergency managers . To become accredited , participants must comply with the E M A P Frank Daniell, Standard , president, Emergency which is Management based on the Association of NFPA 1600 Georgia Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity programs. The accreditation process includes selfassessment, documentation and an on-site assessment by an independent team of assessors. Accreditation is open to state, territorial, and local government emergency management programs. For more information, visit www.emaponline.org In addition, the Higher Education Project of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 's Emergency Management Institute (FEMA EMI) in Emmitsburg, Maryland, promotes colleges to offer courses in emergency management. Many colleges and universities now offer certificates or degree programs in emergency management. In fact, there are 115 college emergency management programs; 50 certificates, minors and diplomas; 19 associate degree programs; 11 bachelor degree programs; 28 master's-level programs; and seven doctoral-level programs available plus 41 programs that are under development or investigation. For more information on FEMA's EMI's Higher Education Project, v1s1t www.training.fema.gov/emiweb /edu/. I encourage my fellow emergency managers across the state to take inventory of each of these programs and look for ways to better prepare ourselves and the programs we represent for the challenges of the future. That future is now and we must be prepared to meet the challenge! 4 In Brief Carroll County Tal,ll_ _.......~ . .- ~ __ - ~~ .- .. .- -.. .. .....,,__...,.._._ .,.",,_.,_.._... [_~.,......,_..._,~.--.,- ..,.~--~ and non-govern- 4tr-Oltl'TOKANTOlllAl'n..:lOIODl-S OJ-.niUJIOI.-... mental organiza- tions. In addition, GEMA's Excess Property Program Provides Surplus Equipment to Communities in Need Just as the federal and state government faces ongoing budget challenges, financial issues are often amplified on the local government level. To help local governments meet the challenges of procuring equipment, vehicles and other supplies for law enforcement programs, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency's (GEMA) Excess Property program provides a key link to surplus defense equipment and national defense purchasing contracts. From aircraft and boats to night vision goggles and protective gear, the Excess Property, or 103 3 Program, authorizes the transfer of Department of Defense surplus equipment to eligible law enforcement agencies. Priority is given to equipment requested for counterdrug and counterterrorism programs. To date, over $100 million in free federal equipment has been recycled back into Georgia to support state and local law enforcement efforts. To participate in the 1033 program, law enforcement agencies must be POST certified, have an up-to-date Law Enforcement Data sheet on fi le and meet the terms and conditions outlined between the Defense Logistics Agency and the State of Georgia. Since Excess Property does not maintain an inventory of items, requests drive the program. Requests should be submitted to the Excess Property office so that a search can be conducted for specific equipment. The only costs involved are expenses to transport the equipment and a small administrative handling fee. Local governments can also increase their buying power by taking advantage of discounts available to the federal government through the 1122 Procurement Program. The FY 1994 National Defense Authorization Act gives state and local governments the opportunity to purchase law enforcement related equipment and supplies through the federal government, enabling them to stretch their budget dollars when purchasing items required for these missions. Like the 1033 program, priority given to purchases suitable for counterdrug and counterterrorism activities. Under the 1122 Procurement Program, available items include everything from uniforms to suburban vehicles to fuel and equipment parts from well- known vendors. Participation in the pro- gram, which all includes a small adminis- trative fee, requires only a written request on agency letterhead and signed by the agency head outlining the population within the geographic jurisdiction, the name of the drug task force (if applicable) and major cities located within 250 miles of the agency with populations of 100,000 or more. Requests should be addressed to Georgia Emergency Management Agency, ATTN: Excess Property, Post Office Box 18055, Atlanta, Georgia 30316. "The Excess Property Program, which most recently was operated under the Georgia Department of Public Safety, provides a great resource for local gov- ernments," said GEMA Director Mike Sherberger. "We are so pleased to have the opportunity to again assist law enforcement agencies as they look for more cost-effective ways to conduct business." For more information on GEMA's Excess Property program, visit the pro- gram's Web site at www.excessproperty.org or call (404) 624-7040 or 1-800-TRY-GEMA. EMERGENCY MANAGER Summer 2004 8 Blal