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Supervisor Novasel recommending the Board:
1) Receive a presentation by representatives of the Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services and the Chief Administrative Office's Emergency Preparedness and Response Program on their efforts to educate the residents of El Dorado County on the importance of individuals, households, and each community taking steps to be prepared for a disaster or emergency, and the role of these county programs in responding to local emergencies and disasters; and
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign a Proclamation recognizing September 2019 as National Preparedness Month. (Est. Time: 30 Min.)
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El Dorado County has experienced catastrophic wildfires, "low snow" storms, extreme heat events, extended power and utility failures, flooding, and in 2009 the nationwide H1N1 influenza pandemic. El Dorado County's location along Highway 50 also puts the County at risk for transportation emergencies, such as hazardous materials spills, avalanche and landslide.
The mission of the El Dorado County Office of Emergency Services is to help the residents of El Dorado County prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies which threaten life, property, or the environment.
In 1994, the Board of Supervisors designated the Sheriff's Office the responsibility for managing the County's Office of Emergency Services (OES). Sheriff's Office employees assigned to the OES work in collaboration with Fire Services, Emergency Medical Services, hospitals, schools, and public and private agencies to implement preparedness programs, develop emergency response plans, and conduct training drills.
Included as part of the responsibility of managing the County's Office of Emergency Services, the Sheriff's Office determines when to activate the Emergency Operations Center. Activation of the Emergency Operations Center (OEC) facilitates the sharing of information and resources between the county, the Operational Area cities, and other agencies. This allows EOC staff to efficiently:
* Meet the immediate needs of people (rescue, medical care, food, shelter, clothing),
* Work towards temporary restoration of facilities essential to the health, safety, and welfare of individuals (sanitation, water, electricity, road, street, and highway repairs),
* Meet the rehabilitation needs of people (temporary housing, food stamps, employment).
The El Dorado County Chief Administrative Office’s, Emergency Preparedness &
Response Program, in collaboration with their partners, plans and practices responses to such events to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Local hazards include:
* Wildfire
* Extreme Cold/Winter Storms
* Extreme Heat
* Utility Failures/Power Outages
* Flooding
* Hazardous Materials Incidents
* Landslide/Avalanche
* Structural Fire/Explosion
* Flu/Immunization Clinics
The El Dorado County Health & Human Services Agency, Public Health Division partners with hospitals, healthcare providers, and agencies, such as Environmental Management, to develop plans to collaboratively respond during a local public health emergency. The Public Health Division emergency response activities:
* Investigate and control communicable disease outbreaks.
* Manage an epidemic or pandemic.
* Organize Point of Dispensing (POD) sites to provide preventive medications and vaccines to residents.
* Request, manage and distribute materials from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).
* Perform rapid health needs assessments and give recommendations to decision makers.
* Perform coordination through the Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator Program (MHOAC)
* Provide consultation and education to health care providers, emergency responders and the public on issues related to communicable disease, and other health issues.
* Coordinate with the Office of Emergency Services and the American Red Cross in support of shelter operations for evacuated residents.
El Dorado County Animal Services as part of the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency is also part of this partnership that responds to provide assistance to pet and livestock owners during disasters, emergencies and evacuations including the establishment of emergency pet/livestock shelter sites.
Emergency Preparedness & Response, Public Health and Animal Services work closely with the El Dorado County Office of Emergency Services (OES), which has a Countywide Disaster Plan. During a local disaster or emergency, OES organizes a response and calls on partnering agencies to participate in that response.
In addition to responding to disasters and emergencies, each of these County programs provides information and resources to assist residents in preparing for a disaster or an emergency. These efforts include information from OES on what residents can expect in term of the local multi-agency response to an emergency and to encourage residents to sign-up for the CodeRED program. Emergency Preparedness & Response provides information on preparing a personal, household and family emergency evacuation and communication plan; the types of personal items, documents and supplies to consider including as part of a "Go Bag" in the event of an immediate evacuation; and the resources and services the County provides to residents during different disasters and emergencies. Animal Services provides information on preparing for the evacuation and care of pets and livestock that includes suggestions for pet/livestock identification, creation of preparedness kits, and planning ahead for the use of crates and trailers needed for evacuation.