HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 02.22.2016 MINUTES
EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 22, 2016
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
5:30 P.M.
Members Present: Tom Nelson
Doug Phoels
Clete Knaub
Others Present: Rick Musson, Police Chief
Kurt Markegard, Public Works Director
Mark Mace, Mayor
Operating the City under emergency conditions
Tom Nelson handed out information for discussion. It pertained to the city, if there was ever a need to
operate under emergency conditions. The City of Laurel has a rail yard, which is the largest switching
terminal from Seattle to Minneapolis, owned by Montana Rail Link. Laurel also has Cenex Refinery
which is adjacent to residences and businesses. A major interstate highway runs through the city, and the
second largest and undammed river in the state runs adjacent to the south side of the city.
In the information was a list of needs to develop a plan for operating under emergency conditions. Chief
Musson stated the Yellowstone County DES does set off alarms for disasters. It was discussed to have
the DES Coordinator of the DES Planning Committee come to Laurel to visit if the committee is
interested. Chief Musson also stated that the city is involved in the LEPC, Local Emergency Planning
Committee. He said a huge group gets together and works on communication issues and he attends the
monthly meetings. Tom said he would be interested in visiting a monthly meeting.
Chief Musson said the city has a reverse 911 system, but it is difficult to get city residents to sign up
with their phone numbers. Other discussion pertained to having an evacuation plan in place, establishing
a location to temporarily operate city government, and establishing a procedure for shelter in City Hall.
Discussion continued on the use of social media in emergencies and the need to have a PIO, Public
Information Officer. The PIO should be the only media contact and handle all the social media
communication. This is a position that is difficult to find anyone to step up and take the position. It was
suggested that the city develop an emergency information page on the city's website to direct people
where they may find shelter.
The committee asked Mayor Mace if they should continue looking at the emergency conditions of the
city, and he replied yes.
Respectfully submitted,
Neva Hall, Secretary
Laurel
The Laurel rail yard,owned by Montana Rail Link, is the largest switching terminal from Seattle to
Minneapolis.The Laurel rail yard handles five lines converging into one location.The rail yard covers 350
acres on the east end of the city, has 33 tracks and averages 2,100 carloads daily of commercial
commodities. Billions of dollars of coal, Bakken crude oil,grain,sugar,lumber fertilizer, power poles and
other goods pass through the yard annually.(MRL website).
The City of Laurel has not only the above rail yard adjacent to residences and businesses but we also
have a major interstate highway that runs through the city and we have a refinery which is also adjacent
to residences and businesses.The city of Laurel also has the second largest river in the state, un-
damned,thatruns adjacent the city to the south.
All of the above make the City of Laurel unique to that of every other city in the state of Montana and
with that distinction it should be important that the City of Laurel have certain emergency procedures in
place and conduct drills to ensure that everyone involved know and understand what to do in any given
type of emergency.
DISCUSSION:
1. The need to develop a plan for operating under emergency conditions
• County emergency plan and Laurel City
• Is the city involved in the LEPC Local emergency planning committee
• We should have an evacuation plan in place for city hall
• We should establish a location to temporarily operate city government
• We should establish a procedure for sheltering in place for city hall
• We should have a PIO Public Information Officer PIO,the only media contact
2. The use of social media in emergencies
• The PIO should handle all social media communication
• The city should have several social media platforms established
• The city should have a social media policy concerning activities on city accounts
• Develop an emergency information page for the city website
3. Coordinate with the County DES head for shared and available resources
• Organize with the County for resources, rolls and responsibilities
• Logistics coordination for external equipment and supplies
• Sources for preparation funding through the County and the Federal Government
Emergency Services Discussion 1/25/2016