442
Russell C. Coile
Evacuation
`Assessment of the County's overall evacuation plans, policies, and
procedures requires an examination of which agency or agencies bear
the responsibility for initiating an on-scene evacuation In the event of an
evacuation, the principal responsibility for initiating an evacuation lies
with the Sheriff. However, the practical decision to evacuate lies with the
agencies having expertise with the type of incident, and it should be a joint
decision involving all concerned.' (County report)
Comment: The basis of the Incident Command System is to have one
person in charge in the emergency operations center. In an ideal world, the
technical advisors (Hydrologists) in the Planning Section would provide
technical data on stream fl ow rates, river heights, and estimates of fl ooding
to the Planning Section Chief. The planners would coordinate with Law
Enforcement, Fire, and Public Works units in the Operations Section to
prepare a plan for warning and evacuation of residents who might be
fl ooded. The Director of the EOC would approve the plan and order the
Operations Section Chief to implement the planned evacuation. This
apparently was not done.
Levees And Infrastructure Committee
This committee's mission was to consider and recommend remedial
solutions to prevent disastrous fl ooding in the future. After reviewing previous
studies, it recommended that a Flood Control Zone and Community Benefi t
Assessment Districts be established. The purpose would be to provide
funding for fl ood control planning activities and implement fl ood control
projects. Funding is necessary for maintenance and operation of an alert
system for providing fl ood warnings along the Carmel River.
Some actions recommended in 1989 to remove south bank levees
have now been implemented. Some agricultural fi elds have been converted
to riparian and wetlands habitat and some levees have been removed to
create fl oodways to protect residential areas. It was also recommended
that Monterey County and Carmel-by-the-Sea support a coordinated effort
to improve the storm drainage system in the Rio Park area to prevent
fl ooding of home in the Mission Fields area. Other recommendations about
assessment districts have not yet been approved.
Summary :
In an ideal world, the technical advisors (Hydrologists) in the Planning Section would provide technical data on stream fl ow rates, river heights, and estimates of fl ooding to the Planning Section Chief. The planners would coordinate with Law Enforcement, Fire, and Public Works units in the Operations Section to prepare a plan for warning and evacuation of residents who might be fl ooded. The purpose would be to provide funding for fl ood control planning activities and implement fl ood control projects.
Tags :
eacuation,hae,section,been,ood,planning,leees,system,control,ooding,operations,some,assessment