Building A Stronger Rhode Island:Hurricane Lessons Learned & Best Practices

Inactive Decades

Active Decades

INACTIVE YEAR CYCLES:

•1903-1925

•1971-1994

•47 Year Total

ACTIVE YEAR CYCLES:

•1926-1970

•1995-present

Higher Probability For Major Hurricane StrikesHigher Probability For Major Hurricane StrikesHigher Probability For Major Hurricane StrikesHigher Probability For Major Hurricane Strikes

Rhode Island Hurricane History Rhode Island Hurricane History Rhode Island Hurricane History Rhode Island Hurricane History Active Year Storms:• 1938 New England hurricane

•100+ deaths in Rhode Island•Storm surge of 16ft Narragansett Bay•$4.2 billion (normalized damages today)

•1954 hurricanes Carol & Edna•130 mph peak gust recorded at Block Island, RI•8 to 10ft of surge reported in Providence

•1960 Hurricane Donna•1961 Hurricane Esther•1999 Hurricane Floyd•2004 Hurricane Charley

Inactive Year Storms:•Hurricane Gloria 1985•Hurricane Bob 1991•Longest gap between storms: 1923-1934 (11 years)

Building Resilient Communities Begins With Building Resilient Communities Begins With Citizen AwarenessCitizen AwarenessBuilding Resilient Communities Begins With Building Resilient Communities Begins With Citizen AwarenessCitizen Awareness

Katrina – How It Applies To Rhode Island?Katrina – How It Applies To Rhode Island?Katrina – How It Applies To Rhode Island?Katrina – How It Applies To Rhode Island?

Do Citizens Understand Their Vulnerability?Do Citizens Understand Their Vulnerability?Do Citizens Understand Their Vulnerability?Do Citizens Understand Their Vulnerability?

Base Flood Elevation vs. Storm Surge Base Flood Elevation vs. Storm Surge Base Flood Elevation vs. Storm Surge Base Flood Elevation vs. Storm Surge

1938 Hurricane Storm Surge1938 Hurricane Storm Surge1938 Hurricane Storm Surge1938 Hurricane Storm Surge

Citizens Often Evacuate For The Wrong Reason Citizens Often Evacuate For The Wrong Reason Citizens Often Evacuate For The Wrong Reason Citizens Often Evacuate For The Wrong Reason

Hurricane IvanBehavioral Study 2004

12

U.S. Tropical Cyclone Deaths 1970-1999U.S. Tropical Cyclone Deaths 1970-1999U.S. Tropical Cyclone Deaths 1970-1999U.S. Tropical Cyclone Deaths 1970-1999

U.S. Tropical Cyclone Deaths 1970-1999U.S. Tropical Cyclone Deaths 1970-1999U.S. Tropical Cyclone Deaths 1970-1999U.S. Tropical Cyclone Deaths 1970-1999

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Katrina SyndromeKatrina SyndromeSide Effects:

Unrealistic operational timeframes required to implement your response plan Evacuating citizens 100’s of miles inland rather than 10’s of miles Plan requires host state evacuation agreements Shadow evacuations – moving more citizens than necessary Citizens do not understand why they are asked to evacuate Rebuilding to the same BFE standards

Remedies: Risk based & time phased evacuations Well designed evacuation zones that reduce the number of people evacuated Clear evacuation warning order terminology Reduction of evacuation distances – tiered shelter approach Eliminate policies that stand in the way of priorities Help citizens visualize vulnerability

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

Typical Alabama Reaction TimelinesTypical Alabama Reaction Timelines

Since 1851 31% of all storms that

impacted Alabama provided less than

72 hours notice

Hurricane Camille (Cat 5 1969) was named 72 hours from the coast

IkeIke

IsabelIsabel

Expanding wind fields & hazard impact before arrival of TS winds

Operational Timing vs. Arrival of Storm ImpactsOperational Timing vs. Arrival of Storm Impacts

• Well designed zones will reduce operational timeframes

• Evacuation zones must reflect how evacuations are communicated to the public

• Evacuation Clearance times are directly attached to these zones

• AL was evacuating more citizens than necessary

• Zones must be designed to reduce the number of people asked to evacuate

Risk Based Evacuations, Not Mass EvacuationsRisk Based Evacuations, Not Mass EvacuationsRisk Based Evacuations, Not Mass EvacuationsRisk Based Evacuations, Not Mass Evacuations

Reducing Evacuation Distance – Reduces IssuesReducing Evacuation Distance – Reduces IssuesReducing Evacuation Distance – Reduces IssuesReducing Evacuation Distance – Reduces Issues

Evacuations should not exceed state borders:

• Evacuate 10’s of miles, not 100’s • Resource type shelter management

teams• Tier shelter activations• Eliminate shadow evacuations through

training

Population Considerations:• Use consistent terminology• Senior citizens – Knight Ridder study• Time of day

Policies Impacting Your Shelter Capability• FEMA Safe Room Policy• EM Declaration Cap - $5 million• DOJ’s interpretation of functional needs

for shelters

New Real-Time Evacuation TechnologyNew Real-Time Evacuation Technology

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Best Practice Sheltering ExampleBest Practice Sheltering Example

Baldwin County

Functional Needs Facility• Will serve as a functional

needs hurricane shelter for up to 400 people.

• Reduces CTN support requirements & timeframes

• Ensures standard of care• During Hurricane Ivan (in

2004) evacuated functional needs clients to Tuscaloosa

Host State Evacuation Plans - Gustav LessonHost State Evacuation Plans - Gustav Lesson

Operational timeframes vs. political favors

Alabama operated 70+ shelters statewide

Hosted 8300 transportation dependent evacuees from LA.

Estimate 13,000 evacuees statewide Total estimated cost $80 million

Total AL Cost $5.5 million$2.2 million for Post Secondary Education

Facilities$2.8 Million for other ARC Shelters

Operated 3 special needs shelters Received 159 special needs citizens

Helping Citizens To Understand The Threat

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Visualization, Social Networking & Outreach

Surge/Flood Depth ModelingSurge/Flood Depth Modeling

November 3, 2008 Slide #25

Pre-Disaster Response ConsiderationsPre-Disaster Response Considerations Vendor managed logistics concept Pre-event Contracts

Commodity Contracts – (What does legislation allow?) Comprehensive Public Assistance Debris Hauling & Monitoring

Pre-establish resource typed points of distribution (PODS) Understand when to activate and when to shut down

Pre- establish Disaster Recovery Center locations Primary & Alternate locations Ensure state agency and VOAD support

USACE power assessments for critical infrastructureLong-term sheltering & housing State disaster assistance for non-declared eventsLocals – Don’t wait on the Federal & State

government.

Recovery: Top MistakesRecovery: Top Mistakes

Lack of documentation Rental costs determined unreasonable due to lack of documentationPre-event maintenance recordsDemonstration of previous code enforcement

No notification given to the state in regards to cost overrunsChange in scope of work without improved project request and approval.Use of “Piggy Back” contractsDamage identified after the 60 day deadline has expiredAppeals submitted after the 60 day deadlinePre-Event procedures & policies did not match Post-Event proceduresProper procurement procedures not followed

Mitigation ConsiderationsMitigation Considerations

Unfortunately mitigation is becoming a recovery programPre-disaster funding vs. post disaster fundingEnhanced mitigation status = 5% increase

Mitigation: Post Event HMGP prioritiesLife safetyProperty Loss PreventionLocal/State Mitigation plan priorities

Mitigation plans must be socialized Florida Building Code 2001

Non-Stafford Act Disaster DeclarationsNon-Stafford Act Disaster DeclarationsDeepwater, H1N1, CP&G gas explosion & international

eventsThere are 56 different types of federal declarationsAlabama Deepwater declarations included:

SBA , Economic Injury Assistance loansOil Pollution Act, 1990, National Pollution Fund

Center AssistanceDepartment of Labor, Employment and Training

Administration AssistanceDepartment of Commerce, Economic Development

Administration, fisheries assistanceEmergency managers were the primary responders at the

state and local level despite the lack of Stafford Act support

Brock Long,Vice President

Hagerty Consultingbrock.long@hagertyconsulting.com

334-652-1450