About Dare County Emergency Management Operations Basic Plan Outline

1. Dare County is located in Northeastern Coastal North Carolina, Emergency Management Area "A", and FEMA Region IV. It is bound on the East by the Atlantic Ocean, on the South by Hyde County, on the North by Currituck County, and on the West by Tyrrell County. The current population of the County and municipalities within the County is approximately 23,000. The anticipated population during the peak tourist months is approximately 150,000+ people.

   The unique geographical location, natural and historic attractions are the basis for a very large tourist population. Dare County includes within its boundaries: a large portion of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore including numerous historic sites, the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, 90 miles of oceanfront beaches, marinas and extensive boating traffic (commercial and pleasure), two military bombing ranges, U.S. Coast Guard facilities, several inhabited barrier and non-barrier islands which are connected to the mainland by bridges, three small non-controlled airports with limited private and commuter air traffic, and ferry service which connects the southern end of Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Island.

2. The major traffic arteries are: U. S. 158 which connects northern Dare County to Currituck County, U. S. 64/264 which connects Dare County with Hyde and Tyrrell Counties, and Hwy 12 which connects southern Dare County with Ocracoke Island by means of Ferry Service.
   
3. The County is exposed to many hazards, all of which have the potential to disrupt the community, cause damage, and create casualties. Potential hazards (natural, technological and national security) for Dare County are:

• Hurricanes
• Northeasters
• Severe Thunderstorms
• Tornadoes/Waterspouts
• Tidal Flooding/Overwash
• Severe Winter Storm
• Severe Cold Weather
• Extreme Heat
• Hazardous Materials
     Transportation accidents
     Fixed Facility
     Unknowns
• Oil Spills
• Large Structural Fire/Fire Storm
• Forest or Grassland Fire
• Landfill Fire
• Marina Fire
• Severe Bridge Damage
• Boating/Shipping Accident
• Airplane Crashes (Civilian/Military)
• Mass Casualty Accident
• Civil Disorder (Evacuation/Re-entry)
• Vandalism/Sabotage/Terrorism
• National Security Emergency

1. The occurrence of any one or more of the emergency/disaster events previously listed could impact Dare County severely, and include several of the following consequences:

• Loss of electric power
• Failure of the water distribution system
• Severance of road/highway network
• Creation of a new inlet
• Necessity for mass care and feeding operations
• Evacuation of people from the county
• Need for debris clearance
• Multiple injuries and fatalities
• Drastic increase in media attention
• Damage to the communications network
• Damage to the telephone network
• Economic impact
• Increased number of vectors
• Need for official public information and rumor control
• Need for State or Federal assistance
• Need to evacuate county resources
• Re-entry of essential personnel and equipment
• Re-entry of the public
• Damage to vital records
• Need for damage assessment
• Need for auxiliary power
• Donated goods
• Contamination of private wells
• Over taxing local resources
• Depth of staffing
• Loss of facilities vital to maintaining essential services
• Environmental impact/wildlife, natural resources
• Management of reconstruction
• Coordination of staged resources
• Damage to historical sites
• Isolation of populations
• Presidential Disaster Declaration

2. The occurrence of one or more than one of the previously listed hazards could result in a true catastrophic disaster situation which would grossly overwhelm local and state resources.
3. It is necessary for the County to plan for and to carry out disaster response and short-term recovery operations utilizing local resources; however, it is likely that outside assistance would be necessary in most major disaster situations affecting the County.
4. Officials of the County are aware of the possible occurrence of an emergency or disaster and they have acknowledged their responsibilities in the execution of this plan and will fulfill these responsibilities as needed.

1. As required by General Statute 166A-2, it is the responsibility of County government to organize and plan for the protection of life and property from the effects of emergency/disaster.
2. In multi-jurisdictional emergencies/disasters, direction and control will be managed by the Dare County Control Group, consisting of the Dare County Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, the five municipal mayors, the Superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and the Dare County Sheriff.
3. The County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be staffed and operated as the situation dictates. When activated, operations are supported by ranking representatives from a number of local government, private sector and volunteer organizations, known as the support group. They provide information, data and recommendations to the Control Group. Another function of this Support Group is to implement the decisions of the Control Group.
4. When an emergency situation develops, the senior elected official or the designee of the jurisdiction may declare a State of Emergency (as defined in GS 14-28 8. 1) exist within the jurisdiction (or a part thereof) and begin implementing emergency procedures. (See Authorizations and Authorities Section C)
5. Termination of a State of Emergency shall be declared by the authority of whom it was proclaimed. (See Authorities and Authorizations Section C)
6. The Chairman of the County Commissioners or designee, assisted by the County Manager and County Emergency Management Coordinator, will coordinate and control County resources and coordinate with municipalities on needs or progress.
7. Agency Standard. Operating Procedures (SOPS) are essential in support of the plan.
8. Emergency Information will be disseminated through media outlets under the direction of the Control Group.
9. Dare County has established a Support EOC on Hatteras Island to enhance the flow of information to the Dare County Emergency Operations Center and back to the residents of Hatteras Island. This facility is staffed by support personnel from key agencies on Hatteras Island under the guidance of the Facility Coordinator. (See Section B, Staffing)
10. Initially, emergency operations will be conducted utilizing local personnel, equipment, and facilities. Contact should be established with the Area "A" Office of the N.C. Division of Emergency Management for sharing of information and the procurement and. management of State or Federal resources should that become necessary.
11. Coordination with adjoining counties is essential when events occur that may impact jurisdictions beyond Dare County.
12. Planning and training are necessary and integral parts of emergency and disaster preparation and must be pre-requisites to effective emergency operations.
13. Lines of succession for all department/agency heads identified as having emergency responsibilities under this plan are shown in the appropriate standard operating procedures and in the Emergency Management Operations Directory.
14. It is the responsibility of the elected officials to insure that all legal documents of both a public and private nature recorded by designated officials be protected and preserved in accordance with existing laws, statutes, and ordinances.
15. The County provides for the relocation of the governing body to the EOC during times of emergency if necessary. If the primary EOC is determined inoperable, the governing body will relocate to an alternate EOC facility.
16. Should local government resources prove to be inadequate during emergency operations, requests for assistance will be made to other jurisdictions, higher levels of government, and other agencies in accordance with existing or emergency negotiated mutual-aid agreements and understandings. Requests for State and Federal resources must be made through the local Emergency Management Coordinator to the Area "A" Division of Emergency Management Office. Such requests are forwarded to the State EOC from Area "A".