Hurricanes Charley, Frances

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Hurricanes Charley, Frances JeanneLessons
Learned
ERCM Training Orange County
Public Schools February 1, 2005
Orlando, Florida San Francisco,
California
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Orange County Public Schools

• 12th largest school district in the nation
• Student enrollment 174,095 in 164 schools
• 108 elementary schools
• 48 secondary schools
• 8 special/post-secondary
• 24,063 employees
• 28 new schools in 5 year Capital Outlay Plan

Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Hurricane Donna 1960 Orlandos last direct
hit!
Orange County has historically served as a "host"
county to coastal evacuees OCPS is the largest
provider of shelter space within the Central
Florida region OCPS staff is assigned to work in
the county Emergency Operations
Center Principals assign teams of "shelter
coordinators"

• Orange County Public Schools
• Orlando, Florida

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The scene at dismissal Friday August 13th had
school not been cancelled...
...Hurricane Charley arrives in Orlando
Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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What we saw Saturday August 14th...
Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Damage AssessmentNo school untouched...all 164
had damage

• 103 required debris removal
• 90 had canopy/awning damage
• 87 had portable damage
• 87 had ceiling tile damage
• 80 were without electrical power
• 75 had miscellaneous damage to guttering,
  downspouts and window screens
• 72 had roof damage
• 43 had exterior siding and door damage
• 41 had damage to floor covering
• 39 had interior damage to furniture and equipment
• 35 had damage to interior walls, doors, windows
• 27 had damage to lighting fixtures
• 24 had damage to HVAC systems

Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Hurricane FrancesFriday September 3rd
...and then, 3 weeks later
Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Hurricane JeanneSaturday September 25th

• and 3 weeks after that...
• NO...NOT AGAIN !

Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Charley, Frances and Jeanne 12 days of
instructional time lost during the first 7 weeks
of the school year...
Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Lessons Learned - Communication

• District emergency information number was widely
  used and should be expanded
• Multiple communication methods prior to storm was
  successful (email, voice mail, phone greetings)
• Standard message was posted on all school
  marquees announcing return date(s!)
• Landline telephone, cable TV and cellular
  communications were intermittent for days
• Media announcements were coordinated in the
  Emergency Operations Center and delivered during
  press briefings
• 800 MHz radios programmed to operate on
  county-wide public safety net were essential and
  should be expanded

Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Lessons Learned - Facilities

• Mutual aid from other school districts (Lake,
  Broward, West Palm)...no reimbursement from FEMA
  without formal board-approved agreement
• Use of contractors vs. employees?
• Superintendents waiver of bid requirements to
  allow emergency repairs was essential to timely
  recovery

• Response by key vendors and contractors hampered
  by heavy demand for their services throughout the
  state
• Damage assessment checklists were completed by
  school staff and faxed directly to maintenance

Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Lessons Learned - Community Support

• Schools serve as distribution points and
  buildings/grounds are in demand
• Schools used as shelters require support over and
  above that provided by Red Cross
• 6,000 evacuees in 12 schools during Charley and
  over 11,000 in 24 schools during Jeanne
• Facilities maintenance tech assigned to support
  each school shelter for emergency repairs was
  very beneficial

• Availability of generators and fuel to run them
• Staff assigned to work in county Emergency
  Operations Center

Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Lessons Learned - Employee Issues

• Little flexibility in school calendar
• District administrators assisted schools hit
  hardest upon return
• During shut-down, applicants arrived for
  scheduled meetings
• Accurate accounting of overtime for hourly
  employees
• Employees as shelter managers vs. coordinators
• 3 storms in 7 weeks strained essential employees
• Daycare was provided for children of employees
  working recovery phase

• Payroll run and check distribution...encourage
  Direct Deposit!
• Confusion over who reports post-storm

Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Lessons Learned - Power Issues

• Storage of perishable food
• How to pump gas at at transportation compounds
  without power?
• Phased power restoration
• Back-up batteries in fire and burglar alarm
  panels fail in long-term power outage

• Sewage lift stations dont lift!
• Attempt during Charley to keep all district
  network systems up...decision to take them down
  during Frances and Jeanne

Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Lessons Learned - Debris

• Large quantities of debris created hazardous
  walking conditions to schools
• Storm displaced rodents and pests
• Debris piles harbored snakes and rats

• Bus routes were also adversely affected by debris
• Dry runs of bus routes to determine accessibility
  was valuable to public works and district route
  planners

Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Florida
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Michael S. Ganio, Senior ManagerSecurity
Compliance, Emergency Preparedness and
TrainingOrange County Public Schools, Orlando
Florida