Public Safety Study Town of Kiawah Island Strengthening

Public Safety Study Town of Kiawah Island Strengthening Public Safety Services

Kiawah Island Staff Les Adams, President & CEO Police Fire, EMS & Dispatch Management Consultants William (Bill) Ale Fire Services Project Manager/Author for 120+ Public Safety Studies/Master Plans/Reports on Police, Fire, EMS, Communications, Emergency Preparedness Consultant in more than 130 Municipalities over 30 Years 22 Years in Fire & EMS Service (Montgomery County, MD) Chief of Operations Mary Beth Michos Fire & EMS Tom Taylor Law Enforcement Security Bob Mc. Nally EMS, Risk Analysis GIS

PHILOSOPHY Provide Open & Honest Assessment SAFETY FIRST: Customer & Provider Offer Objective Approach Place Priority on Human Element Give Attention to Specific Agency Mission Consider Laws & Established Standards (OSHA, NFPA, State) Value Customer Input Remain Mindful of Customer Service Seek Out Provider Ideas Build on Strengths Relate to Management’s Concerns & Goals Offer Constructive Recommendations

FIRE PROTECTION EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES POLICE & SECURITY

FIRE PROTECTION CHALLENGES

Character of the Community • Rural population density • Clusters of tightly packed communities • Large structures • Seasonal occupancy • Expectations of residents

LANDSCAPING Landscaping: heavily landscaped properties close to buildings, especially single family homes

Isolation • One way onto the island • Ability to assemble an effective fire fighting force

SERVICE DEMAND

Call Distribution Call Types 2 nd half of 2011 2012 2013 1 st half of 2014 Total Alarms 101 132 173 4 478 Citizen assists 14 18 15 4 51 Medical 101 210 260 105 676 Other fire 2 12 16 1 31 Other hazard 6 28 13 6 53 Rescue 8 23 14 2 47 Structure fire 6 13 20 6 45 238 436 511 194 1382 Total

Relationship of Time and Workload • 30% of incidents occur in July and August • Highest call volume occurs on Saturdays and Sundays • Peak call load hours are between 8 a. m. and 9 p. m.

FIRES – RESPONSE TIMES FIRES FLASHOVER- 6 to 9 minutes Pre-Flashover • Limited to One Room • Requires Smaller Attack Lines • Search & Rescue Is Easier • Initial Assignment Can Handle Post-Flashover • May Spread Beyond One Room • Requires Larger, More Attack Lines • Compounds Search & Rescue • Requires Additional Companies rd

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESPONSE TIMES Assessing The Location Of Fire/EMS Stations And Apparatus FIRES EMS 6 to 9 minutes Flashover 4 to 6 minutes to Brain Death in Cardiac Arrest CRITERIA ü NFPA 1710: Utilize 5 minutes *Note: Includes turnout time.

Not Our Fathers’ Fires The contents of a single-family home. Now dominated by synthetic materials. Source: National Geographic Magazine

Today’s Fire Environment Larger Homes Changing Bldg. Materials Open Spaces Evolving Fuel Loads Smaller Lots Inc. Voids Spaces New Technologies · Faster fire propagation · Shorter escape times · Shorter time to flashover · Shorter time to collapse · Rapid changes in fire dynamics · Inc. Exposure Problems · New and Unknown Hazards

Traditional Fire Behavior Fuel Controlled Fire Typical Structural Fire Behavior Ventilation Controlled Fire

Fire Protection Recommendations 1. Implement dynamic deployment of QRVs 2. Incorporate tactical fire fighting recommendations for fires in modern structures 3. Provide incident command training for all officers 4. Require residential fire sprinklers and monitored fire detection systems 5. Conduct community education program on dangers of heavy vegetation around structures 6. Paint fire hydrants as prescribed in NFPA 291 7. Work cooperatively with fire district to meet expectations of residents and town officials

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Coverage Area • 919 Land Sq. Mi • 372, 803 residents • Several islands with singular access • 57 K+ calls for service • Dynamic Deployment • 18 units, 8 QRVs • 14 stns, 40 posts • Response goal: 8: 59 • 90% of emergent calls

Providers: County EMS & St. JFD

Demand

Primary (M 10) Travel Capability

Back-up (M 7) Travel Capability

Performance • 2013/14 • Non-emergent removed • 16: 09 Average • 90% within 23: 29

Optional Approaches • Status quo • Dedicated County Ambulance • STJFD EMS • Island Volunteer Unit • Island Career Unit • Private Contracted EMS • • • County EMS QRV Island EMS QRV Beach Patrol medics Island Security medics Fire Medics Sheriff medics

Concerns • • • EMS System inclusion Timely Paramedic Care Transportation Stationing Capital & Recurring Costs • Staffing • Clinical Skills • Dispatch / 911 • Medical Director Oversight • Seasonality • Vehicle Maintenance • Administrative Oversight • Billing & Collections

Centrally Located Station

Summary Options

POLICE & SECURITY

LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKLOAD

Traffic Accidents in Kiawah Island 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Average Response Time by Priority Level LP 0 Minutes JAN LP 2 -Delta LP 3 -Charlie LP 4 -Bravo LP 5 -Alpha LP 6 -Omega 0: 40 0: 35 0: 30 0: 25 0: 20 0: 15 0: 10 0: 05 0: 00 2011 2012 2013 Year 2014 1 st half

WORKLOAD OF DEPUTY SHERIFFS 104 D_Alarm Patrol Request 131 B_Traffic Holdup/Panic/Dures Acc/No Injury 107 B_Assist s Agency Non-Urgent Special Assignment 104 D_Alarm Audible S 107 D_Assist Agency Urgent 104 D_Alarm Burglary/Intrusion Traffic Stop 911 Hang Up/Open Line

Police & Security Options & Recommendations 1. Establish position of Public Safety Director (PSD) 2. PSD to report to the Town Administrator & chair the Public Safety Comm. 3. Continue contract for Off-duty Deputy approach with County Sheriff 4. Consider contracting with Sheriff for On-duty Deputy for consistency 5. Establish goal of two deputies on-duty at all times 6. Continue the Beach Patrol contract with potential enhanced EMS role 7. Create Town Ordinance to reduce commercial/residential alarm responses 8. Consider provision of all security functions under the Town via contract or assumption of control for consistent and coordinated security function

Recommend Public Safety Services

THANK YOU