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Featured 2008-2010 Critical Workforce Disaster Re-Entry Permit Information
In an effort to standardize procedures for the efficient re-entry of Chatham County’s Critical Workforce and Emergency Responders immediately following a disaster affecting our area; the following guidelines have been established by Local and State Emergency Management Officials.
Re-entry into Chatham County following a mandatory evacuation is carefully orchestrated so as not to delay citizens from returning to their property and possessions. In order for this to be accomplished, re-entry is conducted in two phases:
RE-ENTRY PHASE I -
RESTRICTED ACCESS (EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ONLY)
ALL persons attempting to enter the affected area during Re-Entry Phase I (immediately following an event), are required to provide appropriate identification and justification for requiring access. Re-entry during Phase I is restricted to emergency responders, designated critical workforce personnel, and other personnel responsible for protecting and restoring critical municipal, county, state, and federal government infrastructure.
Primary goals during Phase I include:
- Mitigate life-safety issues and concerns posing a threat to the public.
- Conduct official damage assessment of the County’s critical infrastructure.
- Begin restoration of basic life support services: Power, Water, Sanitation, etc.
All persons and resources entering Chatham County during Phase I are considered additional County assets and may be called upon if needed.
NO PERMIT REQUIRED
Re-Entry Permits are not required for personnel traveling in officially marked government or commercial utility vehicles; and have on their person official identification/credentials issued to them by the government agency or commercial entity they represent. Neither will Re-Entry Permits be required for emergency responders and officials travelling in privately owned vehicles for official purposes.
Examples include:
- Police and Law Enforcement Agencies
- Fire Departments
- Public and Private Search and Rescue Organizations (as identified through ESF9)
- Emergency Medical Services
- Medical Professionals and Support Staff (Credentialed by their facility)
- Public Utility Providers, Contractors and Sub-Contractors (See below).
- Active Duty Military (including activated members of the National Guard and GSDF).
- Any municipal, county, state or federal government employee, with appropriate identification/credentials.
Contractors and Sub-Contractors in Un-Marked Vehicles
Contractors and sub-contractors arriving into the area using unmarked privately owned or unmarked commercial vehicles must display a permit. The contracting agency/ company/organization or facility must consolidate a list of their contractors and sub-contractors needing access and request the appropriate number of permits.
During Re-Entry Phase I, access into the affected is only granted to those individuals meeting the above requirements. Individuals not meeting the above requirements will not be allowed to enter the affected area; may be escorted out of the area, and/or possibly face criminal charges.
Hazardous Materials and Emergency Response Teams
Companies and/or facilities maintaining on-site Hazardous Materials and/or Emergency Response Teams will be issued Re-Entry Permits only when:
- The requesting agency/company/organization or facility has a properly trained and self-sufficient HAZMAT or Emergency Response Team.
- The requesting agency/company/organization or facility has a current SARA Title III Report on file with the State of Georgia and the Chatham County Local Emergency Planning committee (HAZMAT ONLY).
- The requesting agency/company/organization or facility agrees to report its status and provide status updates to the Chatham County Emergency Operations Center.
- The requesting agency/company/organization or facility is prepared to provide basic life support needs for those personnel re-entering the area. This includes: food, water, shelter, basic medical first aid, and other support as required for at least five (5) days.
RE-ENTRY PHASE II - GENERAL ACCESS
Once public safety issues within the County have been mitigated to a point determined to be acceptable, The Chatham County Command Policy Group will approve general access to Chatham County, or Re-entry Phase II. This approval is based on the recommendations of those agencies and officials involved during Phase I. Phase II may be modified based on situational needs such as: being allowed during daylight hours only, or by limiting access to geographical areas determined to be safe. NO RE-ENTRY PERMITS ARE REQUIRED, however in an attempt to control the number of opportunists, sight-seers, and others without good cause to be in our area, everyone is encouraged to have a form of identification and/or proof or residency such as:
Driver’s License or other Government issued PHOTO Identification
Proof of Residency or Proof of Employment within Chatham County
Re-Entry Permit Application
You may download the above application, complete it, mail or fax the form to
Attention Don Sullens
124 Bull Street
Suite 140
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 201-4500 - Office
(912) 201-4504 - Fax
dwsullens@chathamcounty.org
Permits issued in 2008 are good through December 31, 2010. Once applied for, approved, and issued, no further administrative action is required prior to the 2010 expiration date.
These re-entry guidelines are provided to local and state law enforcement agencies controlling access into Chatham County following a major disaster.
SAMPLE Re-Entry Permit
