pages: CityCouncil/2013-03-05.pdf, 5
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CityCouncil | 2013-03-05 | 5 | and land for emergency drills in the off-season [when Least Terns are not breeding]. Laura Kelly, VA, responded the plan for emergency management would be to do drills only on the developed site; there are no plans to do training on the undeveloped property; in the event of a national emergency, the Alameda Point location would allow supplies and people to be moved using the water; if training occurs, it would be every 14 months and would not be during the Least Tern breeding season; the VA would be respectful of residents during training. Councilmember Chen expressed concern about training involving large equipment and helicopters, which could disturb the Least Tern; inquired how the VA would focus on the effectiveness of the drill and still be sensitive to the Least Tern. Ms. Kelly stated VA exercises are not like the Department of Defense (DOD) exercises involving large equipment; the VA exercises involve moving simulated patients; staff members practice moving simulated patients into the clinic and staging the patients; in an emergency, Moffett Field is the primary location and Alameda would be the next area if something happens to Moffett Field; equipment would be simulated during exercises; the cost of using equipment for exercises is not conceivable. Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the Biological Opinion mentions the emergency training exercises and using the bunkers for emergency supplies; however, specifics are not included; inquired whether the 250 on-site personnel would be the only participants in the emergency training exercises or whether outside personnel would participate; further inquired how many people would participate in the training. Ms. Kelly responded the participants are all VA staff volunteers; the entire staff does not volunteer and there would be 75 to 100 participants at most. Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether staff from other areas would attend, to which Ms. Kelly responded that she would hope staff would come from other VA facilities, but the budget would prevent outside personnel from attending training every 14 months; further stated three bunkers would be retained for storage. In response to Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry regarding items in storage, Ms. Kelly stated storage would be used to hold: cots, blankets, emergency generators, water and items which would not require expiration dates to be checked. Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the training exercise would be coordinated with local emergency responders. Ms. Kelly responded the San Francisco VA Medical Center is the federal coordinating center for the Bay Area and has agreements with 30 hospitals; the hospitals would not move patients to Alameda Point, but would prepare to accept patients requiring greater care. Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 5 March 5, 2013 | CityCouncil/2013-03-05.pdf |