Norris wants state emergency response plan updated, circulated

BILL HILES for StateGazette.com
September 20, 2005

State Sen. Mark Norris wants Tennessee's emergency response plan upgraded in light of the experience of Hurricane Katrina's devastation of the Gulf coast. "I don't think our plan exists in any workable sense," Norris, R-Collierville, said.

"If you can access it, it would be too cumbersome to use."

Norris said he is concerned that the plan has not been disseminated widely enough, especially to local officials and legislators. "It has been circulated, but not to the Legislature or to individual legislators," he said. "That's important because we have a statute on our emergency-preparedness plan that requires a structure for the state's emergency response and preparedness and there's been no oversight to assure the plan is continually updated." Norris said he personally located the state's disaster plan on the Internet."

When I became chairman in January, I met with administration officials and requested a copy of the Emergency Management Plan. It never came," he said. "My office did some research and found an electronic version of a plan which to my knowledge has never been circulated. It is nearly 500 pages in length. It took hours just to print it off the computer. A plan such as this is no plan at all."

The continuing disaster in the Gulf Coast region and the imminence of an earthquake on the New Madrid fault in West Tennessee have brought emergency preparation to his attention, the senator said.

"In light of the Gulf coast experience, the question arises 'Who's doing anything about it in Tennessee?'" he said. "We legislators are in the field and if we're not part of the state plan, what do we do when our constituents turn to us for help?"

Norris' district includes East Shelby, Tipton, Lauderdale and Dyer counties, all expected to be hard hit when a big New Madrid earthquake strikes. "I think what we're going to find is that preparation begins at home with each individual and family," Norris said. "You can't wait on the government to bail you out."
Norris has written a letter to Gov. Phil Bredesen asking him to institute a review and revision of the state's emergency-response plan.

"Legislators are not only important 'stakeholders' but should be able to serve as important resources throughout the state in times of emergency," Norris wrote the governor on Sept. 6. "We are often the first to be contacted by citizens when disaster strikes but the last to be contacted by the Administration.

"We need better, more explicit information and guidance. It only makes sense to take advantage of every channel of communication and expertise we have in the case of a disaster. At the least, the governor should seek, indeed require, a system whereby legislators can be located and communication established in the event the General Assembly must be summoned into emergency session to appropriate funding beyond the governor's emergency powers. Legislators, in turn, must be able to employ some sort of 'interoperable communication' to keep up with accurate information and to deploy their resources accordingly. There are gaps in our communications which TEMA or Homeland Security need to close."

As of the end of last week Norris said he had not heard from Bredesen, but the governor announced a review Tennessee's planning for a potential earthquake that leaves Memphis and much of West Tennessee in ruins. Norris has announced plans for hearings on emergency planning before the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee, which he chairs. "We may state before the (General Assembly) session begins in January," he said. "I just want to get as much benefit from the Gulf Coast experience as possible and not let so much time elapse that we forget."

Her said Senate Speaker Lt. Gov. John Wilder, D-Mason, has authorized the hearings. "We want to learn from professionals and local first responders who have the practical experience of working with disasters, including volunteering to work with Hurricane Katrina survivors," Norris said. "Last week, one of Tennessee's first responders from Task Force One returned to West Tennessee from the Gulf Coast and he has a story to tell of needs to be met.

"He said when he arrived there were no boats to be had for the rescue effort. So they commandeered private boats. But then there were no paddles. So they used two-by-fours. And when he arrived home, he realized there are no boats in Memphis either. And he wants to tell his story."