BUDGET REQUEST OF OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Mr. Dixon. Next, we will take up the Office of Emergency Preparedness. And I might say to the members that I am hopeful we can wrap it up in two or three minutes.

We have with us the Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, Mr. Joseph P. Yeldell, and he is asking for $1,910,000 and 43 positions for fiscal year 1988, an increase of $444,000 and nine positions above the fiscal year 1987 appropriation level.

Mr. Yeldell, if you have a statement for the record we will be glad for you to submit it at this time.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF JOSEPH P. YELDELL

Mr. YELDELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be more than pleased to submit my statement for the record. [The statement referred to follows:]

STATEMENT OF

JOSEPH P. YELDELL

DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

BEFORE

THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ON THE

D.C. APPROPRIATION SUBCOMMITTEE

MAY 12, 1987

CHAIRMAN DIXON AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I AM PLEASED TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY IN REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED FY '88
BUDGET FOR THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (OEP).

THE MAYOR HAS CHARGED ME WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING THAT DISTRICT RESIDENTS CAN LOOK WITH CONFIDENCE TO ITS GOVERNMENT FOR AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITY IN REGARDS TO THOSE HAZARDS MOST LIKELY TO AFFECT OUR CITY.

I AM PLEASED TO REPORT TO YOU TODAY, THAT WITH THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
WE ARE CONTINUING OUR FORWARD

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

·

THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE

PROGRESS IN THESE CRITICAL AREAS:

1. SPECIAL EVENTS TASK GROUP

THE SPECIAL EVENTS TASK GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED BY MAYOR'S ORDER 79-92,
MAY 30, 1979. THE PURPOSE OF THE TASK GROUP IS TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS,
ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES OF LOCAL, REGIONAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLAN

74-188 0-87--15

AND COORDINATE EVENTS INVOLVING LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN A MANNER TO INSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND PEOPLE OF THE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AS WELL AS THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY.

THIS PROGRAM HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF OEP'S MISSION, ALTHOUGH NO BUDGET WAS EVER ESTABLISHED TO CARRY OUT ITS PARTICULAR FUNCTION. TO STRUCTURE THE SPECIAL EVENTS TASK GROUP INTO AN EFFECTIVE UNIT, THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WAS DESIGNATED, THROUGH AN AMENDED MAYOR'S ORDER, AS THE CHAIRMAN. WITH THIS ADDED RESPONSIBILITY OEP WAS ALSO DESIGNATED AS THE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, LOGISTICAL, RADIO AND TELECOMMUNICATION, AND EXECUTIVE COMMAND AND CONTROL SUPPORT.

THE SPECIAL EVENTS TASK GROUP MEETS TWICE MONTHLY TO EXAMINE ALL REQUESTS FOR PERMITS TO CONDUCT AN EVENT IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT APPROPRIATE CITY, FEDERAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR RESOURCES ARE ADEQUATELY PROVIDED AND

COORDINATED FOR A SAFE AND PEACEFUL EVENT.

OEP WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TASK GROUP BY
SUGGESTING CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, SUCH AS, A MINIMUM 60 DAY
PERMIT REVIEW PROCESS. ALSO THE FIELD OPERATIONS WILL BE ENHANCED
WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED 800 MHZ TRUNKED RADIO
LAND MOBILE RADIO SYSTEM AND FIELD SUPPORT EXECUTIVE COMMAND AND
COMMUNICATIONS MOBILE VAN. OEP WILL FURTHER IMPROVE ITS SUPPORT
CAPABILITY BY DEVELOPING AN AUTOMATED SPECIAL EVENTS DATA BASE

SYSTEM COMPATIBLE WITH OUR EXISTING EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CAPABILITY. ALL EVENTS WILL BE PROPERLY SCHEDULED AND A CALENDAR OF EVENTS WILL BE DEVELOPED. IN ADDITION, A SPECIAL EVENTS PLANNING HANDBOOK WILL BE DEVELOPED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND SPONSORS OF EVENTS.

2. ENHANCEMENT OF THE OPERATIONS DIVISION

THE OPERATIONS DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IS THE "NERVE CENTER" OF THE OFFICE, OPERATING THE EXECUTIVE COMMAND AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER (ECCC) 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THE CENTER MONITORS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INCLUDING NATIONAL WEATHER TELETYPE, POLICE, FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS NETWORKS, AND THE WASHINGTON AREA WARNING SYSTEM.

DURING EMERGENCIES, THE ECCC BECOMES THE CENTER FOR COORDINATING CITY
RESOURCES NEEDED TO RESPOND TO AND RECOVER FROM THE TRAUMATIC EFFECTS
OF A DISASTER AS WELL AS SPECIAL EVENT ACTIVITIES. THE STAFF OF THE
OPERATIONS DIVISION PROVIDES, ON A CONTINUOUS AND TIMELY BASIS,
INFORMATION REGARDING SITUATIONS AND CONDITIONS IN THE CITY WITH THE
POTENTIAL OF DEVELOPING INTO PROBLEMS THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT
THE WELFARE OF DISTRICT RESIDENTS AND CURTAIL THE EFFECTIVE OPERATION
OF GOVERNMENT.

THE EVER INCREASING DEMANDS FOR A MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF CITY SERVICES UNDER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS HAS GREATLY IMPACTED OUR

EXISTING OPERATIONS CAPABILITY. IN ORDER TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE, WE
INTEND TO ENHANCE THE OPERATIONS DIVISION IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

(a) THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW 800 MHZ TRUNKED LAND MOBILE RADIO
ENE SYSTEM WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE ALL RADIO SYSTEMS NOW LICENSED
AND USED BY THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT. THIS NEW SYSTEM
WILL BE CONFIGURED SO THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS WITHIN DISTRICT GOVERNMENT
WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER INSTANTLY
UNDER THE MOST SEVERE CONDITIONS. THIS CAPABILITY ALLOWS FOR THE
QUICKEST POSSIBLE COORDINATED RESPONSE. IN ADDITION, A MOBILE
COMMUNICATIONS VAN IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT WHICH WILL BE UTILIZED

ON SIGHT BY ALL DEPARTMENTS AS A FIELD COMMAND AND COMMUNICATIONS
CENTER.

(b) THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPUTER ASSISTED INTEGRATED EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE THE OPERATIONS
DIVISION WITH A RAPID RELIABLE DATA BASE FOR THE IMMEDIATE
ALLOCATION OF CITY RESOURCES, TRACKING OF EVENTS, AND REQUIRED
MAPPING COORDINATION DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

(c) ALTHOUGH THIS BUDGET REQUEST REFLECTS AN INCREASE OF NINE POSITIONS

AND A CORRESPONDING INCREASE OF $272,000 TO FUND THESE POSITIONS,
OEP HAS IN FACT FUNCTIONED WITH THE SUPPORT OF MANY OF THESE

POSITIONS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF ITS DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION TO

THE ECCC WITH PERSONNEL FUNDED BY VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. THIS BUDGET