Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
not underestimating the gravity of the incident, and accurately informed of what
their immediate, short-term, and long-term next steps should be?
Your Training Plan in Action
This section will discuss a sample incident that could occur in your jurisdiction
and provide a walk-through of what actions must be taken, who must be contacted,
and other important things to remember related to the PHO's role in an emergency
response scenario. This will also help to summarize the information presented
throughout the rest of this chapter.
What Is the Incident?
The type of incident at hand will always determine what type of response is needed.
The time to decide how to respond to incidents that vary in type and severity is
not
after the incident occurs. This is where the preparedness stage of the Emergency
Management cycle is critical.
As part of the training and preparedness process, the PHO must, through his/
her agency and with the cooperation of other agencies and neighboring jurisdic-
tions, lay out specific plans for how to respond to various types of incidents. Your
department must understand the fundamental differences in responding during
the aftermath of a tornado strike in your jurisdiction and a terrorist attack or other
large-scale explosion that causes not only casualties, but disruption of services and
supplies that the public would view as basic needs.
Although it may sound like painstaking work, the PHO must partner with those
in his/her agency, surrounding jurisdictions, and other organizations to develop
plans on how to handle each type of incident. For example, your agency may have
the following types of plans (general examples): strong aftermath response, natural
disaster reponse, nonnatural disaster response (nonterrorist), terrorist attack.
Storm Aftermath Response
This will cover how the PHO will be involved in Emergency Management responses
to tornadoes, hurricanes, and even severe thunderstorms that may cause damage in
critical areas such that a Public Health response is needed.
Natural Disaster Response
If you work in an area that lies on or near fault lines, you must have a plan in place
to deal with emergency response in the wake of an earthquake. Or, if you work in
a coastal area, plan for the possible response need in the wake of a tidal wave that
could affect your jurisdiction—even if the earthquake or other event that causes
