Emergency... What Emergency?

The airports are not included in the County EOP. Sheriff’s Response: I disagree with this finding. The County’s Emergency Operations Plan contains several references to the County’s airports. contains a general description of the location and capabilities of the airports. contains a brief discussion of the role the airports would play following a major earthquake. A reference to the airports also appears under the responsibilities of the Air Operations Branch Leader on pages 144 and 145; and the Situational Analysis Unit Leader on pages 150-152. The County’s Emergency Operations Plan is a basic plan. It establishes the emergency management organization; identifies the responsibilities, policies and procedures required to protect heath and safety; and it establishes the operational concepts associated with response and recovery. It is not meant to provide a detailed assessment of the planning, training, risk, emergency response or recovery operations related to airports or any other critical infrastructure.

The existing emergency plans are for airport related incidents only and do not include annual training with airport personnel or fire departments. Sheriff’s Response: Without further information I can neither agree nor disagree with this finding. The Sheriff’s Office does not oversee airport emergency plans.

These airports are not staffed on a twenty-four hour basis. Sheriff’s Response: I agree with this finding.

There are no back-up generators for power failures at any airport. Sheriff’s Response: Without further information I can neither agree nor disagree with this finding. The Sheriff’s Office does not inventory airport facilities, utilities or equipment.

CalStar, an emergency response company, has facilities at only one airport. Sheriff’s Response: I agree with this finding.

The airport managers were unaware of any County EOP involving their airports. Sheriff’s Response: Without further information I can neither agree nor disagree with this finding. I have no knowledge of what the airport managers told the Grand Jury or their level of awareness regarding the County’s Emergency Operations Plan. Sheriff’s Response to Grand Jury July 14, 2008 7. Airports are not being considered in the EOP as a location for people to gather and be cared for, or the storage of emergency supplies. Sheriff’s Response: I disagree in part with this finding. The airports are not specifically considered in the EOP as locations “...for people to gather and be cared for, or the storage of supplies,” but neither are they discounted. Depending on the nature and scope of the emergency, an airport may or may not lend itself to the types of uses listed by the Grand Jury. For example, an airport hangar could be used as an evacuation shelter, but hangers lack the sanitary and cooking facilities necessary for care and shelter. Air operations during a disaster response and the presence of hazardous materials such as aviation fuel make airports undesirable as an evacuation site. Airports can be used as staging areas for emergency supplies, but the nature of aviation accidents is such that caches of vital equipment may be at greater risk at an airport versus another location.

Airport managers and emergency personnel consider airports viable portals for the entry of supplies, evacuation, and meeting emergency needs. Sheriff’s Response: I agree with this finding.

Airports have no current connection to microwave communication. Sheriff’s Response: Without further information I can neither agree nor disagree with this finding. I agree that the airports have no current connection to the County’s microwave system. General Recommendations: 1. Little River and Ukiah airports should have permanent generators installed to meet the emergency needs of the Coast and the Ukiah Valley. Sheriff’s Response: This recommendation should be directed to the Board of Supervisors and the City of Ukiah. At one time the Sheriff’s Office could offer forfeited assets such as generators to other public entities, but current state and federal asset forfeiture laws prohibit such distributions.