Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 28 - Ports and Airports › Part 301 - Operations and Procedures Manual of the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport › Chapter 35 - Hurricane Readiness Procedures › Rule 28-301-35.10 - Aftermath and Recovery

Current through June 25, 2024
Following a tropical storm or hurricane striking near the
				  Port, the mission of the Port Authority is to:
A. First, help local, State, and federal
				emergency agencies in the immediate protection of life and safety of the
				public. Second, with the assistance of appropriate State and federal agencies,
				reestablish commercial, deep-water cargo activities at the facilities of the
				Port. Third, reestablish other business activities at the Port.
B. Following a hurricane or tropical storm
				striking near the Port, all employees of the Port Authority will attempt to
				contact their respective supervisors within six (6) hours of the storm passing
				inland. All employees are expected to return to work as soon as practicable and
				feasible, but should exercise caution in traveling back to work. All employees
				are needed as soon as possible for recovery efforts; therefore, employees
				should attempt to contact their respective supervisors for recovery effort
				schedule information. Each employee will be provided with an emergency contact
				list to use as needed prior to and after the storm.
A. The following recovery process will be
				followed for placing the Port back into operation:
1. If the Port Authority has established a
				Temporary Command Center, the Executive Director, all senior directors, and
				consulting engineers will assemble at the Port Authority's Temporary Command
				Center as soon as possible following the storm passing inland. Any member
				unable to travel to the Command Center will contact the Command Center by
				telephone, if possible.
2.
				Communications will be reestablished with the Coast Guard COTP, Mobile, the
				Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Office in Mobile, and the Army Corp of Engineers
				in Mobile to coordinate with PEAT and in consultation with the Gulfport Pilots
				Association.
3. The Operations
				Department will, as soon as possible, report to the main West Gates at the
				Port. No one will be permitted to enter the Port without prior approval of a
				Port Director. Engineering and maintenance personnel will, as soon as possible,
				report to the West Terminal Operations Offices for job assignments in
				conducting a full condition survey of the Port.
4. When possible, a full condition survey
				will be made of all Port facilities and navigation leading to and from the
				Port. The results of this condition survey need to be transmitted to the
				applicable parties immediately after its completion. The Port will be reopened
				to inbound and outbound traffic at the completion of the survey, and when the
				U.S. Coast Guard and the Gulfport Pilots Association deem the channel safe for
				transit. Should a tropical storm or hurricane restrict navigation in or around
				the Port, the U.S. Coast Guard is to be informed so that a Notice to Mariners
				may be issued indicating same.
5.
				The Executive Director or his or her designee will establish contact with
				appropriate municipal, county, State, and federal authorities to seek
				assistance for early reactivation of the Port and to offer assistance when
				possible.
6. A special meeting of
				the Board of Port Commissioners will be called when practicable to review
				damage reports and plans for restoration of Port operations.