Hurricane Preparedness & Response
Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
City of New Orleans, Louisiana
NOHSEP: An Overview
• Office of Homeland Security & Emergency
Preparedness
• Umbrella public safety agency in
CNO/Orleans Parish
• Municipal EMA responsible for the
protection of life and property
2014 Season: An Overview
• June 1 – November 30
– Peak for Gulf region is August/September
• NHC and institutional researchers have
predicted a less active season with below
average numbers of named and major storms
– Still, history shows us that these predictions do
not always hold true…
Be Prepared!
• Make a disaster/contingency plan for yourself
your family and your business should a
tropical storm threaten our area
– If you must evacuate, where?
• Stay informed
• Build a disaster kit
• If a mandatory evacuation is called, act early!
Key Steps To Preparedness
1. Assess risks to your critical operational functions.
2. Back-up your data & ensure remote access.
3. Advise your supply chain of actions taken.
4. Activate crisis communication plan & Test It.
5. Re-supply emergency kits.
6. Establish contact with your insurance provider.
7. Consider the need for alternate locations.
8. Ensure Employees are Personally Prepared.
**Note – Steps above do not constitute a complete plan.
A full Disaster Recovery Business/Continuity Strategy
is required for maximum resilience.
Preparing Your Supply Chain
Supply Chain: the external vendors and suppliers you rely on to
deliver your everyday services and products to members/customers.
• Talk to your key vendors and
suppliers about their recovery plans.
• Ask yourself has it been tested?
• Develop relationships with alternate
vendors.
• Eliminate single points of failure.
• Educate your clients about the
importance of preparedness.
• Insure what can’t be protected.
• Ensure your crisis scenario doesn’t
have supply chain holes
• Keep partners just as informed as
your employees during recovery
Activating Your Crisis Communications Plan
• Develop a process to make sure all stakeholders (internal and external) are
aware of decisions and expectations.
• Ensure redundancies independent of cell or terrestrial networks as much as
possible
› Ensure Phone List is UP-TO-DATE (with alternate phone #’s)
› Utilize multiple cellphone network carriers if possible
› Establish phone tree
› Password protected web page (centralized emergency status)
› Social Media strategy & usage
› E-mail alert (have primary & secondary email addresses)
› Call-in recording system
› Text/Data Alert system – Ensure everyone familiar with system
• Manage customer and key vendor communications.
• Prepare a media communications plan.
• Test the plan regularly and in the days prior to a “notice event”
Reviewing Your Insurance Coverage
Business Interruption/Resumption Insurance – Coverage to help in
rebuilding your company in the event of a business interruption
Added/Extra Expense Insurance – Insurance to cover unexpected added
costs in the event of an interruption or unexpected event.
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Make certain you are insured for all potential risks.
Know the different types of coverage and limits.
Consider business interruption insurance and added expense insurance.
Keep photos of your building, equipment lists and policy information
stored in a safe and secure offsite location.
• Maintain an up-to-date Asset management program.
MOST losses following hurricanes are due to flooding.
Most general policies do not cover flooding. Ensure you fully understand
your coverage and any exposure to risk.
Don’t Wait until the Storm is Imminent. Do this Today.
Re-Supply Emergency Kits
• Recovery plan
• Important records
• Insurance policies
• Fixed asset inventory
• Contracts
• Operating system install disks
• Licensing keys/Passwords
• Letterhead
• Office Supplies
• Cash
• Flashlight
• Battery powered radio
• Batteries
• Food & Water for those working
the recovery
Preparing Employees
1. Do they have a plan?
a) Evacuation/Shelter plan
b) Critical Document Storage
c) Emergency Alert System
d) Emergency/Go Kit
2.
How can your organization help?
a) Workshops
b) Checklists
c) Emergency Kits
d) Family Involvement
Days
Disaster Supply Kit
• Water
– At least one gallon, preferably three, per person
per day for drinking, sanitation and hygiene
purposes
• Food
– Non-perishable, easy-to-store foods
– Basic utensils including manual can opener
Your Disaster Plan
• Your personal disaster plan should have the
following components:
– Evacuation plan
– Communication plan
• Friends and family
• Co-workers and employer
– Pet plan
– Re-entry plan
Your Plan: Evacuating
• Where will you go?
– Friends, family, hotel/motel
– Shelters (leave this as a last option)
• How will you get there?
– Plan your route and have an alternate
• Remember, contra-flow is activated during evacuation!
– Do you have reliable transportation?
– Who will go with you?
– Will you be able to achieve this logistically – fuel,
food, etc.?
Preparing Financially
• Protect your property
• Conduct a household inventory
• Buy Insurance
• Keep cash with you (ATMs and credit cards
may not always work in the aftermath of a
storm)
Current Cone
2003 Cone
3:34 AM
TC Coastal Flooding Impact Graphic
• Storm surge impacts segmented into
impact levels depending on amount of
inundation
• Gives a much richer, detailed view of
impacts versus text products
• Coastal flooding impacts defined locally
and available on website next to coastal
flooding potential impact graphic
• http://weather.gov/tcig
Hurricane Isaac – 4AM Tue Aug 28, 2012
Wind Impact Graphic example from Hurricane Isaac
These impact graphics are created by coastal offices only and will NOT
accurately indicate threat beyond coastal office forecast areas
1) Levee Updates
2) Resolution Improvement
3) Most complex and highest resolution basin in
the country
4) Large and slow moving storms now included
(with 2mph motion MEOW available because of
Isaac)
5) Coming May 2014
Probability Storm Surge (p-surge)
●
Storm surge probabilities based on NHC
official advisory
●
Available roughly 48 hours prior to arrival
of TS winds
●
Accounts for meteorological uncertainty in:
●
Track
●
Size
●
Forward speed
●
Intensity
●
Uncertainties based on historical errors
●
Version 2.0 (2014) also accounts for the
tide and is above ground level
June 1, 2014 – November 30, 2014
• In New Orleans, we deal with 2 scenarios:
– Category 2 or lower
– Category 3 or higher
– This serves as a benchmark trigger point from which many
decisions are made
• Category 3 or higher likely calls for mandatory City
evacuation
• Category 2 or lower likely calls for Sheltering in Place
– But, there might be a situation with a strong Category 2 storm
that would initiate the City evacuation process
• All evacuations are ultimately the decision of the Mayor
HURRICANE ISSAC
• Shift by Louisiana from activating plans based solely on
the Safir-Simpson scale:
– e.g., Contraflow for only Cat 3 or above
• “All-Hazards” approach based upon forecasting by
National Weather Service
– Forecast modeling
• Track guidance
• Intensity guidance
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Rainfall forecast
Marine forecast
Storm surge estimates
Wind estimates
HURRICANE ISSAC
• Slow-moving Cat 1
– Tuesday, August 28: 30 WSW of Venice, NW @ 13 MPH
– Wednesday, August 29: Landfall @ Lower
Terrebonne/Lafourche, NW @ 6 MPH
– Thursday, August 30: Downgraded to a Tropical Storm
• Remained Tropical Storm into Southern Arkansas
• Remained Remnant Low into Illinois and Indiana
• Rainfall and storm surge posed significant risks for
citizens in Louisiana and Mississippi
– Tangipahoa River
– Pearl River
Plans: Category 1-2 (Optional Evacuation)
• People can choose to evacuate even without us advising to do so
• Those remaining should be self-sustaining for at least 72hrs
• Citizens should always prepare for loss of power and/or water for
extended periods
• We advise them to have:
– Medicines, non-perishable foods, and water as well as alternate ways
to keep them cold and/or heat them
• One gallon of water per person per day
– Flashlights, battery operated radios (and batteries), manual can
opener, first aid kits with hand sanitizer, pet food, etc. (ready.nola.gov)
• Citizens should “batten down the hatches” and secure any items in
your yard or on the porch that could be impacted by high winds
• Public safety agencies will shelter in place
– Emergency response possibly delayed if wind speed is excessive
Plans: Category 3+ (Mandatory Evacuation)
• CAEP: Evacuspots will serve as collection points. One bag per person/have
personal records such as birth certificate, insurance, homeowners,
etc/medicines/plan to bring some cash just in case. 25k-30k persons in conjunction
with DHH and DCFS to partner shelters. Will bring them back in re-entry phase.
• Self-evac (Leave EARLY – PRIOR to contraflow):
– Gas up tank/have family plan to ensure everyone knows what to do/know
multiple routes to pre-determined evac point (having multiple locations is also
advised should situation force you elsewhere)/know contraflow/bring food &
water/personal records/medicines/cash in case ATMs are not online
– Don’t forget the pets!
• Those who choose NOT to leave:
– Assume all risk for you and your family
– Must understand there will be a time at which you will be on your own –
self-supporting – without assistance.
– 1st responders will NOT be able to service your call for help until it is safe for
them to go out as well. Will be at pre-assigned hardened locations.
– Curfew will also be in effect and if found away from your property, you will be
subject to arrest – period.
2014 New Orleans City Assisted Evacuation Timeline
Launch CAE; Dispatch
buses and security
First Responders
to Task Force
ALRs
Begin MSY runs for
Visitors & Tourists
TSA/USDOT
lean forward
with packages
State buses with last
evacuees leave city
RTA begins pickups
at 17 locations
Regional Information
fusion CTR activated
EXECUTE CAEP
84
72
TS Winds
Reach
Coastal LA
RTA ends pickups at
17 locations
60
58
54
50 48
40
36
PHASE DOWN CAEP
30
24
6
12
Make Ready
NOPD, LSP, LANG,
OPSO lean forward w/
security/staging areas
established
RTA, MSY, NOMCVB,
SPCA, and others
activating hurricane
plans
State/Feds lean forward
with Evacuation buses
State Phase 1:
Evacuation of areas
outside of any levee
protection system
State Phase 3: Evacuation of
areas north/east of the
Mississippi River and south of
Interstate 12; State implements
Contraflow; Mayor orders
Mandatory Evacuation
MSY Shuts
Down
State Phase 2: Evacuation
of areas north of
Intracoastal Canal &
south/west of Interstate 10
and Mississippi River
Note: This is only to be used as a guideline. It is thought to be a reasonable timeline; however,
there may be more or less time available depending on the circumstances of the actual event.
~12 hrs prior to
hurricane landfall
0
SITUATION
• 2 million people at risk in Southeast Louisiana
– 1.2 million in New Orleans Metro area alone
• Very limited number of evacuation routes from
population sources
• More vulnerable areas need to evacuate first
• Hurricane Ivan evacuation in 2004 proved that
evacuations need to be managed:
– “Gentlemen start your engines!” is not a viable
solution
PHASED EVACUATION
(hours prior to onset of Tropical Storm Winds)
• PHASE I - (50 hours) Area south of Intracoastal Waterway, outside of
levee protection system, vulnerable to Cat 1 or 2, no route restrictions
PHASED EVACUATION
(hours prior to onset of Tropical Storm Winds)
• PHASE II - (40 hours) Area south of the Mississippi River, levee protected,
vulnerable to Cat 2 or higher, suggested routes but no restrictions
KEY CONTRAFLOW POINTS
• Congestion during an evacuation is inevitable
• Contraflow does not solve congestion, but makes better
use of existing infrastructure
• The public needs to be educated and informed on plans
and given realistic expectations
• The H-30 mark initiates Phase III where Contraflow can
be implemented
OVERVIEW OF PHASE III CONTRAFLOW
How do we get the message out?
• NOHSEP utilizes several methods, or platforms, to
disseminate critical information during
emergencies:
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•
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NOLA Ready Emergency Alert System (EAS)
NOLA Ready Website
NOLA Ready Materials
NOLA Ready Social Media (Facebook and Twitter)
Press Conferences/Outreach Events
NOLA Ready Social Media
• It has become increasingly apparent that social
media is now an official source of information
• Not only for messages going out, but messages
coming in
• CEOC now processes social media inputs as official
intelligence
• During tropical weather: flooding, trees down, traffic
lights out, etc.
• Threats
The Value of Community Partnerships
• A significant portion of our public relations is
targeted towards vulnerable populations
• We utilize community partnerships with faithbased, non-profit and similar organizations to
reach the maximum number of citizens
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Religious organizations
Non-profits such as ARC
Homeless service providers
Hotel security group
Council members
311 & NOLA Ready
• Know anyone that might need assistance?
– Neighbor, friend at church, elderly friend of a grandparent or
parent, etc
• Register for the CAE via 311 or ready.nola.gov
– 311 will help find the closest Pick-up Point to your address
– Medical needs/transportation needs will be addressed as part of
this process – Special Needs Registry managed by the Health
Department
– Prepare NOW (update profiles year-round)
– Sign-up for NOLA Ready to receive emergency alerts via text
and/or email
• Effectively manage your account online. 20 different alert categories
by location, type and other useful groups including reverse 911
• Don’t forget to check your text plan with your provider
After the Storm
• Pay attention to local authorities
• If mandatory evacuation was called, an “all-clear” will be
announced once it is safe to enter the city
• Apply for tiered re-entry placards if you must come back before
the general population (critical businesses etc.)
• Reentry.nola.gov
• Always carry ID once you’re back in town
• Bring food and water back with you because local stores may
not be up and running yet
• Do a full check of your home and property for damage and
other hazards
Re-Entry (only during mandatory evac)
• Phased
– Businesses be sure to register for placards early
– Based on safety and services needed to reconstitute
• Curfew
– In place for everyone that is in City post-storm
• General guidance
– If found anywhere other than placard-based business,
subject to arrest – period.
Re-Entry (Only for Mandatory Evacuation)
• Phased
– Businesses be sure to register for
placards early- before a storm is in
the Gulf
– Based on safety and services
needed to reconstitute
– Over 5,000 placards or renewal
stickers issued this year to
businesses (hospitals, banks,
critical services)
• Curfew will be in place for
everyone that is in City poststorm
– If found anywhere other than
placard-based business, subject to
arrest – period.
Louisiana Business EOC
 The Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center (LA BEOC) enhances
participation by businesses and non-profit organizations in disaster
management efforts through the development and deployment of publicprivate partnerships for the benefit of the State of Louisiana.
 The LA BEOC is a joint partnership between:
• Louisiana Economic Development (LED)
• Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
(GOHSEP)
• National Incident Management Systems & Advanced Technologies
(NIMSAT) Institute at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• Stephenson Disaster Management Institute (SDMI) at Louisiana State
University
 More Information and Registration is at www.labeoc.org
Stay Informed!
• Visit http://www.nola.ready.gov
• Register for NOLA Ready EAS
• Request outreach events
• Request preparedness literature
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nohsep
• Twitter: @nolaready
• State: http://www.getagameplan.org/
Be Prepared!
• Smartphone Apps
• Red Cross(Hurricane, First Aid, Tornado), The Weather
Channel, WWL Radio, Alert FM, National Weather Service,
WDSU Hurricane Central, US Army Survival Manual, Boy Scout
Handbook, Bible
• Business Preparedness
 www.readyrating.org
 www.labeoc.org
 www.ready.gov/business
 www.disastersafety.org
Eric Pickering
kepickering@nola.gov
504-658-8700 (office)
New Orleans Office of Homeland Security &
Emergency Preparedness
1300 Perdido Street, Suite 9W03
New Orleans, LA 70112
ready.nola.gov
@nolaready
facebook.com/nohsep