Public Works
Gaston County Emergency Operations Plan

Coordinating Agencies: Gaston County Public Works
  Municipal Public Works
   
Cooperating Agencies: County Manager
  Utilities
  Others as required or requested
   
   
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this annex is to provide essential public works services during an emergency/disaster to reduce the impact of the emergency.
 
II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
 
  A. Situation
 
    1. In an emergency there is frequently a need for manpower and equipment to remove obstructions or debris from roads and at government facilities and for restoration of essential utilities.
 
    2. The municipalities with public works capabilities are discussed in the Basic Plan under Situations.
 
    3. The Towns of Cramerton, Lowell, McAdenville and Ranlo purchase water from the City of Gastonia. All other municipalities have their own water systems and most are interconnected with other water systems for back-up purposes.
 
  B. Assumptions
 
    1. Public works departments have a limited but immediate capability to provide emergency services for debris removal, restoration of essential utilities and shelter upgrading.
 
    2. Within the National Response Framework, public works and engineering is an Emergency Support Function (ESF-3) and incorporates infrastructure protection and emergency repair as well as infrastructure restoration. This ESF also provides engineering services, construction management, emergency contracting support for life-saving and life-sustaining services.
 
III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
  A. In non-emergency periods, the role of public works in the county or within municipalities is confined to trash collection, landfill\solid waste operations, building, grounds and street maintenance, water and sewage utility service, equipment operations and maintenance.
 
  B. During emergencies, the public works function expands and coordination of public works emergency operations is essential. Public works arranges for support services for emergency response agencies, shelter operations and the Emergency Operations Center and coordinates with the private sector for additional resources to supplement public works.
 
  C. The Gaston County Public Works Director will serve in the Emergency Operations Center for the coordination of debris removal at and restoration of county-owned facilities. This position will also serve as a coordination point to assist municipal public works agencies in getting support resources for the recovery and restoration of city/town streets and facilities.
 
  D. Each municipality will serve its own community within the scope of the public works activities that are provided to the citizens. When their capabilities are exhausted they can coordinate with other municipalities where there are existing mutual aid agreements or they can utilize the County Emergency Operations Center for help in acquiring assistance.
 
  E. The State of North Carolina maintains roads within the county and will provide the function of debris clearance and removal on these maintained roads. Within the municipalities there is a mixture of state maintained roads and city/town maintained roadways. Prior agreements between North Carolina Department of Transportation and the cities/towns will determine responsibility for debris clearance/removal and repair of these roads.
 
  F. The Emergency Operations Center will serve to coordinate with the North Carolina Department of Transportation with information about critical areas that need clearance of debris from roadways, to provide emergency vehicles and power companies access.
 
  G. In the event that any municipality has a significant problem with their water distribution system, other municipal public works groups may respond to assist to aid in preventing possible loss of services to residents.
 
  H. Bessemer City and Kings Mountain provide natural gas services to their citizens as an additional function of public works. They have in place agreements which provide additional manpower and equipment that would handle most incidents involving pipeline breaks.
 
IV. DIRECTION AND CONTROL
 
  A. The Gaston County Public Works Director will coordinate public works activities during emergencies and coordinate activities and resource requests with other response forces in the municipalities or North Carolina Department of Transportation as needed.
 
  B. The Gaston County Public Works Director will maintain direct communication with on‑site personnel via the public works radio system or telephone.
 
  C. When notified of an emergency situation, the Public Works Director will determine the county public works resources to be committed to disaster response and alert appropriate personnel.
 
  D. On‑site control of public works activities will be coordinated by the designee of the Public Works Director or by the respective municipal public works director as well as the North Carolina County Road Supervisor.
 
V. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
The line of succession is:
 
  A. Public Works Director
 
  B. Public Works Supervisor
 
  C. County Manager
     

Attachment 1
Public Works Preparedness/Response Checklist
 
     
  When requested or required, report to the Emergency Operations Center and serve until relieved or the incident is terminated.
 
  Receive a situational briefing at the EOC. Ask questions and address concerns during the briefing.
 
  Advise the EOC of the availability of Facility Services response resources, including the number of personnel and/or equipment/services that may be available.
 
  Advise the EOC of the preparedness activities that have taken place to ensure adequate potable water supplies and generator power.
 
  Advise the EOC of any shortcomings or vulnerabilities county-owned properties may experience or have experienced that would cause extended loss of the use of the building/property.
 
  Develop plans and recommendations in the event of partial or total electrical failure at any county-owned vital facility.
 
  Develop mutual aid and resource agreements with surrounding counties and contractors.
 
  Implement mutual aid agreements as necessary.
 
  Brief your personnel regarding the current or impending situation based upon information received at the EOC briefing. Include in your briefing:
   
Current overall situation as relates to the emergency/disaster.
Maps of affected areas.
Current personnel status (i.e. is someone out on leave).
Safety.
Location of supplies if different from "normal" locations (i.e., emergency worker food supplies, fuel, etc.).
Security.
Advise personnel to log mileage of all vehicles used and the amount of time (in hours) that all equipment was used.
Work assignments including additional shifts if required.
Telephone numbers of key personnel.
     
  Establish and maintain communications with your personnel and/or public works (municipal) facilities as necessary for the duration of the emergency/disaster.
 
  Establish and maintain communications with the Emergency Operations Center for the duration of the emergency/disaster.
 
  Ensure personnel are advised to accurately record overtime and file reports with their immediate supervisor.
 
  Ensure personnel are advised to accurately record expense incurred in the performance of their duty and file reports with their immediate supervisor.
 
  Issue equipment or supplies (.i.e., gloves, face shields, etc.).
 
  Ensure a tracking method is in place to track and record expenditures.
 
  Prepare reports regarding the overall system status as needed, required or requested and forward such reports to the County Manager and/or Emergency Management Administrator for the duration of the emergency/disaster.
 
  Prepare or appoint personnel to prepare records and reports for personnel overtime, equipment use and expenditures. Forward these reports to the Finance Office or other department as directed by the County Manager.
 
  Carry out other functions related to your department as required or requested by the County Manager and/or Emergency Operations Center.