RESEARCH DIVISION
TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY & UTILITIES SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
June 19, 2017
City Council Chamber
Ground Floor, City
Hall
Immediately following the 2:00 Committee meeting.
Attendance: Council Members: Al Ferraro (Chair), Doyle Carter (Vice Chair), Greg Anderson, Anna Lopez Brosche, John Crescimbeni, Reggie Brown, Reggie Gaffney; Council President Lori Boyer was in attendance. Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Kim Taylor, Council Auditor’s Office; Jordan Elsbury, Administration; John Jackson, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistant Adri Maguire Segui.
The Chairman called the special committee meeting to order at 3:27 P.M.
The focus of the Special Meeting was Hurricane Preparedness. The presenter was Ed H. Dendor, Director of Emergency Preparedness, JEA. He was introduced by Jordan Pope, Government Affairs Director, JEA.
Mr. Dendor’s PowerPoint provided an overview of JEA’s preparedness, JEA’s participation with joint agencies, response and recovery initiatives and post-Hurricane Matthew lessons applied.
Mr. Dendor noted that hurricane season annually spans June 1st to November 30th.
In its preparedness for hurricane season, JEA increases its resiliency by preparing year-round for all hazards. There are annual system-hardening projects. Standards of preparedness are in place. Response and recovery procedures undergo regular testing. Lastly, JEA reviews lessons learned from last year’s seasons and experiences.
Mr. Dendor explained that annual system hardening entails pole replacement, tree trimming, a vine management program, a palm hazard program and transmission tower maintenance.
Standards of preparedness entail the identification of 100 critical stock items that are necessary to recover from a hurricane. Stocking levels are based on the expected pole loss, rapid repair goals and replenishments from key vendors.
A short video was shown that illustrated how the ERAT team operated. The ERAT team consists of JEA, Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the City of Jacksonville, particularly the Public Works Department, all workng in tandem to meet the emergency needs in the course of a hurricane. For example, JEA linemen remove live wires and Public Works remove fallen trees to allow JFRD vehicles to move along City thoroughfares.
JEA’s CEO, Paul McElory is a part of the Mayor’s Executive Emergency Management staff in the Joint Unified Command.
The response and recovery component entails implementing the National Incident Response Structure (NIMS) in accordance with the National Response Framework (NRF). All employees have storm response assignments. JEA’s Response and Recovery structure organizes mutual aid resources, unifies response and commands and is a platform for common messaging.
Mr. Dendor explained that among the lessons learned and applied from previous years and experiences, it is imperative to request additional mutual aid early. It is imperative to verify the resiliency of pump stations. And, it is imperative to have joint agency communications, operations and tactics.
Mr. Dendor fielded questions.
There being no further business, the Special Meeting was adjourned at 3:41 P.M.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729
06.22.17
Posted: 4:00 P.M.