Policy Text
Court Security Division P age 1 of 4 5/06 (REV 6/11)
Critical Incidents: Natural Disasters
The purpose of this Operations Or der is to identify several pot ential natural disasters
and provide procedures to follow in the event a natural disaste r affects any Sacramento
County Superior Court facility. I. Policy
Court Security personnel will re spond to natural disasters affe cting court facilities in a
manner that will maintain the secu rity of the facility and ensu re the safety of the public,
court staff, and inmates. II. Connected Emergencies
A. A natural disaster may tri gger other emergency incidents suc h as
explosions, fires, escapes, medi cal emergencies, and civil diso bedience.
Security staff should be prepared to respond to these connected
emergencies that are related to the natural disaster.
III. Types of Natural Disasters
A. Earthquakes
1. Issues to Consider:
a. The initial shaking of the fa cility may cause significant
structural damage that may i mpair the integrity of the
building.
b. Aftershocks may compound t he potential for further
weakening of the structure.
c. The age and height of the facilit y play an important part in
the amount of potential damage.
d. Earthquakes may sever:
(1) Telephone and data lines, thus hampering
communications.
(2) Utility lines such as water , sewer, gas and electricity.
Court Security Division P age 2 of 4 5/06 (REV 6/11) e. Earthquakes may create elec tromagnetic fields which will
disrupt radio and cell p hone communications.
f. Window panes may shatter. g. Overhead lighting and ce iling panels may fall.
h. Free standing bookshelves and file cabinets may fall.
2. Initial Response for Safety
a. Security personnel should adv ise the public and court staff
to:
(1) Remain calm (2) Stay inside (3) Do not use elevators (4) Take cover under tables, desks, or in doorways
b. Keep all persons away from:
(1) Glass window panes (2) Bookshelves and free standing filing cabinets
B. Floods
1. Issues to Consider
a. Electrical power and telephon e service may be interrupted.
b. Domestic water suppl y may be contaminated.
c. Sewage may back up into the facility.
(1) Toilets may become inoperative.
d. Travel to and from the fac ility may be hindered or may be
impossible.
(1) Public and court staff m ay not be able to leave the
facility.
(2) Inmates may not be retu rned to their correctional
facility for a lengthy period of time.
(3) On-duty personnel may not be able to leave.
Court Security Division P age 3 of 4 5/06 (REV 6/11) e. Domestic or wild animals may be seeking shelter or higher
ground and attempt to gain ent ry into the facility.
2. Initial Response for Safety
a. Security personnel should adv ise the public and court staff
to:
(1) Remain calm (2) Stay inside (3) Do not use elevators
b. Evacuate people to upper floors.
(1) Do not drink domestic wa ter until the water system is
declared safe.
C. Tornadoes
1. Issues to Consider – Types of tornadoes
a. Most tornadoes (69%) are weak (Category F-1). They have
wind speeds of approximately 73 to 112 mph and last one to
ten minutes. These types of tornadoes do minor damage to structures.
b. Strong tornadoes account for about 29% of the storms and
cause approximately 30% o f deaths related to such
incidents. These tornadoes ( Category F-2 and F-3) have
wind speeds of 113 to 206 mph and last up to 20 minutes.
They seriously damage stru ctures, uproot trees, and
overturn cars.
c. A small number of tornadoes (two percent) are violent
(Category F-4 to F-5). They have wind speeds of 207 to 318
mph and can last over one hour. They account for 70% of deaths from tornadoes.
d. Electrical power and telephon e service may be interrupted.
e. Wind-driven debris is a real danger.
2. Initial Response for Safety
a. Security personnel should adv ise the public and court staff
to:
(1) Remain calm
Court Security Division P age 4 of 4 5/06 (REV 6/11) (2) Stay inside
(3) Stay away from windows
(a) Do not open windows. It is a myth that
opening windows will equaliz e air pressure.
b. Do not use elevators. c. Have everyone take cover:
(1) On the lowest floor of the structure (2) In the most inner portion of the structure (3) The smaller the room ar ea, the more side structure
strength and protection.
(a) Avoid large assembly rooms.
(4) Assume a tornado protection position:
(a) Fetal position with knees and elbows on the
ground, chest against thighs, face between knees, and hands clasped behind head for maximum protection.
(5) Shelter under tables and desks
d. If driving, park vehicle and fi nd shelter inside a structure .
IV. Response to Natural Disasters
A. In accordance with the cour t facility Emergency Action Plan.
1. Court Security