TUSCARAWAS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SEVERE WEATHER & FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Version: 2018.9 Date Originally Adopted: 3/8/2017 Date of Last Revision: 3/8/2018 Date of Last Review: 3/8/2018
CONTENTS STATEMENT OF PROMULGATION... 3 RECORD OF CHANGES... 4 RECORD OF DISTRIBUTION... 5 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION... 5 Severe Weather... 6 Definitions... 6 Watch... 6 Warning... 6 Thunderstorm... 6 Watch... 6 Warning... 6 Tornado... 7 Watch... 7 Warning... 7 Additional Tornado Procedures... 8 Fire/Fire Alarm... 8 If you see fire or smoke in your immediate area:... 8 RACE acronym... 8 Fire Alarm... 9 If caught in smoke:... 9 Maintenance, Directors, Administration procedures... 9 Bomb Threat... 9 General procedures... 9 Receiving the Threat:... 9 General Evacuation Procedures... 10 Severe Weather Shelter Areas... 12 Fire Exit Evacuation Plan... 13 Tuscarawas County Health Department Evacuation Assembly Area... 14
STATEMENT OF PROMULGATION The Tuscarawas County Health Department (TCHD) SEVERE WEATHER AND FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES establishes the procedures for TCHD staff to perform in the event of severe weather, a fire or a bomb threat. Program areas are directed to implement training efforts and exercise these plans in order to maintain the overall preparedness and response capabilities of the TCHD. TCHD will maintain this plan, reviewing it and reauthorizing it at least annually; findings from its utilization in exercises or real incidents will inform updates. This SEVERE WEATHER AND FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES is hereby adopted, and all program areas are directed to implement it. This plan replaces the Severe Weather, Fire and Threat Procedures which is hereby rescinded. SIGNED STATEMENT ON FILE IN PREPAREDNESS OFFICE Katie Seward, Health Commissioner, Tuscarawas County General Health District Date Board of Health President, Tuscarawas County General Health District Date 3 P a g e
RECORD OF CHANGES The Health Commissioner for the Tuscarawas County Health Department authorizes all changes to the Tuscarawas County Health Department SEVERE WEATHER AND FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. Change notifications are sent to those on the distribution list. To annotate changes: Add new pages and destroy obsolete pages. Make minor pen and ink changes as identified by letter. Record changes on this page. File copies of change notifications behind the last page of this EOP. Change Number Date of Change Print Name & Signature Title N/A 03/08/2017 Paul Westlake PHEP Coordinator Version Number: 2017.3 Document created, signed and approved by Health Commissioner and Board of Health Change Number Date of Change Print Name & Signature Title 01 07/24/2017 Paul Westlake PHEP Coordinator Version Number: 2017.7 Removed references to codes plain words only. Updated Person with a Weapon section to reflect recommendations from TCSO Detective Fisher Change Number Date of Change Print Name & Signature Title 02 03/09/2018 Paul Westlake PHEP Coordinator Version Number: 2018.3 Removed section on agitated persons and persons with a weapon. These sections have been updated and placed into a separate Security Policy and Procedures plan. Format updated to reflect TCHD Plan Style Guide. Removed references to Codes use plain language. Change Number Date of Change Print Name & Signature Title 03 9/17/2018 Paul Westlake PHEP Coordinator Version Number: 2018.09 Page 8: Checking parking lots during tornado warning Page 10, 14: Building evacuation assembly point 4 P a g e
RECORD OF DISTRIBUTION A single copy of this Tuscarawas County Health Department SEVERE WEATHER AND FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES is distributed to each person in the positions listed below. Date Received Program Area Title Name N/A N/A N/A N/A This plan is available to all Tuscarawas County Health Department employees on the TCHD website Employee Portal. Each Director and the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator possess an individual copy. DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION The content of the SEVERE WEATHER AND FIRE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES is intended to provide the policies and procedures to use in the event that the Tuscarawas County Health Department experiences a severe weather threat, a fire or a bomb threat. Position descriptions, checklists, and diagrams are provided to facilitate that guidance. The information contained in this document is intended to enhance the user s experience, training, and knowledge to respond appropriately if such an event occurred. 5 P a g e
SEVERE WEATHER Upon hearing a severe weather alert issued by the National Weather Service, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff s Office or the Tuscarawas County Emergency Management Agency, the TCHD Switchboard Operator will notify all personnel by using the All Page feature of the telephone. DEFINITIONS WATCH A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so. WARNING A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is spotted or imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property. THUNDERSTORM WATCH The TCHD Switchboard Operator will deliver an All Page message announcing the details of the watch. Staff should push the Hold button on their telephones in order to listen for further updates via the local radio station (if they do not already do so). Continue with normal activities WARNING The TCHD Switchboard Operator will deliver an All Page message announcing the details of the warning. Staff should push the Hold button on their telephones in order to listen for further updates via the local radio station (if they do not already do so). Staff and clients should remain indoors and away from all windows until the severe storm passes. 6 P a g e
Staff should be on alert to assist clients in reaching areas of safety, away from windows and doors. In the event staff and clients need to seek shelter areas, the WIC hallway, the hallway by the lab and the Health Educator/PHEP Office are designated shelter areas. (See attached Map) TORNADO WATCH The TCHD Switchboard Operator will deliver an All Page message announcing the details of the watch. Staff should push the Hold button on their telephones in order to listen for further updates via the local radio station (if they do not already do so). The TCHD Switchboard Operator will notify each director and advise them to contact any of their staff that is not in the building and inform them of the watch. Staff will inform clients of the watch and be prepared to assist the clients in seeking shelter. Staff should monitor the situation through observation and media reports. WARNING A warning is issued when a tornado is spotted. Immediate action must be taken by staff to protect themselves and clients of the TCHD. The TCHD Switchboard Operator will deliver an All Page message announcing the details of the watch. Staff should push the Hold button on their telephones in order to listen for further updates via the local radio station (if they do not already do so). The front lobby receptionist will notify each director and advise them to contact any of their staff that is not in the building and inform them of the warning. Staff will inform clients of the warning and assist them in seeking shelter. Everyone is to move to tornado shelter areas. TORNADO SHELTER AREAS: WIC Hallway near the Alcohol and Addiction offices Dental Office/Lab Hallway Health Educator s/phep Office See attached Severe Weather Shelter Locations Map, Page 12 7 P a g e
ADDITIONAL TORNADO PROCEDURES Directors should account for all of their staff and report the accountability to the Health Commissioner. If immediately available, take your mobile phone with you. Sit on the floor and cover your head with your arms. Stay away from windows, exterior doors and exits. DO NOT pull a fire alarm. DO NOT evacuate anyone and insist to clients that they not leave. Remain in the building unless told to evacuate by emergency personnel or the tornado has passed. If it can safely be done, the following parking lot areas will me checked for any clients or occupants in vehicles: o Front (main) lot: PHEP Coordinator o West (EH) side lot: EH staff - Greg Dion o Rear (Handicap and staff parking) lot: Maintenance Director FIRE/FIRE ALARM IF YOU SEE FIRE OR SMOKE IN YOUR IMMEDIATE AREA: RACE ACRONYM R = Remove anyone in danger (1) Advise staff and clients to evacuate the building (2) Evacuate through the closest exit doors (3) Staff will assist clients in evacuation and direct them to the assembly point. (4) Staff and clients are to assemble in the back upper parking lot. A = Activate the fire alarm (1) Pull the nearest fire alarm station. (2) Pick up phone and press Page button (a) Give location of fire (3) If you can safely call from your phone, dial 911 (a) If area is unsafe, call as soon as you ve evacuated the area C = Confine and Contain (1) Close all doors and windows to help isolate and contain fire and smoke. 8 P a g e
E = Extinguish (1) Only if fire is small (waste-paper can size). (2) Only if familiar and trained on fire extinguisher use. (3) Only AFTER the fire alarm has been activated. FIRE ALARM Evacuate the building through the closest exit doors. If the closest exit door is blocked or inaccessible from fire or smoke, exit through an alternate exit door. o ALWAYS know two ways out from your location! See attached Evacuation Map, Page 13. IF CAUGHT IN SMOKE: Drop to hands and knees and crawl towards the nearest exit. Stay low, smoke will rise to ceiling level first. Hold your breath as much as possible; Breathe through your nose; and. Use a filter such as a shirt, towel or handkerchief. MAINTENANCE, DIRECTORS, ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES If conditions permit, check offices, restrooms, mechanical rooms, storage rooms, etc. in your area to verify everyone has evacuated. Conduct a roll call to account for all staff. Appoint someone to meet the fire department to give them the location of the fire. BOMB THREAT GENERAL PROCEDURES RECEIVING THE THREAT: Write down EXACTLY what you are told (See attached Bomb Threat Checklist, Page 11). Try to complete as many questions as possible from the checklist. Try to remember to ask the caller when the device is supposed to activate. Listen for background noises from the caller s phone. If threat is received via email, text, social media, print the threat 9 P a g e
DO NOT PANIC! While all threats have to be taken seriously and investigated, the vast majority of bomb threats are pranks. Contact your supervisor immediately. Supervisor will contact the Health Commissioner to determine a course of action Call 911 immediately o Report what caller, email or message said. o Stay on the line with the dispatcher as long as they request you to. Answer as many of their questions as possible. o Obey all instructions given to you by either the dispatcher or law enforcement personnel on the phone. An officer will always be dispatched to talk with you. Building evacuation will only be conducted if ordered to do so by the person in charge of the incident. o Activate the fire alarm See attached Evacuation Map, Page 13. Briefly examine your area and your evacuation path for any suspicious boxes, unattended backpacks, or packages. DO NOT TOUCH them. Let law enforcement know as soon as they arrive. GENERAL EVACUATION PROCEDURES All staff and clients are required to exit the building. o Staff will assist clients in evacuation and direct them to the assembly point. Assembly point for building evacuation is the northwest corner of the lower parking lot. (See attached Evacuation Assembly Location Map, Page 14). Shut off the lights, close the doors and windows in your area. Take your cell phone, purse, backpack, briefcase, and coat with you, if they can be readily and safely retrieved. DO NOT attempt to retrieve these items if doing so would delay your evacuation. DO NOT re-enter the building to retrieve anything. Evacuate through the closest exit doors No one is to re-enter the building until authorized by the Health Commissioner or their representative. 10 P a g e
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SEVERE WEATHER SHELTER AREAS 12 P a g e
FIRE EXIT EVACUATION PLAN 13 P a g e
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT EVACUATION ASSEMBLY AREA Evacuation Assembly Area 14 P a g e