DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

WASHINGTON COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
Updated: March 03, 2004

(See Appendix 1 - Organizational Structure)

(See Appendix 2 - Use of preprinted DA forms)

(See Appendix 3 - Use of database DA forms)

I.	PURPOSE
	This annex describes a system to coordinate damage assessment and reporting functions, estimate the nature and extent of the damage, and provide disaster recovery assistance.
II.	SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
	A.	Situation
		1.	Most hazardous events which may affect Washington County have the potential for causing damage. A planned damage assessment program is essential for effective recovery operations.
		2.	If a significant emergency / disaster occurs, the following series of damage assessment activities will be conducted by local government:
			a.	Initial impact assessment by field forces (e.g. Deputies / Firefighters reporting damage observed in their areas).
			b.	Apprise State Division of Emergency continually as degree of damage becomes apparent. Advise if outside assistance / resources are needed.
			c.	Preparation of a Situation Report for the Control Group.
			d.	Notification / transmittal of Situation Report to the NC State Division of Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Center.
			e.	Initiation of formal damage assessment activities by the Damage Assessment team.
			f.	Summarization of field information gathered by damage assessment teams for the Control Group.
			g.	Submission of detailed damage assessment information to NC State Division of Emergency Management’s EOC by the Control Group.
		3.	Electric power is essential in order to duplicate County tax maps needed for detailed damage assessment.
		4.	The magnitude of the emergency / disaster may necessitate a need for additional personnel trained in damage assessment.
		5.	Persons trained and experienced in damage assessment can be found throughout the state, in local and state government, and in the business community.
		6.	Following a disaster, independent damage assessment activities may be conducted by a variety of organizations including, but not limited to:
			a.	State and Federal Damage Assessment team
			b.	American Red Cross
			c.	Insurance companies
			d.	Utility companies
			e.	Local Church and Interfaith groups
	B.	Assumptions
		1.	A catastrophic disaster will exceed the damage assessment capabilities of Washington County and the three municipalities and will require additional damage assessment personnel trained for such events.
		2.	The portion of the county / municipality and personnel not impacted by the emergency / disaster may be available to assist with initial impact assessment.
		3.	A catastrophic disaster will impede the ability of emergency services to provide immediate situation reports.
		4.	The demand for information by the media may interfere with the County's ability to conduct impact assessment.
		5.	Power outage and damage to the communications systems may hamper the impact assessment process.
		6.	The thoroughness and accuracy of damage assessment can affect receipt of recovery assistance, such as a Presidential Declaration of Disaster for the County.
		7.	The various groups conducting independent assessments have different perspectives; thus, some duplication of damage assessment may occur.
III.	CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
	A.	General
		1.	Responsibility for general impact assessment, and rough estimates of damage lies with local government.
		2.	Damage assessment assistance will be obtained from other counties and / or State Division of Emergency Management as the situation dictates.
		3.	Following significant events, Federal (FEMA) officials will conduct a detailed damage assessment which will ultimately determine if a Federal Disaster Declaration is received by the County.
	B.	Specific
		1.	Damage assessment activity will be coordinated from the Emergency Operations Center.
		2.	The Damage Assessment Officer(s) will coordinate the compilation of damage assessment information, the plotting of damaged areas on local maps, and the preparation of damage assessment reports for the Control Group.
		3.	Debris clearance activity must be documented as to cubic yards, truckloads, equipment hours, etc., as this information may support a request for a disaster declaration.
		4.	The Control Group will forward damage assessment reports to the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management.
		5.	The Control Group will review damage assessment reports to determine if any outside assistance will be necessary to recover from the emergency / disaster.
		6.	Preliminary Damage Assessment usually follows local damage and impact assessment (Situation Report), and refers to Federal (FEMA) damage assessment activity.

Appendix 1

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT / RECOVERY

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT	UTILITIES LIAISON
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAMS - PUBLIC	DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAMS - PRIVATE
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES	DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAMS - AGRICULTURE
PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Appendix 2

PERFORMING DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
USING PRE-PRINTED DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FORMS

There are two primary methods for recording damage assessment information: 1) Using pre-printed forms, and / or 2) using a computer database entry form (see Appendix 3). Pre-printed forms and instructions for completing the various forms are available from Washington County Emergency Management or the Damage Assessment Officer (DAO). Pre-printed forms and instructions are available for:
1.	Residential damage assessment
2.	Business damage assessment
3.	Public (governmental and private non-profit entities) damage assessment

Appendix 3

PERFORMING DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
USING DATABASE

Using damage assessment forms contained in the database allows the person using the database several options:
1.	Obtaining the most current damage total for each category
2.	Entering data (or information)
3.	Editing data (or information)
4.	Searching data (or information)
To use the database forms click here and select the appropriate area (Damage Assessment - Residential) (Damage Assessment - Business) (Damage Assessment - Public)
To obtain instructions on entering data into the database click here.