Idaho State University - Emergency Response and Recovery Plan



   Chapter 11:  Disaster Response & Recovery Plan

   
11.1    When Does an Emergency Become a Disaster?

Idaho State University has had an Emergency Plan in place for some time.  Response to an emergency situation includes calling 911 and ISU Public Safety so that the police, fire department, and ambulance services are activated and respond to the emergency.  This condition usually affects only one building or area

In addition to an Emergency Plan, this chapter addresses a Disaster Plan.  This plan would become effective in the case of a major earthquake, fire, chemical spill, or other condition which may involve multiple buildings on campus at one time.  In a major disaster the phones may not be functioning and the fire department may be at burning high schools or hospitals and the police may be evacuating large areas of the community, etc.

In the event of a disaster, Idaho State University would like to be self-sustaining for at least 72 hours to meet our responsibility for the safety and welfare of our 12,000 students and hundreds of teachers, staff, and employees.

The Facilities Services Department has the responsibility to immediately determine which buildings are safe to use.  We have selected a number of individuals on campus whom we feel are qualified to make an initial inspection of buildings and determine whether the building is generally safe to occupy or if it should be closed until a professional inspection can be completed.

The Disaster Response Team–Building Inspectors list (Attachment C) is a tentative list of current (1996) assignments.  Then persons on this list feel that they would be willing to accept this assignment and have been offered basic information.  This list will need continual updating as personnel and conditions change.

The use of forms and procedures in this chapter are intended to be used in cooperation with national, state, and local authorities as well as the Red Cross and other relief organizations as directed by the President of the University or a designee.

The University's Purchasing Office have a procedure for the emergency authorization of funds to purchase equipment and supplies in a disaster.  This is through issuing checks, p-cards and purchase orders, which are outside the normal channels and would only be used in an emergency situation.

11.2    Communications Plan

    A.    Purpose

The purpose of the Communications Plan is to establish the procedure by which emergency communications will be conducted at ISU during emergencies and disasters. During a disaster ISU will be established as a branch of the city disaster system and will establish a branch Emergency Operations Communication Center.  The Center will establish and maintain communications with the Pocatello OPS Center and maintain communications on campus. (Refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Response Organization Checklists.)

    B.    Responsibilities

Public Safety (Refer to Chapter 3/4 Emergency Organization Checklists) - The Public Safety Department is responsible for the general  oversight  of emergency  communications which may include:
 Telecommunications (refer to Chapter 3/4 Emergency Organization Checklists)
 Radio Communications (refer to Chapter 3/4 Emergency Organization Checklists)
11.3    Equipment and Supplies

Institutions have approached this problem in a variety of ways.  Some, such as the University of California at San Francisco, have pre-stocked supplies in readily accessible locations.  The theory being that all stores are current and may be utilized immediately.

An alternate means for identifying supplies and their location within the Facility Services in the event of an emergency follows.  In each instance the Shop, Stores, or another facility is specified.
Item
Quantity
Building Location
Ax, pick head, fire, 6 lb with handles 4 ea* Stores #23
Bag, plastic, 33 gallon 45 ea Stores #23
Bar, wrecking, 30" 5 ea Shop #22
Battery, AA 24 ea Stores #23
Battery, 6 volt for hand-held light 6 ea Stores #23
Battery, D cell 24 ea Stores #23
Blankets 500 ea Housing
Bolt cutter 2 ea Public Safety #27
Broom, 14" 4 ea Stores #23
Bucket, plastic, 5 gallon 4 ea Paint Shop #22
Bulb, 300 watt, incandescent 12 ea Stores #23
Cable, wire, 1 ton, 100' 5/11" 1 ea Shop #22
Camera, Polaroid w/flash, 24 exp. 10 ea Physical Plant #18
Chain Saw, med. size w/carrying case 1 ea Grounds #19
Chain, rachet lever hoist/puller, 6 ton cap. 1 ea Welding Shop #24
Chain, rachet lever hoist/puller, 6 ton cap. 1 ea Bus Garage #21
Day pack with straps 10 ea* Stores #23
Dust masks 1 ea Shop #22
Extension ladder, 12' 1 ea Shop #22
Extension ladder, 15' 1 ea Shop #22
First aid, trauma kit 2 ea Stores #23
First aid kit, 25 people 4 ea Stores #23
Gasoline, 5 gallons in sealed cans 2 ea Grounds #19
Generator, portable, 5KW, gasoline 2 ea Plumbing Shop #24
Gloves, work, extra large 6 pr* Stores #23
Gloves, work, large 6 pr Stores #23
Goggles, safety, visor type 4 ea Stores #23
Hammer, sledge, 10# head 2 ea Shop #22
Hard hats, red 10 ea Stores #23
Hose adapter, fire hydrant to 3/4" 2 ea* Stores #23
Hose, rubber, water 3/4" nozzle, 100' 4 ea Grounds #19
Jack, hydraulic, 5 ton 4 ea Bus Garage #21
Light, hand-held, 6 vold w/battery 4 ea Stores #23
Lumber:  2x4x4'
              4x4x2'
              4x4x4'		 4 ea
4 ea
12 ea		 Stores #23
Stores #23
Stores #23
Nails,common,4D,10D,12D,16D, 20 lbs ea 1 ea Shop #22
Padlock with 2 keys 4 ea Stores #23
Plywood, 1/2", 4'x8'
              3/4", 4'x8'		 4 sheets
4 sheets		 Stores #23
Stores #23
Polyethylene plastic, Visqueen, 12 ft. wide 2 rolls Stores #23
Portable lights, 110V, 300W, incandescent 8 ea Stores #23
Portable radio, AM/FM 1 ea* Stores #23
Power cord, 50' w/adapter plugs 12 ea Stores #23 & Shop #22
Power cord, 100' w/adapter plugs 12 ea Stores #23 & Shop #22
Power strip, 6 receptacles with switch 6 ea Stores #23
Protective Clothing, coveralls, extra large 6 ea Stores #23
Protective Clothing, coveralls, large 6 ea Stores #23
Rope, nylon, 1/2", 100' 1 ea Stores #23
Saws 4 ea Grounds #19
Sturdy boxes 6 ea Stores #23




*to be purchased in the event of a disaster

11.4    Emergency Vendors

The University's Purchasing Office have a procedure for the emergency authorization of funds to purchase equipment and supplies in a disaster.  This is through issuing checks, p-cards and purchase orders, which are outside the normal channels and would only be used in an emergency situation.

Supply Team: The supply team should consist of Purchasing, Receiving, and Warehousing members whose primary responsibility will be to furnish other rescue and restoration teams with material and tools necessary in both the short term and long term recovery should a disaster occur.

Team members are:

Idaho Code Considerations: Clear exceptions to purchasing procedures are provided for in the Idaho Code in cases in which safety, health, and life are threatened.

Primary Equipment Required:

Reporting location is the south Warehouse, with the understanding that in most conditions, other than strong wind, this building will remain safe.  Tables can be set up to handle bookkeeping (paper if necessary), phone communications, and computer fiber optics are established.  Back-up procedures should be made to access phone and electrical systems via Dunn Street.

Purchase orders are located only in the Administration Building.  Requisitions and $300 purchase orders will be located in the Stores building as back-up.

Primary disaster vendor relations have been developed with:

Hardware:

    Ace Hardware
    222 South 5th Ave.
    Pocatello, Idaho 83201
    (208) 232-8722
    Contact Person: Store Manager, Juan Elizarrara

Plumbing:

    Fergusson (aka Familian)
    1063 W.  Alameda Road
    Pocatello, Idaho 83201
    (208) 238-1091
    Contact Person: Robert Dean, ext. 18

Electrical:

    Electrical Wholesale
    220 W. Maple
    Pocatello, Idaho 83201
    (208) 233-1362
    Contact Person: Store Manager, John Sargent, (cel) 241-2902, (h) 237-5246
    J.J. Riesberg (h) 238-9775
                               
Medical:

    Idaho First Aid
    2745 Poleline Road
    Pocatello, Idaho
    (208) 233-7093

Communications with these vendors as to their disaster planning status does not present a contractual or bid problem.  A minimum inventory of some critical items have been identified and stocked in the Stores Warehouse above normal sales justification.

Should the computer be involved in the disaster, back-up not available.  It will be difficult to print vendor checks and payroll.   Further planning and policy should be effected at the central administrative level.

11.5    First Aid Team

Our main goal and plan is to help triage in emergency overflow in case of a disaster due to the probable overflow in both hospitals in the Pocatello area.  It is felt that the University Student Health Center can best help in this case by taking care of patients who are either triaged by the EMS system and/or Student Health Center staff and felt stable enough for evaluation here.  If not, then patients should be sent to the hospital emergency rooms. (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Organization Checklists.)

Students and patients can either be transported here by EMS, walking, or by Public Safety.  If it is appropriate, we have four beds that can be used for treatment with IV and holding areas.  Also, overflow can be sent either to Reed Gym or to the Nursing Building with the help of Nursing staff.  The Nursing staff plans on sending 4-5 of their staff here in the case of an emergency, and additional ones can be utilized if needed at the Nursing Building or Reed Gym.  In the event of an emergency during the day, we are fully staffed here.  During the night, staff will be directed to report here in case of a disaster.

A potential problem with this plan could be structural damage to the Student Health Center building.  Temporary structures and alternate locations have been identified.

11.6    Water Supply

 In the event the water distribution system serving the campus is disrupted during a disaster, the following procedures should be followed.

A.    Following the disaster, conduct the first response inspection of the campus to see if broken water lines are active and causing damage.
  1. Broken water lines will be identified as belonging to Idaho State University or the City of Pocatello.
  2. Broken water lines belonging to ISU should be turned off if there is no indication of fire in or near the building or if the water line is so badly broken that it serves no useful function.
B.    Report broken water lines to the campus command center as soon as they are found.
  1. The command center will attempt to establish contact with the city water department at 234-6182 or by personal contact at 306 West Pine Street. 
  2. The water department will be informed of the problems.  If they are able to respond, they will be asked to take care of city water line problems.  If they are not able to respond, they will be asked for advice.
  3. City water lines will not be deactivated by ISU personnel unless told to do so by the fire department or other city officials.
C.    To provide drinking water for disaster recovery first response crews, the Emergency Operations Center will request that the Bannock County Emergency Services Department provide water trailers containing a three day water supply to the Campus Emergency Operations Center.
  1. The emergency water supply should be a minimum of 3,000 gallons of potable water.  This will support 200 workers for three days with drinking water and personal hygiene.  It does not allow for bathing.
  2. Ten five gallon water cans and 1,000 paper cups will be maintained at the command center and taken to various work areas every two hours by members of the command center.  Water cans may be left at work sites. 
  3. If Bannock County does not have a clean water supply, at least ten filled water cans will be brought to campus from Idaho Falls by members of the Transportation Office.  Cans will be procured from the open market in Idaho Falls.  (See emergency vendors list, section 11.4.)
D.    The Emergency Operations Center will stay advised of the water system status and will provide university support to the city water department as needed.

E.    As water systems are brought back into service, maintenance personnel will flush the building water lines and make sure building systems are operational.

F.    If temporary educational buildings are used to put the university into operation, water trailers or other temporary water supply systems will be set up near these buildings to provide drinking water.  Five gallon water cans and hand soap will be made available near all portable toilet facilities.
  1. The five gallon water cans may be modified with addition of a spigot inserted in the bottom side of the can.
11.7    Food Supply

The food service is provided by Chartwells and operates out of two facilities on campus (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Organization Checklists.)

Supplies located on campus are adequate for taking care of the needs of the resident student population and any authorized emergency relief workers at either location should one of the other not be available.
   
The supplies on hand would be sufficient for 72 hours.  With several hours notice, additional supplies can be en route from any of our major contracted suppliers.

Contracted suppliers are located in Pocatello, Boise, Portland, Seattle, Kent, Spokane, Denver, Billings, or Salt Lake.

11.8    Housing

ISU’s maximum occupancy at any one time is 878 students living in the seven residence halls and 350 students and dependents living in the four student apartment complexes. (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Organization Checklists.)

One of the few advantages of being a regional university is that about 70% of our on campus student residents have a primary domicile within two hours of Pocatello.  It is thought, that should a disaster occur, a very large number of those student will go to their homes.  We estimate that even with a complete disaster where all buildings are condemned, we will have to provide shelter for 400 to 500 residents.

There are three contingencies that we should be prepared to work with:

    Contingency 1:  SOME RESIDENCE HALLS AND APARTMENTS CANNOT BE INHABITED

Should this be the case, the affected students will be moved in with students who live in buildings unaffected by the disasters.

    Contingency 2:   NO RESIDENCE HALLS AND APARTMENTS CANNOT BE INHABITED

Should this occur, residents will be relocated into the following facilities until it is safe to move back into their residences.

                A.    Reed Gym

                B.    Student Union

                C.    Holt Arena

We will be able to provide 400 mattresses within 24 hours; 500 blankets and linen will be available immediately.

    Contingency 3:  NO BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS CAN BE INHABITED

In this situation, we will use the ISU Commuter Bus fleet to provide shelter until buildings become inhabitable.  Blankets, pillows, linen, mobile homes and tents will be used.

11.9    Morgue

Due to the lack of a county morgue and inadequate facilities at the hospitals, provisions must be made on an ad hoc basis. (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Organization Checklists.)
   
Facilities which have been proposed include the National Guard Armory, Holt Arena at ISU, and tents could be raised and equipment located at Davis Field, adjoining the Maintenance and Operations Building.

Weather will be a prime factor: stoves for attendants if the season is cold and air conditioning units if summer is at hand.  Medical supplies and communication capabilities will required as well.

Portneuf Medical Center can only “accommodate” two bodies at any one time.  Much improvisation will be required.
       
11.10    Sanitation

Sanitation will be directed via the chain of command to provide adequate stations based on the extent of the damage to the campus in relation to the surrounding community and the campus population at the time. (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Organization Checklists.)

On-Call Maintenance will have and maintain a current list of contacts.

11.11    Sweep Team

    A.    Purpose
       
To establish with Search and Rescue units outside of Bannock County an understanding that they assist ISU in a disaster when other sources are unavailable to us. (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Organization Checklists.)

    B.    Responsibilities
   
           Public Safety
           Search and Rescue
 
         Search and Rescue Teams
   
    A.        Bannock County Search and Rescue
Sheriff LOREN NIELSEN 236-7111
Commander PAUL NAPPER 236-7111

     
  B.        Bonneville County Search and Rescue
Sheriff BYRON STROMMEL       
529-1200
Commander STAN FENN
524-7418

   
  C.    Power County Search and Rescue
   
Sheriff HOWARD SPRAGUE  
226-2311
Commander PETE WILLIAMS 226-5257

   
  D.    Bingham County Search and Rescue
Commander LARRY G. HERRES 782-3850
Vice-Commander JOHN KLUVERS 785-5045
Dispatch  
785-4440
Liaison Officer ROBERT SOBIESKI
782-3045   


11.12    Initial Post-Disaster Inspection

In the event of a disaster such as an earthquake, all ISU buildings will need to be inspected for damage.  Safety assessment forms will need to be completed and turned in to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), ISU branch.  Whether or not there is damage, each building should be posted with inspection stickers, available from the ISU branch EOC. (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Organization Checklists.)
               
    Procedure for Building Inspection:

Examine the entire outside of the structure.  Check the ground in the general area of the structure for fissures, bulged ground, or signs of slope movement.

Ordinarily, enter a building only if the structure cannot be viewed sufficiently from the outside or when there is suspected or reported problem such as gross non-structure distress (e.g., fallen ceiling or badly damaged partitions visible from the outside).  Do not enter obviously unsafe structures.

Evaluate the structure using criteria on the INITIAL (Rapid) Safety Assessment Form.  When a building’s structure is questionable, it should be scheduled for a more detailed evaluation, using the DETAILED Safety Assessment Form.

Post a Building Inspection Sticker.  Do this even on undamaged buildings so that those who wish to enter will see that it is safe to do so.  There are three types of stickers: Inspected Safe to Enter (green), Limited Entry (yellow), and Unsafe (red).  Make sure exits are clear.

11.13    Utility Failure

In the event of an earthquake, walls may be damaged or collapse, power lines may collapse, and various utility lines, i.e., gas, oil, and power, may be severed or severely interrupted.  This may result from the shocks, falling debris, or severe stress.  In this event, personnel must be dispatched to inspect, examine, or shut off valves controlling gas, water, or power. (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Organization Checklists.)

11.14    Trauma Team

The effects of earthquakes and similar disasters wreak havoc upon some personnel.  The journal articles recommended a team approach in assisting individuals so affected.  The Psychology Department and the Counseling Center have established a response team.

11.15    Liaison with Families of Emergency Response Personnel

Should a disaster occur during the working day, a team of five persons will be assigned specific families of Emergency Response Personnel to contact and keep them informed of the employee’s status.

Communication between the team of five will be maintained to keep each informed of their progress.

If telephone use is limited or unavailable, the team of five will drive to the homes of their specified employee list as needed.

If one of the team is not available, their list will divided among the remaining team as determined by the Coordinator.

should a disaster occur during other than working hours, the liaison team will respond as needed and determined by the command office.

Persons assigned to the liaison team are:

Anna Weskerna, Coord, Region 3 x2209 775-3121
5314 W Old Hwy 91
Donna Bell, Region 1
x4086
233-6691 1430 E Clark
Linda Tobias, Region 2 x3525 237-2563 1350 Willard
Carol Prescott, Inkom and South x2426 233-3792
4865 Navajo
Bonnie Knutson, Blackfoot & North x3766 232-2136 242 S. 9th

Lists will be continually updated.  A map of Pocatello and surrounding area will be provided to the team members.

11.16    Chemical Hazards and Flammable Materials

The Pocatello Fire Department and Hazmat Team have the primary responsibility for response to these incidents.  The ISU TSO will provide support and assistance at their direction, and secure the area along with ISU Public Safety until they arrive on scene. (refer to Chapter 4 Emergency Organization Checklists.)

    A.    Background
   
        1.    Hazards Identification

            There are four basic hazard categories which are present at Idaho State University.  These include:

            (a)    chemical hazards
            (b)    biological hazards
            (c)    radiation hazards
            (d)    pesticide hazards
   
Within each major category, there exists a number of subcategories which represent a significant potential for increasing the response level required in the event of a natural disaster.  For example, chemical hazards at ISU exist as solids, liquids or gases, and can be broken down into flammables, corrosives, toxins, and reactives; some of these materials are considered human carcinogens, mutagens, or teratogens.  Both acute and chronic effects in human health and the environment can be anticipated in the event of uncontrolled release during or subsequent to a natural disaster.  Under the biological hazards, dangers of infection, disease, and the exposure to carcinogens, mutagens, and teratogens by pathogenic organisms clearly exist and radiation release in the event of a natural disaster would be minimal, with the possible exceptions of the engineering reactor and the radiation source vault in the physical sciences building basement.  Pesticides would be present danger to human health, both acute and chronic, if they were released in the event of a fire or strong wind.

The Technical Safety Office (TSO) could, within certain limits, respond to some or all of the potential problems which might occur in the event of a natural disaster and the secondary damage it would cause.  The type and level of training which personnel of the TSO possess defines them as uniquely qualified to respond in these events.  The number of responders, their time of response, equipment, and training levels will be identified and discussed in the body of this report.

        2.    Radiation Safety Capability

Because of their inherently different nature, issues related to emergency radiation response are dealt with separately as Attachment D to the report.

    B.    Personnel

        1.    Identification

The TSO has several primary responders who work with the hazard classes identified above, and who are trained to respond in the event of an emergency.  These individuals are either graduate students at ISU or are employed by the TSO because of the expertise.  Current lists are updated periodically and provided to ISU Public Safety.  See Public Safety for current names and phone numbers

In addition, there are several persons associated with ISU who, by virtue of experience and training, could also respond in an emergency situation.  These persons are also provided to Public Safety by TSO.

        2.    Limitations

Those persons identified above would suffer many limitations in their response to any natural disaster on the ISU campus.  Several areas have been identified which will be addressed subsequently in this report.

            (a)    Experience
            (b)    Equipment (separate section)
            (c)    Training
            (d)    Communications

        3.    Experience

Most of these individuals have not had to respond to serious emergency situations with any frequency, but would be available to either provide assistance in any emergency operations under the direction of those with more experience or training.  Further, because there have not been any drills to test the skills or training of these individuals, their effectiveness in a real disaster response situation could be open to question.

        4.    Training

The levels of training needed to adequately respond to the hazards identified above has in many cases been provided to the TSO personnel, but there have been few opportunities to practice in actual emergency response situations.  For training–or a plan–to be effective, it must be utilized and revised, as more is learned through these kinds of hands-on activities than any other way.

        5.    Communications

Responding to an emergency situation requires access to information and data between people, computers, and equipment.  In situations where loss of power is to be expected, an emergency communication system between responders and outside services has been established at Public Safety.

    C.    Equipment

        1.    What We Have

The TSO has the following equipment and resources that could be used to respond to natural disasters and the subsequent events:

Full-face SCBA respirators
2 each
Scott air packs
2 each
Chemical gloves (Neoprene) 6 pairs
Chemical boots (Neoprene)
4 pairs
Chemical suits (Tyvek) 4 each
Spill resource kits 30 each
pH meter 
1 each
Reference text  Emergency Response Guide 2 each
NIOSH Manual 2 each
Merck Index
1 each
CRC Handbook of Chemistry 1 each
Technical Safety Manual
several

In addition, the following are available:

Air sampling meter (M&O) 1 each
Air sampling tubes (phenol, formalin)

2.    What Should Be Repaired

The University would need much more equipment than currently exists to respond to the chemical and biological hazards which are present on the campus.  The follow is a partial list of the minimum addition items required beyond what we already have:
Full face respirators 6 each
Scott air packs 2 each
Chemical response suits (Class 1) 4 each
Air sampling equipment
1 each
Explosive atmosphere meters 
2 each
Air sampling tubes
several
Air tank refilling capability
1 each


3.    Additional Items We Need To Have

In the event of a natural disaster and subsequent potential release of hazardous materials, the TSO would provide a minimum of two teams with two members each to respond to situations where these chemical, biological, radiological, and/or pesticide materials were involved.  To provide this support, a minimum of four sets of personal protection equipment (PPE) would be required to allow one team to be working while the second team was preparing to respond.  It is assumed these individuals would have the additional equipment and training that is identified in this report.

    D.    Technical Services

        1.    What Should Be Done

Responding to emergencies in buildings which are known to contain hazardous materials from one or more of the classes identified earlier should be performed in the following six activity areas:

            (a)    Hazard Assessment
            (b)    Hazard Identification
        2.    What We Can Presently Do

            (a)    Chemical hazards
            (b)    Bio-hazards
            (c)    Radiation hazards
            (d)    Pesticides