PURPOSE
This annex provides for protection of the public during
disasters that can lead to situations that would cause a
need for expansion of the daily activities provided by
the Gaston County Health Department, Gaston County
Mental Health Agency and the Gaston County Medical
Examiner.
II.
SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
A.
Situation
1.
Most emergency situations can lead to public health
problems.
2.
A well‑planned health support network is essential
during emergency situations.
3.
Depending on the nature of the incident, complications
may include general health problems, communicable
disease, contamination of food and water and mental
health ailments.
4.
The release of toxic or hazardous materials may result
in air, water or soil contamination in addition to
public exposure.
5.
A mass fatality in Gaston County would severely affect
the capability of the County Medical Examiner's office
and outside resources would be needed.
B.
Assumptions
1.
A large-scale emergency may result in increased demands
on health related personnel.
2.
Many injuries, both minor and relatively severe, will be
self‑treated by the public.
3.
Resources available through area and regional medical,
health and mortuary services mutual aid agreements will
be provided.
4.
When local resources can no longer meet the demand of
the situation, state agencies will be contacted to
provide additional resources and/or to assume control of
the response.
5.
Catastrophic disasters may affect large areas of the
county and health resources may be damaged, destroyed,
or unavailable.
6.
Within the National Response Framework, public health
and medical services is an Emergency Support Function (ESF-8)
and incorporates public health, medical, mental health
services and mass fatality management.
III.
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A.
General
1.
Emergency operations for Public Health Services will be
an extension of normal agency and facility duties.
2.
Coordination between Health/Medical providers is
necessary to ensure emergency operational readiness.
B.
Health
1.
The primary concern of public health is disease control.
The GastonCounty
Department of Health will implement effective
environmental health, nursing and health education
practices to minimize the incidence of disease. This
service is unique to the county and includes services to
the municipalities.
2.
Frequent inspections of damaged housing and emergency
shelters will be necessary to determine the need for
emergency repairs, pest control, sanitation, or other
protective procedures.
3.
Private water supplies may need to be inspected by the
Health Department due to their proximity to flood areas
or a hazardous materials incident. The Health Department
will respond to requests by residents as needed in
addition to identification of areas that may need
mandatory inspection.
4.
As incidents dictate the Director of the Gaston County
Health Department will make recommendations for
immunizations or other preventive measures.
5.
The Health Director will assure nursing coverage is
identified for local shelters as needed. The Health
Department will staff Gaston County
special needs
shelters when activated.
6.
The Gaston County Health Department has limited
capability to provide some minor lab analysis. This is
supplemented by contracts with private labs and the labs
of the State Health Department.
C.
Mental Health
1.
Gaston County Mental Health Agency will coordinate
activities with the Emergency Management Administrator
to provide services for the public and emergency
workers.
2.
Mental Health will be a support agency for coordination
of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Teams and any
needed follow up. Request for debriefing teams will be
directed to the Gaston County Office of Emergency
Management.
D.
Mortuary
1.
The Gaston County Medical Examiner will take charge of
the proper recovery of human remains.
2.
Coordination with the North Carolina Medical Examiners
Office will be essential in the event of mass fatalities
and the need for identification and determination of
cause of death. This coordination will be a
co-responsibility of the Emergency Management
Administrator and the County Medical Examiner.
3.
Expansion of morgue capability will be done utilizing
resources from the State and the County.
IV.
DIRECTION AND CONTROL
A.
Emergency public health operations will be directed by
the Health Director.
B.
The Gaston County Medical Examiner will direct and
control all activities connected with identification of
the dead and mortuary services.
C.
The Health Director will maintain control and
communications with their field forces and will keep the
EOC informed of activities performed along with
personnel and equipment needed to maintain adequate
response and recovery efforts.
Review
mutual aid agreements to ensure such agreements
are formalized.
Implement mutual aid as necessary, requested or
required.
Survey
local hospitals to determine what (if any)
resources may be available to support public
health.
Survey
local pharmacies to determine if they have ample
supplies of medications.
Survey
other agencies and organizations to determine
actual or potential public health needs.
Review
and prepare to implement other
annexes to the
Emergency Operations Plan relative to Public
Health (i.e.
Terrorism, etc.).
Prepare information and give a situational
briefing to Public Health supervisors.
Public Health Supervisors
When
notified, report to a designated briefing area
(not the EOC) and receive a situational briefing
from the Director of Public Health or designee.
Receive mission or specific assignments.
Ask
questions and address public health concerns.
Advise
the Director or designee of the availability of
equipment and supplies, including the number of
personnel and their qualifications, that may be
available.
Advise
the Director or designee of any special
equipment, medications to dispense to the public
or personnel needs that are immediately known.
Prepare your department, division or section
according to the information received during the
situational briefing.
Prepare your own situational briefing to give to
personnel in your department, division or
section and include at least the following:
Procedures,
policies or guidelines specific to
any assignment received during the
situational briefing.
Maps of affected
areas.
Specific areas of
concern to Public Health.
Forms that may be
necessary.
Safety.
Location of
security checkpoints, roadblocks,
etc.
Location of fuel,
food, other supplies.
Telephone numbers
of key public health personnel.
Specific
assignments.
Ensure
personnel are advised to accurately record
vehicle mileage of county-owned vehicles used by
Public Health.
Ensure
personnel are advised to accurately record
overtime and file reports with their immediate
supervisor.
Ensure
personnel are advised to accurately record
expenses incurred in the performance of their
duty and file reports with their immediate
supervisor.
Issue
equipment or supplies (.i.e. gloves, face
shields, etc.).
When
requested, report to the Emergency Operations
Center and serve until relieved or the incident
is terminated.
Receive a situational briefing from the Health
Director and/or the EOC. Ask questions and
address behavioral healthcare concerns.
Receive mission or specific assignments from the
Health Director and/or the EOC.
Advise
the Health Director and/or EOC of the
availability of response resources, including
the number of personnel and equipment that may
be available.
When
requested, report to the Emergency Operations
Center and serve until relieved or the incident
is terminated.
Receive a situational briefing from the Health
Director and/or the EOC. Ask questions and
address concerns.
Receive mission or specific assignments from the
Health Director and/or the EOC.
Advise
the Health Director and/or EOC of the
availability of response resources, including
the number of personnel and equipment that may
be available.
Advise
the Health Director and/or EOC of any special
equipment, supplies, facilities or personnel
needs that are immediately known.
Prepare to direct and control mobile mortuary.
Request, through the Health Director and/or EOC,
additional resources such as DMORT (Disaster
Mortuary Operations Response Team).
Other
specific duties may be anticipated by reviewing
additional
annexes to the Emergency Operations Plan,
such as
Terrorism, etc.
