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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MAY 7, 2012 4 <br /> Public Works Department. An Emergency Operation Center (EOC) would be operated out of the <br /> City Hall and the County would be present. <br /> Councilmember Holmes asked how coordination between the Public Works Department and <br /> City Hall would be accomplished. <br /> Mr. Hayes stated information would be gathered, damages would be evaluated by Public Works <br /> employees and then staff would report their findings to the EOC. After information was gathered, <br /> streets could be cleared and a debris management plan could begin. <br /> Mr. Hayes noted the extent of the damage would have to be assessed through emergency <br /> response personnel and Public Works employees. This takes time to evaluate depending on the <br /> extent of the damage within the City. The role of the Council within an incident was discussed. <br /> He stated the Incident Command System (ICS) would follow the City's current chain of <br /> command. The City would need to use its resources efficiently in emergency situations. <br /> Mr. Hayes stated if a disaster were declared an emergency situation, mutual aid agreements <br /> would go into effect and additional resources could be brought into the City. There are no issues <br /> in enacting the emergency with the County. The County would then have to pass this declaration <br /> along to the State. In order to be declared a Federal disaster, there would have to be a team <br /> present to evaluate the situation before a FEMA declaration could be made. He stated no money <br /> is exchanged with the declaration of an emergency,but it allowed for resources to be available. In <br /> addition it allowed for purchasing power to meet the needs of the disaster in the community. <br /> Mr. Hayes indicated the incident commander would be in the field in an emergency situation and <br /> all orders would follow a chain of command structure so as not to over task personnel. The <br /> incident commander would provide leadership and operations direction for the community. The <br /> Council's role would be to provide policy level guidance and administrative support with local <br /> resources. <br /> Councilmember Tamble asked when FEMA takes over in a disaster situation. <br /> Mr. Ross commented that local efforts would continue and that FEMA does not fully take over <br /> any local disaster situation. He explained that the City would maintain control over emergency <br /> situations except in a public health disaster. The County or State would not be allowed to come in <br /> and take over the situation. <br /> Councilmember Tamble questioned how the Red Cross tied into the relief efforts. <br /> Mr. Hayes explained that the Red Cross came in under congregate care which would be <br /> coordinated by Ramsey County. <br /> Mr. Hayes discussed the roll of the emergency commander and incident manager in disaster <br /> situations. At the same time, the Council would need to be handling policy decisions, strategic <br /> direction and authority for the City throughout the disaster. In addition, the Council can be <br /> communicating with the public the state of the disaster along with the recovery efforts being made <br /> on behalf of the residents. The role of the Sheriff's Department was discussed. <br />