By Mari Radtke
Jared Johnson, O’Brien County Emergency Management Director presented updates of plans and new plans under construction, “for the state.” He wanted to share with the board the progress and details of the “O’Brien County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Johnson used “infographics” to assist with sharing the structure and details of the 3-piece plan: mitigation, response and recovery. He detailed each piece for the supervisors. Each plan contains additional plans. He went over each piece and sub-piece in detail.
Mitigation: This piece includes a regional piece with Osceola and Sioux Counties. The work involved identified, and he listed, realistic emergency threats to this region. Windstorms are now considered the greatest threat/hazard to this region. This plan is reviewed each 5 years and was reviewed “just a few years ago, so it is up to date,” he said. Out reach is also a big part of mitigation. The expiration of this plan is 2027. Johnson reported that it usually take a few years to get these plans “up and rolling.”
Response: This too is “a variety of different plans put together into one.” Current updates for the federal fiscal year October 1 through September are to basic plan response, ESF 2 Communications, ESF 5 Emergency Management and hazardous materials, to name a few listed.
Johnson went through highlights of the 43-page plan. It noted it has been updated with 2020 census data. His presentation included a description of local responders setting up their command structure. He described the plan to be almost a “plug and play” direction for different kinds of emergency responses for use by the incident commander. The plans (IEP) can also be established for various timelines of more lengthy emergency responses. Johnson demonstrated use of the online form that is to be completed at the scene.
Johnson said he “really, really likes checklists,” and he showed one he has developed. HazMat contacts are to be updated, according to Johnson. Internal Affairs (public information) was discussed. Who from emergency responders and where they would talk with media or other avenues to keep the public informed.
Recovery: This is a newer platform driven by the state. Over the next several years needs to be addressed in the plan are infrastructure, cultural and natural affairs, health and social services and housing. The basic recovery piece, which is first up to be submitted, short term, intermediate and long term. This basic is a general outline of what is needed to reach recovery with the RSF (sub plans) to give the details for various specific recovery needs. He cautioned that the amount of disaster assistance is decreasing and harder to qualify. He is pushing the personal financial kits and individual preparedness for recovery.
Johnson wrapped up his presentation by showing the board the masks he purchased from ARPA funds for PPE. These are sophisticated masks of 3 different sizes with filters protecting against different contaminants.
He reported that most of the ARPA projects are completed and expressed his appreciation for the funding for those projects.