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I. |
PURPOSE
This annex outlines Gaston County's vulnerability to
acts of Terrorism and use of Weapons of Mass
Destruction, and how county agencies will respond to
such incidents.
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II. |
SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
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A. |
Situation
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1. |
Facilities, occupancies and conditions exist within
Gaston County that are subject to acts of terrorism,
including the use of weapons of mass destruction.
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2. |
Acts of terrorism could negatively impact the county's
economy and the ability to deliver services.
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3. |
Municipalities within the county are responsible for
initiating and coordinating response actions within
their jurisdictions.
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4. |
Gaston County is responsible for initiating and
coordinating response actions within the unincorporated
areas.
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5. |
A threat to the public safety/health of Gaston County
citizens from acts of terrorism exists.
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6. |
Extensive multi‑agency/multi-jurisdiction response and
coordination are necessary to resolve or recover from
the WMD situations.
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7. |
Local resources are inadequate/depleted and significant
mutual aid, state and/or federal resources must be
utilized to resolve the emergency situation.
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8. |
The disaster affects multiple political jurisdictions
within the county, which are relying on the same
emergency resources to resolve the emergency situation.
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B. |
Assumptions
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1. |
Explosive weapons are the most likely devices for
potential WMD incidents.
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2. |
Chemical releases are the second most likely source of
WMD incidents.
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3. |
Law Enforcement, Medical, Rescue and Fire responders are
likely to be first to encounter and identify incidents
involving weapons of mass destruction. Immediate
recognition of such incidents is essential to achieve a
desirable outcome from the response.
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4. |
Coordinated response is essential to satisfactory
response.
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5. |
Significant state and federal resources will respond
making Unified Incident Command Systems essential for a
successful response.
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III. |
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
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A. |
General
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1. |
Emergency operations shall include all activities
directed toward reduction of the immediate hazard,
establishing situation control and restoration of normal
operations within the county.
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2. |
The responsibility for the direction and control of
disaster situations within Gaston County is vested
in the County Board of Commissioners or municipal
elected officials in their respective jurisdictions and
is routinely exercised through the Emergency Management
Administrator for Gaston County or the City/Town Manager
for the municipality. FEMA is the lead federal agency
and the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management
is the lead state agency in consequence management.
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3. |
Operations will be conducted under a unified incident
command system (ICS) and
NIMS. A joint command will be
established, where each responsible agency will have a
representative.
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4. |
Fire fighters, law enforcement personnel, rescue squad
members and EMS personnel are responsible to train and
recognize incidents involving WMD.
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5. |
The local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction is
responsible to establish scene control.
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IV. |
DIRECTION AND CONTROL
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A. |
The local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction is
the lead investigative agency for criminal
activities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is
the lead federal agency for Crisis Management and will
assume the lead role in coordination of federal response
to and investigation of terrorism incidents.
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B. |
GEMS is the lead agency for patient assessment and
pre-hospital patient care.
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C. |
Gaston County Police Department (in unincorporated areas
and in smaller municipalities) and Gastonia Police
Department (in Gastonia's city limits) are responsible
for explosive and incendiary device demolition and
disposal.
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D. |
Gastonia Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Team is
responsible to handle control and containment of
chemical incidents and to provide decontamination of
individuals exposed to hazardous substances.
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E. |
When incidents involve explosive devices that also pose
chemical contamination threat, there is a cooperative effort
between the Hazardous Materials Team and Hazardous
Device Team(s).
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V. |
CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
The line of succession is:
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A. |
Local Law Enforcement and Unified Command
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B. |
State Law Enforcement
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C. |
Federal Law Enforcement
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D. |
Office of Emergency Management
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Attachment 1
Bioterrorism
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I. |
PURPOSE
This Attachment is to be used as part of the Gaston
County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Weapons of Mass
Destruction and Terrorism Annex and other referenced
plans, manuals and protocols to form an integrated
response to a suspected or confirmed bioterrorism event
that affects Gaston County.
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II. |
SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
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A. |
Situation
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1. |
For the purposes of this Annex, bioterrorism is defined
as follows:
The deliberate use of any naturally occurring,
synthesized or bioengineered microorganism, virus,
infectious substance, or biological agent in violation
of the criminal laws of the United States or of the
State of North Carolina, to intimidate or coerce a
government, the civilian population, or any segment
thereof in furtherance of political or social
objectives.
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2. |
The potential for a bioterrorism attack against Gaston
County is small, but present. A bioterrorism event
anywhere could affect Gaston County. An event in the
heavily populated Charlotte/Mecklenburg area is much
more likely. Any such attack would likely impact Gaston
County due to the pattern of traffic flow and
intermingling of populations. The results of such an
attack, however unlikely, are potentially catastrophic
and require a planned response.
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B. |
Assumptions
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1. |
A local emergency will be proclaimed for a bioterrorism
event.
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2. |
The Gaston County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) may
not be fully activated or staffed during the early
stages of a bioterrorism event.
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3. |
A bioterrorism event may not be discovered until related
infectious disease begins to appear in the population.
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4. |
A bioterrorism event may be caused by any biological
agent. This plan assumes that a contagious disease agent
has been used.
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5. |
The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) of
pharmaceuticals and equipment will be available in
addition to other Federal support in accordance with the
National Response Framework.
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III. |
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
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A. |
The response to a bioterrorism event affecting Gaston
County will be an integrated response by the Gaston
County government, municipalities and towns and private
sector health care providers located in Gaston County.
Assistance from external sources will be requested as
needed through the Gaston County Emergency Operations
Center (EOC) using the National Incident Management
System (NIMS). The response strategy will be based on
five goals:
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1. |
Recognize and characterize the event as quickly as
possible;
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2. |
Determine the extent and contain the spread of disease;
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3. |
Treat victims and provide appropriate prophylaxis to
minimize the effects of the biological agent employed;
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4. |
Provide timely and accurate information and guidance to
affected populations and responding organizations; and
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5. |
Regional collaboration to maximize the use of regional
resources.
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B. |
The Gaston County Health Department (GCHD) will serve as
the lead Incident Command agency in determining the
extent and containing the spread of disease. Treatment
of victims and preventive measures for potentially
exposed people will be coordinated among GCHD, health
care providers, and public safety personnel through the
EOC using standard Incident Command System (ICS)
procedures.
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C. |
Protective Actions:
The Health Director serves as Incident Commander (IC)
for all suspected or confirmed bioterrorism events and
will determine the protective actions needed. The
determination is based on many factors including, but
not limited to, the following considerations:
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1. |
Biologic agent(s) involved
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2. |
Population threatened
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3. |
Geography
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4. |
Capability of emergency responders
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5. |
Time factors involved
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6. |
Current and predicted weather
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7. |
Ability to communicate with the public
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8. |
Transportation infrastructure
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D. |
Evacuation/Shelter in Place:
A bioterrorism event may take place in conjunction with
other emergency/disaster events. In that case, any
decision to evacuate or shelter in place and the areas
affected will have to be carefully evaluated in
consultation with the Health Director and other health
care professionals due to the potential complications of
toxins or infectious agents in the affected populations.
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Quarantine/Isolation:
The Health Director will determine the need for
isolation and/or quarantine. Quarantine and isolation
may be required to protect the public health and
ordering quarantine and/or isolation are within the
scope and authority of the Health Director.
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F. |
Mass Chemoprophylaxis/Vaccination:
The need for mass chemoprophylaxis and vaccination will
immediately overwhelm existing local resources, and it
will still be necessary to provide immediate treatment
and/or vaccinations. The overwhelming strain on locally
available medical personnel, equipment, facilities and
medications is recognized and additional support from
the state and federal government is anticipated.
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G. |
Roles and Responsibilities:
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1. |
Gaston County Health Department
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Serve as the lead Incident Command agency.
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Conduct continuous surveillance, reporting and
investigation of infectious disease cases and
contacts.
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Provide staff to screen entrants to EOC and other
critical response facilities as directed by the
Health Director.
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Report all cases of suspected or confirmed
bioterrorism to law enforcement and the State of
North Carolina.
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Provide for chemoprophylaxis and/or vaccination of
affected populations.
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Maintain critical services to the maximum extent
possible consistent with the overall health
situation.
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2. |
Health Director
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Serve as Incident Commander.
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Take measures to control the spread or further
occurrence of any contagious infections, or
communicable disease.
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Inspect any place or person necessary to enforce
health regulations.
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Direct/restrict persons from entering or leaving
quarantined areas as necessary.
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Direct/restrict movement of vehicles, commodities,
household goods, and animals from entering or
leaving quarantined areas as necessary.
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Direct/restrict direct contact between persons under
quarantine and those not affected.
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Direct the destruction of beddings, carpets,
household goods, furnishings, materials, clothing,
or animals when disinfecting would be unsafe.
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Take any other action(s) necessary to preserve the
public health.
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3. |
Law Enforcement
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4. |
Fire Services
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Provide personnel decontamination support as
required.
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Provide Hazmat team/personnel with appropriate
personal protective equipment for biologic agents.
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Coordinate closely with law enforcement to preserve
evidence and ensure proper chain-of custody during
suspected or confirmed bioterrorism events.
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Provide advice and consultation to Incident
Commander on levels and extent of decontamination
needed.
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5. |
Gaston County Medical Examiner
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Coordinate the recovery, tracking, temporary
storage, quarantine, decontamination or disposal of
potentially contaminated human remains.
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6. |
Gaston County School System
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Make selected school facilities available to support
protection actions.
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7. |
Gaston County Medical/Health Care Facilities
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Notify GCHD immediately of any suspected
bioterrorism-related patient symptoms, trends,
and/or laboratory test results.
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Provide decontamination of patients and coordinate
with EOC for additional support as needed.
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Provide chemoprophylaxis and vaccination in
accordance with established protocols.
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Provide for isolation of victims and other infection
control measures within capabilities.
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Coordinate with EOC for special
mass care and
sheltering requirements.
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8. |
Gaston Emergency Medical Services
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Provide field medical care as needed and coordinate
necessary medical transportation.
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Will be expanded by volunteer rescue squads, fire
service agencies with medical capabilities, and
recall off duty personnel as needed.
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Establish appropriate patient triage, holding,
treatment and transportation areas.
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9. |
Animal Control
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IV. |
DIRECTION
AND CONTROL
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A. |
The response to a bioterrorism event affecting Gaston
County will be an integrated response by the Gaston
County government, municipalities and towns and private
sector health care providers located in Gaston County.
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B. |
The Gaston County Health Department shall be the lead
agency for determining if the event is a bioterrorism
event or a natural or technological event. Upon making
it's determination the Health Department shall integrate
into Unified Command within the Emergency Operations
Center.
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C. |
Law Enforcement within the jurisdiction, when
determination is made that the event is a bioterrorism
event, shall assume the lead in further / continued
investigation. In all cases A. above shall apply.
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V. |
CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
The line of succession is:
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A. |
Health
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1. |
Health Director
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2. |
Assistant Health Director
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3. |
Environmental
Health Administrator
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B. |
Law Enforcement
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C. |
Emergency Management
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