VITAL FACILITIES

I.	PURPOSE
	This annex provides for the identification and continuing survey of facilities considered critical in emergency / disaster situations, and describes actions which can be taken to protect, manage or restore facilities.
II.	SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
	A.	Situation
		1.	Certain facilities will be vital to emergency response, while others will be critical for immediate and long-term recovery from disaster.
		2.	Several categories of vital facilities have been identified; these are listed below in the Concept of Operations.
	B.	Assumptions
		Benefits resulting from the Vital Facilities Survey will include:
		1.	Identification of resources needed to support facilities, and efficient delivery of resources at the time of need.
		2.	A reduced dependence on unwritten and assumed information.
		3.	More efficient damage assessment and loss estimation following a disaster.
		4.	Prioritization of facilities for mitigation and preparedness activities.
		5.	An overall reduction of vulnerabilities.
		6.	A determination of potential survivability of critical facilities.
III.	CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
	A.	The Emergency Management Coordinator, assisted by other County and City departments, and State EM staff will conduct a county-wide inventory of vital facilities. Facilities inventoried will include the following, and will be done on an ongoing basis:
		1.	Electrical distribution systems (major components such as substations).
		2.	Health / Medical facilities.
		3.	Transportation facilities (includes traffic control points, critical intersections, bridges, aviation facilities).
		4.	Communications facilities (includes tower sites, telephone exchanges, etc.).
		5.	Schools, Churches, Shelters and Community centers.
		6.	Emergency services facilities (EOCs, Fire & EMS stations).
		7.	Water distribution and waste water facilities.
		8.	Historic structures.
		9.	Debris collection / disposal sites.
		10.	Public / Private supply centers (includes donated goods management sites).
		11.	Aircraft landing sites (airports, airstrips, helipads).
		12.	Boat landings, ferry docks and launching ramps.
		13.	Staging Areas.
		14.	Privately-owned critical facilities (funeral homes, radio-stations, etc.).
		15.	Industrial sites.
		16.	Government owned buildings and facilities.
	B.	Information on each facility will include the following:
		1.	Facility name.
		2.	Facility mailing address.
		3.	Facility ownership.
		4.	Phone number.
		5.	Latitude and longitude.
		6.	Brief description of the facility, including physical location and access.
		7.	Critical use / nature of the facility.
		8.	Protective measures to be taken.
		9.	Auxiliary power requirements (exists or needs to be furnished).
		10.	Special instructions (evacuation recommendations, suitability for use and survivability in disaster situations, support resources anticipated, best sources, emergency alternatives to use of the facility).
	C.	Information pertaining to the vital facilities inventory will be available in the Emergency Management office in a reference document; copies will be accessible to the County EOC and Communications Center. Vital facilities will be reviewed and updated as necessary.
	D.	Based on the information gained from the Vital Facilities Survey, resources necessary for emergency support of facilities will be secured through mutual aid agreements, memorandums of understanding, and contracts with other local governments, agencies and private companies.
	E.	Emergency requests for State resources to support vital facilities will be made by the Emergency Management Coordinator to the State Division of Emergency Management’s EOC when local and contracted resources are exhausted or otherwise unavailable.
	F.	The Mayors, City Manager and County Manager will utilize information gained from the Survey as the basis for projects to mitigate the effects of disaster on vital facilities under City / County control (example: relocation of facilities to reduce vulnerabilities, structural reinforcement, fabricate storm shutters / window protection and adapt buildings to readily accommodate installation; design of new facilities to survive disaster and accommodate disaster operations).
	G.	At the direction of the County Manager, departments will take necessary steps to prepare critical facilities for disaster in accordance with the recommendations of the Vital Facilities Survey (example: securing buildings and equipment for severe weather, consideration of plans for evacuation of certain structures, consideration of plans for evacuation of certain emergency response vehicles, review of anticipated response and recovery resources, development of procedures to safeguard documents, temporary reinforcement of structures, installation of wiring for auxiliary power).