With terrorism so much in the
national news lately, the Board of Supervisors requested that the Director of Public
Health, Dr. David Herfindahl, provide an update on local expenditures for Homeland
Security. Since September 11 of 2001, Congress has invested more than $3.7 billion to
strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure. Some of this money has come to Siskiyou
County in three large “pots” - earmarked for specific purposes. (This does not
include efforts of the incorporated cities, which are developing their own plans.)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have awarded the
County $165,000 per year to assess readiness and plan for potential bioterrorism and
health emergencies. This includes looking at diagnosis and treatment capacity, improving
communication systems, providing training and outreach.
This “pot” of money has been directed toward the purchase
of radio equipment and developing an operations center with ham radio, wireless and backup
power capabilities. First responders have received “hazmat” (hazardous
materials) training. Personnel have received Standardized Emergency Management System
(SEMS,) National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) training. There have been “tabletop”
exercises to simulate incidents. There have been field exercises to simulate a bomb threat
at the hospital and a pneumonic plague terrorist event. TV shows and news paper articles
have been disseminated on the smallpox mass immunization plan and West Nile virus.
The California Department of Health Services (CDHS) has also worked
cooperatively with the county on hospital planning and preparedness to respond to
chemical/hazmat events, bioterrorism or non-terrorist events, such as epidemics or rare
diseases. The effort includes outlying clinics and has improved the health system’s
ability to “surge” in response to events.
The Department of Homeland Security has provided Weapons of Mass
Destruction (WMD) Grants ranging from $140,205
in 2002 to $318,190 in 2004. These are earmarked for equipment to be used in the event of
terrorism. The County Office of Emergency Services (OES) has purchased three hazmat
decontamination trailers that can be sent to outlying areas. OES has also purchased
personal protective equipment, (such as respirators,) for the use of first responders in
law enforcement, emergency medical services and fire/rescue. The grants also require the
development of a coordinated plan among local fire, police, emergency management, and
public health partners for response to incidents involving WMD.
Federal, State and County goals are to strengthen the ability of the
public health system to: (1)Accurately and rapidly detect, control and prevent illness and
injury from biological terrorism and infectious disease outbreaks; (2) Develop a “seamless”
response to potential acts of bioterrorism that includes public health, medical care and
emergency/disaster management systems; and (3) Ensure that rapid and secure communication
exists among public health and public-private sectors during an event.
In the case of an emergency, everyone should know to tune into their
local radio station (KSYC) for instructions. It
is also important that individuals take responsibility for themselves in preparing for any
emergency event. The Red Cross provides suggestions for maintaining minimum water,
food and other supplies, instructions for “sheltering in place” and for
developing a family plan for emergencies. (Most folks in outlying areas already know that
it is possible to be snowed-in and without power for as much as a week or more and plan
supplies accordingly.) http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_500_,00.html As residents in the Iron Gate and Redding area are
aware, it is also prudent to prepare for the possibility that you may be evacuated in the
event of a wildfire.
Many communities now have a local Neighborhood Watch group.
http://www.usaonwatch.org/ These groups may
collect and maintain lists of disabled or elderly individuals in a community who have
indicated that they could be in need of special assistance in case of a power outage or
need for evacuation. We also anticipate that CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
training will be provided by Public Health in the near future.
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/cert/ |
