Sec. 418.0425. STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN ANNEX

(a) In this section, "critical water or wastewater facility" means a facility with:

(1) water supply, treatment, or distribution equipment that is essential to maintain the minimum water pressure requirements established by the governing body of a municipality or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; or

(2) wastewater collection or treatment equipment that is essential to prevent the discharge of untreated wastewater to water in the state.

(b) The division, in cooperation with the emergency management council, local governments, regional entities, health and medical facilities, volunteer groups, private sector partners, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other federal agencies, shall develop an annex to the state emergency management plan that addresses initial response planning for providing essential population support supplies, equipment, and services during the first five days immediately following a disaster. The annex must include:

(1) plans to make fuel available to, maintain continuing operations of, and assess the backup power available for, all:

(A) hospitals;

(B) prisons;

(C) assisted living facilities licensed under Chapter 247, Health and Safety Code;

(D) institutions licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code; and

(E) other critical facilities determined by the division;

(2) provisions for interagency coordination of disaster response efforts;

(3) provisions for the rapid gross assessment of population support needs;

(4) plans for the clearance of debris from major roadways to facilitate emergency response operations and delivery of essential population support supplies and equipment;

(5) methods to obtain food, water, and ice for disaster victims through prearranged contracts or suppliers, stockpiled supplies, or plans to request assistance from federal agencies, as appropriate;

(6) guidelines for arranging temporary points of distribution for disaster relief supplies and standardized procedures for operating those distribution points;

(7) methods for providing basic medical support for disaster victims, including medical supplies and pharmaceuticals;

(8) provisions, developed in coordination with fuel suppliers and retailers, for the continued operation of service stations to provide fuel to disaster victims and emergency responders; and

(9) provisions for the dissemination of emergency information through the media to aid disaster victims.

(c) The division, in coordination with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and electric, gas, water, and wastewater utility providers, shall develop for inclusion in the annex to the state emergency management plan provisions to provide emergency or backup power to restore or continue the operation of critical water or wastewater facilities following a disaster. The provisions must:

(1) establish an online resource database of available emergency generators configured for transport that are capable of providing backup power for critical water or wastewater facilities following a disaster;

(2) include procedures for the maintenance, activation, transportation, and redeployment of available emergency generators;

(3) develop a standardized form for use by a water or wastewater utility provider in developing and maintaining data on the number and type of emergency generators required for the operation of the provider's critical water or wastewater facilities following a disaster; and

(4) include procedures for water or wastewater utility providers to maintain a current list of generators available in surrounding areas through mutual aid agreements, recognized and coordinated statewide mutual aid programs, and through commercial firms offering generators for rent or lease.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1280 , Sec. 1.05, eff. September 1, 2009.