Emergency manager magazine, Winter 2013

Emergency
MANAGER

WINTER 2013
Ready Georgia App Available for iPhone and Android
Carroll County Uses Incident Command in Warrant Round-up
Gwinnett County Helps Vulnerable Populations Prepare for Disaster

Emergency Manager is the official magazine of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/ Homeland Security
Lisa Janak Newman, Editor
Honorable Nathan Deal Governor
Charley English Director
Donna Burns Deputy Director of
Administration
Ken Davis Public Affairs Director
Crystal Paulk-Buchanan Public Information Officer
Lisa Janak Newman Public Information Officer
D'Arcy Burgess Constituent Services
Coordinator
Brittany McAlpin Website Management
Specialist
Published by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/ Homeland Security Post Office Box 18055 Atlanta, Georgia 30316
PHONE 1-800-TRY-GEMA
(404) 635-7000 FAX (404) 635-7205
Website www.gema.ga.gov www.ready.ga.gov
You are welcome to submit original articles for publication consideration. Please e-mail your submissions to lisa.janak_newman@gema.ga.gov

From the Director
The year 2012 was most unusual: For the first time in awhile, we did not have any disasters severe enough to qualify for a presidential disaster declaration. However, tornadoes and flooding kept us plenty busy. In early March, severe thunderstorms, tornados and flash flooding killed one person and caused widespread damage to homes across Georgia. An EF-3 tornado struck Paulding and Lanier counties and an EF-1 tornado struck Cobb County.
As soon as hurricane season officially began, nearly 7 inches of rain fell in Thomas County on June 6. The deluge overwhelmed culverts and storm drains, flooded homes and closed several roads. Another flooding event occurred in August, when 10 inches of rain in less than 24 hours left large parts of Tift County under water.
Now is the time when people start asking me what winter has in store for us. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center, the outlook is uncertain. El Nio, which brings colder and wetterthan-average conditions, didn't make its expected appearance. So we may be in for warm, dry winter -- bad news for many drought-stricken parts of Georgia.
However, there is a bright side to what we've experienced. Things weren't as bad as they could have been when compared to the suffering and damage sustained elsewhere in the U.S. and around the globe. Moreover, research from our Ready Georgia campaign shows more Georgians are prepared for emergencies and disasters than ever before. Although these gains in preparedness are modest at best, they do show positive trends and movement in the right direction.
More and more Georgians realize we have a duty to help each other during an emergency. The majority of Georgians say they have a flashlight and extra batteries, a first-aid kit and a three-day supply of nonperishable food. At least half of us have made a list of emergency numbers for family members and safely stored important documents. Nearly 25 percent of us have a family member with a disability or decreased mobility, but only slightly more than half have emergency resources available for that person.
While much work remains to be done, I want thank you for not being complacent and for working hard to reduce the negative impact of natural and man-made disasters statewide. Be encouraged that Ready Georgia's preparedness message -- get a kit, make a plan, stay informed -- is making a positive difference.

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Summer 2011 EMERGENCY MANAGER

Exceptional EMA
Claude Craig, Whitfield County

Dalton, Ga., the county seat of Whitfield County, has enough carpets to make even Aladdin envious. Dubbed "the carpet capital of the world," it is home to more than 150 plants that produce 90 percent of the carpet used around the globe.
"Whitfield County is the mother of all textile operations," confirms Whitfield County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Claude Craig. While carpet boosts the local economy, a variety of chemicals are used during manufacturing that must be taken into account when the county creates its local emergency plans.
"My top priority right now is planning," says Craig. He is chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), which works to form partnerships with local industry to develop the emergency plans that would be used in the event of an accidental release. LEPC members include local, state and federal government as well as private industry.
Facilities must report the storage, use and release of certain hazardous chemicals as part of the Emergency Planning and the Community Rightto-Know Act (EPCRA), which educates the public about potential chemical hazards and gives them access to information about the chemicals used at facilities in their community. In turn, communities use the information to improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment.
"We have 148 reporting Tier II locations," says Craig. Tier II locations are facilities that are required by federal law to submit an annual Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory form to the LEPC, the State Emergency Response Commission and the local fire department.
Whitfield County's manufacturing facilities are located near I-75, a major transportation artery. "We are one of
EMERGENCY MANAGER Winter 2013

Whitfield County EMA Director Claude Craig
the few counties that I-75 splits right down the middle," explains Craig. "In addition, the CSX and Norfolk Southern railway companies run right through downtown Dalton." Many of the tractor-trailers and trains traveling through the county are carrying hazardous materials.
Besides man-made threats, Whitfield County's 103,000 residents also are susceptible to natural hazards. Located in the northwest Georgia mountains, the rolling terrain makes for breathtaking vistas. However, temperatures often drop below freezing in the winter, and the steep winding mountain roads are usually the first to ice over, making travel hazardous. Freezing rain also can accumulate on power lines, forming a thick glaze of ice that weighs them down, causing them to snap.
Tornadoes also are a threat. In fact, the worse disaster Craig ever assisted with was deadly tornadoes that struck neighboring Catoosa County on April 27-28, 2011.
"He's a great partner," says GEMA/Homeland Security Director Charley English.
"We were very blessed that we didn't get any damage from the storm, but we started getting all of Catoosa County's 9-1-1 calls," says Craig. "We couldn't make contact with anyone at the center at first, and when we finally did they said, `It's bad, send everything you've got.'"
Craig deployed the county's mobile command vehicle and headed to

Catoosa County to personally assist in the response. "I worked in a staging area that first night," he says. "The next morning I started helping with resource management for ESF-5 (emergency management) and didn't stop for 36 hours straight.
"I went through a tornado in 1974 in Whitfield County that I thought was bad, but when I got off the interstate in Catoosa County that first night, I had to stop and gather myself," recalls Craig.
A lifelong resident of Whitfield County, Craig was a certified peace officer for 36 years. He began working on emergency operations plans during his tenure with the sheriff 's office and found that he liked it. When the deputy EMA director position became available in July 2009, he immediately applied. Craig was appointed interim director in June 2010 and was officially named director in December 2010.
Craig's background in law enforcement has been helpful in coordinating the county's six different public safety agencies. "I know what it takes to establish a common goal and unified operation," he explains.
His skills were tested for the first time during a January 2011 snow and ice storm, when he activated the county's emergency operations center (EOC), bringing together all agencies involved in response activities. "It was a good experience for everyone," says Craig. "Everything went very smoothly.
"Most people want to be where the action is and being in an EOC isn't very exciting, but it's necessary that we're there," he observes.
"I enjoy helping people, and that's what a lot of emergency management entails," says Craig. "It could be another agency needing equipment or a homeowner needing help with their house. I feel great because I am able to assist." n -- Lisa Janak Newman
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Citizen Corps Corner

What happens if disaster strikes and first responders can't get there right away? In westcentral Georgia, members of the Muscogee County Regional Emergency Response Team are ready to help.
The program was launched in January 2006, and to date, 706 volunteers have completed the required training in finding and extricating victims, performing triage, providing basic first aid and directing traffic as part of this local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The program, co-sponsored by the Muscogee County Sheriff 's Office and the West Central Health District of Georgia, covers a wide area, including Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Lee and Russell counties in Alabama. Sgt. Charles Pickett and Deputy Rick Kelly of the Muscogee County Sherriff 's Office serve as CERT class coordinator and instructor, respectively. Both men have been involved in the program since its inception.
CERT is one of five Citizen Corps programs that prepare ordinary Georgians to manage emergencies. Citizen Corps partner programs also include Fire Corps, which assists local fire departments; USAonWatch, a neighborhood watch program; Medical Reserve Corps, which coordinates the skills of volunteer physicians, nurses, paramedics and other health professionals during and emergency, and Volunteers in Police Service, which pairs citizens with law enforcement personnel. Coordinated by the federal Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, Citizen Corps was launched by former president George W. Bush in January 2002 following the tragic events of 9/11 in order to make communities better prepared to respond to emergencies.
The Muscogee County Regional Emergency Response Team had its first test when a tornado blasted through

the region on March 1, 2007, leveling homes and businesses. "The volunteers were an instrumental part of our response efforts," Pickett recalls. "They prepared food for first responders, helped establish and support break areas, and manned roadblocks and checkpoints to free up officers for other missions."
As the program develops, Pickett says that members frequently bring other skills or interests to the organization, which strengthens the overall team. For example, several team members also are licensed amateur radio operators. Amateur radio operators, also known as ham radio operators, communicate with emergency response agencies during crises when normal communications service and electricity are compromised. Unlike cell phones that need a signal tower, or the Internet, which needs a connection source, ham radios only need a battery or a generator.
The Muscogee team holds at least one large-scale training exercise annually and several other smaller events throughout the year. Last year, the team hosted a CERT Rodeo, where participants from the region and neighboring teams competed to test medical operations, search and rescue, fire suppression, incident command, and essential emergency preparedness skills. The event was so successful that Muscogee will host it again in October.
Pickett attributes the group's success to its growing partnership with first responders, non-profit agencies, and community organizations. Two regular nine-week citizen courses are

Muscogee County CERT members tested their fire suppression and medical triage skills last year during the CERT Rodeo. The event will be held again this October.
held annually in January and September. However, high schools, businesses and other groups can request individual courses at any time.
Muscogee County Emergency Management Deputy Director Riley Land says integrating CERT into the county's emergency response is a crucial element in the county's disaster response. "We are behind them 100 percent," he declares. "Every time a citizen completes the course, we as a county are better prepared."
For more information about Muscogee County CERT or the Rodeo email mcsocert@columbusga.org. n -- Crystal Paulk-Buchanan

EMERGENCY MANAGER Winter 2013

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Gwinnett County Coalition Unites Community to Help Vulnerable Populations Prepare for Disaster
By Angela Barton, Planning and Policy Development Specialist

Surprised, shocked, appalled. These are just a few of the reactions that many in the emergency management community had when they heard the decision of a federal court in the case of the City of Los Angeles vs. Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF). The class-action lawsuit was filed in 2009, spurred by events during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans, when many disabled people were stranded during evacuations due to a lack of disability planning.
In this landmark case, the court decided that the City of Los Angeles violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to meet the needs of its residents with disabilities in planning for natural and man-made disasters. Federal Judge Consuelo B. Marshall ruled, "The court finds that plaintiffs are denied the benefits of the city's emergency preparedness program because the city's practice of failing to address the needs of individuals with disabilities discriminates against such individuals by denying them meaningful access to the city's emergency preparedness program.
"Because of the city's failure to address their unique needs, individuals with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to harm in the event of an emergency or disaster," the ruling concluded. This ruling, the first such decision in the country, has left many communities grasping at straws, determined to understand how to better plan for individuals with disabilities during disasters and emergencies.
It has long been recognized that comprehensive, inclusive planning can have a significant impact on overall community preparedness and response during disasters. Fortunately, there are several examples of innovative and inclusive planning efforts around Georgia. One such effort is what I call the, "Keep it simple, make a differ-

Gwinnett County Emergency Preparedness Coalition Conference
ence," planning approach adopted by the Gwinnett County Emergency Preparedness Coalition (EPC). This is one county that was prepared in the wake of this ruling.
I first learned about Gwinnett EPC while attending FEMA's first annual "Getting Real Inclusive Emergency Management National Capacity-building Training Conference," held in September 2010. While on the hotel shuttle from the airport, I became acquainted with a fellow Georgian, Pat Baker, director of Gwinnett County Health and Human Services and chair of the Gwinnett EPC. During our short journey, she shared some of Gwinnett EPC's planning initiatives.
Formed in 2008, Gwinnett EPC is the result of several comprehensive public outreach efforts, including town hall meetings, provider surveys and focus groups conducted by the Gwinnett County Coalition on Health and Human Services (GC), a publicprivate partnership.
Gwinnett EPC was created after a community assessment revealed a gap in service delivery to individuals with disabilities and older adults during disasters. As the newly appointed director of Gwinnett County Health and

Human Services, Baker was identified as the best fit for spearheading this effort. "Pat is the ideal candidate for `community champion' of this initiative," says Nicole Love, associate director for the Gwinnett County Coalition on Health and Human Services. "She is passionate about the needs of individuals with disabilities and eager to find ways to make immediate impacts."
"I knew nothing about emergency preparedness, but I knew about running an efficient committee that actually makes a difference," declares Baker.
Baker and Love began by bringing together every key partner who could possibly play a role in emergency management, including EOC officials, senior services, disability services and everyday citizens, not an easy feat. Fortunately, these partners were willing to meet the needs individuals with disabilities and older adults during an emergency.
The next step was to establish this benchmark goal: "The Gwinnett community is prepared to meet the food, shelter, health and human service needs of all Gwinnett residents in the event of an emergency or disaster." To meet this goal, over its three-year history Gwinnett EPC has held monthly meetings, developed and hosted an annual emergency preparedness conference specifically geared toward individuals with disabilities and seniors during disasters, and distributed surveys and emergency preparedness materials all para-transit riders in the county.
The group continually coordinates with citizens and businesses and incorporates the private sector in conference planning. The team also distributes surveys following each conference and regularly monitors requests for assistance data from the county helpline.
For more information on the Gwinnett EPC, contact Suzy Bus at Suzy@gwinnettcoalition.org and visit www.gwinnettcoaliton.org. n

Incident Command Used in Carroll County Warrant Round-up
By Lisa Janak Newman

Emergency managers use the National Incident Management System

(NIMS), which provides a standard

approach to managing emergencies

across all jurisdictions and disci-

plines, to coordinate the response

to emergencies. However, Carroll

County broke some new ground

last summer by employing NIMS

during an immense warrant round-

up that netted 136 arrests and cleared 279 active warrants. In an unusual move, the deputy fire

Captain Ken Reeves from the Carroll County Sheriff's Office and Division Chief Bud Benefield from the Carroll County Fire Department direct

chief was made incident com-

operations during the warrant round-up.

mander during one operational

period. After taking NIMS courses earlier

Sheriff 's Office, Carroll County Emergency Management Agency,

this year, Sheriff Terry Langley decided to incorporate the lessons learned into

Carroll County Fire Department, Carroll County E-911 Department,

the county's operations. During the training, command staff learned about

U.S. Marshal's Office, Department of Corrections, U.S. Immigration and

implementing the Incident Command System (ICS). This standardized, onscene, all-hazards incident management concept enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and agencies by establishing common processes for planning and managing resources

Customs Enforcement, Carrollton Police Department, Villa Rica Police Department, Temple Police Department, West Georgia Ambulance Company.
Previously, coordinating numerous federal, state and local agencies was a

and allowing for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, proce-

challenge. "Not every team was clear on the goals and objectives," says

dures, and communications operating within a common organizational struc-

Langley. "It was a lot more organized under NIMS.

ture. ICS comprises the operations, planning, logistics and finance/admin-

"We ran all functional areas -- finance, planning, logistics, operations,

istration sections. The annual warrant round-up pro-

everything -- out of incident command," Langley continues. "We even

vided the perfect opportunity to implement ICS outside the controlled classroom environment. "Just like everybody else, we have to do more with less," says Langley. "From time to time our Warrant Civil Division that serves the arrest warrants that come into our

completed 14 different NIMS forms, which was a unique experience."
Although teams from different disciplines work together during disaster, the warrant-round up provided another opportunity for responders to get to know each other in a different

office gets behind. Periodically, we'll stop and form different teams from

setting, Langley said. It also enabled more inexperienced staff to work with

local agencies and take a few days to concentrate on them."

a wide variety of local, state and federal personnel from different jurisdictions.

Eleven agencies were involved in this year's round-up: Carroll County

In addition, "From an emergency management standpoint, it got every-

5

one thinking in an incident command role," adds Tim Padgett, director for the Carroll County Emergency Management Agency.
Under NIMS, the incident commander is responsible for all aspects of response, including setting objectives, planning strategies and implementing tactics. The incident commander is highly trained and qualified to lead the response, and can be from any discipline. Rank, grade and seniority are not determining factors when selecting an incident commander. For the warrant round-up, the person who best fit the bill to be incident commander was the deputy fire chief, who worked out of the county's operations center.
"That worked excellently," Langley affirms.
Although the majority of warrants are for probation violators, several felony arrests were made. Most notably, a woman was arrested for elder abuse after it was discovered she was keeping her sister in a closet and collecting her checks.
"We also found a stolen vehicle and investigated a child abuse allegation," says Langley.
In addition to taking criminals off the street, the event also helps build morale. "Officers are glad to get out and do a job that's a little more exciting than their normal routine of writing reports or testifying in court," says Langley. He adds that another benefit of the round-up is that crime decreases considerably due to the increased law enforcement presence.
The warrant round-up began on Tuesday, July 10 and wrapped up on Thursday, July 12. The 18-hour days were broken up into two 9-hour operational periods. There were no injuries or fatalities during the event and no use of force.
"Everything went smoothly," Langley concludes. n
Winter 2013 EMERGENCY MANAGER

Ready Georgia App Puts Preparedness in Your Pocket, Garners Four Awards
By Lisa Janak Newman

To make emergency preparation more accessible, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA) and Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) partnered to create the Ready Georgia mobile app. Launched in September 2011, the free app, available for both iPhone and Android devices, supports Ready Georgia's mission to encourage residents to prepare, plan and stay informed for emergencies. From up-to-the-minute weather and hazard alerts based on a user's location, to customizable emergency preparedness checklists, the app combines a robust set of features not previously available in one mobile application.
"Preparation is key to surviving disasters, and the Ready Georgia mobile app makes it easier than ever for Georgians to get prepared," said GEMA/Homeland Security Director Charley English. "If you're shopping for emergency supplies, you have a checklist in your pocket. If you see storm clouds, you can check weather alerts. You can even pull up a local map to see if a shelter has been opened in your community."
Before an emergency, users can create customizable checklists of emergency supplies, make disaster plans for their families and check flood risk levels and historic tornado data near their location. During an emergency, the app delivers severe weather alerts, shows the locations of open Red Cross shelters and provides information on what to do during different types of disasters.
In addition to localized severe weather alerts, users also receive alerts from GEMA and DPH in the event of other emergencies, such as terrorist attacks, infectious diseases or biological threats.
"Diseases spread fast and the need to reach people in real time with life-
EMERGENCY MANAGER Winter 2013

saving information is more important than ever," said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., Commissioner of DPH. "The Ready Georgia mobile app gives us the ability to instantly deliver potentially life-saving information to almost anyone with a smartphone."
Despite all the extreme weather in 2011, a majority of Georgians are still not fully prepared for an emergency, according to a recent study from GEMA. According to the GEMA survey, 53 percent of households aware of Ready Georgia are more prepared to survive a disaster than those who are unaware of the campaign. With the number of smartphone users expected to grow 55 percent in 2011, the mobile app offers an opportunity to engage a large number of residents in a new way.
Residents can also visit the Ready Georgia website, www.ready.ga.gov, to learn how to prepare for emergencies.
The app was launched on September 21, 2011, during National Preparedness Month. The next day, it was the No. 2 weather-related app in the Apple App Store. Since then, it has been downloaded nearly 30,000 times and has consistently earned high ratings from users.
The Ready Georgia mobile app also has been honored as one of the country's best digital health resources, earning a Silver Award in the Web Health Awards | MOBILE competition. The app was recognized in the Mobile Application: Location-Based Resource category.
The Web Health Awards program is organized by the Health Information Resource Center. Using a rating scale of 1 to 100 points, a panel of health technology professionals reviewed entries based on content, format, success in reaching the targeted health audience and overall quality. This year, there were more than 600 entries.
In October 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's

National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) presented the Ready Georgia app with the Gold Award in the category of New Media for social media and Internet use in a production during its annual symposium in Washington, D.C. As the recognized voice of public health communication, NPHIC's award program bestows gold, silver and bronze awards in more than a dozen public health communication categories. This year, more than 300 entries were received.
The app also received Honorable Mention for FEMA's 2012 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards in the category of Innovative Use of Technology. FEMA's Individual and Community Preparedness Awards recognize the innovative practices and achievements of individuals, Citizen Corps Councils, and non-profit, faithbased, and private sector organizations working throughout the nation to make communities safer, stronger and better prepared to manage any disaster or emergency. FEMA received more than 150 applications from 38 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.
In addition, Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) recognized the Ready Georgia app in its 2012 Technology Innovative Showcase, which honors cutting-edge projects in state government. GEMA received the Georgia Technology Innovation Award for the Ready Georgia app during a Dec. 10 luncheon ceremony at GTA's Digital Government Summit. The award honors outstanding achievements and groundbreaking IT initiatives in the state's public sector.
The Ready Georgia app recently was updated with new graphics and improved functionality, making it easier than ever to be prepared for emergencies. To download, visit the Apple App Store or Google Play and search for "Ready Georgia." Or, visit www.ready.ga.gov/mobileapp. n
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GEMA Post Office Box 18055 Atlanta, Georgia 30316-0055
www.gema.ga.gov

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PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT NO. 8116

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.