by Dominick Mireles | Logistics Program Manager, OEM    March 18, 2017

At the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), our work hours extend past 9-5, our days not encapsulated Monday to Friday, and our place of business stretches beyond our desktops and walls of our building.

That is because emergencies, and events, do not have those boundaries of time and place. And, with City agencies and non-profit partner organizations, we plan for and respond to large events, like the NFL draft, and emergencies, like the derailment of Amtrak 188. Emergencies happen anywhere, anytime. Just as we preach preparedness to the public through our READYHome, READYCommunity, and READYBusiness programs, we must be ready as well.

Ready to Respond

OEM staff members transition into 24/7 On-Call emergency managers one week a month. There are four teams of OEM employees who are ready for when an incident happens and OEM is requested to the scene by Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) or Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) to help first-responders, businesses, and residents endure and recover.

All of this in addition to our usual OEM 9-5 obligations. Some examples of everyday duties include; writing public safety plans for the city, educating residents and businesses on emergency preparedness, acquiring equipment and training opportunities for Philadelphia’s Police and Fire departments, collaborating health and human services among area hospitals and healthcare facilities, maintaining daily awareness of hazardous materials, providing constant situational awareness for City government and partners, and coordinating response and recovery for whatever the city and its residents may experience.

The week of March 7th to March 14th  was busy, for lack of any better term.  The on-call period for Team 4 began at 9 a.m., Tuesday. Team 4 took over responsibility for field response and incident coordination for the upcoming week from Team 3. After the bi-weekly, office-wide Training Tuesday, which focused on Emergency Operations Center tools, the task for the day was to demobilize and recover OEM’s light tower trailers that were deployed to Monday’s 4-Alarm fire at the Northeast Philadelphia Aquatic Club, which Team 3 responded to. Light towers were hitched to trucks, inspected for functionality, refueled, and returned from NE Philadelphia to their storage location. The operation went according to plan and OEM was ready for the next call.

PECO Substation Fire and Power Outages

At 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Team 4 received a text and email alert that the PFD was responding to a situation at a PECO substation. Prompted by a request from the PFD incident commander for OEM to respond, an internal notification to staff was sent by OEM’s Regional Integration Center (RIC), which operates 24/7/365 to maintain situational awareness of any-sized event or emergency and coordinate public safety with federal, state, and local first-responders, City agencies, and non-profit partner organizations. With the situational awareness provided by the RIC’s notification, the decision was made to send to me, who is on Team 4. Once on scene, it was evident that this incident was going to have a big impact on the community. Remaining Team 4 members, the Public Information, Geographic Information Systems, and Homeland Security managers, got to work at home base.

Public messaging began, the City’s Emergency Notification System, ReadyPhiladelphia, which is run by OEM, was employed to alert residents. Impact maps were created and public and private partners were engaged for coordination. With a sizable fire in the Hunting Park neighborhood and an even larger area without power, there was plenty of work to accomplish.

The greatest concern was for residents without power and cold weather moving in, if we would need to open up a warming center or shelter.

With some help from other OEM staff, our portable lights and generators were deployed to two PFD stations so that they could continue to operate from their stations without power. OEM worked to confirm that hospitals were stable, nursing and personal care homes were supported, and the City’s water department facilities were functioning. After holding two incident coordination and impact conference calls, and agreeing that the incident was stabilized, Team 4 called it a night around 9 p.m. while the RIC continued to monitor the status.

One goal was to leave Wednesday morning’s commute as uninterrupted as possible. The City’s Streets Department and PPD worked throughout the night to install generators at traffic lights and to staff critical intersections. OEM was prepared to provide additional resources if called upon. OEM also followed up Tuesday’s public messaging with more reminders to expect delays, use caution in intersections, and otherwise be prepared for a potential loss of power.

Wednesday through Friday remained quiet for Team 4. Lights and generators were collected from the fire stations and rehabbed, previously planned meetings and routine program work was carried out, the power outage was monitored, and other citywide incidents were watched with a close eye for potential impacts, including a large brush fire and peaceful demonstrations in Center City.

Ready for Weather

On Friday, forecasts of a Nor’easter eyeing Philadelphia began to fall on Team 4’s radar. OEM’s Deputy Director for Planning Derek Ziegler gave reports from different forecast models; 8” and 16” were not welcomed predictions. However, with uncertainty in the forecast, this threat would have to be monitored throughout the weekend.

3 Alarm Warehouse Fire

Saturday began as a day off for Team 4 with the RIC keeping watch as they always do. Notification of a large fire in West Philadelphia was delivered to Team 4 at 9:21 a.m. A phone call from the RIC to myself relayed a serious situation; a growing fire, multiple evacuated residences, a massive 3 alarm response by PFD, and frigid temperatures were the report. Team 4 deployed the Assistant Team Leader and a Team Member: OEM’s Public Information and GIS managers. En-route, OEM’s RIC worked to ensure response partners were aware. SEPTA was contacted to deploy buses for evacuated residents to keep warm on. The American Red Cross, Red Paw, and Salvation Army were notified to respond and provide support to residents. On scene, Team 4 members ensured that evacuated residents were safe and informed. Incident command was supported by ensuring that Streets’ Department salt trucks tended to icy conditions and the Philadelphia Second Alarmers provided rehab to PFD members. Recovery was focused on through coordination with the fire marshal, Licenses and Inspections, the Philadelphia Water Department, and the American Red Cross.

With the fire under control by PFD and affected residents having made alternate arrangements or receiving services from ARC, OEM took up from the scene by 4:15 p.m.

Parade Planning and Awareness

Sunday brought the popular St. Patrick’s Day parade through Center City. While Team 4 did not attend in an official capacity, efforts of the previous weeks culminated in a successful event. Planning, information sharing, and resource support provided by the OEM Homeland Security and Logistics managers helped to ensure that public safety officials and event organizers had the tools they needed for another successful special event.

Weather Watch

Monday provided a clearer picture of the storm heading our way. With 10”-12” in the forecast, a citywide coordination call was hosted by Team 4. With a representative present from the major winter weather players on the call, updated forecasts and a review of the City’s response was discussed. The City’s Streets Department had a long road ahead of them and OEM stood ready to support.

Water Main Break

Monday night brought another call to OEM for field response. A water main break in South Philadelphia filled resident’s basements causing power to be cut and residents to be evacuated from their homes. OEM’s Deputy Director for Operations Dan Bradley responded at 7:58 p.m. to make sure residents had a warm place to wait on a SEPTA bus, and a plan could be worked out between the Philadelphia Water Department, American Red Cross, and PECO to get residents back in their homes. Once OEM saw that all residents had a safe and warm place to stay for the night, OEM took up from the scene.

Snow Storm Activation

Monday at 10 p.m, the City’s Emergency Operations Center opened. Team 4 and Team 1 split shifts with representatives from PPD, PFD, Streets, Parks and Recreation, Office of Fleet Management, SEPTA, PA State Police, PennDOT, and PECO to ensure that the City responded appropriately to the winter weather. Through informed decision making and face to face issue resolution, the City ensured that the public was informed and all City services were provided as best as possible given the conditions. OEM’s RIC measured a total accumulation of 6.7” of snow through the storm which was reported to the National Weather Service. Satisfied that the storm had subsided and no major issues remained, the EOC deactivated at 1 p.m. Tuesday while cleanup continued to be managed by the Streets Department.

Plans in Place and Operating

Through all of these events, OEM was able to exercise their plans, their partnerships, their preparedness efforts, and put our equipment to work. In seven days, the Electricity Disruption, Mass Care and Shelter, Public Notification, Winter Weather, and Resource Plans were all put into action in some aspect. Each of these plans, and the many others in OEM’s library, take months of research, collaboration, and testing; and only a moment’s notice to be called into play.

Just like OEM asks residents, Team 4’s go-bags were packed, notification systems were signed up for, and communication and emergency plans were written ahead of time.

Tuesday at 9 a.m., Team 4 turned in their keys and hung up their coats. A well exercised Team 4 was happy to turn over responsibility to Team 1 who looked forward to another week in the city that they love.

Insight From Last Week’s Responses That Can Help You

Be Informed

Be Weather Aware

  • Prior to a storm approaching, learn the safest route from your home to high ground in case you have to evacuate.
    • Think of where you’d go and how you’d get there if told to evacuate. This should be part of your Family Emergency Plan. Account for all members of your family, including those more vulnerable or with access and functional needs.
    • Be sure to account for your pets, never leave them behind. Identify family or friends who can take them in the event of an evacuation. Animals are welcome at all City of Philadelphia evacuation shelters, reception centers, and on SEPTA evacuation transport vehicles.
  • You will need supplies that are found in a shelter-in-place kit to not only get through the storm, but for the aftermath as well.
    • Utilities such as electricity and water may be out for a prolonged period, so have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of one week.
    • You’ll need extra cash, a battery-powered radio and flashlights. Given our reliance on cell phones, you’ll need a portable, crank or solar powered USB charger. Put together a Go-Bag in case you need to evacuate.

Be Prepared for Power Outages

  • The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management recommends having a flashlight, a battery operated AM/FM radio, and spare batteries found in a Shelter-in-Place kit for easy access. Keeping your cell phone fully charged is a smart preparedness idea as well. Other beneficial knowledge includes:
    • Use flashlights for emergency lighting. Candles become a fire hazard.
    • Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed tight as most food requiring refrigeration can be kept safely for several hours. An unopened fridge can keep food at the proper temperature for about 4 hours.
    • If it’s hot out, find a location to stay cool. The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management may open a Cooling Center if warranted. Wear light colored, lightweight clothing and keep hydrated with water, even if you’re not feeling that thirsty.
    • If it’s cold out, wear layers of clothing. Do not burn charcoal indoors nor use your over as a source of heating. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location, like a relative or friends house. OEM may open up a Warming Center if there is a need.
    • Turn off or disconnect appliances and other equipment in case of a momentary power “surge” that can damage computers and other devices. Consider adding surge protectors.
    • If you are considering purchasing a generator for your home, consult an electrician or engineer before purchasing and installing.
    • Only use generators away from your home and NEVER run a generator inside a home or garage, or connect it to your home’s electrical system.
  • Philadelphia’s power utility company PECO has ways to help before, during, and after a storm, including; preventing outages, storm readiness, storm restoration process, reporting outages online, and tracking current outages.
  • PECO also wants you to know you can report an outage on mobile via text message to 697326 (MYPECO).
    • To report a gas emergency or a downed or sparking power line, please call 1-800-841-4141.
    • If there is a street light outage, call Philadelphia’s non-emergency number 3-1-1. Street lights in the city of Philadelphia are owned and maintained by the city.
  • Have a tree emergency?
    • Philadelphia Parks and Recreation says if a tree falls during a storm and it’s blocking a road, or it has fallen on a house, car or other property, call 911.
    • For non-emergency tree requests, please submit a request through Philly 311.
    • In the event that a tree has fallen on electrical wires, please call PECO’s emergency line: 1-800-841-4141. Do not approach.

Be Insured Properly

  • Ask your insurance company for a check-up for fires and floods. The cost of flood insurance can be a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of flood damage.
    • Make sure you have enough homeowners or renter’s insurance for your residence.  Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, you’ll need a separate policy for it, and it’s available through your company, agent or the National Flood Insurance Program.
    • Flood insurance requires a 30-day wait period, so act before the storm. Not all insurance policies are the same.
    • Coverage amounts, deductibles, and payment caps can vary significantly. Talk with your insurance provider to find what fits you best.
  • Are you a business owner? Whether you are Main Street mom-and-pop or Broad Street hi-rise, having a business continuity plan is imperative.
    • Federal statistics say up to 40% of businesses never recover after a major disaster. Be Ready. Stay Open.

 

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