FAYETTEVILLE — Fayette countians who played key roles during this summer’s storm recovery efforts put their heads together Friday to brainstorm how to better serve the public during future disasters.

The group — which included mayors, city managers, public service district managers, county emergency services personnel and many others — gathered at a county commission meeting and offered constructive criticism based on their varied perspectives on storm recovery.

“I felt the discussion was on the positive level, and very constructive,” said Fayette County Commission President Matthew Wender. “It’s probably good we had this discussion today rather than on June 30.”

Attendees chuckled, aware that emotions ran high during the disaster response in communities across the county, where power and, in some cases, water services shut down for extended periods of time.

After the storm, the county Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the local Red Cross chapter received criticism for what some perceived as a slow and disorganized response.

Participants at Friday’s meeting expressed concerns in many areas, but the major theme was a need for improved communication.

Others — including the agency’s director, Theresa White — pointed to a perceived understaffing issue at the OES.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Wender requested that the Local Emergency Planning Commission create a list of suggested actions for the county commission to consider at a future meeting.

Suggestions offered up by participants in Friday’s meeting included the following, broken down by theme:



Communications

Re-examine assumptions around communication to reflect new cellular technology and relative lack of hardwired phone lines

Ensure the OES retains updated contact information for all key players in municipalities, including mayors, volunteer fire departments, etc.

During emergencies, set up signage along major interstates to alert travelers

Improve system of communication between community leaders and utility companies during crises

Examine whether phone systems at the 911 Center are sufficient to handle the volume of calls received during a crisis and create a policy to adequately staff the phone lines

Print a one-page pre-emergency information handout to send to households

Set up an automated call system for emergency alerts, similar to that used by school systems

Incorporate radio outlets in emergency response planning and ensure that they have adequate fuel and resources to remain on air

OES creates and maintains a current list of media contacts with land line, cell phone, e-mail, Twitter and Facebook

Appoint a media liaison at county level for disasters

Provide a phone number for citizens to call and listen to recorded emergency bulletins, so as to reduce pressure on the emergency call center

Ensure oxygen providers are held accountable for answering emergency numbers printed on bottles

Keep daily briefings and meetings at the county level efficient



Organization and command structure

More clearly communicate the command protocol used during emergencies and regularly review this protocol with agency directors and community leaders

Expand the capacity for schools to operate as shelters and serve as centralized relief centers; more widely and consistently utilize school system infrastructure during emergencies

Expand volunteer pool so as not to rely too heavily on other vital emergency forces, like volunteer fire departments

Ensure that people know their roles during a disaster response prior to arriving on scene

Ask Legislature to give the county health department workers more latitude in providing health services for which they won’t be held liable



Preparation and planning

Create an off-site stockpile of fuel, water, generators, salt, etc., for use strictly by EMS

Install battery or solar-powered traffic lights

More widely disseminate monthly meeting information for the Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC)

More actively recruit for training available from LEPC

Publicize and disseminate county Emergency Operations Plan



Gasoline and generators

Tax credits for gas stations to install permanent generators

Find funding avenues for the installation of permanent generators at PSDs

Mandate that PSDs and critical infrastructure keep records of the size and specifications of generators needed to run their systems

Consider disaster fuel rationing policies

Re-examine assumption that people outside population centers have the ability to travel to services, taking into account that access to cash and gasoline diminishes with a power outage



Office of Emergency Services

Ensure that county employees laterally transferred into the OES during a crisis are properly trained and prepared to assist effectively

Hire and train an OES employee who can periodically relieve the director during a disaster

Minimize input of OES director at daily briefings to 30-40 minutes

Examine alleged under-staffing at the office



Water

Ensure that water company is given precedence for fuel to power generators

Look into solar power for water system

Re-examine protocol for issuing a state-wide boil water advisory

Create a contact list for all PSDs in the county

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The next meeting of Fayette County’s Local Emergency Planning Commission is Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. at the Church of God in Fayetteville.

The group meets there on the second Wednesday of every month and reviews emergency plans. In addition, the commission provides emergency training sessions that are open to anyone.

For more information, contact Theresa White at 304-574-1610.

— E-mail:cmoore@register-herald.com