A. Purpose
To provide guidance for emergency coordination with providers of power, water, natural gas, petroleum, sanitation, and telecommunication resources to meet the essential needs of Pierce County during an emergency or disaster.
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B. Scope
This ESF:
1. Addresses the coordination of energy systems and utilities assessments for damage, supply, demand, and requirements to restore such systems.
2. Assists Pierce County departments and agencies obtain fuel for transportation, communications, emergency operations, and other critical functions.
3. Helps energy suppliers and utilities obtain equipment, specialized labor, and transportation to repair or restore energy systems.
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It is the policy of Pierce County that all utilities, whether publicly or privately owned, be prepared to respond to needs caused by an emergency or disaster. The Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) may establish liaison with such utility providers to coordinate disaster and emergency needs and services.
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A. Emergency/Disaster Conditions and Hazards
Refer to the Pierce County Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis
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B. Planning Assumptions
1. A severe natural disaster or other significant event can sever energy and utility lifelines, hindering supplies in impacted areas, or in areas with supply links to impacted areas, and also affect firefighting, transportation, communication and other lifelines needed for public health and safety.
2. There may be widespread and/or prolonged electric power failure. With no electric power, communications, transportation, health care, business, education and infrastructure will be greatly impeded.
3. There may be extensive pipeline failure in water, wastewater, and gas utilities. It may take an extended period of time to repair.
4. Natural gas lines may break and may erupt in fire.
5. Water pressure may be low, hampering firefighting and impairing sewer system function.
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A. It is expected that public and private utility providers, such as those which provide power, water, natural gas, petroleum, sanitation, or communications services, will develop internal organizational procedures which will guide operations after a major event. These procedures should facilitate the basic assessment of what happened, what can be done about it and what is needed. If appropriate, this information should be provided to the Pierce County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as soon as possible.
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B. Contact with utility providers may be established by the EOC to coordinate resources, establish priorities, assess and document damages and provide information to the public. The EOC may initiate information programs to keep the public informed of utility status and any restrictions.
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C. Utility providers shall send a liaison to the EOC to facilitate coordination and shall provide communications equipment to be in contact with field units, when requested.
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D. Requests for assistance are primarily made by utility providers through existing mutual aid agreements with other providers. The DEM or the EOC may assist with coordinating outside resources, upon request.
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E. The DEM may advise public utilities operating in Pierce County of Federal or state restrictions, or any emergency restrictions or operating policies established by County government. The DEM may also coordinate with the Emergency Resources Management Organization if activated by the Governor.
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A. Primary Agency
Energy and Utility Providers
1. Lead agency for the assessment, provision, and restoration of electric power, water resources, telecommunications, natural gas, and petroleum products to meet the needs of Pierce County.
2. Operate in the tradition of self-help and mutual aid.
3. Comply with the requirements relating to curtailment of customer demands, restoration of services and provision of emergency services.
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B. Support Agencies
1. Pierce County Departments
a. Emergency Management
1. liaison and coordinate with utility and energy providers.
2. coordinate with providers for compliance with any restrictions or limitations placed on utilities by the local, state or Federal government.
3. 9-1-1 Administration - maintain coordination with telephone service providers and assist with the coordination of the restoration of 9-1-1 services.
b. Environmental Services Division, Public Works
maintain liaison with water purveyors and support efforts in preparedness and response to water shortage emergencies.
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Tab 1-Utility Providers Summary
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