Hurricane Dorian After Action Report

Hurricane Dorian
After-Action Report/Improvement Plan

October 10, 2019
The After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) aligns incident objectives with

preparedness doctrine to include the National Preparedness Goal and related frameworks and
guidance.
Rev. April 2013

HSEEP-IP01
After-Action Report/ Hurricane Dorian
Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)
INCIDENT OVERVIEW
Incident Name Hurricane Dorian
Incident Dates August 27 – September 4, 2019
Core Public Information and Warning, Operational Coordination, and

Capabilities Situational Assessment
Threat or
Hurricane
Hazard
Hurricane Dorian was the fourth named storm of the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane
Season. Tropical Storm Dorian formed in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean on
the morning of August 25th. Dorian intensified to a Category 1 hurricane
while moving over warmer water on August 28th. The storm became a
Category 2 hurricane on August 30th, with maximum sustained winds of 110
Summary mph. Dorian became a Category 4 hurricane on August 31st, with maximum
sustained winds of 150 mph. As Dorian took a track north-northwestward
through the Atlantic it intensified to a Category 5 hurricane on September 1st,
and began impacting the outer islands of the Northern Bahamas and making a
turn to the west. Dorian came to a standstill from September 1st to September
2nd over Grand Bahama Island, devastating it and the surrounding islands.
The Palm Beach County area was spared hurricane force winds when Dorian
then turned northward once again, with only outer bands brushing South
Florida. Nine (9) general population shelters were opened, along with one (1)
special needs shelters, and one (1) pet-friendly shelter. Ultimately, 3,115
evacuees were sheltered during the passing of Hurricane Dorian. There were
reports of minor damages and a few power outages, most of which were
corrected immediately due to sustained tropical storm force winds remaining
off shore. The Emergency Information Center (EIC) fielded 9,533 calls during
the activation. Total damages were minimal, but protective measures were in
excess of $12 million in PBC.
Participating
See Appendix B for a full list of participants.
Organizations
Bill Johnson, RN, Division of Emergency Management Director

Point of Contact 561-712-6400
Incident Overview 1 Division of Emergency Management

For Official Use Only. Portions of this document are confidential and exempt from disclosure
pursuant to Florida Statute §119.071(3). Do not copy or distribute without the express written
permission of the Director of the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management.
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

Activation Timeline
Event Occurred Date of Occurrence

Tropical Storm Dorian Flash Report #1 Issued 8/27/19 1630 hours
EOC Activates to Level 3 – Enhanced Monitoring 8/27/19 1630 hours
Dorian upgraded to Cat 1 Hurricane 8/28/19 1400 hours
Flash Report #2 Issued 8/28/19 1300 hours
Florida declares a State of Emergency 8/28/19
Dorian upgraded to a Cat 2 Hurricane 8/29/19 1100 hours
Initial EPG Meeting 8/29/19 1200 hours
Palm Beach County declares a Local State of 8/29/19 1200 hours
Emergency
EOC Activates to Level 2 – Partial Activation 8/30/19 1900 hours
Tropical Storm Watch Issued by NHC 8/31/19
Tropical Storm Warning Issued by NHC 9/1/19
NHC issues Storm Surge Watch for PBC 9/1/19
NHC issues a Hurricane Watch for PBC 9/1/19
NHC Issues a Storm Surge Warning for PBC 9/1/19
EOC Activates to level 1 – Full Activation 9/1/19 1200 hours
Shelters Open 9/1/19 1300 hours
Mandatory Evacuations Ordered for Zones A and B 9/1/19 1300 hours
Dorian downgraded to a Cat 4 Hurricane 9/2/19 1100 hours
PBC Government Offices Closed 9/3/19 and 9/4/19
PBC Schools Closed 9/3/19 and 9/4/19
Demobilization Plan Finalized 9/3/19 1540 hours
Re-Entry Order Issued 9/3/19 1600 hours
EOC Deactivated to level 2 – Partial Activation 9/3/19 1900 hours
Last Shelter Closed 9/4/19
EOC Deactivated to Level 3 – Enhanced Monitoring 9/4/19 1200 hours
PBC State of Emergency extended 9/5/19
PBC Government Offices reopen 9/5/19
PBC Schools reopen 9/5/19
EPG/Command Meetings regarding potential 9/6/19
evacuees from Bahamas
EOC escalated to level 2 – Partial Activation – 9/7/19 0700 hours
Bahamas Relief
Evacuee Triage Shelter Opened 9/7/19 0900 hours
Evacuee Triage Shelter Closed 9/9/19 1900 hours
EOC Deactivated to Level 3 – Enhanced Monitoring 9/9/19 2000 hours
PBC State of Emergency extended 9/12/19
EOC Returned to Level 4 – Normal Operations 9/20/2019 1700 hours
Analysis of Core Capabilities 2 Division of Emergency Management
Summary of Core Capabilities
Public Information and Warning

Strength
Strength 1: Approximately 64,800 residents within evacuation zones A and B were notified
through AlertPBC of a mandatory evacuation, resulting in many residents evacuating those areas.
AlertPBC also sent approximately 1,200 notifications to pre-approved residents regarding the
Special Needs Shelters being opened. The evacuation order and shelter information was also
disseminated through social media, radio, and television announcements for the remaining
citizens not receiving AlertPBC notifications.
Strength 2: The Emergency Information Center (EIC) was able to efficiently field the increased
call volume in the days leading up to Hurricane Dorian’s projected landfall.
Areas for Improvement

The following areas are opportunities for improvement:
Area for Improvement 1: A substantial number of citizens requested information on Special
Needs Shelter eligibility in the days leading up to evacuation orders being issued.
Analysis: New outreach materials and language should be developed to convey the message that
the Special Needs Shelter program is an application process, not a registration process. Materials
should also clarify who is eligible for the Special Needs Shelter and provide a strong emphasis on
the services that are available in the General Population Shelters.
Area for Improvement 2: Expand capability for use of the EIC Auto-Attendant by adding menus
in Spanish and Haitian Creole in addition to the existing English menu options.
Analysis: In 2019 an Auto-Attendant feature was added to the telephone lines at the EIC.
However, this currently only provides a menu for English speaking citizens. With a large number
of county residents that have either Spanish or Haitian Creole as a primary language, adding
Spanish and Haitian Creole to the menu would provide information to these demographics as well.
Operational Coordination
Strength
Strength 1: Notification of EOC assigned personnel was successful. All EOC assigned personnel
were provided notification of Level 2 (Partial) and Level 1 (Full) Activation through the mass
notification system.
Strength 2: Palm Beach County opened 11 shelters, including nine (9) General Population
Shelters, one (1) Special Needs Shelter, and one (1) Pet Friendly Shelter. These facilities housed
3,115 citizens and 113 pets during their operations. Transportation was provided by Palm Tran to
citizens who were unable to travel to the shelters under their own accord (i.e. homeless or those
with medical conditions) to the shelters and back to their original locations once the shelters were
demobilized.


Area for Improvement 1: A more detailed description of activation levels and accompanying
expectations or responsibilities is needed for new staff members assigned to the EOC.
Analysis: Several newly assigned EOC and EIC staff members were confused as to the
differences between Level 2 and Level 1 Activations, and what was expected of them. Many were
under the impression that once the EOC was at a Level 1 Activation, they were required to remain
on the premises even when the EOC was not in “Lock Down” mode.
Area for Improvement 2: Improvement needed in the coordination and communication with
post storm damage assessment.
Analysis: While damage and debris was minimal throughout Palm Beach County, concerns were
voiced regarding additional training needs for agencies and municipalities regarding damage
assessment. Florida DEM offers Damage Assessment and Debris Management training that
would be beneficial to local communities.
Situational Assessment
Strength
Strength 1: The EPG participated in several conference calls and meetings with the National
Weather Service (NWS), the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Florida DEM, and the Army Corps
of Engineers. Conference calls provided updates on storm track, strength, and potential impacts on
Florida’s east coast as well as Lake Okeechobee. These calls are valuable to determining potential
storm arrival in order to make vital decisions such as ordering evacuation orders or opening storm
shelters.

Area for Improvement 1: A single method for determining the estimated time of Arrival of
Tropical Storm Force Winds (ATSFW) is needed.
Analysis: During the activation, the NHC and NWS provided three (3) different forecasts for the
estimated time of ATSFW, all of which provided different predictions. This made it difficult for
DEM and EPG to make preparatory decisions (e.g., ordering evacuation orders, ceasing Palm Tran
operations). Developing a single forecast model for the estimated time of ATSFW would allow
policy makers to make crucial decisions ahead of storms.

APPENDIX A: IMPROVEMENT PLAN

This IP has been developed specifically for Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management as a result of Hurricane Dorian
on August 28, 2019 – September 04, 2019.
Primary
Issue/Area for Corrective Organization
Core Capability Responsible Start Date Completion Date
Improvement Action POC
Organization
Public A substantial number New outreach PBCDEM Planning Section 09/05/2019
Information & of citizens requested materials and Community Outreach
Warning shelter information in language Coordinator
the days leading up to needed for
evacuation. shelter
programs.
Public Need for Spanish and Add additional PBCDEM DEM Logistics 09/05/2019
Information & Haitian Creole menus languages to
Warning on the EIC Auto- Auto-Attendant.
Attending program.
Appendix A: Improvement Plan A-1 Division of Emergency Management

For Official Use Only. Portions of this document are confidential and exempt from disclosure pursuant to Florida Statute §119.071(3). Do
not copy or distribute without the express written permission of the Director of the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency
Management.

Operational Newly assigned Provide training PBCDEM DEM 09/05/2019

Coordination EOC staff were not and information to Section Managers
clear as to their roles all staff on the
and duties between differences between
Level 2 (Partial) and activation levels
Level 1 (Full) and the employee’s
Activations. roles and
expectations.
Operational Training needs for Coordinate with PBCDEM PBC Planning – 09/05/2019
Coordination damage assessment FDEM to schedule Training and Exercise
and/or debris FL-601 Preliminary Coordinator
management Damage
Assessment and/or
FL-202 Debris
Monitoring courses.
Situational Multiple forecast Coordinate with PBCDEM Senior Management 09/05/2019

Assessment models provided NWS and NHC to
different estimates for develop one
ATSFW standard prediction
model for ATSFW
forecasting
Appendix A: Improvement Plan A-2 Division of Emergency Management

For Official Use Only. Portions of this document are confidential and exempt from disclosure pursuant to Florida Statute §119.071(3). Do
not copy or distribute without the express written permission of the Director of the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency
Management.

APPENDIX B: INCIDENT PARTICIPANTS

Participating Organizations
Federal
FEMA
Transportation and Safety Administration
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Coast Guard
State of Florida
Division of Emergency Management
Department of Transportation
Governor’s Office
Department of Health
Highway Patrol
National Guard
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV)
Department of Law Enforcement
South Florida Water Management District
Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County Schools
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
PBC 911
PBC Administration
PBC Animal Care and Control
PBC Clerk and Comptroller
PBC Commission on Ethics
PBC Community Services
PBC Commissioners Office
PBC Consumer Affairs
PBC Criminal Justice Commission
PBC Engineering and Public Works
PBC Environmental Resources Management
PBC Equal Business Opportunity
PBC Facilities Development and Operations
PBC Financial Management and Budget
PBC Fire Rescue
PBC Housing and Economic Sustainability
PBC Human Resources
Appendix B: Participants B-1 Division of Emergency Management

PBC Information Systems and Services
PBC Legislative Affairs
PBC Library
PBC Medical Society
PBC Palm Tran
PBC Parks and Recreation
PBC Planning, Zoning, and Building
PBC Public Affairs
PBC Public Safety
PBC Purchasing
PBC Risk Management
PBC Thrift Store
PBC Water Utilities
Solid Waste Authority

Non- Government Agencies

Agency for Health Care
Area Agency on Aging
Dialysis Coalition
Florida Power and Light
Healthcare Emergency Response Coalition
Red Cross
United Way
Palm Beach State College
Municipalities
Boca Raton
Palm Beach Gardens
Riviera Beach
Town of Palm Beach
West Palm Beach


Hurricane Dorian After Action Report

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Hurricane Dorian

After-Action Report/Improvement Plan

The After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) aligns incident objectives with

Rev. April 2013

Incident Dates August 27 – September 4, 2019

Core Public Information and Warning, Operational Coordination, and

Bill Johnson, RN, Division of Emergency Management Director

Incident Overview 1 Division of Emergency Management

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

Event Occurred Date of Occurrence

Summary of Core Capabilities

Public Information and Warning

Areas for Improvement

Analysis of Core Capabilities 3 Division of Emergency Management

Areas for Improvement

Areas for Improvement

Analysis of Core Capabilities 4 Division of Emergency Management

APPENDIX A: IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Appendix A: Improvement Plan A-1 Division of Emergency Management

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

Operational Newly assigned Provide training PBCDEM DEM 09/05/2019

Situational Multiple forecast Coordinate with PBCDEM Senior Management 09/05/2019

Appendix A: Improvement Plan A-2 Division of Emergency Management

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

APPENDIX B: INCIDENT PARTICIPANTS

Palm Beach County

Appendix B: Participants B-1 Division of Emergency Management

Appendix B: Participants B-2 Division of Emergency Management

Non- Government Agencies

Appendix B: Participants B-1 Division of Emergency Management

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