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Florida's Best Practices:
City and Member County Responses H - L
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City of Hallandale Beach
Mayor Dorothy Ross
Hallandale Beach Emergency Management Response
Prior to September 11, 2001, the City of Hallandale Beach had a number of established programs including: Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Crime Watch, nationally recognized Youth Crime Watch Program, citizens’ volunteer programs, and an active Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) program.
When the president called upon Americans to volunteer service through the Citizen Corps, Hallandale Beach’s Homeland Security Program was formalized through the creation of our Citizen Corps Council in July of 2002.
The city, under the direction of the council’s chair, Mayor Dorothy Ross, consolidated the established programs listed above and recruited community-minded leaders from local businesses and faith-based organizations to form the Hallandale Beach Citizen Corps Council.
A prominent local doctor volunteered to coordinate the Medical Reserve Corps working closely with the Fire Department and CERT teams. The city has been fortunate to recruit the services of another local doctor, who specializes in infectious disease and teaches bio-terrorism classes for federal, state and local agencies.
The Fire Department has worked closely with the Police Department to develop a unified homeland security perspective, utilizing the many willing volunteers coming forward to respond to the president’s call to service. The citizen volunteers are provided cross-training in CERT, Citizens on Patrol (COP), and Crime Watch programs. The city intends to provide CERT training to non-essential city personnel thereby benefiting the City of Hallandale Beach and the communities in which employees live.
Hallandale Beach also participates in the Broward County Crime Stoppers program that will be utilized to carry out Operation TIPS, providing an avenue to report suspected terrorists or acts of terrorism.
An information brochure has been developed to send out to the community providing information about each of the president’s five programs, with information about who to contact to join.
Hallandale Beach Citizen Corps Council is researching funding to provide equipment, additional training and possibly inoculating volunteers against the various hepatitis strains.
Contact Person:
Daniel Sullivan, Chief
Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue
121 S.W. 3rd Street
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009-6433
Phone: (954) 457-1476
E-mail: dsullivan@hallandalebeach.org
Or
Thomas A. Magill, Assistant Police Chief
Hallandale Beach Police Department
400 S. Federal Highway
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009-6433
Phone: (954) 457-1411
E-mail: tmagill@hallandalebeach.org
City of Hollywood
Mayor Mara S. Giulianti
Hollywood Emergency Management Response
Prior to September 11, 2001, the city’s Police and Fire Rescue departments were already preparing for a terrorist event by giving personnel 16 hours of terrorist/ weapons of mass destruction (WMD) training through Department of Justice funding. Subsequently the Hollywood Police Department implemented several initiatives in an effort to prepare for, and respond to, future threats of domestic terrorism.
Immediately following initial responses to 9/11, the Police and Fire departments coordinated their efforts to assess the community’s vulnerability to future acts of terrorism. The vulnerability identified 60 entities, both public and private, with a high probability to be targeted by acts of domestic terrorism. This vulnerability assessment included meeting with representatives of the respective entities and assessing the facility, utilizing the Federal Government Scoring System, to determine their level of vulnerability. The assessment included scoring their present vulnerability for biological, nuclear, incendiary, chemical and explosive threats. It identified existing security measures, specific site vulnerabilities and recommended security measures to mitigate the vulnerability of the facility.
In conjunction with site assessments the Hollywood Police Department began implementing security measures in and around the police department facility to mitigate threats to the facility. Plans included adding perimeter fencing and gates to restrict access to the police compound and are currently in the final phase of completion. A key-card access system was instituted, along with continuous video surveillance of all access points. An off-site mailbox was strategically placed away from the police facility where mail is sorted and screened prior to distribution at the Police Department.
The Police Department has created a Terrorism Response Team, which acts as a central depository for all intelligence information, as well as lead investigative component for any threats received. The response team acts in conjunction with the FBI and other federal, state and local law enforcement. A comprehensive guide outlining the Homeland Security Advisory System and the Hollywood Police Department’s response to specific threat levels has been developed.
Police Department members are participants in the Region Seven Domestic Terrorism Task Force, monthly Broward County Emergency Operations meetings, and the FBI-sponsored Joint Terrorism Task Force. The department also provides continual training to its members concerning WMD and bio-terrorism, as well as other relative training, and has been able to obtain a variety of protective equipment such as biohazard suits, gas masks and respirators.
Contact Person:
Donald P. Perdue, Division Chief/Fire Marshal
Hollywood Fire Rescue
2741 Stirling Road
Hollywood, FL 33312-6505
Phone: (954) 967-4404
E-mail: dperdue@hollywoodfl.org
Or
Chadwick Wagner, Assistant Chief
Hollywood Police Department
3520 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, FL 33021
Phone: (954) 967-4303
E-mail: cwagner@hollywoodfl.org
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City of Indian Harbour Beach
Mayor Mary Anne O’Neill
Indian Harbour Beach Emergency Management Responses
In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Indian Harbour Beach Police Department has participated in the FBI’s computerized training and testing programs regarding domestic and international terrorism. Officers have also attended the required Domestic Security and Weapons of Mass Destruction Training. Protected Training will soon be implemented in the city’s Police Department by the Brevard County Police Academy.
The City of Indian Harbour Beach is presently awaiting the distribution of biohazardous outerwear/equipment for all police officers, which will enable the department to implement terrorist training techniques in the use of said equipment. In addition, the city’s Police Department is actively engaged in the intelligence-gathering task force unit that has been established in the region. Police officers are assigned to this task force and participate in the regional meetings conducted by Orange, Brevard and Indian River counties.
As a beachside community, the city’s disaster preparedness evacuation plan is continuously updated and has worked effectively and expeditiously on several past occasions. This includes the utilization of Harbour Highlights, the city’s monthly magazine, in disseminating information affecting our residents on issues that require their assistance.
Contact Person:
Fred Fernez, Chief
Indian Harbour Beach Police Department
40 Cheyenne Court
Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937
Phone: (321) 773-3030
Town of Interlachen
Mayor Ralph E. Godwin
Interlachen Emergency Management Response
Subsequent to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Town of Interlachen has worked diligently to ensure the safety of its citizens. Town officials have updated the emergency management plan in conjunction with the Putnam County Standing Operating Procedure. In addition, each of the town’s public safety organizations has developed a specific operating program, which is an annex to the master emergency management plan. The town is in the process of applying for assistance from the Florida Department of Community Affairs to assist with the replacement of warning systems, shelter and the town’s emergency operation center.
Furthermore, the Town of Interlachen has encouraged area families to develop their own emergency response plan. Town officials firmly believe that the public has a significant role to play in helping to increase the town’s sense of security. Town officials have also spoken with area faith-based and grass-roots organizations in an effort to coordinate emergency response and assistance programs.
Contact Person:
Dave Trout, Council Chair
Town of Interlachen
311 Atlantic Avenue
Interlachen, FL 32148
Phone: (386) 684-3812
E-mail: detrout@atlantic.net
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City of Jacksonville
Mayor John A. Delaney
Jacksonville Emergency Management Response
The mayor and City Council of the City of Jacksonville have strengthened the city’s existing emergency management system following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
In the city’s ordinance, the emergency management program is headed by the mayor of the City of Jacksonville, and assisted by an executive body called the Emergency Preparedness Planning Council. The emergency management program is an all-hazards program addressing all phases (mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) of emergency management. The city’s Emergency Preparedness Division is responsible for developing and administering programs in each of the four phases. Programmatic examples include:
Mitigation – a robust flood hazard reduction and stormwater management program, home retrofit programs for wind;
Preparedness – interagency coordinating plans, procedures, training, exercises and drills;
Response – implementation plans including unified command and emergency operations center activation; interagency coordination; and
Recovery – coordination of infrastructure; disaster victims restoration.
Following the events of September 11, 2001, the Jacksonville City Council changed portions of the city’s ordinance to add a Jacksonville security coordinator responsible for coordinating all security and emergency preparedness issues. The ordinance change also directed specific plans be developed for evacuating city buildings and to improve communications to citizens during emergencies.
The Jacksonville Security and Emergency Preparedness Planning Council approved an Eight Point Strategy for Improving Jacksonville’s Security. The strategic plan includes:
Improving continuity of government/operations.
Empowering employees with personal work place disaster plans.
Evaluating infrastructure vulnerability.
Improving intelligence coordination.
Strengthening individual and community preparedness for all disasters.
Continuing building our capability to respond to nuclear, biological and chemical events.
Developing greater capability to rescue victims from collapsed structures.
Supporting regional and state efforts in terrorism preparedness and response.
Sharpening operational coordination to disasters at large venues.
Since adoption of the strategic plan in the spring of 2002, the city has completed an Alltel Stadium Interagency Disaster Plan, started an Infrastructure Committee to share intelligence information, used grant dollars to start a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training cycle, and conducted a “no-notice” terrorism drill involving police, fire, EMS, mass transit, seven hospitals and a number of other responding agencies.
Upcoming activities include starting urban search-and-rescue training and equipment purchase, and development of a continuity of operations template to create continuity of operations plans on key city processes. The growth of the Citizen Corps initiative and the development of further Community Emergency Response Teams will occur in the coming months.
All these activities are carried out within the framework of an all-hazards approach to disaster preparedness, response and recovery. This concept is critical to ensuring that initiatives developed for homeland security are sustainable and consistent with the best professional emergency management practices.
Contact Person:
Robert “Chip” Patterson
Emergency Preparedness Division Chief
Jacksonville Security Coordinator
515 Julia Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 630-2472
E-mail: cpatters@coj.net
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Town of Jupiter
Mayor Karen J. Golonka
Jupiter Emergency Management Response
Since the events of September 11, 2001, the Town of Jupiter has been tenaciously implementing domestic security measures in order to ensure the safety of its citizens. The Jupiter Police Department has been actively involved in the Regional Domestic Security Task Force; participated in the Palm Storm Multi-Agency Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Exercise and FEMA’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise; issued an “Emergency Response to Terrorism – JOB AID,” which was developed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), to all department supervisors and watch commander; and has required all sworn personnel to complete the DOJ Emergency Response to WMD for Law Enforcement course.
At the local level the Police Department has done the following to guarantee the safety of local infrastructure: installed “panic” alarms and video surveillance in the Town Hall, increased security patrols around the Town Hall and water plant facility, and implemented security log and documentation of outside vendors conducting business on Town Hall Complex property. Furthermore, the department has equipped officers with WMD and hazardous materials response gear and riot helmets, prepared and implemented a rapid dissemination for terrorism alerts received via teletype, and made continued education and training for first response units on domestic security issues a top priority.
Contact Person:
Robert M. O’Neill, Captain
Homeland Security Coordinator
Jupiter Police Department
210 Military Trail
Jupiter, FL 33458
Phone: (561) 746-6201
City of Lakeland
Mayor Ralph L. “Buddy” Fletcher
Lakeland Emergency Management Response
In 1997, due to an increase in awareness of the potential use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the City of Lakeland created a comprehensive yet introductory training program for terrorist use of WMD. This program, which is fours hours in length, is complete with a practical map exercise and focuses on three main elements: identification of the threat, identification of agents and programmed response.
Since September 11, 2001, this training program has been updated with videotapes and discussions concerning anthrax awareness and response. Further, elements of this program have been blended into the city’s catastrophic event plan. This plan satellites off of the city’s existing comprehensive hurricane plan, which already provides for the use of volunteers.
Additionally, the City of Lakeland has purchased defense equipment for trained individuals. This equipment includes: suits, masks, chemical and radiological detection devices, and minimal skin decontamination.
Considering the potential threat, the City of Lakeland, although not perfect, is in a much better position to counter the threats posed by WMD today than five years ago.
Contact Person:
Lt. Ralph Schrader
Neighborhood Services Bureau
219 N. Massachusetts Avenue
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: (863) 834-6913
City of Largo
Mayor Robert E. Jackson
Largo Emergency Management Response
Established a city security team to evaluate security issues at the City Hall buildings, city parks and wastewater treatment facility.
Established procedures for suspicious powders, both at the city level and first responder/HazMat level, as a result of the anthrax scare.
Coordinated response procedures with the Largo Police Department as to the established response protocols.
Purchased specialty equipment, to include showers, patient privacy kits and containment contaminant pools for decontamination. In addition, the county has placed disposable decontamination kits and nerve agent antidote kits (NAAK) on all fire response units. The county has also issued the Hazardous Materials Response Team several chemical and biological detection devices.
All firefighting personnel have received approximately eight hours of terrorism training to include use of NAAK kits, decon kits, mass decontamination procedures, mass casualty triage and terrorism response procedures. The hazardous materials team has received in excess of 24 hours of terrorism training. The Largo police officers, dispatchers and staff have received three hours of training.
Largo Fire Rescue participated in an interagency drill hosted by the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue at the Bayfront Center with a focus on a terrorism/mass casualty event. As a supplement, Largo hosted a mass casualty interagency drill involving Largo Police, Fire Rescue and the Pinellas County Hazardous Materials Response Team. Largo also hosted a joint-training session with Tampa Fire Rescue, National Guard 44th Civil Support Team and the departments comprising the Pinellas County Hazardous Materials Response Team, in which they simulated a terrorist chemical lab response.
Several hazardous materials personnel and SWAT medic personnel attended Department of Justice training in Alabama, Nevada and Utah, receiving in excess of 32 hours of chemical, biological and radiological response training.
Contact Person:
Frank W. Defrancesco, District Fire Chief
Special Operations-Emergency Management
Largo Fire Rescue
P.O. Box 296
Largo, FL 33779-0296
Phone: (727) 587-6714
E-mail: fdefranc@largo.com
City of Lynn Haven
Mayor Walter Kelley
Lynn Haven Emergency Management Response
For all the obvious reasons, emergency and/or terrorism preparedness for the City of Lynn Haven since September 11, 2001, has been heightened to a great degree. Mandated security checks of all of the city’s sewer and water systems have been calculated at approximately 45,192 for a 12-month period.
On October 8, 2001, the Northwest Florida Domestic Security Task Force was formed, of which the Lynn Haven Police Department is a member. Task force meetings are held monthly in Crestview.
The purchase of protection suits for first responders was coordinated through the Police Department and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office with the sheriff’s office receiving a grant.
Intelligence received from the task force is disseminated to all officers in regards to threats of possible future attacks and new and innovative weapons being used by persons of the criminal element. All officers have attended a mandatory class on weapons of mass destruction.
The City of Lynn Haven has a close working relationship with the Bay County Emergency Management Office, which responds to most hazardous scenes and is more equipped to handle these situations than the city’s Police Department.
Overall there has been a heightened awareness of the possibilities that exist and could occur at any moment.
Contact Person:
Dennis Kiah, Assistant Chief
Lynn Haven Police Department
1412 Pennsylvania Avenue
Lynn Haven, FL 32444
Phone: (850) 265-4111
E-mail: kiahdl@flcjn.net
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Alphabetical Listing of City and Member County Responses
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