Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
But for incidents beyond that, which are larger in scope, then the PHO is going
to be involved in a variety of ways. Moreover, the PHO must also be able to answer
a variety of questions immediately after an incident occurs to determine what kind
of response is needed. The questions listed below are among those that the PHO
needs to think about, and will be expounded upon later in this chapter.
What Is the Incident?
The answer to this question will of course determine all courses of action related
to the questions below. What might be a significant and sufficient response for
one type of incident (such as coordinating to assist first responders in getting to
an explosion scene as quickly as possible to perform rescue/recovery operations)
may be completely inappropriate in a suspected hazardous materials incident, for
example, where the first goal would be to identify the problem and clear as many
people from the area as possible.
When Can the PHO Help?
An Incident Commander under an Incident Command System (ICS) procedure is
probably going to be in place already by the time the PHO gets word of a significant
incident that will require his/her involvement and response. But when can the PHO
help? Have training exercises and materials been developed that clearly indicate when
the PHO will be a part of the emergency management effort? Are there resources
that the PHO needs to call upon that will not be immediately available, such as sup-
plies from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), that even with everything func-
tioning properly, might see more than 12 hours pass before necessary medicines and
supplies arrive to an affected area? How quickly can the PHO provide necessary
resources to an incident commander if those resources need to come from outside
his/her agency? For example, a medical or research doctor from outside the area who
may have particular expertise with emerging threats from outbreaks such as H5N1,
“Avian Influenza”, or other biological/chemical agents that might be deployed in
a terrorist attack (or unleashed as a result of a spill or unintentional incident).
Who Is Involved?
When state and federal resources are called in, who is the point of contact to
make sure everything is delivered efficiently and effectively? Who does the PHO
absolutely have to keep open lines of communication with in the wake of a major
disaster or terrorist attack? Who coordinates the information gathering and dis-
semination in such a situation, making sure that the public is not overly panicked,
