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CY 03 Fire, Natural Disaster, Explosion, or Bomb Threat

Version 1.2 by Ryan Larkin on 2016/09/28 22:01

Washington County Sheriff's Office

CORRECTIONS DIVISION

Policy Manual

Volume: CY

Contingency Management

Chapter: 03

Fire, Natural Disaster, Explosion, or Bomb Threat

Replaces and/or Supersedes:

CY 03 07/06/2011, PY 07 05/13/2009, CY 09 08/04/2009

Published:

03/12/2012

Review Date:

03/12/2013

Sheriff Cory C. Pulsipher

Chief Deputy Jake Schultz

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CY 03_101  Definitions

CY 03_102  References

CY 03_103  General

CY 03_104  Assessment and Notification

CY 03_105  Bomb Threat

CY 03_106  Documentation

CY 03_101  DEFINITIONS

  1. WCSO:  Washington County Sheriff's Office
  2. PCF:  Purgatory Correctional Facility

CY 03_102  REFERENCES

  1. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Standards:
    1. 2000-25.
  2. Utah Sheriffs' Association Jail Standards:
    1. F06.01.02:  Content: Emergency Response

CY 03_103  GENERAL

  1. Policy:
    1. PCF should plan and coordinate with emergency response agencies, teams, and coordinators to establish preparations for fire, natural disaster, explosion, and bomb threat emergencies. The Washington County Emergency Operations Director should participate in developing a plan to coordinate law enforcement, medical, fire, and other emergency services in Washington County. The emergency plan should be reviewed annually by the Washington County Emergency Operations Director and the Sheriff, or his designee. Preparations should include identifying temporary inmate containment areas (reference policy: CY 02 Evacuation and Alternative containment).
    2. In the event of a fire, natural disaster, explosion, or bomb threat, the Washington County Emergency Operations Director should coordinate the emergency response and be responsible for assigning resources and assets.
  2. Rationale:
    1. Without prior planning and coordination, the effectiveness of emergency response efforts will be greatly diminished. To reasonably ensure that PCF receives necessary emergency services and support, prior planning and coordination is required.
    2. Should a fire, natural disaster, or explosion damage PCF to the extent that it becomes necessary to evacuate all or part of the facility, approximately 500 inmates may need to be safely and securely relocated and contained.
    3. A fire, natural disaster, or explosion of sufficient magnitude to seriously damage the jail, may have the potential of damaging or severing water, sewer, and gas lines; interrupting electricity; damaging the Quail Lake dam; and absorbing resources needed to respond to the needs of PCF.

CY 03_104  ASSESSMENT AND NOTIFICATION

  1. Policy:
    1. After the onset of a fire or natural disaster, or after an explosion, PCF staff should promptly:
      1. Commence evacuation and alternative containment procedures, if deemed necessary (reference policy: CY 02 Evacuation and Alternative containment).
      2. Conduct a head count and injury assessment of all staff. Staff shall report all injuries to the on-duty supervisor. Significant injuries (i.e., immediate medical attention is required) shall be reported without delay;
      3. Conduct a head count and injury assessment of all inmates. All inmates should be placed on lockdown status in their housing units, if doing so can be accomplished without jeopardizing safety or security. Staff should report all injuries to the on-duty supervisor. Significant injuries (i.e., immediate medical attention is required) shall be reported without delay;
      4. Conduct an initial facility damage assessment, safety check, and security check. Areas of concern and/or damage shall be reported to the on-duty supervisor. Areas of severe concern (e.g., broken gas line) shall be reported without delay. Inspections should be made of structures, lines, door alignments, locking systems, electronic equipment, and other equipment.
    2. The on-duty supervisor should notify and report all findings to the Corrections Chief Deputy.
    3. The Corrections Chief Deputy should determine and/or delegate further notifications. Depending on circumstances, injuries, damages, safety concerns, or security threats, notification should be made to:
      1. Sheriff;
      2. Undersheriff;
      3. Dispatch;
      4. Washington County Emergency Operations Director;
      5. Local law enforcement agencies;
      6. Local fire departments;
      7. Dixie Regional Medical Center;
      8. Washington County Maintenance Department;
      9. Washington County building inspectors;
      10. Designated special response teams;
      11. Utility companies.
  2. Rationale:
    1. A thorough inspection is necessary because even a small incident (such as a small earthquake) may rupture a gas line, spring a door lock, or cause other damage which may require immediate attention.
    2. In addition to the initial safety and security checks by PCF staff, Washington County Maintenance staff should conduct thorough inspections of all facility structures and systems.
    3. Professional inspections may be required and conducted (e.g., natural gas lines should be inspected by the Questar Gas Company).

CY 03_105  BOMB THREAT

  1. Policy:
    1. Bomb threats should be treated as verified bomb threats, until otherwise disproved by a bomb response team.
    2. If a bomb threat is received for PCF, staff should promptly:
      1. Evacuate the areas at risk; and
      2. Contact Dispatch and request a bomb response team;
    3. The on-duty supervisor should notify the Corrections Chief Deputy.
    4. The Corrections Chief Deputy should determine and/or delegate further notifications (as detailed above in section CY 03_104.A.3).
    5. PCF staff should not search for a suspected bomb, they should allow the bomb response team to do so.
    6. An evacuated area should not be re-entered until it has been determined safe by the bomb response team and approved by the Corrections Chief Deputy.
  2. Rationale:
    1. Even though a bomb threat could be a prank or other false alarm (such as a diversion), staff should handle all bomb threats as verified threats until disproved in order to maximize safety and security and minimize liability.
    2. Untrained staff searching for a bomb could unintentionally detonate it.

CY 03_106  DOCUMENTATION

  1. Policy:
    1. Incidents related to a fire, natural disaster, explosion, or bomb threat should be documented as a jail incident in the jail computer system.