Concept of Operations Overview: In this assignment, you will compose the Concept of Operations section of the Base Plan. Instructions: You will use the course project template to write the Concept

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Hurricane preparedness plan for the coastal community of Galveston, Texas

Planning Community

Rashid Osmanu

(Craig Brown, Mayor)

City of Galveston, Texas

GALVESTON, TEXAS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN

PROMULGATION

The primary role of government is to provide for the welfare of its citizens. The welfare and safety of citizens is never more threatened than during disasters. The goal of emergency management is to ensure that mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery actions exist so that public welfare and safety is preserved.

The Galveston, Texas Emergency Operations Plan provides a comprehensive framework for Galveston, Texas-wide emergency management. It addresses the roles and responsibilities of government organizations and provides a link to local, State, Federal, and private organizations and resources that may be activated to address disasters and emergencies in Galveston, Texas.

The Galveston, Texas Emergency Operations Plan ensures consistency with current policy guidance and describes the interrelationship with other levels of government. The plan will continue to evolve, responding to lessons learned from the actual disaster and emergency experiences, ongoing planning efforts, training and exercise activities, and Federal guidance.

Therefore, in recognition of the emergency management responsibilities of Galveston, Texas government and with the authority vested in me as the Mayor of Galveston, Texas, I hereby promulgate the Galveston, Texas Emergency Operations Plan.

____________________________________

Craig Brown

Mayor, City of Galveston, Texas

Mark Sloan, Emergency Manager Major Razo Fire Chief

(City of Galveston) Galveston Fire Department

Philp Keiser, MD, Jerry Gibson, Superintendent

Local Health Authority Galveston Independent School District

David Smith, Director Travis S. Sims, Chief of Police

Galveston Public Works Department Galveston Police Department

Steven C. LeBlanc, City Manager John Listowski, Director

City of Galveston Galveston Emergency Management

This plan supersedes the City of Galveston Emergency Operation Plan dated (January-16-2025).

The transfer of management authority for actions during an incident is done through the execution of a written delegation of authority from an agency to the incident commander. This procedure facilitates the transition between incident management levels. The delegation of authority is a part of the briefing package provided to an incoming incident management team. It should contain both the delegation of authority and specific limitations to that authority.

The City of Galveston Emergency Operations Plan delegates the Mayor of Galveston, Craig Brown’s authority to specific individuals if he or she is unavailable. The chain of succession in a major emergency or disaster is as follows:

• Mayor- Craig Brown

• Mayor Pro Tem -Davide Collins (City Council Member- District 3)

• City Manager- Steven C. LeBlanc

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE_________________________________________________1

PROMULGATION STATEMENT__________________________________2

SIGNATURE PAGE____________________________________________3

APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION_____________________________4

RECORD OF CHANGES________________________________________5

RECORD OF DISTRIBUTION_____________________________________6

PURPOSE, SCOPE, SITUATION OVERVIEW, ASSUMPTIONS_______8

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

DIRECTION, CONTROL, AND COORDINATION

INFORMATION COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND DISSEMINATION

COMMUNICATIONS

ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, AND LOGISTICS

PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES

1. Purpose, Scope, Situation, and Assumptions

• Purpose

It is the purpose of this Plan to define the actions and roles necessary to provide a coordinated response within the City of Galveston, Texas. This plan provides guidance to agencies within Galveston with a general concept of potential emergency assignments before, during, and following emergency situations. It also provides for the systematic integration of emergency resources when activated and does not replace county or local emergency operations plans or procedures.

• Scope

This plan applies to all participating departments and agencies of the jurisdictions contained within the geographical boundary of the City of Galveston.

• Situation Overview

  1. Characteristics

     1. Location

        1. Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the Gulf of Mexico

        2. 50 miles southeast of Houston, Texas

1. 1. Geographic

      1. Galveston Island is a barrier island, approximately 27 miles long and 3 miles wide at its widest point.

      2. The city is highly vulnerable to storm surge, flooding, and hurricanes due to its low elevation.

   2. Demographic

      1. As of the 2020 Census, the City of Galveston has a population of approximately 53,695 residents.

      2. The city's population fluctuates seasonally due to tourism, with an estimated daytime population exceeding 100,000 during peak tourist months.

   3. Designated Areas of Interest

      1. Galveston Seawall – A 10-mile-long seawall constructed for hurricane protection.

      2. Historic Strand District – A major commercial and tourism center.

      3. University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) – A critical healthcare and research facility.

      4. Port of Galveston – One of the busiest cruise ship ports in the U.S.

      5. Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Moody Gardens – Major tourist attractions drawing large crowds annually.

   4. Special Events

      1. Mardi Gras Galveston (February) – Draws over 350,000 visitors annually.

      2. Lone Star Rally (November) – One of the largest motorcycle rallies in North America, attracting over 400,000 attendees.

      3. Dickens on The Strand (December) – A Victorian-themed holiday festival.

      4. Spring Break & Summer Beach Tourism – Peak tourist season with millions of visitors throughout the summer months.

1. 1. Economic Base and Infrastructure

Tourism together with healthcare services, maritime commerce and educational institutions make up the core economic sectors of the City of Galveston. Tourism continues to be a top economic contributor in the city alongside healthcare institutions and port management operations and research institutions. The tourism sector constitutes the biggest industry in Galveston because it draws over $1 billion through beach-going visitors who explore historical sites and experience cruise operations and extraordinary events annually. The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) operates as the city's most significant employer by delivering healthcare services together with conducting medical research. The Port of Galveston serves as a crucial facility for cruise passenger transport and cargo operations where it oversees millions of cruisers while processing thousands of shipping tons yearly. The regional economy bases its operation heavily on both offshore drilling activities and offshore energy businesses in the Oil & Gas sector. The city depends on bridges along with causeways that include the Galveston Causeway to provide access between the island and the mainland. Residents of the island can access transportation services through Scholes International Airport and Interstate 45.

1. Hazard Profile

   1. Potential Hazards

Several types of natural and human-created hazards threaten the City of Galveston.

Natural Hazards

The city of Galveston faces severe damage from hurricanes and tropical storms due to its connection to storm surges and heavy rainfall and fierce winds which Hurricane Ike (2008) devastated with damages amounting to $30 billion. The low sea level position makes the city highly susceptible to floods from any minor storm. Tornadoes together with severe storms affect the region although they occur with less frequency than other natural disasters. The summer months in the region exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the years which create dangerous conditions for human health. Permanent beach degradation and ground settlement affect Galveston's shorelines and built structures in the long run.

Technological & Human-Caused Hazards

Hazardous Materials Spills occur at the Port of Galveston where petroleum and chemicals along with industrial materials pass through thus raising the chances of dangerous spills taking place. Multiple maritime accidents occur because heavy cruise and cargo shipping merges with recreational boating traffic leading to higher possibilities of maritime disasters and oil spills as well as ferry collisions. Power outages together with water supply problems constitute utility failures during and after disaster events. Since it functions as both a tourist center and major port Galveston faces danger from terrorism alongside computer-based threats.

1. Vulnerability Assessment

The City of Galveston is highly vulnerable to coastal hazards due to its geographic location, low elevation, and dependence on tourism and port industries.

a. Coastal Flooding & Storm Surge Vulnerability

80% of Galveston Island is within a FEMA-designated floodplain.

Storm surges from Category 3 or higher hurricanes can inundate the island, as seen in Hurricane Ike (2008), which caused catastrophic flooding.

The Galveston Seawall (10 miles long, built after the 1900 hurricane) offers some protection but does not cover the entire island.

b. Population & Infrastructure Vulnerability

Critical Facilities at Risk:

• University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) – A vital healthcare and research institution.

• Port of Galveston – Key for commerce, tourism, and emergency supply chains.

• Scholes International Airport – Limited elevation makes it vulnerable to flooding.

• Bridges & Causeways – Only two access points to the mainland (I-45 Causeway & Bolivar Ferry) could be cut off during storms.

c. Economic & Social Vulnerability

• The tourism-dependent economy is disrupted by hurricanes and flooding, leading to long-term economic losses.

• High percentage of elderly residents (20% of the population), increasing evacuation and sheltering challenges.

• Low-income households may lack resources for evacuation or rebuilding after disasters.

d. Climate Change & Long-Term Risks

• Rising sea levels increase flood frequency and severity.

• Coastal erosion threatens residential areas, businesses, and infrastructure.

• Planning Assumptions

1. The establishment of effective prediction and warning systems enables individuals to anticipate both hurricanes and floods and natural disasters occurring in Galveston and surrounding areas before they happen.

2. Galveston City authorities assume disasters resembling hurricanes or flooding can trigger a major emergency in the city area. Different emergency situations generate various degrees of impact ranging from small-scale localized destruction to massive community-wide destruction. Flexibility combined with adaptability defines the essential characteristics of emergency planning since we cannot predict the disasters we will face.

3. The City of Galveston activates immediate emergency response measures to combat actual or impending disasters.

4. Mutual aid arrangements together with regional partnerships should help support the City of Galveston when its resources prove inadequate.

5. The local emergency response receives support from disaster relief programs operated by states and federal authorities, yet these programs never replace locally managed emergency procedures. The city needs to manage response operations in its jurisdiction before outside resources come on stage.

6. The primary responsibility of Galveston officials under this plan is to:

• Save lives,

• Protect property,

• Relieve human suffering,

• Sustain survivors,

• Repair essential facilities,

• Restore services, and

• Protect the environment.

7. The city of Galveston will provide needed assistance to different jurisdictions whenever possible when they ask for help.

1. Concept of Operations

1. 1. General

1. Communications are maintained between affected jurisdictions and area emergency management branch offices. Branch office personnel may respond to the jurisdiction to facilitate ongoing information exchange.

2. Spring County commissioners may declare local states of emergency and request State assistance. All requests for State assistance should go through the local emergency management area coordinator and the appropriate emergency management branch manager to the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

3. When the State EOC is activated, the TEXAS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AGENCY becomes the office of primary responsibility for the State Emergency Response Team (SERT). The director of emergency management will normally serve as SERT leader.

4. Texas State EOCs will serve as clearinghouses for response and recovery operations and for deployment of resources within the counties, including cities within the counties.

5. Planning for recovery will be implemented at the same time local governments are taking the emergency response actions necessary to protect the public. Preparations will be made for the rapid deployment of resources necessary to facilitate recovery.

Hazard Control and Assessment

1. Perceive the threat.

2. Assess the hazard.

3. Select control strategy.

4. Control hazard

5. Monitor hazard.

Protective Action Selection

1. Analyze the hazard.

2. Determine protective action.

3. Determine public warning.

4. Determine protective action implementation plan.

Public Warning

1. Determine message content.

2. Select appropriate public warning system(s)

3. Disseminate public warning.

Protective Action Implementation

1. Monitor progress of protective action implementation

2. Control access and isolate danger area.

3. Evacuation support

4. Decontamination support

5. Medical treatment

6. Functional needs population support

7. Search and rescue.

Short-term Needs

1. Shelter operations

2. Unite families.

3. Continued medical treatment.

4. Increase security.

5. Stabilize the affected area.

Long-term Needs

1. Re-entry

2. Recovery