Snow Summit March 1, 2016

Winter Storm Jonas (Public Safety Perspective)

Winter Storm Jonas

Winter Storm Jonas Preplanning worked well

Multi-agency conference calls on January 20 and 21 Included relevant agencies, all Dep. Co. Execs, and Chief Financial Officer

Wide-ranging discussion from resources and response strategies to cost tracking Common situational awareness, informed decision-making for response strategies,

closures/delays, etc. Decision to close County government/courts at noon on Friday, January 22

Fluid decision-making, original decision was to close at 1:30 pm, changed to noon Safety of community and County staff important Setting example for others

County government/courts closure decisions for Monday & Tuesday, January 25/26

Not taken lightly Safety overall is focus Helps public safety agencies, VDOT, etc.

Winter Storm Jonas Safety as key focus area

For community and County staff ex., “white out conditions” overnight Friday into Saturday Agency safety officers and EOC Safety Officer Internal and external public messaging focused on safety (OPA, PIOs)

Public messaging /outreach Effective model for future events Advance planning/discussion on common messaging

ex., “Stay off the roads”, “Help clear fire hydrants”, “Shovel safely”, “Neighborhoods! Mobilize for Sidewalk Snow Removal”

Message sequencing and avoiding message “clutter” Extensive/effective use of social media Team approach Media briefing, January 21, at PSTOC

Chairman, County Exec., Chiefs Roessler and Bowers, Roy Shrout, James Patteson, and Tom Biesiadnay Media briefing with Governor McAuliffe, January 24

Winter Storm Jonas Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Good cross-agency, cross-discipline collaboration and engagement throughout event Effective communication/coordination with the Snow Removal Operations Center (MSMD),

FMD, and other agency liaisons Effective/improved use of technology – EDGR, WebEOC, GIS mapping

Operational updates were effective NWS, FCPS, and VDOT joined key calls

Calls for service Moderate, majority were EMS Vehicle crashes were low

including reportable and non-reportable (accident policy) number of vehicles stuck, abandoned, etc.

Power outages were low Original forecast concern was heavy, wet snow and high winds Outages would be a significant complicating factor

Challenges High snowfall total Road conditions

Disappearing lanes, snow windrows, high piles of plowed snow blocking motorist visibility, blocked ingress/egress

Capacity for clearing County facilities (Priority 1) And other facilities such as the hypothermia shelters

Emergency/public safety vehicle access to neighborhoods Types of assigned vehicles for public safety Virginia National Guard allocation/assignments

Sidewalks & corners Volunteers

Good coordination overall with Volunteer Fairfax in the EOC Good volunteer base for extra vehicles/drivers Fewer for increased requests for helping some residents (ie, elderly, disabled) with sidewalks,

driveways – future follow-up and planning focus

Questions