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Johnson County proposes ESF-3 annex revisions and an additional County Assistance Team after major snow event
Summary
Emergency Management staff proposed revisions to the multi-hazard ESF-3 annex, adding an operational matrix, communications plan and a geographically separated County Assistance Team to improve response capacity during major snow and ice events; staff also warned of planned interstate ramp gates that could increase local secondary-road traffic.
Emergency Management briefed supervisors on revisions to the multi-hazard ESF-3 annex and recommended operational changes after a significant snow event earlier in the year.
The presenter described an after-action review and said he added the internal decision matrix and communication plan to provide clarity on when the county would activate additional crews. He said some operational details remain non-public for security reasons.
Staff recommended adding a geographically separated second County Assistance Team (CAT) to reduce response gaps and discussed options to split existing heavy equipment or procure limited on-site sleeping/cot supplies to house staff near the north end of the county.
The emergency manager also noted Iowa DOT's plan to install gates on Interstate 80 ramps near North Liberty and Tiffin that will be used to close ramps during incidents, and warned that closures will likely push commercial traffic onto county secondary roads. "So I don't anticipate us being less busy if they close that interstate," he said.
Supervisors discussed the operational tradeoffs, the need for continued cooperation with the university and secondary roads, and the county's public-preparedness messaging to reduce risky travel decisions during major weather events. Staff said the ESF-3 updates and after-action report are publicly available and that the proposed staffing/asset changes improve resilience.
