Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism
Gaston County Emergency Operations Plan

Coordinating Agencies: Health Department
  Law Enforcement
  Emergency Management
   
Cooperating Agencies: County Administration
  Emergency Medical Services
  Rescue Squads
  Fire Departments
  Hospital
  Others as required or requested
   
   
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.
 
II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
 
  A. Situation
 
    1. Facilities, occupancies and conditions exist within Gaston County that are subject to acts of terrorism, including the use of weapons of mass destruction.
 
    2. Acts of terrorism could negatively impact the county's economy and the ability to deliver services.
 
    3. Municipalities within the county are responsible for initiating and coordinating response actions within their jurisdictions.
 
    4. Gaston County is responsible for initiating and coordinating response actions within the unincorporated areas.
 
    5. A threat to the public safety/health of Gaston County citizens from acts of terrorism exists.
 
    6. Extensive multi‑agency/multi-jurisdiction response and coordination are necessary to resolve or recover from the WMD situations.
 
    7. Local resources are inadequate/depleted and significant mutual aid, state and/or federal resources must be utilized to resolve the emergency situation.
 
    8. The disaster affects multiple political jurisdictions within the county, which are relying on the same emergency resources to resolve the emergency situation.
 
  B. Assumptions
 
    1. Explosive weapons are the most likely devices for potential WMD incidents.
 
    2. Chemical releases are the second most likely source of WMD incidents.
 
    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.
 
    4. Coordinated response is essential to satisfactory response.
 
    5. Significant state and federal resources will respond making Unified Incident Command Systems essential for a successful response.
 
III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
  A. General
 
    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.
 
    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.
 
    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.
 
    4. Fire fighters, law enforcement personnel, rescue squad members and EMS personnel are responsible to train and recognize incidents involving WMD.
 
    5. The local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction is responsible to establish scene control.
 
IV. DIRECTION AND CONTROL
 
  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.
 
  B. GEMS is the lead agency for patient assessment and pre-hospital patient care.
 
  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.
 
  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.
 
  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).
 
V. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT

 The line of succession is:
 
  A. Local Law Enforcement and Unified Command
 
  B. State Law Enforcement
 
  C. Federal Law Enforcement
 
  D. Office of Emergency Management
 

Attachment 1
Bioterrorism
 
     
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.
 
II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
 
  A. Situation
 
    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.
 
    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.
 
  B. Assumptions
 
    1. A local emergency will be proclaimed for a bioterrorism event.
 
    2. The Gaston County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) may not be fully activated or staffed during the early stages of a bioterrorism event.
 
    3. A bioterrorism event may not be discovered until related infectious disease begins to appear in the population.
 
    4. A bioterrorism event may be caused by any biological agent. This plan assumes that a contagious disease agent has been used.
 
    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.
 
III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
  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:
 
    1. Recognize and characterize the event as quickly as possible;
 
    2. Determine the extent and contain the spread of disease;
 
    3. Treat victims and provide appropriate prophylaxis to minimize the effects of the biological agent employed;
 
    4. Provide timely and accurate information and guidance to affected populations and responding organizations; and
 
    5. Regional collaboration to maximize the use of regional resources.
 
  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.
 
  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:
 
    1. Biologic agent(s) involved
 
    2. Population threatened
 
    3. Geography
 
    4. Capability of emergency responders
 
    5. Time factors involved
 
    6. Current and predicted weather
 
    7. Ability to communicate with the public
 
    8. Transportation infrastructure
 
  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.
 
  E. 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.
 
  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.
 
  G. Roles and Responsibilities:
 
    1. Gaston County Health Department

  • Serve as the lead Incident Command agency.
     

  • Conduct continuous surveillance, reporting and investigation of infectious disease cases and contacts.
     

  • Provide staff to screen entrants to EOC and other critical response facilities as directed by the Health Director.
     

  • Report all cases of suspected or confirmed bioterrorism to law enforcement and the State of North Carolina.
     

  • Provide for chemoprophylaxis and/or vaccination of affected populations.
     

  • Maintain critical services to the maximum extent possible consistent with the overall health situation.
    2. Health Director

  • Serve as Incident Commander.
     

  • Take measures to control the spread or further occurrence of any contagious infections, or communicable disease.
     

  • Inspect any place or person necessary to enforce health regulations.
     

  • Direct/restrict persons from entering or leaving quarantined areas as necessary.
     

  • Direct/restrict movement of vehicles, commodities, household goods, and animals from entering or leaving quarantined areas as necessary.
     

  • Direct/restrict direct contact between persons under quarantine and those not affected.
     

  • Direct the destruction of beddings, carpets, household goods, furnishings, materials, clothing, or animals when disinfecting would be unsafe.
     

  • Take any other action(s) necessary to preserve the public health.
    3. Law Enforcement

  • Coordinate closely with the Health Director to ensure proper chain of custody of biologic samples and other potential evidence.
     

  • Provide assistance to the Health Director to enforce Public Health measures including isolation and quarantine.
    4. Fire Services

  • Provide personnel decontamination support as required.
     

  • Provide Hazmat team/personnel with appropriate personal protective equipment for biologic agents.
     

  • Coordinate closely with law enforcement to preserve evidence and ensure proper chain-of custody during suspected or confirmed bioterrorism events.
     

  • Provide advice and consultation to Incident Commander on levels and extent of decontamination needed.
    5. Gaston County Medical Examiner
  • Coordinate the recovery, tracking, temporary storage, quarantine, decontamination or disposal of potentially contaminated human remains.
    6. Gaston County School System
  • Make selected school facilities available to support protection actions.
    7. Gaston County Medical/Health Care Facilities

  • Notify GCHD immediately of any suspected bioterrorism-related patient symptoms, trends, and/or laboratory test results.
     

  • Provide decontamination of patients and coordinate with EOC for additional support as needed.
     

  • Provide chemoprophylaxis and vaccination in accordance with established protocols.
     

  • Provide for isolation of victims and other infection control measures within capabilities.
     

  • Coordinate with EOC for special mass care and sheltering requirements.
    8. Gaston Emergency Medical Services
  • Provide field medical care as needed and coordinate necessary medical transportation.
     
  • Will be expanded by volunteer rescue squads, fire service agencies with medical capabilities, and recall off duty personnel as needed.
     
  • Establish appropriate patient triage, holding, treatment and transportation areas.
    9. Animal Control

  • Coordinate identification, transport and care/destruction of potentially contaminated animals.
     

  • Consult with IC/Health Director on available resources for euthanasia and disposal of affected animals.
IV. DIRECTION AND CONTROL
 
  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.
 
  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.
 
  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.
 
V. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT

The line of succession is:
 
  A. Health
 
    1. Health Director
 
    2. Assistant Health Director
 
    3.  Environmental Health Administrator
 
  B. Law Enforcement
 
  C. Emergency Management