hurricane guideline

Question 1

what will be activated when inclement weather, a haz mat incident, or other major emergency occurs in the city?

Answer 1

the emergency operations center

Question 2

define hurricane

Answer 2

a tropical low pressure system with sustained winds of 74 to greater than 155 mph. a storm or tidal surge of 4 to as high as 20 or more feet above sea level and torrential rainfall of 5 to as much 40 inches in one day.

Question 3

describe a category 1 hurricane

Answer 3

74 -95 mph winds, storm surge of 4-5 feet

Question 4

describe category 2 hurricane

Answer 4

96-110 mph winds, storm surge 6-8 feet

Question 5

describe category 3 hurricane

Answer 5

111-130 mph winds, storm surge 9-12 feet

Question 6

describe category 4 hurricane

Answer 6

131-155 mph winds,storm surge 13-18 feet

Question 7

describe category 5 hurricane

Answer 7

greater than 155 mph wind, storm surge of 18 feet

Question 8

when is the hurricane season

Answer 8

June 1st- November 30th

Question 9

what is a hurricane warning

Answer 9

when hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours

Question 10

what is a hurricane watch

Answer 10

when hurricane conditions are possible in an area within 36 hours

Question 11

who is responsible for the over all operation of the OEM

Answer 11

the deputy director of emergency management as designated by the mayor’s office of public safety and homeland security.

Question 12

what shall be executed on may 1st of each year?

Answer 12

apparatus fuel tanks will not be allowed to drop below 3/4
review hurricane guideline with all personnel
update list of personnel contact info
assure files are adequately stored and protected in the event of a storm
district will ensure the disaster kits are adequately stocked

Question 13

what shall station captains check on april 1st of each year

Answer 13

station captains shall check for trees on station property that may pose a hazard during a storm. station captains shall contact general services for trimming.

Question 14

what shall station captains do when a hurricane warning is issued?

Answer 14

station captains will ensure that all glass windows/doors are taped or boarded for protection. station captains shall be responsible for the security or removal of possible projectiles on station propert including loose items on rooftop.

Question 15

when should all personnel prepare to be recalled to duty?

Answer 15

when a hurricane watch is announced by the national hurricane center for the Houston/Galveston area.

Question 16

what is one of the most important functions for emergency personnel after a disaster

Answer 16

the need to evaluate the impact that the disaster has had upon departmental resources. this assessment may include observations of structural damages, flooding injuries, status of critical resources such as hospitals and the status of transportation capabilities. damage assessments must be accomplished before responding or while enroute to emergency incidents.

Question 17

what will size up assessment be based on?

Answer 17

size up assessments will be based upon value judgements that are made on rapidly obtained information and should always be subject to a common sense review by the company officers

Question 18

when should companies be placed out of service?

Answer 18

all fire department companies should be placed out of service when winds of 55 mph exist or local conditions such as excessive flooding exist. companies will notify the oec sr supervisor with the reasons for placing companies out of service and when placing them back in service.

Question 19

what is it that station captains should create for documenting hours worked by personnel?

Answer 19

station captains should create an activity sheet for documenting all personnel on duty and hours worked. this info will also be documented in the captain’s log and appropriate forms.

Question 20

what is the time frame for submitting a station/neighborhood assessment?

Answer 20

station neighborhood assessments should be submitted as soon as info becomes available and should be updated upon completion of the preliminary damage assessment, usually within 72 hours of the event or as needed.