1. 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

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

3. DEMHS Emergency Planning Regions

4. 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)

5. 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.

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 (2010 March Flooding)
10/29/2011
$1,408,985.00
DR (January 2012 Snow)
9/1/2012
$2,070,010.00
DR (August 2011 Tropical Storm Irene)
9/2/2013
$8,789,169.00
DR (October 2011 Severe Weather)
11/17/2013
$12,773,052.00
DR (October 2012 Tropical Storm Sandy)
11/22/2013
$11,945,300.00
DR (February 2013 Severe Weather)
$4,612,581.00
DR (January 2015 Severe Winter Storm/Snow Storm)
4/8/2016
$1,363,925
Total:
$42,963,022.00

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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)

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