In the true spirit of cooperation, IAMU members participate
in the Association's Mutual Aid Program providing disaster assistance to any
member community in need of emergency support.
Participating IAMU telecommunications and electric utilities stand ready
with backup equipment, materials and personnel to ensure the continuation of
service to customers during the most adverse conditions.
Four Telecom Mutual Aid coordinators are available to
assist with specific telecommunications utility needs, and Regional Mutual Aid
primary and secondary coordinators from electric utilities may also be contacted
for general utility equipment.
Responding
with help when your utility is asked to assist
Duties
of Mutual Aid Coordinators
Telecom
Mutual Aid Coordinators
Electric
Utility Regions/Coordinators
Telecommunications
Mutual Aid Agreement
IAMU
Mutual Aid Program Standard Charges
1. Survey
the damage
Survey location and severity of damage to your system BEFORE
calling your telecommunications or regional electric coordinator to request
help.
2. Make
a quick inventory of needs -- be specific
Put together a short list of specific personnel, equipment
and materials you’ll need before you place the call for help.
This will save response time. Identify
areas of need and the specific jobs for which you need assistance.
3. Call
your Telecom Mutual Aid Coordinator or Regional Coordinator
For specific telecommunications utility issues or
assistance, contact your Telecom Mutual Aid Coordinator.
For more general utility issues or assistance, you may also contact your
Regional Mutual Aid Coordinator. A
list of coordinators is attached. If
normal contacts cannot be made, utilize the Iowa State Highway Patrol or County
Sheriff in requesting help.
Describe:
1. Nature of disaster.
2. Type of help, equipment and number of crews needed.
3.
Other sources of help already contacted such as neighboring utilities or
private contractors.
Indicate:
1. Where crews should report when they arrive in your city.
2. Estimated time
(hours, days) they will be needed.
Establish:
1. A command center with a designated person and phone number to receive and return calls from Regional Coordinator.
2. Time when you will re-contact the assisting Mutual Aid Coordinator if incoming calls to your utility are not possible.
3. Method of documenting services provided and hours worked by outside utility crews.
1. Receiving
call from Telecom Mutual Aid Coordinator or Regional Coordinator
A utility representative should be designated to receive
calls as part of the IAMU Mutual Aid program.
Both a primary and back-up representative should be identified in the
event help is needed on weekends or after regular working hours.
2. Identify
personnel and equipment available
Take an inventory of the personnel and equipment your
utility could send for emergency assistance without jeopardizing your own
operation.
3. Determine
which personnel and equipment will be sent
Give Mutual Aid Coordinator the names of utility personnel
whom will be sent to assist a neighboring community. Be specific. Also,
explain in detail what equipment will be taken.
4. Confirm
directions for travel and where crews are to report
In the event main roads into a community are closed,
determine what route is available for travel.
Also, find out specifically where crews are to report for service
assignments.
5. Estimate
time involved for your utility personnel
Your utility's crew will need to know the approximate time
they will be away from home. If an
overnight stay is anticipated, workers should plan appropriately and include
personal items for an extended work schedule.
6. Share
information with your utility personnel before they depart
Don't assume your workers understand the nature of their
roles in the Mutual Aid process. Explain
your utility's involvement in the program and specifically what duties your
workers will be expected to perform. Provide them with information on where to report once they
arrive in the neighboring community.
7. Document
time and costs
Mutual aid assistance is provided according to the schedule
of standard charges listed below. Document
time and materials used by your utility personnel so reimbursement can be made
by the assisted utility.
DUTIES
OF MUTUAL AID COORDINATORS
The Mutual Aid Coordinator receiving any call for
assistance will attempt to learn:
1. The nature and severity of the emergency.
2. What has been done.
3. Who has been contacted.
4. What help the municipal utility needs.
5.
The priority of equipment and material needed.
The person receiving the original message will immediately
enlist appropriate help.
Communication will be maintained periodically between the
Mutual Aid Coordinator and the distressed municipal utility.
Josh Nelson
Spencer Municipal Utilities
712/580-5800
Brad Honold
Coon Rapids Municipal Utilities
712/999-2225
Darrel Wenzel
Independence Light & Power, Telecommunications
319/334-3880
David Fyffe
Muscatine Power & Water
563/263-2631
We understand that materials, equipment, and labor provided by our utility in assisting another municipal utility in the Mutual Aid program will be billed according to the fees outlined in the section below, entitled “IAMU Mutual Aid Program Standard Charges.” We have read the section and agree to these standard charges.
Signature of Manager
As stated in the IAMU Mutual Aid agreement form, the
utility giving assistance will bill labor charges at actual cost plus 35 percent
to cover overhead. Meals and
lodging for workers, if required, will be provided by the utility requesting
assistance.
Maximum charges for use of aerial
baskets, digger derricks, backhoes, trenchers and tractors are $20.00 per hour.
Fuel and oil used by equipment in the recovery process will be supplied
by the assisted utility. A fuel
tank "fill-up" will also be provided by the assisted utility for
trucks returning home after providing assistance.
Maximum charges for pickups are $10.00 per hour.
For equipment that is driven, time charged includes travel time. For equipment that is hauled, time charged is based on hours of actual use in the assisted community.
All other materials supplied by the utility providing
assistance will be billed at replacement cost plus shipping if applicable,
without additional markup for overhead.
For cities participating in IAMU's safety group program,
insurance coverage continues for employees working outside their home city -- as
long as that individual is working as an agent of his or her utility and not in
a free lance capacity.
In the event of an accident, insurance deductibles on
vehicles are paid, up to a maximum of $1,000, by the utility receiving services.
These deductibles vary by policy.
There is no deductible for liability claims under the IAMU insurance program for either vehicle-caused damage or damage when an employee is at fault.