Disaster Relief, Recovery, and Rebuilding. Cedar Rapids Flood Captain Randy Jones Iowa State Patrol

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1 Disaster Relief, Recovery, and Rebuilding Cedar Rapids Flood Captain Randy Jones Iowa State Patrol

2 Unique Cities in the World, (with poor risk management!) OSAKA, JAPAN PARIS, FRANCE CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

3 Iowa Cities and River basins

4 Cedar Rapids City Population 131, 127 Metro Population 266, 040 Largest employers: Rockwell Collins Mercy Medical Center Transamerica Corporation St. Luke s Hospital Quaker Oats Company Government Service locations

5 Preparation The Duane Arnold Energy Center is Iowa s only nuclear power plant, and is located ten miles northwest of Cedar Rapids. The NRC and FEMA require preparedness response training, with evaluated exercises on a biennial basis. This training is coordinated through the Linn County Emergency Operations Center, as well as the State EOC. Unusual events as well as hostile based action response are practiced to test onsite as well as off site preparedness. Response plans are already in place for evacuation routes, traffic control points, and access control points. These plans specify the number of persons needed, traffic flow, and resources necessary to control traffic movement.

6 Preparation Federal, State, city, and county law enforcement Civil Air Patrol City, County, and State Public Works Departments School officials Fire Departments GIS Mapping Government decision makers Energy plant officials Public Health

7 Preparation Builds relationships beforehand Understand each others assets and limitations Table top traffic plans, evacuation plans, and where to go for needs Designed to tax resources, look for weakness- scenarios Effective Communication Web EOC- real time, critical information sharing MACH

8 MACH

9 Historic 2008 weather events in Iowa January- 21 st coldest on record in 136 years February- 10 th highest on record for snowfall, with 87.6 inches as the highest recorded level, and 12.7 above normal. April- 2 nd highest rainfall recorded, with in some areas May- First EF5 tornado to hit Iowa in 32 years struck Parkersburg killing 8 and causing more than $100 MIL in damages June- 48 tornados reported with the highest fatality toll in 40 years. Iowa averages 49 tornadoes annually, and in 2008 saw 107. Devastating flooding also occurred in June across Iowa. 89 of the 99 counties were declared disaster areas, with flooding causing more that $10 billion in damage to crops and property. Cedar Rapids was the hardest hit from the flooding.

10 The Event

11 NWS As waters rose, the National Weather Service and NOAA predicted the Cedar River would crest at 21.5 feet on June 9; 1.5 feet higher that it ever had. June 10 the river crested at 22.1 feet, and NWS stated this was a historic event, and the river stage were nothing they had ever seen before. June 11 the river crested at 24.7 feet, and the city manager released a statement that the city would not be able to protect against it. June 12 the city saw additional heavy rains and severe weather. June 13 the river crested at an historic 31 feet; ten feet above the original prediction just four days earlier.

12 The Event As the Cedar River rose, the impact in Waterloo and Vinton gave some warning as to what was coming, but even NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) was not able to accurately predict what actually happened. The worst flooding the city of Cedar Rapids had ever witnessed occurred in 1929, and crested at 20 feet above flood stage. By the time this event was over, the Cedar River would crest at feet, cover ten square miles of city, displace more than 18,000 residents, impact 7,198 parcels, destroy 5,390 homes, and damage 310 city facilities.

13 The Event June 9 water began to come over city streets June 10 the Emergency Operations Center activated, as water was breeching a levee built in 1929 in response to the previous crest of 20 feet. The entire town of Palo was evacuated, as the attempt to sandbag quickly was determine to be a lost cause. Gas and electricity was shut off to Palo to prevent additional loss. Law enforcement began 12 hour rotating shifts to deter looting. (population >1,000)

14 The Event

15 The Event The town of Vinton reported they were evacuating their Law Enforcement Center, communication center, and the jail.

16 The Event Local law enforcement were overwhelmed, and numerous other agencies (33) responded with resources. The Iowa State Patrol brought in troopers from around the State Troopers were paired with local officers for calls for service, as well as staffed at TCP 750 National Guard members were deployed Severe weather occurred during event

17 The Event Primary mission of law enforcement Prevent loss of life Preventing criminal loss of property Prevent access to flooded roads and buildings Assist traffic flow on accessible roads Facilitate rescues

18 Downtown

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21 Ten square miles of the city were flooded, with more than 5,900 residential homes impacted

22 June 12 At approximately 0430 hours, an emergency evacuation order was invoked for the jail. Evacuation of 386 prisoners began at 0730 hours, and the process was completed at 0930 hours. Elevator system failure The jail was reoccupied on May 6, 2009 nearly a year after the evacuation. The estimated cost of clean-up was approximately $1.9 million.

23 Transportation

24 Supply Routes and difficult choices

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26 What every disaster needs, a POTUS visit.

27 Eating the elephant Daily operational plans, 24 hour period using ICS Forms Overall daily incident objectives Branch specific objectives Contact information Command information Communication General messages Meeting with citizens and businesses to assess current needs Tracking workers in and out of flood zone Daily Media briefings

28 LE Daily objectives Shelter security pets weapons sex offenders arrest procedures Flood Control Security Response evacuation assistance traffic control

29 LE Command Operation Section Chief Resources assigned to zones with identified team leader Span of control officers per team leader Primary communication channel with secondary method identified

30 Damaged, destroyed, or displaced critical government services Federal and County Courthouse 6 major City buildings damaged and displaced - Veterans Memorial Building (home to city hall), Central Fire Station, Animal Control, Public Works, Ground Transportation Center (city transportation hub) and main public library Police Department displaced as well as city communications Sheriff Department displaced as well as county communications Cedar Rapids Community School District central offices and elementary school flooded and displaced 8 iconic cultural assets displaced and destroyed, including museums, theaters and cultural centers 3 of 4 city collector wells and 46 vertical wells disabled Water dispersement Water rationing 486 property tax-exempt facilities damaged (government, schools, churches, nonprofits, etc.) 136 other properties damaged (utilities, railroads, etc.)

31 Damaged, destroyed, or displaced critical government services All City and State Government Services relocated to Kirkwood College campus, and eventually to Westdale Mall. They would remain there for nearly eight months.

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33 Recovery Polluted water, mixed with outflow of contaminated sanitary sewer systems Leaked petroleum products into the water Other toxins from local industries and stored waste Uncollected garbage Dead animals Mold

34 Recovery, access to property Foundation damage Floating propane tanks Floating chemical tanks from local industries Natural gas and electrical system inspection As the waters receded, flooded buildings were inspected by "strike teams" before owners were allowed to return and check out the damage. Color coded properties: Green- safe Yellow-limited or at one s own risk Red- no entry allowed

35 Recovery Full recovery will be slow, federal assistance will be slow. FEMA assisted with cost to tear down destroyed homes, but would not pay for garage demolition Tear downs were of old homes and required a mist of water due to asbestos dust. Landfill had been capped off, and had to be reopened; 41,771 tons of flood debris removed Better protect Water supply pumps. One pump remained to suppy the entire city.

36 Lessons learned The key in responding to a natural disaster is flexibility, coordination, and communication. Plan and practice for disasters. Include all shareholders. Test limitations Don t underestimate how bad it will get Impacts are critical. Flood stage and river level provides minimal value unless one knows what is impacted. Have a relocation plan for critical infrastructure Have redundancy built into your command positions

37 Plan for the long term

38 What worked GIS Involvement and Products Produced Rapid Tag System Planning documents helpful Don t wait to become familiar with them Use of social media Use of whole team approach Being proactive with messages Daily press conferences well received. Having GIS available was crucial. 7 am & 3 pm updates helpful and beneficial

39 Could be improved Record or broadcast Ops Period briefing for all employees Resource tracking of personnel/hours and equipment Increased staffing or better overlap of shifts Better coordination with other agencies Consider use of JIC Use of EM Overhead System Ensure 211 is adequate Better tracking of equipment and receipts for purchases Representative in IC from every major player Designated staging area to manage resources better Improved Coordination with county emergency manager

40 Contact Information Captain Randy Jones Iowa State Patrol