Broward County, Florida, lies in the path historically taken by storms and hurricanes. The potential destruction inherent with hurricanes imposes a grave responsibility. Approximately twenty to thirty-five thousand people have been identified as transit dependent coastal area residents, or visitors, who have no other means, except public or privately operated transportation systems, of evacuating identified coastal risk areas. Communications will be coordinated between the Mass Transit Authority, Red Cross, Special Care Shelters, North Broward hospital district and the EOC.

The Broward County Mass Transit Authority centers are:

1. Copans Road Facility, 3201 W. Copans Road, Pompano Beach, Florida

2. Ravenswood Facility 5440 Ravenswood Road , Fort Lauderdale, Florida

In the mass transit plan of Broward County, the plan states that approximately one hundred seventy five (175) mass transit buses (actual number of buses will be based upon availability of buses and operators) have been committed to participate in the evacuation of transit dependent individuals residing in the areas of high risk. Time frames for implementing and terminating an evacuation of high risk areas is for the worst probable threat for each storm category and are predicated upon the termination of evacuation operations prior to the arrival of sustained gale force winds (39 mph) and torrential rains that may inundate evacuation routes and prevent persons from evacuating areas vulnerable to storm surge.

SHELTER COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

1. General

Purpose

To outline mutually agreed upon responsibilities and to establish policies and procedures which will provide effective, coordinated emergency communications between the Broward County Emergency Operations Center and the defined shelters, Red Cross headquarters, and the special care facilities.

Mission

To provide the county manager (Emergency Management Director) and his staff with accurate and timely information regarding the status of the shelters.

Situation

1. Metropolitan Broward County, because of its low coastal elevation, is particularly vulnerable to coastal flooding during hurricanes requiring the evacuation and sheltering of thousands of its residents in Red Cross shelters.

2. Other potential disasters such as tornadoes, passenger aircraft crashes, major explosions, fires, toxic chemical accidents, hazardous materials and civil disturbances could also cause sheltering of large number of victims.

2. Organization and responsibilities

Composition

1. Amateur radio personnel within Broward County have formed an Emergency Communications Planning Council for the purpose of developing necessary plans and assigning responsibilities for providing county-wide volunteer communications to support local government disaster response efforts.

2. Net control for the county-wide communications network will be WC4ACR located at the Broward County Emergency Operations Center.

3. There will be a communications station in each shelter.

3. Concept of operations a.

Opening of shelters

1. Selection of shelters to be used and time of opening these shelters is determined jointly by the Red Cross and the Broward County school system.

2. For hurricanes, shelters will normally be opened shortly after the National Hurricane center announces that a hurricane warning is in effect for Broward County.

Shelter communication stations

1. The shelter manager will appoint their assistants who can authorize messages to be sent out through the radio operator. All message will be routed through the shelter manager or their designee, in writing and signed.

2. Upon activation of shelters, volunteer radio operators assigned to a specific shelter will report to their shelter manager and check into the net. In the recovery phase of a hurricane, RACES/ARES volunteers will be assigned by the Emergency Management Division to aid in damage assessment, search and rescue, and the re-establishment of the community as communication duties permit. Broward County