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Home My WebLink AboutR-2005-20 legislative review/necessary revision of emergency evacuation procedures/policies prompted by Hurricane Rita It . ~oos-~o RESOLUTION CALLING FOR LEGISLATIVE REVIEW AND NECESSARY REVISION OF EMERG"ENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND POLICIES PROMPTED BY HURRICANE RITA IMPACTING THE UPPER TEXAS GULF COAST AND INLAND COMMUNITIES ALONG THE DESIGNATED EV ACUA TION ROUTES WHEREAS, Hurricane Katrina's demonstrated destructive power appropriately warranted the mandatory evacuation of endangered populations exposed to the potential landfall of, at times, a Category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Rita. with winds in excess of 145 mph, and WHEREAS, the State approved Emergency Management Plan called for the voluntary and eventual mandatory evacuation of the largest peacetime evacuation in US history, with the 72 hours prior to the projected landfall of Hurricane Rita, and WHEREAS, the vast majority of evacuees sought refuge inland to significantly improve their exposure by fleeing the low lying coastal plain, and WHEREAS, warranted recovery activities resulting from Hurricane Rita, particularly in South East and East Texas should take priority for all impacted parties over other corrective initiatives until such time can be adequately devoted to restoring essential services in the damages areas, and WHEREAS, the excruciating experience of this evacuation ordeal negatively impacted a large portion of the population to the point that future evacuees could choose a greater risk level by staying behind, rather than experience another exacerbating ordeal of the type and magnitude experienced for Hurricane Rita, and WHEREAS, inland rural communities and infrastructure systems were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the event in manners which could and should have been anticipated so that reasonable mitigation efforts could have been started in advance ofthe triggering events to the mutual benefit of all, and WHEREAS, the massive delays of as much as 30 plus hours for individual citizens endangered their lives, and resulted in the loss of some life, exhausted needed fuel supplies, strained and in fact rendered inoperable mechanically challenged vehicles, and WHEREAS, after the obvious delays and bottle necks meant that thousands of fleeing Texans would be left in harms way until State officials relented and implemented mitigation measures, and . . WHEREAS, Texas Department of Transportation announced approximately twelve hours before landfall, that the State was implementing contra flow lanes, courtesy patrols to assist stranded motorists and the deployment of mobilized fuel trailers among other corrective measures, well after the critical evacuation problems became evident, and WHEREAS, the largest portion of fleeing evacuees could not access contra flow lanes until traffic was beyond the main urban areas of the City of Houston, and WHEREAS, it is critical to review this particular event, the evacuation plan, consider viable prioritized alternatives for the benefit of all Texans without constraint by localized interests over the needs of the greater Texas population, and WHEREAS, the first priority of the State of Texas and all Texas cities should be to immediately begin an appropriate review and ascertain needed correction(s), and through the upcoming legislative process secure State funding and/or State and Federal budget amendments to immediately begin the necessary improvements determined, and WHEREAS, the vast majority of evacuees honored the call to leave and conducted their flight in a civil manner, supported by vast law enforcement and emergency response agencies, communities, cities, counties, and faith based organizations went well beyond the call of duty and should be appropriately recognized and thanked for their cooperation, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Texas Municipal League at the 2005 Annual Conference, adopt as a critical priority the call for the Texas Legislature to consider and act with all deliberate speed on the following: I. Recognize, thank and support the impacted refugee communities, cities, counties and agencies for their assistance in the mandatory evacuation associated with Hurricane Rita and ask that appropriate funding be provided to assist these supporting stakeholders for the inevitable future mandatory evacuation. 2. Support all needed assistance to that portion of Texas adversely impacted by Hurricane Rita. 3. Call for an independent, competent and non partisan review of the Hurricane Rita evacuation event and governing emergency management plan and processes to determine reasonable and appropriate opportunities for improvement. 4. Provide the revised public policy to address the identified needs accordingly. 5. Provide the local jurisdiction with adequate authority, infrastructure improvements and funding to improve this process. 6. Target a revised plan for approval, no later than June 1, 2006. 7. Implementation of identified projects to be competed according to a time schedule requiring all deliberate speed to implement. - e PASSED AND APPROVED this 3rd day of October, 2005 by the Mayor and City Council of the City of La Porte, Texas. ~LY~ Alton E. Porter, Mayor ATTEST: Ltr;~ r4~ Martha A. Gillett, TRMC City Secretary APPROVED: ~w4~, ~~r&-:. Knox W. Askins City Attorney AJTI7 C /TY /lTTV It e Page 1 of 1 Feazelle, Debra Bo McDaniel [rmcdaniel@ci.seabrook.tx.us] Friday, September 30, 2005 11 :21 AM Bill Eisen (E-mail); Bill Kerber (E-mail); Bill Read (E-mail); Bruce Clawson (E-mail); Chuck Pinto (E- mail); Clay Kennelly (E-mail); Feazelle, Debra; Denny Holt (E-mail); Eliot Jennings (E-mail); John J. Simsen (E-mail); Mike Jez (E-mail); Robert Ewart (E-mail); Ron Cox (E-mail); Ron Crabtree (E- mail); Steven J. LeBlanc (E-mail); Terry Byrd (E-mail); Todd Zacherl (E-mail); K9scout70@aol.com; pparker@cityoflufkin.org; bgriffin@ci.tomball.tx.us; rdbrown@palestine-tx.org; abarnes@cityofliberty.org; khayes@ci.beaumont.tx.us; awimer@ci.nederland.tx.us; abogard@sugarlandtx.gov; kevans@huntsvilletx.gov; jmcguire@cityofconroe.org; karen. welborn@ci.mansfield.tx.us; douglas@cmaacess.com; tbrymer@tca.net; jholberg@cityofbastrop.org; pnjncc@yahoo.com; tsmith@cityofsachse.com; skittrell@orangepd.com; citymgr@cityofsilsbee.com; citymgr@cityofvidor.com; troberts@ci.brehnam.tx.us; mayor@tlv-tx.us Cc: pdavis260@houston.rr.com Subject: TML Resolution Hurrican Rita From: Sent: To: Greetings, Some City Managers have expressed concern, as I have, over the evacuation experienced w/ Hurrican Rita. In response to that concern, I have taken the initiative to forward a copy of a resoluton I plan to submit to my Council for approval to ask TML to include as part of the League's upcoming legislative agenda. If your city is interested feel free to use, modify as may fit your needs. The more cities that act before the annual conference at the end of October the better. I know the Gov. has called for a task force. That is good. However, my real concern is that special interest stakeholder priorities may not want dollars spent to fix the problems found as doing so may divert public funds from preferred projects. While the chance of a reoccurence may be low, it is inevitable and we will be facing an even larger population to evacuate. Now is the time to take appropriate action to correct the obvious opportunities. For me at least, in addition to other items, that is improved and new contra flow lanes/systems before entering the Houston area not after exiting the area. I would be interested in hearing from experts about this and other issues. I am just sending the draft resolution. If you want the back up material required by TML, related newsarticles and a very interesting TXDOT News Release (3 PM 9/23) let me know and I will provide same to you. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with interested City Managers to discuss a path forward for those inclined. Paul Davis (former interim CA in League City) has volunteered to assist in this effort and may be in contact with some of you about this. Please feel free to call if you have any questions. (281) 291-5688 V~~L ~~ Bo McDaniel City Manager Seabrook 9/30/2005 e e ADDENDUM TO MEETING NOTICE The following items will be added to the October 3, 2005 City Council Meeting to be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas. The below item will be discussed on October 3,2005 at 6:00 p.m. CONSIDER APPROVAL OR OTHER ACTION REGARDING A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR LEGISLATIVE REVIEW AND NECESSARY REVISION OF EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND POLICIES PROMPTED BY HURRICANE RITA IMPACTING THE UPPER TEXAS GULF COAST AND INLAND COMMUNITIES ALONG THE DESIGNATED EVACUATION ROUTES (Res. 2005-20) - D. Feazelle I hereby certify that I posted this Notice on the bulletin board located at a place convenient to the public in the City Hall of the City of La Porte, 5:00 p.m. on the 30th day of September 2005, and that (1) said Notice was posted for at least 72 hours preceding the scheduled time of the meeting; or (2) if this Notice was casted less than 72 hours but more than 2 hours before the meetina convened. I hereby certify that said meetina was called because of an emeraency or uraent cublic necessity limited to imminent threats to cublic health and safety or reasonable unforeseeable situations reauirina immediate action by the City Council. Witness my hand and the Seal of the City of La Porte, Texas, this the 30th day of September 2005. CITY OF LA PORTE i!~~~/tMC ~ City Secretary Posted: / e . REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM Agenda Date Requested: October 3. 2005 Budl!et Requested By: Dehrll Rrnnh Fell7.elle Source of Funds: Department: A dmiAilitratioA Report: Resolution: ( Ordinance: Account Number: Amount Budgeted: Exhibits: Amount Requested: Exhibits: Budgeted Item: YES NO Exhibits SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION Due to the concerns of the Texas Gulf cities regarding the evacuation experienced with Hurricane Rita, please find the attached Resolution calling for legislative review and necessary revision of emergency evacuation procedures and policies prompted by Hurricane Rita impacting the upper Texas Gulf Coast and inland communities along the designated Evacuation Routes. Several coastal cities will be adopting something similar to present to TML at their Annual Conference later this month. Action Required by Council: 9-30-iJE) Date