Fiscal Year 2004 Proposed Budget

FIRE DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM

PROGRAM MISSION: To reduce threats to life, property and the environment from any man made or natural disaster through education, planning, training and exercising.

• Emergency Preparedness function ensures that Arlington County's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan is updated and tested annually. Functions of this section include: management of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during large scale emergency responses and disasters, maintaining the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), coordinating with and providing resources to the County's Emergency Management Team and task groups for the development of functional annexes to ensure a coordinated effort with surrounding jurisdictions in the event of an area wide disaster; providing liaison with surrounding local governments, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Metropolitan Council of Government (COG) to ensure a coordinated state-wide support in the event of a large scale disaster; and providing quarterly training for the participants of the emergency management system to ensure that all emergency management team members are well trained and knowledgeable on every aspect of emergency procedures. Staff coordinates exercises of the emergency management plans. This function also coordinates the newly created Citizen Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) training program. It also includes staff support for the Citizens Corps Council. The staff also is responsible for providing community disaster education.

• Hazardous Materials function supports the local mandates required by the Superfund Authorization and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III). This also includes staff support for the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• As a result of the events of September 11, 2001 this program has been reorganized and is being projected separately for the first time in FY 2004. Personnel costs consist of two Fire/EMS Captains, one position transferred from the Technical Services Program (1.0 FTE) and the other transferred from the Public Education Program (1.0 FTE), working in the capacity of Deputy Emergency Services Coordinators. They report directly to the Fire Chief. Non-personnel costs are included in the Administrative Services program. One FTE was added to the Fire Department in the FY 2003 adopted budget to coordinate citizen preparedness and education.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• The FY 2003 and FY 2004 estimate for Citizen Emergency Response Team classes are based on the pilot class held in FY 2003.

Objective: To provide a quality Public Disaster Education Program to the community and to improve each citizen's preparedness for a disaster.

• The FY 2004 estimate for number of community members reached is reflective of our attempts to widely educate the community.

FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:

• The expansion of this program in FY 2003, into citizen education and preparation, does not include non-personnel costs. The success of our outreach efforts is dependent upon existing budget resources or obtaining grant funding through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). In FY 2003 it is anticipated that Arlington will receive some grant funding for this effort. Future grants awaiting Congressional action are uncertain at this time.

• The Citizen Emergency Response Team program began in FY 2003. The program will need to expand to include activities to sustain the teams including advanced training activities and exercises. Additional funding will be needed to support these activities. Currently grant funds are available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. We are pursuing these grants to support FY 2003 efforts. The future of these grants is contingent on Congressional action.

• The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is constantly being updated, it is anticipated in FY 2003 and early FY 2004 much of the EOP will need to be reprinted and distributed widely throughout the community. Additional funds for printing may be needed for these activities.

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