Plans

Emergency management involves the development of several kinds of plans. This section deals with strategic plans, which set the overall course and direction of the program; emergency operations/response plans, which focus on the mechanisms for activating the organization and its assets during an actual operation; mitigation plans, which focus on prevention and reduction of the impacts of hazards; continuity planning, which provides for the continuation of essential program functions during a disaster; and a recover plan or strategy, which guides the jurisdiction through restoration of services, facilities, and functions. 

Local hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA) activities involve identification of hazards and assessment of risks to persons, public and private property and structures, and the environment.  The data collected at the community and local level provides the data used to produce its jurisdiction-wide assessment of risk. The information collected during the HIRA process is also used for more detailed data and loss estimation projections and post-event assessments. 

Created in accordance with DMA2K (The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000), our community's first plan was approved in 2003, updated and approved in 2008, 2013 and again in 2018. This plan requires a group of stakeholders to work on it and documentation of the meetings is required. It defines our community's risk and vulnerabilities to natural disasters and human-caused incidents. The plan defines goals, objectives, and strategies to mitigate problems. The Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning Committee reviews the plan annually for progress being made. The plan must be submitted to both the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (WVDHSEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval every 5 years.

This plan is currently being updated. To learn about and/or participate in the update process, please click here.

Jefferson County Emergency Operations Plan (FOUO-For Official Use Only)

Jefferson County's Emergency Operations Plan was last updated and approved by the Jefferson County Commission in 2017. The purpose of this plan is to develop, implement, and maintain an integrated emergency management program for Jefferson County in accordance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the National Response Framework, and Comprehensive Planning Guide- 101 (CPG-101). The plan is designed to manage all county-wide emergencies, including disasters resulting from natural, technological, and man-made events which exceed normal day-to-day response capabilities. The plan is designed to predetermine what actions county resources and other emergency managers shall take during and following an incident to protect lives and property. The roles and responsibilities of all designated incident managers, responsible agents, or any resource elements of the government(s) residing within Jefferson County are delineated. This is a living document. At least four annexes per year are reviewed, written, or updated. 

Jefferson County Resource Manual (FOUO-For Official Use Only)

The National Mutual Aid and Resource Management Initiative supports the National Incident Management System (NIMS) by establishing a comprehensive, integrated national mutual aid and resource management system what provides the basis to type, order, and track all (Federal, State, and local) response assets. For ease of ordering and tracking, response assets need to be categorized via resource typing. Resource typing is the categorization and description of resources that are commonly exchanged in disasters via mutual aid, by capacity and/or capability. Through resource typing, disciplines examine resources and identify the capabilities of a resource's components (i.e., personnel, equipment, level of training). During a disaster, an emergency manager knows that capability a resource needs to have to respond efficiently and effectively. Resource typing definitions help define resource capabilities for ease of ordering and mobilization during a disaster. As a result of the resource typing process, a resource's capability is readily defined and an emergency manager is able to effectively and efficiently request and receive resources through mutual aid during times of disaster. 

Continuity of Operation Plan (COOP) (FOUO-For Official Use Only)

Jefferson County Continuity of Operations Plan explains how the government of Jefferson County should operate to provide essential local government services in the event of a large-scale or long-duration emergency. This document predetermines, to the extent possible, actions to be taken by elected officials and their employees. This plan provides the departments and agencies of Jefferson County a program for continuing operations following an emergency event whether natural, technological, or man-made, and guides the operation of those departments’ essential functions during an emergency that may disrupt normal operations. The primary goal of this plan is to restore essential functions within 12 hours of activation and facilitate the ability to perform those functions for up to 30 days in accordance with applicable federal and state guidelines. Having COOP is required for participation in the Emergency Management Planning Grant (EMPG) and the Homeland Security Grants offered by the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. The County’s COOP Planning started in 2007 and was last updated and exercised in 2012.

Critical Infrastructure

Critical infrastructure are the complex and highly independent systems, networks, and assets that provide the services essential in our daily life. They are currently organized into the following 17 critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) sectors:

• Banking and Finance;
• Chemical;
• Commercial Facilities;
• Commercial Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste;
• Dams;
• Agriculture;
• Government Facilities;
• Information Technology;
• National Monuments and Icons;
• Postal and Shipping;
• Public Health and Healthcare;
• Telecommunications; and
• Transportation Systems.

The Energy, Telecommunications, Transportation, and Water Sectors represent just a few of the basic services that we continually rely on day after day, services that enable us to heat and cool our homes, talk to one another over the telephone, travel to work, and even have clean water to drink. With our increasing dependence upon critical infrastructure comes an unavoidable expansion in complexity as these sectors seek to build upon their already stretched capacity to provide new services and products to a growing population.

The Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CI/KR) Asset Protection Technical Assistance Program (CAPTAP) is offered jointly by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Directorate (NPD) to assist state and local first responders, emergency managers, and homeland security officials to understand the basic tenets of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), the value of a comprehensive state and local infrastructure protection program, the steps required to develop and implement such a program.

The CAPTAP curriculum also includes instruction on the use of the Automated Critical Asset Management System (ACAMS) as a tool to support critical infrastructure protection programs. Jefferson County continues to work with resources in state government to identify critical assets within our jurisdiction. The state is currently working on a project with the School Board Authority to feed critical information about the state’s schools into the ACAMS systems.

Jefferson County Hazardous Waste Assessment (FOUO-For Official Use Only)

Developed in 2017, this report defines hazardous waste and identifies the regulations and authorities that apply to hazardous waste materials. County officials and first responders can utilize the information presented herein for the following purposes:

1. identification of types of hazardous waste materials,

2. general awareness of hazardous waste materials’ properties and characteristics,

3. identifying potential locations of hazardous waste in Jefferson County,

4. developing a training series relating to hazardous waste handling, and

5. integrating this information into appropriate emergency plans. 

Jefferson County Advanced Commodity Flow Study (FOUO-For Official Use Only)

Developed in 2017, the Jefferson County Advanced Commodity Flow Study focuses on the analysis of shipments of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and propane via railroad through Jefferson County. The study presents general rail safety and commodity information so that local officials and first responders in Jefferson County can:

1. better understand the situation and acquire general knowledge about the commodity,

2. learn about safety measures already in place on rail tank cars,

3. prepare for incidents that involve LPG and propane,

4. plan for response activities should an incident occur, and

5. integrate this knowledge into existing Jefferson County plans. 

Jefferson County Commodity Flow Study (FOUO-For Official Use Only)

The Jefferson County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) hired J.H. Consulting, LLC to complete the update to their Commodity Flow Study in 2016. They conducted a Commodity Flow Study in an effort to identify the major risks involved with hazardous material transportation in Jefferson County. The data that was collected allows for a better understanding of the types and quantities of hazardous materials being transported through and within the county. This information has enabled Jefferson County’s emergency response agencies to more adequately mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover from future hazardous materials transportation incidents. The report includes sections pertaining to the types of hazardous materials being transported over the railroads and highways of the county. A “recommendations” section has also been incorporated into the report; it details actions that could be taken in the future to best protect the population and environment of Jefferson County.  

Jefferson County Propane Risk Assessment, Phase I (FOUO-For Official Use Only)

The Jefferson County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) hired Stantec, Inc. to prepare for them a propane risk assessment for propane tanks over 10,000 pounds during 2015. This project, after its completion, was shared with all of the local fire departments. It includes maps and other information for emergency responders.

Jefferson County Propane Risk Assessment, Phase II (FOUO-For Official Use Only)

A second grant from the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) has enabled the Jefferson County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to study smaller propane tanks between 500-9,999 pounds. This study was completed in 2015.

Phase I and Phase II of the Propane Risk Assessment are currently being compiled together and updated to incorporate changes to propane storage and use within Jefferson County. This project is currently on-going.

Jefferson County Tier II Assessment (FOUO-For Official Use Only)

The Jefferson County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) completed a Tier II Assessment to identify and document the major changes that have taken place with regards to chemical inventories at industrial and commercial facilities throughout Jefferson County. The assessment identified the facilities located in the county that should be submitting Tier II Reports to the State Emergency Response Commission (WV SERC), the LEPC, and to their first-due fire companies. The contractor obtained Tier II Reports from the previous year, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from owner/operators of facilities that handle, store, or use hazardous materials. The contractor also provided assistance to all Extremely Hazardous Substances Facilities in Jefferson County in developing their Off-Site Emergency Response Plans. This assessment was completed in 2010.