February 25, 2010

Fort Bend County, TX

Sienna Plantation MUD 1

Fort Bend County:

Municipal Utility Districts and Emergency Response

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OverviewOverview

Fort Bend County

Hurricane Ike

MUD Readiness Program

Senate Bill 361

2010 Hurricane Season

Questions

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Fort Bend CountyFort Bend County

Quick Facts

Population – 530,000 886 Square Miles 30 miles from Gulf 18 jurisdictions 120+ Municipal Utility

Districts

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Fort Bend CountyFort Bend County

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Fort Bend CountyFort Bend County

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Fort Bend County EOC:Fort Bend County EOC:

Maintains strategic view (“big picture”) Focal point for communication/information Supports other political subdivisions

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Fort Bend County EOC:Fort Bend County EOC:

Situation Assessment

Priority Establishment

Communication Coordination Resource Mgmt. Direction and

Control

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Hurricane IkeHurricane Ike

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9/1/08: Tropical Depression 9, 35 mph9/1/08: Tropical Depression 9, 35 mph

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9/13/08: Hurricane Ike Hits Galveston9/13/08: Hurricane Ike Hits Galveston

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Ike Landfall in Galveston, 110 mphIke Landfall in Galveston, 110 mph

Landfall in Galveston at 0200 on Saturday

In Fort Bend County, duration of tropical storm force winds approximately 14 hours

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County Experiences Significant DamageCounty Experiences Significant Damage

20 homes destroyed 7,000 homes damaged 130,000 homes affected 3 dead, 8 injured, 4 hospitalized

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County Implements Debris Mgmt PlanCounty Implements Debris Mgmt Plan

750,000 cubic yards of debris

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Widespread Electricity OutagesWidespread Electricity Outages

67% of electrical services out

One week later, still 25% of services out

Severe impacts to water and wastewater utilities

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Fort Bend County MUD Readiness ProgramFort Bend County MUD Readiness Program

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Leadership Leads to Identified ProblemsLeadership Leads to Identified Problems

“Fort Bend County has a sophisticated emergency management system that runs from the State down to the Counties to the Cities to the Hospitals to the Schools.  During Ike, it did not run down to the Municipal Utility Districts.  It will in Fort Bend County during 2009 when we get to the Hurricane Season.”

-Robert Hebert, County Judge

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What is the County’s MUD Readiness Program?What is the County’s MUD Readiness Program?

Series of Actions to be Taken by MUDs to be more prepared for Hurricane Season

Improve Communication between MUDs and Emergency Management staff

Encourage MUDs to take responsibility for emergency management activities

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#1: Define Responder Status#1: Define Responder Status

Local government “Owns” the incident

MUD responsible for water and sewer services before, during, and after a storm; nobody from the County, State, or Federal Govt takes over the services

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#2: Communication Improvements#2: Communication Improvements

Designate three Key District Contacts

Supply Complete Contact Information to County OEM

Develop Redundant Procedures for Communication

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#3: NIMS Training#3: NIMS Training

Comply with National Incident Management System (NIMS)

MUDs and County working off of same playbook

Key MUD staff required to complete 4 NIMS courses

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#4: County Emergency Operations 101#4: County Emergency Operations 101

2 ½ Hour Session

Framework of State and County Emergency Mgmt

Resource Mgmt

Checklist of Emergency Mgmt Issues

Intro to WebEOC

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#5: Sharing of Critical Information#5: Sharing of Critical Information

Contact Information Service Areas SB 361 requirements will enhance the

level of information being collected Opportunity for future sharing of

additional information like GIS maps, plans, etc…

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#6: Annual Preparation Meeting#6: Annual Preparation Meeting

Held annually in May or June

NWS presentation Updates on Plans Review of Resource

Request Process Review Process for

Communications

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#7: MUD Representation in County EOC#7: MUD Representation in County EOC

Utilities Console Created in EOC

Will be staffed with representatives from MUD operating firms

Liaison to “talk the language of water and wastewater”

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Recognition of MUD Readiness Program GraduatesRecognition of MUD Readiness Program Graduates

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Senate Bill 361Senate Bill 361

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Collaboration to Meet SB 361 RequirementsCollaboration to Meet SB 361 Requirements

Fort Bend County coordinating with CenterPoint; MUD Law Firms; and Operating Companies to Gather Critical Data

Avoid Redundant Data Collection

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Development of Web Based ApplicationDevelopment of Web Based Application

Data Collection streamlined through use of web based program to collect critical load info

Application developed by County Judge’s Office, OEM, and IT Dept

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Meeting the Senate Bill 361 DeadlinesMeeting the Senate Bill 361 Deadlines

Before Feb 1st, County will submit all collected info to CenterPoint

By May 1st, CenterPoint will make critical load status determinations

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Coming Soon…………..Coming Soon…………..

…….The 2010 Hurricane Season

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Realities for Municipal Utility Districts….Realities for Municipal Utility Districts….

Local government “Owns” the incident

No state/federal assistance likely for at least 72 hours (or more)

Must factor in “Real World” response timelines

Must define resource needs Must know how to request help

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Is Sienna Plantation MUD 1 Prepared?Is Sienna Plantation MUD 1 Prepared?

Do you have an Updated Emergency Plan? Have you exercised the Plan? Do you have Pre-Event Contracts for key resources? Are you following NIMS/ICS Protocols? Have you named primary points of contacts during

times of disaster? Have you sent Critical Load Data to County per SB 361? Do you encourage family preparedness for your

employees and District residents? Participants in MUD Readiness Program? Are you “Active” or “Passive” about Preparedness?

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Thank YouThank You

Questions ?

Jeff D. BraunEmergency Management CoordinatorFort Bend County307 Fort Street Richmond, TX 77469

Phone: 281-342-6185

Email: jeff.braun@co.fort-bend.tx.us