Enhancing Resiliency Through Planning and Teamwork Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Enhancing Resiliency Through Planning and Teamwork Brenda M. Bergeron, DEMHS Legal Advisor CT Association of Contingency Planners Meeting September 13, 2016

Agenda CT’s Emergency Management Accreditation Process Recovery and Mitigation Why involve an attorney in your planning?

DEMHS Emergency Planning Regions

State Emergency Management State Emergency Operations Center DEMHS as coordination lead—State Emergency Management Director Governor’s Unified Command State Response Framework Outlines roles and responsibilities Plans, Resources, and Assets Pre-Activation Framework Annexes—Example: ESF 12 Energy and Utilities Annex, including Make Safe Protocol Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Hazard Identification Risk Assessment Connecticut’s list of potential hazards (both naturally occurring and human-caused) was developed by the EMAP team after review of key emergency management plans and discussions with subject matter experts. For the purposes of EMAP, the list of hazards in the HIRA are the State’s hazards of concern.

Hazards Based on the State HIRA: Cyber Incidents Tornados Tropical Cyclones, Flood Related Hazards, Dam Failures Significant Criminal Acts Winter Related Hazards

EMAP for CT - Why seek accreditation? Support our mission and statutory authority to provide a coordinated, integrated emergency management and homeland security program Strengthen our plans, policies and procedures Take advantage of what we learned in our recent disasters Continue our efforts to enhance preparedness

EMAP Process in 2014 Utilized an EMAP Team approach Scheduled “EMAP Mondays” Involved Subject Matter Experts in the process Key points: Governor’s Support Participation of other state agencies DEMHS Management Involvement “Mutual aid” from other states as we prepared Our EMAP assessment team and the importance of peer review

EMAP for CT – Results CT met all 64 standards in the week-long assessment Enhanced our planning process by providing focus Required us to put our policies and procedures in writing Strengthened our internal team and our collaboration with our partners As a peer review process, it provided us with additional ideas and best practices to incorporate into our Emergency Management/Homeland Security Program

Disaster History DR No. Event Federal Assistance Programs 4213 Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm January 2015 Public Assistance 4106 Severe Weather February 2013 4087 Tropical Storm Sandy October 2012 Individual Assistance 4046 October 2011 4023 Tropical Storm Irene August 2011 1958 Snow Fall January 2012 1904 Flooding March 2010

Recovery and Mitigation: Tangible Results Federal Disaster Funding (FEMA and SBA)—as result of Presidential Declarations since Summer of 2011—Estimates: Tropical Storm Irene--$61 M October Nor’easter--$85 M Super Storm Sandy--$114 M February 2013 record-breaking snow--$31.6 M February 2015 record-breaking snow--$9.6M Hazard Mitigation Grants as result of storms--$42 M APPROXIMATE TOTAL: $334 M

Federal Disaster Mitigation Funding Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Receives funding in the aftermath of a presidentially declared disaster. Disaster Deadline for HMGP Submissions HMGP Funding Made Available DR-1904 (2010 March Flooding) 10/29/2011 $1,408,985.00 DR-1958 (January 2012 Snow) 9/1/2012 $2,070,010.00 DR-4023 (August 2011 Tropical Storm Irene) 9/2/2013 $8,789,169.00 DR-4046 (October 2011 Severe Weather) 11/17/2013 $12,773,052.00 DR-4087 (October 2012 Tropical Storm Sandy) 11/22/2013 $11,945,300.00 DR-4106 (February 2013 Severe Weather) $4,612,581.00 DR-4213 (January 2015 Severe Winter Storm/Snow Storm) 4/8/2016 $1,363,925 Total: $42,963,022.00

Hazard Mitigation Program Funds awarded by FEMA to date for the most recent major disasters: Approximately $42 million Estimated number of home acquisitions (October 2012 storm and Sandy): 43 Estimated number of home elevations (October 2012 storm and Sandy): 164 Additional Hazard Mitigation Programs administered by DEMHS: Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA) 2014: $1.2 million Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM) 2014: $1.5 million

Types of Projects Funded Under HMGP Purchase and Installation of Generators for Critical Facilities: Community shelters, Police and Fire Stations, Emergency Operations Centers, Waste Water Sewage Treatment Plants, Pumping Stations Infrastructure Mitigation: Bridge Replacement, Roadway Elevation, Embankment Stabilization Acquisition and Demolition of Flood Prone Homes Elevation of Flood Prone Homes

Connecticut’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Connecticut adopted a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update (CT 2014 NHMP Update) in January 2014 to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines set forth in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. This Plan represents the State of Connecticut’s efforts to approach mitigating the effects of natural disasters on a multi-hazard basis, and shifts from a disaster-response driven system to one based on effective hazard mitigation planning. http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?A=2720&Q=325652

State NHMP Strategies and Goals The related strategies and activities outlined in this Plan provide a guide to assist Connecticut in working towards achieving goals that will be implemented or initiated over the next 5 years (during the time period encompassing this Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan update). Goals are achievable, yet require adequate resources (financial as well as staffing) to achieve significant results. The State of Connecticut believes in the importance of planning and implementation of natural hazard mitigation activities both on a state and local level in order to reduce/eliminate lives lost and property damaged as a result of natural hazards. Climate change is an area of continued concern. Focus is on developing strategies and adaptation techniques to mitigate effects thereby fostering greater resilience.

The Legal View Municipal Chief Executive Officer under Title 28: There are many statutory responsibilities within emergency management, for example: Municipal Chief Executive Officer under Title 28: Take actions necessary to mitigate a major disaster or emergency. “Deputize” help Request Governor or DESPP/DEMHS to authorize the temporary use of civil preparedness forces. Declare an emergency Appoint Local Emergency Management Director Serve on Regional Emergency Planning Team Broad Powers under Title 7

Local Emergency Management Director Responsible for local emergency preparedness; Does at the local level what DEMHS does at the state level Reviews and approves annual Local Emergency Operations Plan Serves on CEO’s Unified Command Administer oaths, maintains roster of volunteers; requests approval of activations

Example of Municipal Responsibility SHELTERING Title 7: Municipality to do all things necessary or desirable to secure and promote health of residents Title 28: -Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP) must be approved by CEO and EMD, and DESPP/DEMHS. --LEOP must addresses all civil preparedness activities --“Construction and preparation of shelters, shelter areas, and control shelters” is a required civil preparedness activity.

Local Emergency Operations Plans LEOP review every two years—Next is due January, 2017 Funding is contingent on approval. LEOP must reflect the town’s capabilities Review plans before the emergency, be aware of what they say, have them available at the municipal EOC New LEOP Template

Declarations of Emergency Local State Presidential Why Preliminary Damage Assessments are so important: The data collected in PDA affects what counties will receive aid, and which federal thresholds are met in order to activate certain FEMA disaster assistance programs.

School Safety and Security Planning An Act Concerning Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety” includes the following for Public Schools K-12, Public Act 13-3: School Safety Infrastructure Standards (Section 80) School Security Infrastructure Grant Program (Section 84) School Security and Safety Plan Standards (Section 86)– Plan Template Local School Security and Safety Plans must be submitted annually starting with the school year beginning July 1, 2014 (to DEMHS as part of LEOP) (Section 87)

How can a lawyer help? Negotiate Represent Interpret Write procedures to implement programs that comply with statutory requirements Integrate legal responsibilities into plans