Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Purpose: To describe what, in general, actions should be taken in the aftermath of an incident to
provide the most coordination with other local, state, and federal responders and to best serve
the public's needs.
0-3 Hours after Incident:
• Determine what localities are afected by the incident
• Determine what parts of the possible Public Health response have also been afected and/or
cut off by the incident itself
• Coordinate with other local agencies and if necessary, Public Health agencies from other
jurisdictions
• Determine who has been assigned as the Incident Commander
• Determine if an Emergency Operations Center is being opened
• If so, who from the Public Health oice will be the liaison to the EOC?
3-6 Hours after Incident:
• Assign a Public Information Oicer (PIO) to update the population on what has happened,
the state of recovery, and any next steps they need to take (evacuation, vaccination,
protecting their homes, etc.)
• Begin coordination of volunteer efort for donated blood, food, water, and other supplies
• Contact the Strategic National Stockpile if it's deemed necessary, based on the type of
incident and medicinal supplies available in the locality
• Begin serious coordination with other jurisdictions and state and federal agencies, as by this
time their will be involvement from all levels of government depending on the severity and
type of the incident
6-12 Hours after Incident and Beyond:
• Have shelters up and running for the public
• Have facilities available to handle mass casualties, if necessary
• Begin consulting with environmental, transportation, utility and facilities experts to
determine what long-term plans are going to be needed for recovery, in addition to the
short-term plans for continuing to deal with the aftermath of the incident for those with
immediate needs
• Determine if any other specialized assistance from state or federal agencies are necessary
based on the severity/type of the incident
• Is a quarantine facility necessary in the case of Avian Inluenza or other biological, chemical
attack/incident
Figure 6.3
Public Health response: a timeline.
will only make the overall response less efficient, along with making the Public
Health response less effective.
The types of people that the PHO needs to contact after an incident will always
depend on the incident itself. A chemical plant or refinery explosion that spreads
flames, smoke, and potentially hazardous fumes over a densely populated region in
