Emergency manager magazine, Jan. 2010

Emergency
Manager

JANUARY 2010
Historic Floods Inundate North Georgia
Blame El Nio for Cold, Wet Winter
H1N1 Update: Q&A with Dr. O'Neal
Atlanta Motor Speedway Prepares for Disasters On and Off the Track

Emergency Manager is the official magazine of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency
Lisa Janak Newman, Editor
Honorable Sonny Perdue Governor
Charley English Director
Donna Burns Deputy Director of Administration and Public Affairs Director
Ken Davis Public Affairs Director
Buzz Weiss Public Information Officer
Lisa Janak Newman Public Information Officer
Den Brummer Web Coordinator
Katherine Huggins 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.gema.ga.gov
You are welcome to submit original articles for publication consideration. Please e-mail your submissions to lisa.janak_newman@gema.ga.gov
Cover photo of I-75/85 Downtown Connector flooding the afternoon
of September 21, 2009 courtesy of Glenn Dyke.

From the Director
They say that records are meant to be broken. That may be true and eagerly anticipated -- in sports or television ratings, but I'm not sure we really want to see severe or extreme weather records shattered. Yet that's what happened when heavy rains moved across the state in midSeptember, triggering what the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) termed "epic flooding."
For many of us, it brought back memories of Tropical Storm Alberto and the floods of 1994. There were similarities, but as we continued to assess damages and work with local communities, it became clear that this event would occupy a new page in the record books.
USGS says the deluge exceeded what we would expect for a 500-year flood and, in fact, the records don't go back far enough to provide adequate data for even the most seasoned experts to predict the probability of such a storm.
When the deadline for requesting federal assistance closed, 28,600 households and businesses had registered for federal disaster assistance. More than $53 million in disaster aid grants had been approved and another $44 million had been authorized in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. Insured losses totaled $500 million.
Like every disaster, this event presented unique and daunting challenges. This was the second flood disaster of 2009 and, because of its severity, it was characterized by an unusually high number of applicants for assistance who had no reason to believe they would have ever been flooded.
I'm proud of the local, state and federal response, and of the recovery and mitigation efforts that have begun and will continue for the foreseeable future.
Once again, we have learned from our past experiences and continue to build on them. I think what is most important, and what has given impetus to our current effort is the collaboration and teamwork among local government, state agencies, FEMA, SBA, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and the private sector. Let's keep up the good work.

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January 2010 EmErgEncy managEr

Exceptional EMA

Ashley Tye, Lowndes County

Nothing brings a community together like football, and nowhere does this ring truer than in Lowndes County. Friday nights rule in this fastgrowing community of 104,000, which has the winningest football program in the country. Its county seat, Valdosta, garnered national attention last year when it was voted "TitleTown USA" in an ESPN poll that determined the top sports town in the United States, beating out larger cities such as New York and Green Bay, Wis.
Disasters also bring a community together, and like any good football coach Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency Director Ashley Tye understands the power of teamwork and having a good game plan before disaster strikes. "Team-building is essential to developing a comprehensive emergency management program," he says. "You can't take relationships for granted; you have to work every day to strengthen them."
A former firefighter, Tye became emergency management agency director for Lowndes County in 2007. "I got into fire service because I enjoy the brotherhood and the camaraderie, but when this opportunity presented itself, I realized could help so many more people on a larger scale," he says.
Lowndes County is susceptible to a variety of hazards: Severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding. "It's cyclical," explains Tye. "We may have a hurricane one year, the next year it's flooding, and then we'll have a tornado.
"A close second on our threat scale is hazardous materials," he continues. "Norfolk Southern and CSX railways have switching yards here and potentially dangerous substances are always coming through I-75. These things could have a big impact on our community; we have to keep our guard up."
Because of all these risks, Tye works hard to raise awareness for the importance of disaster preparedness
EmErgEncy managEr January 2010

and ensure everyone knows what to do before, during and after a disaster. "If we empower people to take care of themselves and not rely on us as much, it will save lives and enable us to run on a leaner budget," he points out.
Tye practices what he preaches to citizens, working to keep his county prepared for disaster at all times. "For instance, we don't wait until a storm is coming to clean up drainage systems," he says. "We keep up with that all year long so we're not trying to clean out everything at one time."
His efforts were put to the test last spring, when the county experienced its first major disaster during his tenure when it was inundated with nearly 10 inches of rain over 24 hours. According to Tye, it was the worst flood since 1948. Approximately 50 roads, 130 homes and 20 businesses were under water. "Everyone was working long, long hours," says Tye. "We had to make several rescues, shelter some people and find new housing for a few families, but overall I'm proud of how we fared -- everyone got out safely."
However, the county sustained a great deal of damage to its infrastructure, receiving nearly $12 million from the Public Assistance Grant Program, which makes federal funding available to local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a costsharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities.
In addition, 153 homeowners were awarded nearly $1 million through FEMA's Individual Assistance program, which provides grants to help victims pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses. However, no amount of money can compensate for the pain of losing precious belongings. "While no one can stop the water from rising, we can give people advance warning so they have a chance to save some of their priceless possessions," says Tye. That's why he encourages all Lowndes County residents to register for the

Code Red

emergency

notification

system.

The

county

implemented

Code Red in

February

2008. This

high-speed

telephone

calling sys-

tem sends

emergency

Lowndes County EMA

messages to Director Ashley Tye

the tele-

phones of people who sign up for the

service. It didn't take long for the serv-

ice to prove invaluable. Just a month

after it went online, a tornado warning

was issued for the southern portion of

the county. The Lowndes County

Emergency Management Agency dis-

seminated a Code Red message alerting

residents to the danger. "We got several

calls from grateful residents after-

wards," says Tye. "One lady called to

let us know she got our message and

stayed at work. When she got home,

she found that a tree had fallen on her

trailer."

It is this community feedback that

keeps Tye motivated. "If I felt like I

wasn't effective, I wouldn't do this

job," he says. "Realizing that I can

make a difference in people's life is

what keeps me going. Helping a little

old lady who doesn't know which way

to turn rejuvenates me."

Tye looks forward to the opening

of a long-awaited, state-of-the-art

emergency operations center in early

2010. When it is complete, the

11,000 sq. ft. facility will house local,

state and federal partners. "Hopefully,

we won't have to use it that much, but

when we need it, it will greatly improve

our operations and ability to coordi-

nate," says Tye. "I am proud to see this

project to fruition."n

-- Lisa Janak Newman

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Media Matters

So how do you effectively convey a message when your audience doesn't necessarily trust your messenger?
It's a rhetorical question. But it merits some thought and reflection, because it seems our jobs may have been made a little harder in light of a recent survey that shows distrust of the media is on the rise.
According to the Pew Research Centers for the People and the Press, 63 percent of Americans say news stories are often inaccurate, and only 29 percent say that news organizations generally get the facts straight. The numbers demonstrate a disturbing disconnect between the media and the public that has steadily worsened over the past two decades.
In a 1985 survey, 55 percent of the respondents said news stories were accurate while 34 percent said they were inaccurate. That percentage had fallen sharply by the late 1990's and has remained low over the last decade.
Ironically, the public indigestion with news media credibility is offset somewhat by survey results that show support for the media's role as a "watchdog." Pew reports that 62 percent of Americans believe that media criticism keeps political leaders in check. Not surprisingly, those numbers reflect partisan preferences, and rise and fall with changes in the party in power.
Although the mistrust -- and even distrust -- of the news media is largely politically driven, there is arguably a trickle-down effect that potentially taints the other, often highly valuable, information that is broadcast and published by the news media -- at least in the eye or ear of the beholder. The disturbing findings add fuel to an already raging fire in America's newsroom that are being burned by economic woes, the impact of emerging technologies, and changes in the very definition and role of journalism.
The Pew survey, however, reveals some interesting facts about where people turn to for news, which we should use to get our message across.
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TV is still a dominant force, with 71 percent of the respondents saying it is their main source of national and international news; 64 percent say it's their primary source of local news.
According to the survey, 42 percent also rely on the Internet for national and global news, while 41 percent turn to newspapers as their favorite source for local news, considerably more than the 17 percent who cite the Internet as the primary source for local information.
This last fact -- that 41 percent of Americans say newspapers are their choice for local news -- is especially noteworthy and ought to serve as a case in point for what newspapers might could do to restore their credibility and respect, maintain or even boost readership, and maybe even find financial contentment, as opposed to the self-destructive path many seem to have embarked on.
Public preferences and tastes change and the numbers above make it clear that one size doesn't fit all. The rising popularity of one particular medium will reach its peak. And even as it rises, it does not necessarily spell the demise of another.
According to the Pew survey, network and local TV are alive and well. Although traditional network news numbers are waning, 83 percent of the respondents to the Pew survey between the ages of 18-29, a critical demographic, say it would be in "important loss" if the evening network newscasts went off the air. The political strife swirling around cable TV newsrooms seems to be arguable drawing the morbidly curious. The Internet appears to be a reliable complementary source of information. And newspapers still have a pulse despite the screaming banshees that are circling their newsrooms.
Our advice: Stay up to date on the media that serves your community. Don't favor -- or rely -- on one over the other. Times and tastes change.n
Media Matters is a column from GEMA Public
Affairs Officers Buzz Weiss and Ken Davis.

Ready
Georgia Kids
Contest
Fifth-grade students from across the state proved just how well they understand the importance of disaster preparedness by sending in hundreds of creative art and essay entries for Ready Georgia's National Preparedness Month contest held in September.
The contest's theme, "Get Ready Georgia," encouraged children to describe the steps they have taken to prepare for an emergency. Entries ranged from poems, plays and fiction to collages, watercolors and even an entry submitted in Braille.
Essay Winners: First Place: Danielle Hatten, West Town Elementary, Albany; Second Place: Syretha Long, Callaway Elementary, Jonesboro; Third Place: Madisson Woodruff, Heard Mixon Elementary, Covington.
Art Winners: First Place: Raven Ortiz, Johnston Elementary, Woodstock; Second Place: Emerson Cruz, Jarnell Elementary, Dalton; Third Place: Tahirih Williams, Peyton Forest Elementary, Atlanta. Honorable Art Mention Na'im Harris, Button Gwinnett Elementary, Hinesville Kahria Tountain, M. E. Lewis, Sr. Elementary, Sparta Linwood Richardson, West Clayton Elementary, College Park
First, second and third place winners were awarded prize packages from Radio Disney, Imagine It! and The Home Depot. All winning entries were featured on the Ready Georgia Web site (http://www.ready.ga.gov/GetInvolved/ReadyKids) and Facebook page. Check out Ready Georgia's flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rea dygeorgia/) for even more great entries!n
January 2010 EmErgEncy managEr

In Brief

National Preparedness Month Asks, Are You Ready for an Emergency?'

Governor Sonny Perdue proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month. Ready Georgia, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency's (GEMA) emergency preparedness campaign, asked all residents to create a Ready kit, develop a household communications plan and stay informed about potential local emergencies.
"An overwhelming majority -- almost 80 percent -- of our state's residents admit they are not prepared to face a large-scale disaster," says Charley English, director of GEMA/Homeland Security. "By acting on Ready Georgia's simple message of `prepare, plan and stay informed,' individuals, families, businesses and communities have the power to become their own first responders during emergency situations."
National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Ready America campaign, is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage action for emergency preparedness. Nearly 2,000 private, public and nonprofit organizations across the country participate as National Preparedness Month Coalition Members and are creating a culture of emergency preparedness by hosting events and initiatives during September.
"Here in Georgia, Community Emergency Response Teams, local emergency management agencies and other organizations participated in National Preparedness Month alongside GEMA and Ready Georgia," continued English. "Individuals and families can turn to our Ready Georgia site to create an interactive, customizable communications plan and supply list."
By simply entering information here, Georgians can receive a tailored plan for the entire family that includes
EmErgEncy managEr January 2010

the specific amount of supplies to

put in their household Ready kits.

The site also offers local emer-

gency contact information, pre-

paredness testimonials and an

online toolkit to help individuals

and organizations localize Ready

Georgia's message.

To empower Georgia's youth,

Ready Georgia partnered with The

Home Depot stores across the

state for the second consecutive

year to bring the message of pre-

paredness to thousands of families

during The Home Depot's month-

ly Kids Workshop on September 5,

2009. Georgia's fifth-graders also

had the chance to take part in

National Preparedness Month by entering Ready Georgia's "Get Ready Georgia" art and essay con-

Winning art entry by raven Ortiz, who attends Johnston Elementary in Woodstock.

test, which encouraged students to

pared for an emergency or how they

draw upon their personal experiences

plan to prepare. (see opposite page for

of how their families have already pre- full list of winners.)n

GEMA Holds Bomb Threat Credibility Assessment Training

Bomb threats are a vexing problem for school officials. Mindful of the fact that an act of terrorism or other violence is a very real possibility, authorities take these threats very seriously. Fortunately, they usually turn out to be hoaxes, but not before creating a huge headache for school officials, whose normal course of business is disrupted, and first responders, who bring in expensive resources to investigate the threat.
With the right tools and training, authorities can properly evaluate the threat and determine the best course of action. Therefore, last year, the Georgia Emergency Management

Agency (GEMA) presented "Managing School Bomb Threats" classes at eight locations around the state, reaching more than 1,000 education and law enforcement professionals. Topics covered planning for a bomb threat, how to identify a credible threat, search techniques, and adjudication of a bomb threat suspect. The seminar concluded with an explosives demonstration provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's bomb squad.
The next class will be held Wednesday, March 24, 2010. For more information, call (478) 993-4612.n

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Severe Weather Awareness Week Encourages Georgians to Prepare for Natural Disasters

After a year of natural disasters that caused millions of dollars of damage to Georgia in 2009, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), its Ready Georgia campaign, the National Weather Service and local emergency management agencies supported Severe Weather Awareness Week in the state, February 1-5, 2010.
Severe Weather Awareness Week is a time when Georgians should practice emergency preparedness and response procedures for all types of severe weather events that could occur, and residents can learn more about those threats throughout the week.
"Georgia is susceptible to nearly every type of natural disaster," says Charley English, director of GEMA/Homeland Security. "Though severe weather comes in different forms, by being prepared for one, you are prepared for them all."
The week's activities kicked off with Family Preparedness Day on February 1, 2010, when every household was encouraged to get a NOAA Weather Radio and program it for their county. On Wednesday, when tornado safety is emphasized, a statewide tornado drill was issued by the National Weather Service. The week's specific observations were:
Monday, February 1 Family Preparedness and NOAA Weather Radio Tuesday, February 2 Thunderstorm Safety Wednesday, February 3 Tornado Safety and Statewide Tornado Drill Thursday, February 4 Lightning Safety
To help Georgians prepare for severe weather, GEMA's Ready Georgia campaign offers tools that residents can use to create an emergency supply kit, develop a communications plan and stay informed about potential threats. Ready Georgia's interactive Web site, www.ready.ga.gov, provides detailed information on Georgia-specific emergency preparedness and
5

allows users to create a personal profile and receive a customized checklist and family communications plan.
"Georgians who take the time to educate themselves on possible threats are twice as likely to be prepared than others," continued English. "In the event of severe weather, you can be your own first responder if you've taken simple steps to prepare, plan and get informed."
During winter storms, floods, tornadoes or hurricanes, it could take emergency workers 72 hours or more to reach certain areas in order to open roadways and restore utilities. The benefit of being self-sufficient for three days, or longer is that residents can survive circumstances that might otherwise be tragic. GEMA offers this information from its Ready Georgia campaign:
Prepare for severe weather: Make your own Ready kit of emer-
gency supplies. Most of the items are inexpensive and easy to find, and any one of them could save your life. Water: at least three gallons per person for drinking and sanitation Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food Manual can opener if kit contains canned food Battery-powered or hand crank NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries

Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Face mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Specific items for children, family members' special needs or pets Cash or travelers checks Important documents in a waterproof container Blankets and warm clothes
Plan for severe weather: Be sure every family member knows important phone numbers for schools, offices, home and emergency services. Identify an out-of town contact. It might be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call in town, so an out-of-town contact is in a better position to communicate among separated family members. Identify a meeting place near your home where family members can meet if separated during severe weather. Identify a meeting place away from your home where family members can meet if your neighborhood in not accessible. Map out evacuation routes in case you are ordered to evacuate, and always keep at least a fourth of a tank of gas in your car. Know your insurance policies and whether your home is in a flood zone.
Stay informed about severe weather: Find out what type of disasters could occur and how you should respond. Learn your community's warning signals and evacuation plans. Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify severe weather, such as advisories, watches and warnings. Monitor NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, television and the Internet to stay informed of severe weather conditions.n
January 2010 EmErgEncy managEr

Citizen Corps Corner

One day it's just practice for the members of the Douglas County Community Emergency Response Team's (CERT) Volunteer Dive Team; then, in the blink of an eye, it's a matter of life and death.
The weekend before the September 2009 floods left 17 counties in North Georgia under water, members of Douglas County CERT Volunteer Dive Team were training for swift water rescues. Forty-eight hours later, it wasn't a dress rehearsal anymore.
The dive team was back in the water Monday morning for the real thing. "About 1:00 a.m. I got a phone call from the Douglas County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director asking me to get my team together," explains Herb Franklin, the dive team leader. "By 2:00 a.m., I had a three-man team suited up and on the scene."
Franklin and his team were greeted by washed-out roads and flooded interstates in those early morning hours. Dodging houses, major appliances and logs, they rescued 14 people and recovered one body from fast-moving floodwaters during the six swift-water rescues and body recovery missions that were conducted over 24 hours.
"When you are out there in a situation like this, the only thing that mat-

ters is safety," says

Franklin. "My priorities

are to conduct the mission

and make sure every per-

son on my team returns

home. Safety is never

sacrificed."

Since Douglas County

hasn't had an employee-

staffed dive team for the

past 18 years, the county

depends on Franklin and

13 other volunteers for these services. "Members of our team come from all walks of life," explains Franklin. "I run a scuba

Douglas county cErT Dive Team Leader Herb Franklin (right) and Jeff roberts (left), who is a member of an alabama dive team, participate in rapid vehicle removal training on Lake Jocassee in South carolina. The training exercise was conducted last summer.

dive shop, while other team members are law enforcement officials and even X-ray technicians. What brings us together is the fact that we are all divers."
According to Milhollin, the team's efforts were essential to the county emergency management mission during the floods. "They bring a great value to the county," says Douglas County EMA Director Jason Milhollin. "We don't have to call on them often, but when we do, they provide a very critical service."
Once the water subsided, the dive team participated in land search-andrescue missions and also disseminated water to residents.

Douglas County was completely out of water for two days and under a boilwater notice for five days after multiple water lines broke, causing several water towers to drain. The Douglas County CERT worked with Milhollin to set up Points of Distribution (PODs) for bottled water for residents in different parts of the county.
"I am just putting back in the community what the community has given me," says Franklin. "I truly believe anyone else would have done the same thing. There is nothing heroic about what we do. It is more human nature to help others in need."n --Den Brummer

Douglas county's cErT is an invaluable asset on land and underwater, and their services were much in demand during intense flooding in September 2009, which washed out numerous roads. The team rescued 14 people from fast-moving water over 24 hours.

EmErgEncy managEr January 2010

6

Photo courtesy of FEma

Drew Valley Neighborhood Grateful for Mitigation Projects
By Shana Slay, Contributing Writer, Hazard Mitigation Division

Drew Valley, in suburban northern Atlanta, is a sprawling neighborhood built in the post-war boom of the 1950's situated between two crossing streams, Poplar Creek and a tributary of the North Fork Peachtree Creek. These creeks run alongside many houses throughout the neighborhood, exposing multiple homes to the rising water levels whenever heavy rains inundate the area.
The population of the surrounding area has increased dramatically since developers first broke ground over half a century ago, and by the 1990's, stormwater created persistent flooding problems for the homeowners, particularly those who were not encouraged to buy flood insurance because they
7

were not located in a special flood hazard area per FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Prior to the county's applications for grant funds in 2005, the worst flooding the area was on June 16 and 17, 2003, when more than 50 homes were submerged after two days of rain. This encouraged the Drew Valley Homeowner's Association to turn to the county for a solution to the neighborhood's drainage problems.
After the flooding in 2003, the county decided to look into resolutions for the residents, but unfortunately they did not get very far before Hurricane Ivan made landfall on September 16, 2004, causing even more significant flood damage for the Drew

Valley homeowners. If the need for home acquisitions and the stormwater management facility hadn't been clear before, it was obvious now.
The first step in the process was hiring Dewberry & Davis, L.L.C. (Dewberry), a local engineering firm, to manage an updated, more detailed study of the area. This study focused on addressing the hydraulic and hydrologic characteristics of the nearby waterways (including Poplar Creek and North Fork Peachtree Creek) and assessing the neighborhood's culverts. Dewberry also assessed prior flood levels and identified those homes that could be threatened by future flood events. The study recommended that the county enlarge six culverts in the
January 2010 EmErgEncy managEr

area and install a stormwater management facility upstream from the homes in order to properly address the flooding problem.
Once Dewberry identified the most advantageous area for the stormwater management facility, DeKalb County developed their strategy for acquiring the homes and land occupying the desired space. Only after the land belonged to the county could they begin the next phase of the project, actually building the new stormwater management facility on the acquired land. Part of the county's strategy included applying for grant funding to help cover the costs for such a large and expensive project.
With their updated flood study, a detailed flood history of the area, and plenty of additional supporting evidence they applied for, and were awarded two separate 2005 PreDisaster Mitigation (PDM) grants. The PDM program is a competitive grant that provides up to 75 percent of costs associated with projects which are designed to reduce or eliminate future disaster damages. The remaining 25 percent is the responsibility of the state and local governments. While it is a federally funded program, the state supervises the application development process and is entrusted with administering the grant once awarded. Applications for this program are submitted to FEMA once a year in December, but the application itself can take months to prepare, especially for a project of this magnitude.
The first grant awarded funds for the acquisition and demolition of 15 homes in the Drew Valley neighborhood. The second grant was awarded for culvert improvements and construction of a stormwater detention facility.
With the acquisition process well under way, DeKalb County retained Golder Associates, Inc. (Golder) to design and permit what would soon become the Drew Valley Stormwater Management Facility. Their main intention for the design of the facility was to minimize upstream flood impacts while simultaneously reducing downstream flooding by approximately 70 percent during a 10-year storm
EmErgEncy managEr January 2010

a meandering walkway (opposite page), new culverts and a detention pond replace what once was repeatedly flooded homes in the Drew Valley neighborhood of DeKalb county. The pond hosts a variety of flora and fauna when it is not collecting floodwater. a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held July 29, 2009, to unveil the new project.

event. Golder's plan restored the floodplain where the two streams met and therefore greatly reduced the potential for future flood damage to the homes that remained downstream.
"It's a miracle it was built during a two-year drought," says Katie Oehler, chairwoman of the Drew Valley Civic Association's Zoning and Land Use Committee, "And it's a miracle it got completed right before we had the biggest flood this area has ever experienced, in September 2009. The fact that a bunch of neighbors were out here applauding a pond says it all. We stood on this wall cheering because we knew that if this pond hadn't been here, all the water that was filling this

thing would have been on top of us and in our homes, ruining our lives again."
When the drainage improvement project officially closed on September 30, 2009, approximately 1.6 acres of wetlands and 325 linear feet of stream channel had been recreated. The overall aesthetics of the area included a retaining wall, protective fence, and walking trail that harmonize with the natural function of the flood control facility. The total cost for the project was approximately $5 million with a federal share of $3.5 million, but the mitigated flood hazards give a peace of mind to the former and current residents of Drew Valley that is priceless.n

8

Historic Floods Inundate North Georgia
By Buzz Weiss, Public Information Officer

Photo courtesy of glenn Dyke

9

January 2010 EmErgEncy managEr

Steady rains fueled by moisture from the Gulf of Mexico began to move across metro Atlanta and areas of North Georgia on September 15, 2009, and quickly turned ugly, triggering historic destructive floods that left 10 people dead and laid waste to thousands of homes, stores, churches and schools.
Forecasters say rains on that first day were light -- only .04 of an inch. As the precipitation continued, however, it became progressively heavier. On September 19, 2009, the reporting station at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport recorded 3.7 inches of rain. In other areas of Georgia, five inches or more of rain were charted.
Meteorologists estimated that the 24-hour period with the most intense rainfall for this event was from 8:00 p.m. September 20, 2009, through 8:00 p.m. September 21, 2009. The greatest amount reported during that time frame was 17.6 inches near Douglasville.
Even as the rains fell, State Climatologist Dr. David Stooksbury noted that records were being broken, and that many sites across North Georgia had already exceeded 100-year rainfall totals.
It fact, the rainfall and subsequent floods exceeded records in ways that stunned experienced forecasters and hydrology experts at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), who described it as "epic" flooding." According to the National Weather Service (NWS), at least 16 new record high flood levels were set.
"Applying rainfall frequency calculations, we have determined that the chance of 10 inches or more occurring at any given point are less than one hundredth of one percent," says Kent Frantz, senior service hydrologist for the National Weather Service at Peachtree City. "This means that the chance of an event like this occurring is one in 10,000."
"At some sites, the annual chance of a flood of this magnitude was so significantly less than 1 in 500 that, given the relatively short length of streamgaging records (less than 100 years), the U.S. Geological Survey cannot
EmErgEncy managEr January 2010

accurately characterize the probability due to its extreme rarity," says USGS National Flood Program Coordinator Robert Holmes. "Nationwide, given that our oldest streamgaging records span about 100 years, the USGS does not cite probabilities for floods that are beyond a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood.

The floodwaters spilled over 20 USGS gauges around the state, by as much as 12 feet, stirring memories of 1994's Tropical Storm Alberto floods.
A 23-county disaster By the evening of September 20,
2009, reports of flooding and road clo-

Floods Mean Countless Water Rescues

Firefighters and other emergency workers consider what they do as business as usual, and often wait until retirement to tell their tales. But saving lives is, indeed, a lot more than business as usual. And Georgia's recent catastrophic floods brought a number of people to the brink of death only to be pulled back by the rescuers whose stories shouldn't wait to be told.
Hanging in there was more than a figure of speech for the Carroll County high school student whose car was swept away by swift, turbulent waters on Little Snake Creek. As she clung to a tree, a good Samaritan tried to bring her to safety before rescuers arrived but he, too, was caught up in the current. It took nearly five hours of grueling work, but county firefighters rescued both. Neither was seriously injured.
Douglas County firefighters and Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) personnel faced a challenge when they arrived at an apartment building that had been inundated. They worked in five feet of swirling water for several hours while weathering bug bites and sustaining various scrapes and cuts. In the end, however, all ten residents of the apartment were removed from the building safely. They were among 19 people rescued by Douglas County emergency officials on the first day of the flood.
Farther north, Catoosa County and Fort Oglethorpe firefighters faced unprecedented challenges and

carried out a record number of boat and swift-water rescues as floodwaters rose. And local rescuers realized they were on their own, as responders in neighboring counties were tackling their own crises, unable to help. More than 200 people had to be rescued from homes and vehicles, and half of them were conducted in just a six-hour period.
In Stephens County, several special needs residents and their caretaker became isolated in two adjoining apartments as flood waters lapped at their doors and the road to refuge became impassable. With options becoming limited and time running out, members of the Stephens County Rescue Unit and EMS tied themselves to safety lines, placed the residents in a rescue boat and "walked" the boat to safety.
Members of the Augusta Fire Department's Swift Water Rescue Team responded to Atlanta's call for help, conducting some 30 rescues and evacuations along Peachtree Creek. However, the final rescue led to some tense moments when the rescue boat struck an object in the water, throwing two firefighters and three evacuees into the drink. Rescuers, though, retrieved the three victims and their dog, and all were brought safely to shelter.
One emergency official said of the rescues, "I don't know of any that I would consider overly dramatic." But the people brought the safety would undoubtedly differ.n --Buzz Weiss

10

These homes were flooded after torrential rain soaked metro atlanta for several days in September 2009, causing Sweetwater creek to overflow its banks.

sures, requests for assistance, and media inquiries began to pour into the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), which increased its activation level early the next morning. Governor Sonny Perdue issued a state of emergency for 17 counties, helping to facilitate state aid to beleaguered communities as shocking video of a submerged Downtown Connector flashed on television screens across the country. The following day, the governor toured affected areas by helicopter, met with emergency managers in the state operations center, and officially requested federal aid from the president.
Just days later -- on September 24, 2009 -- President Obama issued a disaster declaration for Cobb, Paulding, Douglas and Cherokee counties. The following day, Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate viewed the devastated areas of metro Atlanta by helicopter. They later toured the Red Cross shelter at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta and met with dozens of families forced from their homes. They were joined by U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, Congressman David Scott and Georgia Lt. Governor Casey Cagle.
As damages were tallied, additional counties were added to the declaration in the following days until total of 23 counties were ultimately covered by the order. Bartow and Coweta counties were approved for Individual Assistance (IA) only. Crawford, Dawson, Dooly, Houston, Peach and

Taylor counties received approval for Public Assistance (PA) only. Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties were green-lighted for both IA and PA.
A total of 16 disaster recovery centers (DRCs) opened in Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties, with representatives of multiple agencies on-site to provide various services. The Cobb site saw considerable traffic on the first day, driven, in large part, by media coverage of the vice presidential visit. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) established nine offices to help people affected by the floods to process their applications for disaster loans.
Recovery under way By November 23, 2009, the dead-
line to apply for federal assistance, 28,600 applications for aid had been received and more than $53.2 million in FEMA grants had been approved for a range of needs including temporary housing and home repair. Another $44 million in low-interest loans had been approved by the SBA. Insured losses had been placed at $500 million. Damages to public infrastructure were still being totaled, but are projected to be $141 million.
In addition to disaster dollars, Georgia is expected to receive additional hazard mitigation funds to reduce the impact of future disasters. The mitigation funds will likely total

11

near $32 million and will be used for mitigation strategies including "buyouts" of properties hit by repetitive flooding. Every dollar spent on mitigation activities is estimated to save $4 in the event of future disasters.
One of the most critical components of disaster recovery is the volunteer community Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). "It is safe to say that the September floods caught most Georgians by surprise, as we don't normally receive such large amounts of rain in such short periods of time," says Ruben Brown, spokesman for the Metro Atlanta Red Cross. "It wasn't surprising however, to see 800 Red Cross volunteers swing into action to provide emergency assistance to more than 13,000 people through a variety of services, including sheltering, feeding, emotional support and counseling," adds Brown.
The September flood may have generated the largest response from VOAD in the last two decades, with nearly 20 organizations providing a wide range of support.
Long-term recovery committees have been formed in affected counties to continue recovery efforts with the help of VOAD and faith-based organizations.
"The recent flooding in various parts of the state provided Georgia Baptists with an unprecedented opportunity to help hundreds of families," says Stuart Lang of Georgia Baptist Disaster Services. "We `mucked out' over 300 homes and provided over 31,000 meals. I was impressed with the resiliency of the residents of Georgia. Disasters have a way of breaking down barriers and reminding us all that we are part of a community in which we need to work together and help each other during times of adversity."
Deja vu all over again? The September floods marked the
second deluge to hit the state last year. Heavy rains pushed more than a dozen South Georgia rivers over flood stage in late March, which caused $60 million in damage to public infrastructure, triggering a presidential disaster declaration on April 23, 2009, covering 46
January 2010 EmErgEncy managEr

counties. According to Stooksbury, Georgia experienced its second wettest spring in 115 years.
The spring floods were sandwiched between other bouts of severe weather including 11 tornadoes on February 18-19, 2009. And Stooksbury says areas of the state were pelted by hail and high winds for at least 10 days over the course of April, during which time there were a total of 257 reports of severe weather.
"This has been a particularly difficult year for Georgia," says GEMA Director Charley English. "We experienced two flood events in both South and North Georgia, and this most recent one has set new records."
Flood insurance The massive number of applica-
tions for assistance not only reflects the number of Georgians without flood insurance, but the all-too-common misconception that a standard homeowner's policy covers everything including high water. It doesn't.
"The necessity of flood insurance became very apparent with the recent floods leaving thousands of households in the position of not being financially protected," says David Colmans, executive director of the Georgia Insurance Information Service.
Although 120 of Georgia's 159 counties -- a whopping 75 percent -- have been declared for flood disasters over the past decade, only 91,000 flood insurance policies have been issued statewide. Flood insurance is often required for homes with a mortgage that are located in flood plains. However, other structures often go uninsured.
"If flood insurance is not mandatory because the property is not in a designated flood plain, then the homeowners do not feel the pressure to be protected with this specific coverage," says Colmans. "There are still too many homeowners and renters who do not know that flood insurance is available whether one lives in or outside a designated flood plain."
Drought? What drought? For the past 3.5 years, Georgia had
been in the clutches of a drought so
EmErgEncy managEr January 2010

Too Few Carry Flood Coverage

The September floods that ravaged 23 counties across the state made it clear that wherever it rains it can flood. People without flood insurance face ruin and turmoil.
Contrary to what all too many people believe, standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover floods. In an effort to address that gap, Congress established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1968 to help provide a way for property owners to financially protect themselves.
Under federal law, federally regulated or insured lenders must require flood insurance on property that is located in areas at high risk of flooding. However, areas located within floodplains can change, and an exceptionally heavy rain can cause flooding in areas that are not contained within floodplains. Therefore, homeowner policies can be purchased regardless of where one lives -- they are not restricted to properties in a floodplain as long as the local jurisdiction where the property is located must be a participating community.
NFIP also offers flood insurance to renters and business owners. Flood insurance policies are designed to protect the two basic categories of insured property buildings and contents. The building coverage protects the insured building and its foundation, it's electrical and plumbing systems, as well as furnaces and air con-

ditioning units, appliances, and carpeting. Coverage for the contents protects furniture and electronics equipment; portable appliances such as window air conditioners; microwaves, washers and driers.
FEMA reports that floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, running up nearly $24 billion in damages across the country over the past decade.
Over the past decade, 75 percent of Georgia's counties have been included in flood-related disaster declaration, but only 91,000 flood insurance polices -- both residential and commercial -- have been issued across the state, according to FEMA. Flood insurance is clearly the exception, rather than the rule
"There must be a better way to explain the issues of 100-year or 500-year floodplains and separate that from the reality that floods occur outside designated floodplains," says David Colmans of the Georgia Insurance Information Service. "The public needs a more straightforward way to assess what the risk is where they live and to realize what the consequences are of not being protected by flood insurance since homeowners or renters insurance does not cover flooding unless there is a separate flood policy."
For additional information, visit www.floodsmart.gov.n -- Buzz Weiss

severe that Governor Perdue issued a state of emergency in May 2007 covering 85 counties. He also formed a Drought Response Unified Command to develop strategies and coordinate drought response. Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona were particularly hardhit as water levels plummeted, recreation ground to a near halt, and even public health was threatened.
But the fortunes of both lakes seemed to turn on a dime, with water

levels returning to pre-drought levels. Lake Lanier rose three feet by September 25, 2009, hitting full pool in October. Meanwhile, Lake Allatoona exceeded full pool by September 23, 2009.
Rainfall around the state was reported to be well above normal at a number of locations including Atlanta, Athens, Macon and Columbus, where rainfall was 18 inches above normal as of November 30, 2009. n
12

Forgettable Hurricane Season Fades Into History
By Buzz Weiss, Public Information Officer

The 2009 hurricane season came to an uneventful close on November 30, having teased and taunted but in the end, leaving little to remember it by. The season generated only nine named storms, including three hurricanes -- the fewest named storms and hurricanes since 1997.
For only the first time in three years, no hurricanes made landfall along the U.S. coastline. Claudette and Ida did hit the Gulf Coast with tropical storm force winds, however. Ida, which reached hurricane status, but was later downgraded before landfall, spawned several days of steady rain as she passed through Georgia heading to the northeast, where she pounded Virginia with a particular fury.
A tropical depression formed in late May in the North Atlantic, but quickly dissipated, underscoring the fact that early tropical activity has little predictive value for the season. The season didn't begin in earnest until August, when four storms developed, including one hurricane -- Bill. A Category 4 storm at one point, Bill posed no real threat to Georgia other than rough surf and rip currents along the coast. September's Hurricane Fred was also little more than a "fish storm," meaning it had no impact on land.
"The reduced activity was expected and reflects the development of El Nio during the summer," says Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center. "El Nio produced strong wind shear across the Caribbean Sea and western tropical Atlantic, which resulted in fewer and shorter-lived storms compared to some recent very active seasons."
Bell says it's too early to predict what El Nio will do next year and how it will affect the 2010 hurricane season.

Answers 1) b; 2) a; 3) c; 4) c

The clement season gave hurricane hunters a break. Air Force Reserve and NOAA planes flew only 38 recon missions this year, compared to 169 last year.
NOAA forecasters covered the spread when they made their broad,

safe, can't-miss, mid-season predictions earlier this year, calling for between seven to 11 named storms, including three to six hurricanes.
Colorado State University predicts six to eight hurricanes this year and three to five major hurricanes.n

the storm

Cellar

Take this quiz about flooding.

1) A 500-year flood means: a) A flood of a particular magnitude will only occur every 500 years or more. b) There is a .2 percent chance that a flood of a particular magnitude occurring in any year. c) There is a five percent chance of a flood of a particular magnitude occurring in any year. d) Start gathering animals two by two.

2) Floods kill how many people, on average, each year in the United States? a) 140 b) 350 c) 1,200 d) 1,800

3) While the loss of life, due to floods, has decreased in recent years, what has increased? a) The number of injuries. b) The occurrence of inland floods. c) Economic losses. d) The number of declared disasters resulting from floods.

4) Melting snow and rainstorms are the primary cause of floods in what area of the United States? a) The southeastern Gulf Coast. b) New England. c) The Western states. d) The Great Lakes states.

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January 2010 EmErgEncy managEr

Blame El Nio for Cold, Wet Winter
By Ken Davis, Public Affairs Director

Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) say the ubiquitous El Nio will continue to form our weather patterns in the future and, according to their crystal balls, will spawn warm temperatures and potentially the hottest decade on record. However, more immediately, they call for a cooler, wetter winter in Georgia.
Below-average temperatures are expected across the Southeast and MidAtlantic, roughly from Texas north to Pennsylvania and south to Florida. Areas of Coastal and South Georgia, meanwhile, can expect above normal precipitation, according to forecasters. They say that areas of Central and North Georgia, including metro Atlanta, have equal chances for an above, near, or below-normal amount of precipitation.
"We expect El Nio to strengthen and persist through the winter months, providing clues as to what the weather

will be like during the period," says Mike Halpert, deputy director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. "Warmer ocean water in the equatorial Pacific shifts the patterns of tropical rainfall that in turn change the strength and position of the jet stream and storms over the Pacific and the U.S."
"Wetter and cooler than normal." That's what State Climatologist Dr. David Stooksbury sees in his tea leaves.
"El Nio's influence is especially strong in the southern two-thirds of the state," says Stooksbury. "While the outlook is for a cooler winter, this does not mean that cold arctic outbreaks are likely. The coolness is primarily caused by the increase in cloudiness."
According to Stooksbury, daily high temperatures across most of the state will tend to be cooler than normal, but nighttime lows will be slightly warmer than normal because of increased cloudiness. He says temperatures in the North Georgia Mountains will likely be below normal, but precip-

itation could go either way because the mountains are along a transition area between wetter-than-normal and drierthan-normal conditions.
Stooksbury also warns that because of the September and October rains, "the risk of flooding is expected to remain higher than normal through the winter."
Accuweather's Chief Meteorologist Joe Bastardi is also predicting a cold, wet winter. He, too, blames it on El Nio, but says it will be due, in part, to a fading El Nio, not a stronger one. He says the fading El Nio will result in a colder and stormier winter than previous years.
Bastardi says areas from Atlanta to Charlotte could see several snowstorms this year. He says the I-20 corridor from Atlanta to Dallas will be a "strike zone" for ice and snow.
What does the Farmers' Almanac say? Three words -- mild and wet.
To learn how to prepare for winter weather, visit www.ready.ga.gov.n

EmErgEncy managEr January 2010

14

H1N1 Update:
A conversation with the Georgia Department of Community Health's Chief of Emergency Preparedness
and Response Division, Dr. Pat O'Neal

In April 2009, when H1N1 made its second debut, the world watched anxiously as the virus made its way across the globe. At one point, an advisory was issued for travel to Mexico and herds of pigs were slaughtered. At the height of the outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic and President Barak Obama officially declared H1N1 a national emergency.
Eventually, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released vaccines, which trickled down to the states in batches. But in the virus' aftermath, between April and November 14, 2009, CDC estimated that more than 47 million people in the United States were infected and 9,820 people lost their lives.
Now, with only a few states reporting widespread activity and fewer people getting vaccinated, it appears

like the virus has officially peaked and decided to take a sabbatical. However, state officials say this is not the time to become complacent because a third wave may be around the corner.
To dispel any myths or misconceptions about H1N1, vaccines, and the future, Georgia Emergency Management Agency Public Information Officer Den Brummer spoke with Dr. Pat O'Neal, the Georgia Department of Community Health's chief of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Division.
Q Overall, how did the state handle the last major wave of the H1N1?
Dr. O'Neal: The state's coordinated response went very well, considering the limited availability of vaccine until late 2009. Our surveillance system

performed very well and allowed us to have real-time awareness of the health care needs during this phase. With only a few exceptions, hospital and medical providers across the state were able to keep up with the surge of H1N1 cases. The hallmark of our response was the fact that we were able to offer vaccine to the target groups as the vaccine became available.
It is still very important that people continue to get vaccinated to prevent a third wave from appearing. As the vaccine has become readily available, Georgia continues to encourage everyone who is susceptible to H1N1 influenza and does not have a contraindication to taking the vaccine (such as an egg allergy), to consider becoming vaccinated.

Q

Tell us more about the state's Public Health Surveillance System and how it works.

Dr. O'Neal: There are actually two different systems that have been useful for this situation and monitoring influenza. One is the Sentinel Surveillance System, a network of over 80 providers located strategically across the state who report to us on a weekly basis the number of influenza cases they are seeing in their practices. They also have the opportunity to submit specimens each week so we can maintain a situational awareness of what strains are circulating.
This system to date has shown us that virtually all of the cases of influenza have come from the 2009 H1N1 strain. Because submissions are weekly and also require a laboratory processing time, it is not as timely as the

Syndromic Surveillance System, an information technology approach that allows us to get electronic notification from approximately 40 ER departments and clinics across the state when patients come in with influenza-like symptoms. This gives us almost realtime syndromic data and helps us understand where we are on the epidemiological curve of disease occurrence during an outbreak.

Q How was the disease distributed across the state?

Dr. O'Neal: By and large, the distribution has been ubiquitous. Over a period of time it has appeared everywhere in the state.

Q What type of response has the mass vaccination campaign received?

Dr. O'Neal: Early in the outbreak we saw a demand for the vaccinations. The live attenuated vaccine was more readily available before the inactivated vaccine, and segments of the population expressed reservations about taking a live virus vaccine. Reservations were expressed by health care workers who work around immune-compromised patients and feared that viral shedding from a live attenuated virus could infect their patients. The CDC issued additional guidance to reassure them that it is only the severely immune-compromised patients that are susceptible to viral shedding. We have also heard some reservations expressed by members of the population that are against any vaccinations, whether it is for religious or philosophical reasons.
We also have seen frustration expressed by individuals who wanted the vaccine at a time when supply was limited and only available for the five target groups.

Q

What is the different between the live attenuated vaccine and the inactive vaccine?

Dr. O'Neal: There are significant differences in the two vaccines. One uses a virus that has been killed and

inactivated. This vaccine is administered by injection and produces an antibody response. The live attenuated vaccine is a live virus that is weakened and unable to produce clinically significant disease. The live attenuated vaccine is administered by introducing droplets into the nose. Both the inactivated vaccine and the live attenuated vaccine are capable of stimulating an immune response capable of preventing or mitigating a severe H1N1 infection. The live attenuated vaccine usually provides a stronger immune response than the inactivated vaccine, but the live attenuated vaccine can only be given to individuals between 2 and 49 years of age who do not have certain medical conditions.
But the best protection against influenza is a vaccination and that is why the Georgia Department of Community Health has been pushing the dual vaccination campaign for the H1N1 virus and seasonal flu. Seasonal flu is also a dangerous disease that takes the lives of about 36,000 people in the U.S. annually.

Q

Despite all that you have explained, how do you address the issues of people who still have concerns?

Dr. O'Neal: The most important thing for people to understand is that the influenza viruses are very unstable viruses that go through changes all the time. Some of the changes are minor changes that occur slowly over time, while others occur very sudden, and rapid such as the change that created this new strand of H1N1. Since the influenza is so highly unstable, we know from year to year that shots that prevent influenza from occurring have to be changed because the virus has changed. With this awareness, we have gained a lot experience of making new vaccines over the last 40 years.
Flu shots are modified to cover the three most prevalent strains that are circulating that particular year, so every single year we have to make changes in the strains that are in the vaccine. Although this year we have a brandnew strain, the procedure for making the vaccine is identical to the one that

has been used annually for the last several years: There is no new procedure. So, the public needs to understand that the manufactur- Dr. Pat O'Neal ing system is not new. It is the same one we have used for years with a very high degree of safety and efficacy.

Q

Are there any specific issues related to H1N1 that emergency managers need to be aware of?

Dr. O'Neal: The Georgia Department of Community Health is very open to sharing information with the public and with our partners. If the situation changes, emergency managers can be reassured that they will be notified.

Q What are the biggest myths surrounding H1N1?

Dr. O'Neal: Because this is a pandemic virus, people have assumed that it is more dangerous than the seasonal flu. But in reality, it isn't. In addition, there is a myth that the government is blowing this out of proportion for political reasons, and that is also not true. The H1N1 virus is a new virus and therefore is very contagious. Although most people will only have mild disease, some will have serious illness and some will not survive. Spread of the disease can be minimized by common habits of good hygiene such as 1) covering coughs and sneezes, 2) frequent hand washing, and 3) staying home when ill with flu-like symptoms. Our most important intervention for preventing influenza, however, is vaccination.
To find the latest H1N1 information, go to www.health.state.ga.us/H1N1 and to find local provider with the H1N1 vaccine call 1-800-H1N1Info.n

Photo courtesy of atlanta motor Speedway

Atlanta Motor Speedway Races to Prepare for Disasters On and Off the Track
By Shana Slay, Contributing Writer, Hazard Mitigation Division

Enthusiasts of Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) are very familiar with high speeds and flying debris during a National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) event, but when a tornado struck the race track one summer night in 2005, the facility weathered a completely different type of speed and destruction: the wrath of Mother Nature. The F-2 tornado touched down at approximately 9:30 p.m. on July 6, 2005. Had the tornado stuck 24 hours later, it would have hit during the Thursday Thunder Racing event, a favorite weekly summertime tradition for many families, and the speedway would have had to implement its emergency operations plan in order to move patrons out of harm's way.
AMS hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year at its 870 acre property in Hampton, just 25 miles south of Atlanta. The track has a seating capacity of more than 125,000 and
17

can facilitate thousands of other spectators who watch from their infield and trackside RV/tent camp sites. Since the track does not exclusively host large events, the facility prepares two different emergency action plans: One designed for a small track rental (less than 1,000 people in attendance), and the other for larger events, such as the Labor Day weekend NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races that take place there each year.
The emergency action plan used for these races states that "the Emergency Action Plan serves as a guide; providing direction, information, principles, management, coordination, and outlines command and control should an emergency or critical incident occur at Atlanta Motor Speedway during events."
This plan is updated approximately one month prior to each race, when AMS executives meet with Henry

County's chief of police, fire chief, sheriff, emergency management agency director, emergency medical services directors and officials from the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the 4th Civil Support Team to discuss and draft the emergency operations plan for the large event.
"It is important to have all of these agencies involved in the planning process because they will be the ones to execute it should the unthinkable actually happen," says Brandon Hutchison, AMS vice president of events. This coordination among agencies also provides a complete assessment of risks and vulnerabilities that the speedway must address in order to have an effective plan.
During the NASCAR races, officials from each of these agencies report to the Unified Joint Operations Center
January 2010 EmErgEncy managEr

atlanta motor Speedway looked like it was in a high-speed crash after a tornado swept through in July 2005.

that, according to a previous plan, "ensures effective interagency coordination among all public safety agencies supporting the event and speedway personnel, and facilitates the convergence of command, control, communications, and information." The plan also delegates which agency will assume Incident Command in different situations, ensuring that any criminally initiated incident, demonstration or protest is handled by the Henry County Sheriff and Chief of Police, any terrorist incident is assigned to the FBI, all fire, haz-mat, structural collapse, severe weather and decontamination issues are handled by the Henry County Fire Department, any heat stress, food poisoning, or disease outbreak problems are the responsibility of Henry County Emergency Medical Services, and any major traffic incidents are handled by GSP.
The tornado spread its fury from one end to the other of the facility. Some of the executive offices were destroyed as the funnel ripped through Tara Place, a nine-story building on the north end of the track that houses 46 luxury condominiums, the Tara Ballroom, and the speedway's executive offices, causing more than $40 million in damages.
Luckily for the facility and for Thursday Thunder fans, the chance for injuries and fatalities was avoided by less than 24 hours. However, this event highlights the importance of the speedway's emergency action planning and will always serve as a reminder to the emergency management community involved in these events that being prepared is always the best defense against disaster.
"Having the opportunity to develop a solid, functional emergency operations plan for large and complex events such as the NASCAR races provide the participating agencies with the opportunity not only to address the logistical operations of their own agencies, but the changing needs of the community as well," surmises Henry County Emergency Management Agency Director Don Ash.n

EmErgEncy managEr January 2010

18

Principles for Georgia Emergency Management Agency Employees
We will be Decent, ethical and Honorable The First Principle guides how we interact with each other and with our external customers, partners and stakeholders. As GEMA employees, we are expected to be Decent, to be Ethical
at all times and to Honor our commitments.
We will be Servant Leaders The Second Principle guides our commitment to those in need in times of an emergency. As employees of the state's emergency management agency, we are expected to always be mindful that our purpose is to Serve those in need and to provide Leadership in times of an emergency.
We will Show Up and Do Our Best The Third Principle guides our personal commitment to the Agency and our co-workers. As
GEMA employees, we are expected to make a commitment each day to "Show Up" and to "Do Our Best." Every day we make a commitment to give our best effort to the challenges we
face and to be fully present in all our actions and thoughts.
We will have an attitude of Success The Fourth Principle guides our attitude. As GEMA employees, we are expected to approach
our responsibilities from the perspective of "How can I make this work?" by adopting an Attitude of Success.
We will embrace a Team Spirit The Fifth Principle guides our commitment to our professional careers in the field of emergency management. As GEMA employees, we are expected to embrace a Team Spirit, to respect each other as fellow professionals, to ask for and/or provide assistance when needed, and to recognize that "None of us are above doing anything asked of us" if GEMA is to be
successful in fulfilling our mission.
We will be Ladies and gentlemen The Sixth Principle guides how we interact with the general public. As GEMA employees, we are expected to always Act as Ladies and Gentlemen and to treat others as if they were Ladies
and Gentlemen.
We will have Open Doors The Seventh Principle guides how we interact with our supervisors. As GEMA employees, we
are expected to be welcoming and have an Open Door.