Dan Eggleston
Fire Rescue Chief
Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue
Continuity of government (COG) is one of the most vital elements to ensure that essential government functions continue during and after a natural or manmade event. Specifically, public safety agencies must continue to provide 24/7 operations even though critical facilities are often damaged and deemed uninhabitable.
On Thursday, September 16, 1999, Hurricane Floyd made its way across Southeastern Virginia just east of Franklin, Virginia. Floyd carried enormous amounts of rain, which fell in an area already saturated with rains from previous storms. The Blackwater River overflowed its banks and made its way to the downtown portion of the city and northern residential areas. Over 100 homes and 182 businesses were totally destroyed by 6-7 feet of floodwaters. In addition to the businesses and homeowners, City Hall, the Public Safety Building (EOC, Fire, EMS, and Police), and the Wastewater Treatment Plant were inundated by floodwaters.
This presentation is a case study review and will identify lessons learned to benefit other emergency management and local government professions. The case study will primarily concentrate on the planning and implementation of temporary public safety facilities for fire, EMS, and law enforcement.
Learning Points:
1. Participants shall be able to identify local core public safety functions and facilities that require continued and uninterrupted operations.
2. Participants shall be able to identify consequences associated with the disruption of core public safety functions.
3. Participants shall be able to identify key componets required to develop contingency plans needed for continued operations of public safety services.