RESTORATION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES

I.	PURPOSE
	The purpose of this annex is to provide for restoration of essential services during an emergency / disaster, including solid waste disposal, water distribution, electric distribution, sewer system and debris removal.
II.	SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
	A.	Situation
		1.	County / City Public Works / Water / Electrical Assets
			a.	Washington County and the three municipalities each have public works departments performing normal public works functions.
			b.	Washington County operates a transfer station / Land Clearing and Inert Debris (LCID) landfill. This facility is located on Mackey's Rd. (NC 308) in Washington County and is used by Washington County residents. At present, this facility can accept concrete, asphalt, bricks etc., and trees, limbs, stumps etc. In the near future, this facility will be able to accept construction debris. All other solid waste is transported to a regional landfill (East Carolina Environmental) in Bertie County.
			c.	All roads in Washington County (excluding the Towns) are owned by the State or Federal government and are maintained by the North Carolina Division of Highways. Some roads in the Towns are US or State routes and as such are maintained by the Division of Highways. Other roads in the Towns are maintained by the City Public Works Department.
			d.	No county sewer system exists; rural homes and small businesses not served by the Towns use private septic tanks. The residents within the Towns are served by sewerage systems. The Town of Plymouth's sewerage system serves the Washington County Industrial Park off on Hwy. 64 in Plymouth.
			e.	County / Town residents not served by a water system use private wells.
			f.	Electrical service is provided throughout the county by North Carolina Power and Tideland Electric Membership Corporation (TEMC).
			g.	Land-based commercial and residential telephone service for Washington County is provided by Sprint-Carolina Telephone and Tri-County Telephone Company.
			h.	Cellular and mobile telephone service is available throughout Washington County through several vendors.
			i.	The Washington County School System has a maintenance department / public works capability that could be utilized during time of disaster.
			j.	Emergency fuel for County vehicles may be available from DOT or the Town of Plymouth's garage if commercial availability is disrupted.
		2.	The amount of equipment owned by the County and Towns is inadequate for disaster operations.
		3.	Debris is a consequence of certain disasters; the emergency removal of debris is critical to the restoration of vital / essential services.
		4.	A few logging companies and loggers are located in Washington County. These companies have equipment ideally suited for debris removal and chipping.
		5.	Numerous pieces of heavy equipment suitable for debris removal can be found throughout the County at various farm, business and industrial sites.
		6.	The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources maintains a District Office and equipment headquarters at Scuppernong Tower in Creswell, NC. The Forestry Service has equipment suitable for debris removal which may be made available if requested from the State by the Emergency Management Coordinator through the State EOC.
		7.	Certain facilities will receive priority in the restoration of essential services (See Vital Facilities annex).
		8.	State owned or supported vehicles can be refueled at the Division of Highways maintenance yard on Hwy. 64, Creswell, NC in Washington County.
	B.	Assumptions
		1.	A catastrophic event affecting multiple counties and / or states may result in the following consequences related to essential services:
			a.	Loss of some or all essential services for extended periods of time.
			b.	A shortage of available outside assistance.
			c.	A shortage of materials for repair of utilities.
			d.	Overall delay in restoration of essential services.
			e.	Rapid exhaustion of local resources.
			f.	Inability to relay resource requests / needs.
			g.	Attempted price gouging for repair of essential services.
		2.	Volunteers will be available and willing to assist with emergency debris removal.
		3.	Interruption of some or all essential services is an expected consequence of an emergency / disaster, resulting in large numbers of people without essential services.
		4.	Following a catastrophic event, all roads and streets will be impassable due to debris.
		5.	The North Carolina Division of Highways will remove debris from the highway and state maintained roads. The Division will not remove debris from private property except in extraordinary cases cleared through the State EOC. If this assistance is needed, it must be requested by the Emergency Management Coordinator through the State Emergency Operations Center.
		6.	The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources can perform emergency debris removal beyond State property when requested by the Emergency Management Coordinator through the State Emergency Operations Center.
		7.	Privately owned farm and industrial equipment will be heavily utilized by volunteers assisting with debris removal.
		8.	Controlled burning of debris will be allowed as a means of disposal.
III.	CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
	A.	The Washington County Solid Waste Director, a representative from the three municipalities, and the Washington County Manager (or designee) will jointly develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) for the storage, disposal and sorting of large quantities of debris. They will receive requests for emergency debris removal, prioritizing and deploying public and private resources. It is critically important that the volume of debris removed (in cubic yards) be documented. If a Presidential Disaster Declaration is received and public assistance authorized, local government would be eligible for reimbursement for the number of cubic yards removed. Priority for emergency debris removal will be given to the following (not listed in order):
		1.	Rescue sites
		2.	Airport / airstrips
		3.	Known helipads
		4.	EOC
		5.	Emergency services locations
		6.	Medical facilities
		7.	Primary streets and roads
		8.	Vital utilities (power lines, substations, wastewater plants, communications sites)
		9.	Disaster Application Center sites
		10.	Shelters
		11.	Staging areas / refueling areas
		12.	County Courthouses / City Hall
		Temporary debris storage, sorting, and chipping sites will be established throughout the affected area to facilitate management of debris. Sites will be located in areas where burning of debris can be accomplished within applicable regulations. If the volume of debris warrants, waivers will be requested to provide for burning.
	B.	The Washington County Solid Waste Coordinator / Water Superintendent, representatives from the water departments in the three municipalities and the Washington County Manager, in cooperation with the Health Department will jointly develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) providing for the restoration and testing of water supplies following major disruptions. Sites will be established throughout the affected areas for distribution of emergency water supplies to the public following a disaster.
	C.	Available emergency generators will be deployed to vital public facilities which do not have power. If neither publicly owned nor leased generators are available, State assets can be requested by the Emergency Management Coordinator through the State EOC.
	D.	If necessary and available, portable toilets will be provided to the general public and to work sites.