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Disaster Preparedness The City of Fremont, like most major cities, may someday be faced with a real disaster. Fremont has several known earthquake faults, we have experienced major storms, flooding, and mud slides. We are at risk for hazardous spills and leaks, train derailments, airplane crashes, and major industrial or transportation accidents.
The E.O.C. is the designated location for information gathering, disaster analysis, and decision making. It is staffed by members of our management team, including the Police Chief and the City Manager. Their objective is to preserve life, minimize damage, and obtain speedy recovery. Training is an important part of our disaster preparedness. Chaos is expected in an emergency, but can be bettered handled when our dispatchers have had training and a basic plan to follow. To assist our staff in accomplishing these tasks, we participate in a annual disaster drill with all city departments. In addition, dispatchers are provided with disaster training utilizing experts within the city. The volunteer amateur radio group (R.A.C.E.S), assist in "communications recovery". Each work station in our Communications Center is equipped with an emergency backpack. They each contain a hard hat, safety glasses, work gloves, rubber gloves, light sticks, evacuation plans, and work schedules. Dispatchers would go on 12 hour rotating shifts that are predetermined by their current work schedule until the situation was under control. Our disaster committee also spent time determining the type of medical supplies that we may need in the event our communication center was hit with a disaster.
The "Command Van" is a specially outfitted motor home designed for use as a mobile police station in times of emergency and during special events. The motor home is equipped with cellular phones, laptop computers, and 2-way radios that allow dispatchers and command staff to operate from it. It can be used as a field operations center for disasters or unusual occurrences. The motor home is also used as a mobile headquarters for large planned events, such as the annual Niles Antique Fair and the Arts and Wine festival. |
Our police dispatchers have had some experience in handling these types of emergencies, but felt we could be better prepared. A committee was formed to assist us in preparing both professionally, and personally, for the next disaster. Our first priority is to assess the situation, determine the scope of the emergency, and make a plan. We would then start the call out procedures, prioritize calls for service, start mutual aid coordination if needed, and activate the Emergency Operations Center (E.O.C.).
In the event of a 9-1-1 failure, and depending on the functionality of the Communications Center, dispatchers can re-direct 9-1-1 calls to cellular back up lines, or have the 9-1-1 calls transferred to the Union City Police Department. Dispatch operations can resume in an alternate site, or take place from our "command van".