FLOOD04688

• County: Otero
• Community: La Junta
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Flood Preparedness Plan Arkansas River
• Date: 9/1/1993
• Prepared For: Otero County
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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6. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIONS

Emergency Response Actions occur immediately prior to
and during a flood event. The actions are planned to reduce
the threat to life and to lessen social and economic impacts
of flooding. This part of the Flood Preparedness Plan
describes the emergency response actions to be implemented by
the City of La Junta and Otero County based on the identified
level of threat.

The City detennines the organizational structure and
establishes procedures for implementation of each potential
emergency response action. Likewise, the County commissioners
will detennine it's own organizational structure. To avoid
duplicate efforts and to insure effective responses, complete
coordination between City and County Offices (Police, Sheriff,
Emergency Coordinator, etc.) is needed for direction of all
resources.

5. 1 Conceat of Oaerations

Implementation of this plan requires overall
coordination from La Junta City Officials and the Otero County
Officials. ongoing communications between these two offices
and other agencies involved are essential in saving lives and
dollars due to a flood event.

The Mayor of La Junta, along with other City officials
(City Council, City Manager, Police Chief, Fire Chief, etc.)
will set up an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the City
Hall Municipal Building as soon as deemed necessary. The
Mayor/City Council is responsible for selection of emergency
response actions and command of City personnel and resources
in the effective implementation of selected actions. The
Mayor/City Council organizes activities and delegates
responsibilities as necessary to accomplish the task. These
efforts by the Mayor/City Council are performed from his
office in the City Hall Municipal Building/Emergency
Operations Center.

The Mayor should directly request assistance from the
Otero County Sheriff's Department and from the Otero County
Emergency Coordinator.

For the North La Junta residents, the Otero County
commissioners, along with other County Officials will set up
their Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the County
Courthouse located at 2nd and Smithland as soon as deemed
necessary. In the event water levels are predicted into the
BLUE zone, the County EOC will be located in their emergency
mobile trailer. The County is responsible for selection of
emergency response actions and command of County personnel and
resources.

In the event state assistance is required, the Otero
County Emergency Coordinator will convey the Citys' request
for state assistance to the State Office of Emergency Services
in Golden, Colorado. The State Agency will work in cooperation
with City Officials during the emergency assistance.

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