MEMORANDUM

 

 

To:       Members, Task Force to Study Maine’s Homeland Security Needs

From:   Jane Orbeton, OPLA

Date:    September 15, 2006

Re:       Meeting Notes from September 13, 2006

 

Present were members: Chairs Strimling and Gerzofsky, Liebow, Tilson, Updegraph,, Hastings , Boothby-Ballanytne, Carr and Mutty.  Also attending were staff: Leibowitz, MEMA, and Orbeton, OPLA.

 

1.  The task force members met at 10:45am at York County Community College and went on a tour of areas of Wells affected by the Mother’s Day flood.   York Trolley Company provided transportation.  Bob Bohlmann of York EMA provided information and commentary.  The task force visited 1 bridge that has been temporarily reconstructed and is open, 2 bridges that area still closed and in need of replacement and 1 business, a bike and surf shop, that lost business due to the closure of Route 1 after the storm.

 

2.  The task force members returned to YCCC for a picnic lunch and the afternoon session. 

 

Charles Jacobs, Interim Director of MEMA, and Steve Burgess, MEMA addressed the task force and distributed handouts.  They explained the rainfall handout and the timeline.  The Route 1 bridge on the Ogunquit-Wells line was closed a week after the rain storm, as the damage from it did not mature and become apparent until then.  The backup on the turnpike was 5 miles long in each direction.  If this occurred in another situation it could have endangered transportation in and out of Wells and Ogunquit and the shipment of emergency supplies.  Rain gauges are needed on streams and rivers for better information.  The Seabrook evacuation plan needs to be refined.  County EMA ’s would provide assistance to smaller communities in disaster situations.  Roughly 6 county EMA ’s are well staffed, organized and coordinated. 

 

Jane Duncan, Wells Town Manager, praised the State’s response and communications with MEMA and DOT and emphasized the need to act quickly when the road situation became known.  She mentioned the problem of unknown and overlapping jurisdictions, between towns and with the State and feds on roads.  She mentioned that town personnel were spread thin.  Wells has paid for the bridge repair and expects to be repaid in 1 to 3 years.  The cost was about $300,000.  She praised private business for their work and contributions.  She suggested that there be a way to certify private engineers to get them working with the towns quickly.   Some people were lacking information.  If the electricity had gone out the situation would have been much worse.  The Chamber of Commerce got the word out to members about road closures.  DOT informed turnpike users and trucking companies.  Paperwork, jurisdiction and other delays in getting aid and rebuilding are frustrating.   Simplify authority so that communities can respond.   Improve road and bridge infrastructure.

 

Police Chief Richard Connelly, Wells, stated that communications with MEMA were smooth and efficient and that York County EMA was very helpful.  Extra dispatchers and extra personnel were used.  Everyone worked hard and long hours.   Concern regarding the law enforcement personnel needed to respond over a long time to a longer duration event.

 

Fire Chief Daniel Moore, Wells, stated that the Route 1 road closure required 4 roadblocks, calling for more staff than they had available.  There was some confusion about the availability of the State Police and the National Guard.  The County provided deputies (who were already doing extra patrols and surveillance) and the Guard provided personnel.  He stated that 72-hour self-sufficiency should be expected to individuals and towns but this is difficult in situations of special needs and if the disaster covers a large area.  Shutting down Route 1, and the turnpike, endanger the area’s emergency operations and any evacuation.  The flood showed the poor condition of some of the roads and bridges in the county.  The Fire Dept. did a swift water rescue, provided assistance to persons with flooded yards and neighborhoods, provided sump pumps, secured propane tanks, provided water to some homes and distributed water tests.  Perhaps all propane and gas tanks should be required to be attached to their buildings.  Up to 200 homes were isolated, some for up to a week.  They recommended evacuation for some people and provided information, going door to door.  They did 10 evacuations.  Shelters were open early, not used heavily.  Some special needs people were housed in motels as the shelters would be difficult for them.  Saco has a pet friendly shelter, which is a necessity.   The county’s roads and bridges need work.   Develop an emergency funding process on the local level and develop a simplified process for change orders with FEMA or, better still, a contingency line. 

 

Gloria Layman, York County Commissioner, testified that the county and she received many calls, that the emergency response was excellent, that responders were effective and kind, that staff and volunteers put in many hours of work.  She said that they are still rebuilding roads.  She said there were several gas tanks that got loose from businesses.  Need for alerting communities as early as possible.

 

Bob Bohlmann, York County EMA Director, testified that all disasters start locally.  He stated that 21 businesses in York were affected.  There were excellent efforts locally from personnel and volunteers.  MEMA responded quickly and effectively.  Over 1000 wells were tested in 5 to 7 days, with test results confidential to the homeowner and MEMA, 14% of tests showed some contamination.  Most people were able to correct their well problems promptly.  The State Forest Service offered help.  There is an aid agreement that enables counties to share personnel.  DHHS drinking water program (DWP) and DEP provided effective assistance.  They held a disaster town meeting, which was helpful and which he recommends.  They used the FEMA mobile unit to reach out to the community and to rural areas.  The Red Cross was ready immediately with clean up kits, temporary shelter, food and water.   Long term recovery is lengthy and complex.  Partnering with United Way and the faith community is necessary.   He looks forward to the operation of the state Disaster Relief Fund to cover costs, after the Governor has declared a disaster, not covered by FEMA.  York County EMA got 800 to 1000 calls daily.  Media coverage was helpful, as was website posting and posting local notices.  Volunteers are trained ahead of time, responsibility lies with their agencies. He used emergency channels for communication, not con-ops channels or satellite phones.  York had 7000 sand bags and sent for 10,000 more when it was apparent more would be needed.  York County has 80 shelters, of varying sizes.  16 shelters have generators.  The major special needs shelter in Saco can accommodate 300 people.  A coastal hurricane could require evacuation to Oxford County .  Concern regarding the need for training for smaller communities.   The Coast Guard was in the office for daily briefings and provided a fly-over for DOT.

 

Bill Bray, York Public Works Director, and York Police Chief Douglas Bracy (also York EMA Director),  spoke of the city’s response to the flood, in which there was 1 bridge collapse and 5 major road washouts.  The cost will be about $1million.  Flood prevention, to prevent a 50-year event, would cost $37million.  An ocean storm surge would add substantially to the difficulty and cost.  York provided bulky waste disposal (45 tons, $18000) and hazardous waste disposal ($20,000).  York identified 120 locations with damage, probably many more unreported.  Agency coordination included FEMA, MEMA, DOT, DEP,  DHHS DWP, Governor’s Office, York EMA, Maine Turnpike Authority, federal, state and local representatives, and other public works departments. Ideas: 1) develop a 1-page handout on hazardous waste and bulky waste, 2) maintain a list of trained solid waste contractors and volunteers to assist other municipalities with planning, 3) develop county EMA storage supply depot for barricades, signs and cones. 

 

John Carleton, FEMA, spoke about FEMA’s preparation process, monitoring the weather, preparing emergency response teams.  This flood had disaster declarations in Maine , Mass and NH.   Flood insurance may be required in certain situations (got SBA loan, got FEMA assistance already).  FEMA is meeting regularly with state EMA’s.  Will provide firm numbers on assistance granted.  Roughly $5million (3/4 federal $) provided in public infrastructure and debris removal and $1million (3/4 federal $) for individuals and households.  SBA has provided $4million.

 

3.  The task force heard public testimony regarding homeland security and the flood. 

 

Kathy Wittenberg, Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence, testified against public access to 50-caliber rifles (cost $2000) and displayed a picture and a bullet (cost $2).   She stated that individuals have access in Maine as state laws do not control sales. 

 

Don Ward, DHHS Division Director for Public Health Systems in Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, testified about the health risks from floods: injury, contaminated water, chemical exposure, bacteria and mold and interference with access to regular medicines for persons with chronic illnesses.  Maine CDC expects to be more active in planning and response.  There are no data on the health consequences of the Mother’s Day flood. Maine CDC provided water test kits and did analyses, and tested mosquito pools for West Nile .  No known incidence of disease resulting from the flood.  Local health officers have a role, but not surveillance or epidemiology. 

 

4.  The task force discussed next meetings and the preparation of their report.  The task force will meet after November 7 and before Thanksgiving to finalize its report and recommendations.  Prior to the next meeting, members should send suggestions for recommendations to the chairs or to OPLA for distribution to the chairs.  In particular the public health recommendations should be specific.  Reports are expected from MEMA and Maine CDC by September 18, as required by the resolve establishing the task force.  The chairs will send a letter to the Legislative Council asking for an extension of the reporting date to December.  (OPLA draft letter).  Meeting adjourned 7:30pm. 

 

5.  Submission from Department of Labor following the September 13th meeting:

 

Marty Perlmutter's comments to the Homeland Security Task Force committee meeting on 9/13/06 at York County Comunity College :

 

"The Maine Department of Labor's Rapid Response program responded to this event based on a concern for any employees of businesses affected by the flood. Specifically, any employee who was temporarily or permanently dislocated by this event.

 

On Tuesday, May 16th, I called and/or sent emails to virtually all Town Managers and Chamber of Commerce offices in Southern York County. These emails outlined some services available through the Maine Department of Labor, including information about Unemployment Compensation, CareerCenter services, and health care options for dislocated workers.

 

As of Thursday, May 18th, I was not made aware of any job losses due to this event.

 

On Thursday, May 18th, I visited a variety of Chamber of Commerce offices (Wells, Ogunquit, & York), and spent a couple of hours in York Beach , meeting with available business owners.

 

No Chamber of Commerce representatives were aware of any job losses due to the event, but in meeting with York Beach business owners, I was made aware of one employee who would be temporarily dislocated. I left contact information for that employee.

 

Subsequently, no further job layoffs were reported to me in follow-up contacts.

 

Our CareerCenters in Saco and Springvale were also not aware of any individuals requesting services.

 

As a follow-up, I was present for the first day of the FEMA disaster center at YCCC. No one, on that day, approached our table to request Department of Labor information."