General

Emergency operations span three separate but contiguous phases: emergency response, relief, and recovery. For the purposes of this plan, this concept of operations will focus on emergency response and relief efforts and measures to be taken for a smooth transition into intermediate and long term recovery from a major or catastrophic emergency. The scope of these operational concepts and response actions will include:

1. Providing emergency notification and warning.
2. Describing emergency mobilization procedures.
3. Delineating emergency decision-making processes.
4. Describing types and methods of implementation of emergency protective actions.
5. Conducting rapid assessments of emergency impacts and immediate emergency resource needs.
6. Providing security to the hardest hit areas.
7. Coordinating information and instructions to the public.
8. Conducting emergency relief operations to ensure victims have been identified and that their needs are met.
9. Conducting preliminary damage assessments to determine the need for federal assistance.
10. Summarizing procedures for requesting federal disaster assistance.
11. Relaxation of protective actions and coordination of reentry into evacuated areas.
12. Restoration of essential public facilities and services.
13. Preparing for federal disaster assistance (public and individual).
14. Coordination of resources and materials.
15. Coordination of volunteer organizations.
16. Dissemination of information and instructions to the public.
17. Restoration of public infrastructure damaged by the emergency.

The EOC serves as the central command and control point for emergency-related operations and activities, and requests for deployment of resources. In the event the EOC is threatened, an Alternate EOC is activated.

The County must be able to respond quickly and effectively to developing events. When an event or potential event is first detected, the EOC initiates Level I activation (monitoring). Communications are maintained between the EOC and the SEOC.

While emergency response actions necessary to protect public health and safety are being implemented, the Executive Policy Group will work with the ESFs to make preparations to facilitate the rapid deployment of resources, establish the County's Emergency Operations Center, and implement this plan.

Operations Officers in the EOC and ESF representatives will contact the designated emergency coordinators in affected municipalities to begin to identify needed and anticipated resources and contact persons. Resource requests that exceed the capability of the County will be forwarded to the State and Federal ESFs.

Assignment of Responsibilities

A department or agency may be designated as the Primary agency for an ESF for a number of reasons. The agency may have a statutory responsibility to perform that function, or through the agency may have developed the necessary expertise to lead the ESF. In some agencies, a portion of the agency's mission is very similar to the mission of the ESF; therefore, the skills to respond in a disaster can be immediately translated from the daily business of that agency. Whatever the reason an agency is designated as the Primary agency, that agency has the necessary contacts and expertise to coordinate the activities of that support function.

Upon activation of the EOC, the lead agencies for the ESFs will designate a representative in the EOC to coordinate that ESF. It is up to the lead agency's discretion as to how many, if any, support agencies they will require present with them. However, due to the limited space available in the EOC, the attendance of support agencies should be closely coordinated with OEM in the development of standard operating procedures.

The Primary department for the ESF will be responsible for obtaining all information relating to ESF activities and requirements caused by the emergency and disaster response. This information gathering will frequently require the primary agency to step outside traditional information gathering protocols.

The County will respond to local requests for assistance through the ESF process. Within the EOC, requests for assistance will be tasked to the ESFs for completion. The primary agency will be responsible for coordinating the delivery of that assistance.

The EOC Supervisor will issue mission assignments to the primary departments for each ESF based on the identified resource shortfall. Resource tasking will be accomplished through the ESFs on a mission assignment basis. The tasking on a mission assignment basis means that a local government resource shortfall will be addressed through assigning a mission to address the shortfall rather than tasking specific pieces of equipment or personnel.

The primary department or agency for that ESF will be responsible for identifying the particular resource or resources that will accomplish the mission and coordinate the delivery of that resource to the local government.

Plan Activation

When a major or catastrophic emergency has occurred or is imminent, the Mayor may issue a declaration of a local state of emergency. Such an action will activate immediately all portions of this plan. In the absence of a local state of emergency, the Executive Director, OEM may activate portions of this plan in accordance with the appropriate levels of mobilization to facilitate response readiness or monitoring activities.

Governor

Under the provisions of Section 252.36, Florida Statutes, the Governor is responsible for meeting the dangers presented to the state and its people by emergencies. In the event of an emergency beyond the control or capability of local governments, the Governor may assume direct operational control over all or any part of the emergency management functions within the state. Pursuant to the authority vested in that position under Section 252.36, the Governor may:

1. Declare a State of Emergency to exist through the issuance of an Executive Order or Proclamation.
2. Activate the response, recovery and mitigation components of existing State and local emergency plans.
3. Serve as Commander in Chief of the organized and voluntary militia and of all other forces available for emergency duty.
4. Authorize the deployment and use of any forces, supplies, materials, equipment and facilities necessary to implement emergency plans.
5. Suspend the provisions of any regulation, statute, order or rule prescribing the procedures for conducting government business if compliance would in any way hinder or delay necessary emergency actions.
6. Utilize all available resources of the state and local governments, as reasonably necessary to cope with the emergency.
7. Transfer the direction, personnel and functions of state agencies to assist in emergency operations.
8. Commandeer or utilize any private property necessary to cope with the emergency.
9. Direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from any threatened or stricken area.
10. Prescribe routes, modes of transportation, and destinations for evacuees.
11. Control ingress and egress to and from an emergency area, the movement of persons within the area, and occupancy of premises therein.
12. Suspend or limit the sale, dispensing or transportation of alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives or combustibles.
13. Make provisions for the availability of temporary emergency housing.

Governor's Authorized Representative (GAR)

Section 252.36, Florida Statutes, authorizes the Governor to delegate or otherwise assign his command authority and emergency powers as deemed prudent. The Governor has appointed his Chief of Staff and/or the State Director of Emergency Management as his authorized representatives, to act on his behalf in carrying out the provisions of Chapter 252, Florida Statutes.

Board of County Commissioners

Under the provisions of Section 252.38, Florida Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners is responsible for safeguarding the life and property of the citizens of Orange County, and to provide for the effective and orderly governmental control and coordination of emergency operations. For the purpose of effectively carrying out these emergency responsibilities the Board has delegated these authorities to the Mayor per Orange County Ordinance #94-11.

Mayor

Section 252.38, Florida Statutes, authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to delegate or otherwise assign its command authority and emergency powers as deemed prudent. Orange County by government charter and commission policy has delegated to the Mayor the executive authority for all emergency operations and the powers of emergency government. If the Mayor is unable to perform these duties, the powers are then delegated to the County Administrator. These powers include the ability to:

1. Appropriate and expend funds; make contracts; obtain and distribute equipment, materials, and supplies for emergency management purposes.
2. Provide for the health and safety of persons and property, including emergency assistance to the victims of any emergency; and direct and coordinate the development of emergency management programs in accordance with the policies and plans set by the federal and state emergency management agencies.
3. Appoint, employ, remove or provide, with or without compensation, coordinators, rescue teams, fire and police personnel, and other emergency management workers.
4. Establish, as necessary, a primary and one or more secondary emergency operating centers to provide continuity of government and control of emergency operations.
5. Assign and make available for duty the offices and agencies of the political subdivision, including the employees, property, or equipment thereof relating to firefighting, engineering, rescue, health, medical and related services, police, transportation, construction, and similar items or services for emergency operation purposes, as the primary emergency management forces of the political subdivision for employment within or outside the political limits of the subdivision.
6. Request state assistance or invoke emergency-related mutual-aid assistance by declaring a state of local emergency in the event of an emergency affecting only one political subdivision. The duration of each state of emergency declared locally is limited to 7 days; it may be extended, as necessary, in 7 day increments.

Further, the Board of County Commissioners or as delegated to the Mayor has the power and authority to waive the procedures and formalities otherwise required by law pertaining to:

1. Performance of public work and taking whatever prudent action is necessary to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community.
2. Entering into contracts.
3. Incurring obligations.
4. Employment of permanent and temporary workers.
5. Utilization of volunteer workers.
6. Rental of equipment.
7. Acquisition and distribution, with or without compensation, of supplies, materials, and facilities.

Executive Director of Emergency Management

Section 252.38, Florida Statutes, directs each County to establish an emergency management agency and appoint a director to carry out the provisions of Section 252.31 - 252.60. The Executive Director, or in his absence the Assistant Emergency Program Manager, of the Orange County Office of Emergency Management is the designated emergency manager for the County. In this capacity, the Executive Director or Assistant is directly and solely responsible for:

1. Organization, administration, and operation of the emergency management agency, the County Emergency Operations Center, and other related operational facilities.
2. Coordination of activities, services, and programs for emergency planning and emergency response throughout Orange County.
3. Maintaining liaison with state, federal, and other local emergency management agencies.
4. Development and maintenance of operational planning for emergency response.
5. Ascertaining the requirements of the County in order to implement emergency response operations.
6. Instituting training programs and public information programs.
7. Taking all preparatory steps necessary, including the partial or full emergency mobilization of agencies of County and municipal governments in advance.
8. Cooperating with the Governor's Authorized Representative, the State Division of Emergency Management, and the heads of all other federal and relief agencies in matters pertaining to emergency management and emergency response.
9. Taking measures to carry into effect any request from municipalities, agencies, the State Division of Emergency Management, or federal agencies for any appropriate emergency management activity.
10. Carrying out and implementing actions deemed necessary by the Mayor pursuant to his/her emergency powers and authorities.

Additional Direction and Control Policies

1. The Mayor of the Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Mayors of the Incorporated jurisdictions have the responsibility and authority to direct and control emergency/disaster operations in their jurisdictions.
2. The County Administrator and public officials in other incorporated cities of Orange County are responsible for providing policy guidance in the administration of the emergency management program in their respective jurisdiction.
3. The Director of Emergency Management is the senior liaison officer for Orange County when coordinating with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida military forces and federal military forces.
4. When the provisions of this plan are in effect, centralized direction and control of all emergency/disaster operations will be coordinated through the Orange County Emergency Operations Center. The Orange County Fire Rescue Department's Mobile Communications Vehicle may also be used.
5. Appropriate portions of this plan will be activated by the Executive Director of the Orange County Office of Emergency Management, when required, to ensure quick response to an actual or impending emergency/disaster.
6. All municipalities, departments and agencies retain their identity and autonomy in all phases of planning and executing emergency disaster operations.
7. All county/city departments/agencies are expected to perform their assigned duties and services unless requested to provide aid or assistance to another department/agency. At that time, the department/agency providing assistance will be under the operational control of the department/agency requesting assistance.
8. All personnel, equipment, and supplies belonging to Orange County may be re-directed to assist in operational functions other than their usual department. All County assets are considered essential during an emergency and will be assigned on an as-needed basis to priority situations as required by ESF-7, Resources.
9. There will be at least one representative from each Emergency Support Function (ESF) in the EOC to provide information and coordinate response actions. Each representative must have the authority to commit agency resources. There will be many events, situations, and communications links occurring simultaneously during an EOC activation. ESFs are encouraged to directly coordinate actions with one another while providing situation reports and documenting activities to keep everyone in the EOC informed. Detailed procedures for information flow are provided in the EOC Standard Operating Procedure