“the process begins…”

Disaster Planning Workshop Bristol, VTPrepared by: Tim BoutinSenior PlannerAddison Regional Planning Commission

WINTER STORMWINTER STORM

Disaster Planning Disaster Planning WorkshopWorkshop

Weather Update :Weather Update : It’s a cold March day in Addison It’s a cold March day in Addison

County but early morning forecasts County but early morning forecasts are calling for a warm front to move in are calling for a warm front to move in from the Ohio Valley following a short from the Ohio Valley following a short snow shower. This should give snow shower. This should give everyone a break from the freezing everyone a break from the freezing temperatures we’ve had for the past temperatures we’ve had for the past week.week.

At 09:00 AM conditions in At 09:00 AM conditions in Bristol are as follows:Bristol are as follows:

Skies are overcast.Skies are overcast.There is a light breeze from There is a light breeze from the southwestthe southwest

Temperature is 15 F, without Temperature is 15 F, without wind chill.wind chill.

A few flakes are just starting A few flakes are just starting to fall.to fall.

12:00 the plot thickens12:00 the plot thickens During the past 2 hours, precipitation During the past 2 hours, precipitation

has been falling in a mixture of wet has been falling in a mixture of wet snow and sleet in Bristol.snow and sleet in Bristol.

At 12:05 the weather radio in your At 12:05 the weather radio in your office beeps and a winter storm office beeps and a winter storm warning is broadcast: The front has warning is broadcast: The front has stalled over Vermont and there is a stalled over Vermont and there is a strong potential for pockets of strong potential for pockets of freezing rain in the Champlain Valley.freezing rain in the Champlain Valley.

12:3012:30Road Conditions in Road Conditions in

Bristol Starksboro and Bristol Starksboro and MonktonMonkton

Reports have been received that paved Reports have been received that paved roads are ice covered and an icy slush roads are ice covered and an icy slush mixture is beginning to build up.mixture is beginning to build up.

Dirt roads are extremely slippery and Dirt roads are extremely slippery and most inclines are no longer able to be most inclines are no longer able to be made.made.

Conditions in LincolnConditions in Lincoln

Most students chose to go out at lunch and Most students chose to go out at lunch and the 6” of heavy snow is rapidly the 6” of heavy snow is rapidly degenerating into snow forts and snowmen.degenerating into snow forts and snowmen.

The snow is beginning to build up on the The snow is beginning to build up on the town roads and plows are starting to fall town roads and plows are starting to fall behind.behind.

Conditions in New Conditions in New HavenHaven

A freezing drizzle has been falling for A freezing drizzle has been falling for the past half hour. The trees in the the past half hour. The trees in the Beeman front yard are beginning to Beeman front yard are beginning to take on a fairy tale appearance as ice take on a fairy tale appearance as ice is beginning to build up on branchesis beginning to build up on branches

You notice town trucks are beginning You notice town trucks are beginning to spread salt and the driving doesn’t to spread salt and the driving doesn’t look good.look good.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

Close School?Close School?Who makes the decision? (local or Who makes the decision? (local or

Supt)Supt)How is transportation activated?How is transportation activated?How are parents notified?How are parents notified?What do you do with students What do you do with students

whose parents can’t be reached?whose parents can’t be reached?

Oh Oh…. Problems!Oh Oh…. Problems! Bet-cha calls the central office and reports Bet-cha calls the central office and reports

that that – “– “A large tree has fallen across Route A large tree has fallen across Route 116 north of the intersection with Route 116 north of the intersection with Route 17 in Starksboro. VTrans has been called 17 in Starksboro. VTrans has been called but the road is effectively closed for now.”but the road is effectively closed for now.”

15 mintues later:15 mintues later: A second call from Bet-ChaA second call from Bet-Cha – “Somebody – “Somebody

has to do something about these roads. has to do something about these roads. We have two busses off the road and we We have two busses off the road and we are suspending operations until roads are suspending operations until roads improve.”improve.”

Conditions Update:Conditions Update:

The band of freezing rain has The band of freezing rain has slowly worked its way upward slowly worked its way upward in elevation from the valley to in elevation from the valley to the mountains.the mountains.

You are hearing sirens almost You are hearing sirens almost constantly as first responders constantly as first responders have their hands full.have their hands full.

2 hours later2 hours later Ice has continued to form. Vermont is in Ice has continued to form. Vermont is in

a state of disaster.a state of disaster. The primary transmission line between The primary transmission line between

Rutland and New Haven has collapsed Rutland and New Haven has collapsed and power is out throughout the region.and power is out throughout the region.

Your school is also without power and Your school is also without power and the ice continues to build up.the ice continues to build up.

Communiucations from town highway Communiucations from town highway departments, Bet-cha and State Police departments, Bet-cha and State Police indicate that you should expect to keep indicate that you should expect to keep your students over-night.your students over-night.

ISSUES TO CONSIDER…ISSUES TO CONSIDER…

•Some parents want to come to pick Some parents want to come to pick up their kids.up their kids.

•Your school has been designated Your school has been designated as an evacuation shelter for the townas an evacuation shelter for the town

•Do you have a generator?Do you have a generator?

•Who can you call for assistance?Who can you call for assistance?

ISSUES CONTINUED…ISSUES CONTINUED…

•Water, Food, Cots, Blankets?Water, Food, Cots, Blankets?

•Staff feels the need to go home and Staff feels the need to go home and make sure their family is safe.make sure their family is safe.

•How do you accept evacuees and How do you accept evacuees and still insure student security?still insure student security?

END OF EXERCISEEND OF EXERCISE

DebriefingDebriefing Who was involved?Who was involved? Who was in charge?Who was in charge? Issues Issues What went well?What went well? What would you do What would you do

differently?differently? Where do you go Where do you go

from here?from here? General comments?General comments?