Office of Emergency Services*

Conclusions 2

• CL1
  Natural and man-made disasters outside of Trinity County were discussed. There was concern over residents from larger populated area traveling to the county for refuge and not having resources to accommodate the influx. —2— RECOMMEDATION #2: Develop a plan to regulate how many refugees come into the county, and what they must have in the way of supplies to maintain themselves.
• CL2
  Residents of Trinity County need to prepare themselves for at least two weeks without emergency services. Basic items include but should not be limited to food, water, medical supplies, flash-lights, non-electric telephone, money, etc. RESPONSES REQUIRED: Entity Finding Recommendation Respond in Board of Supervisors 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,6 90 days CAO 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,6 60 days TRINITY COUNTY Office of the County Administrator LARRY A. LAYTON County Administrative Officer P.O. BOX 1613, WEAVERVILLE, CALIFORNIA 96093-1613 PHONE (530) 623-1382 FAX (530) 623-8365 TO: The Honorable Anthony C. Edwards, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court FROM: Larry A. Layton, County Administrative Officer CC: Kelly Frost, Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors SUBJECT: Response to Recommendations of 2005-06 Grand Jury Environmental & Development Committee Office of Emergency Services Final Report DATE: August 15, 2006 The Grand Jury Environmental & Development Committee has requested a written response to their final report on the Office of Emergency Services. In my capacity as County Administrative Officer, my response is as follows: Finding #1: Funding critical programs remains a most important issue. (Recently, a grant was applied for but was denied.) Chief Smith discussed Title III funding and grants as a way to satisfy the need. He also reported that the funding issue have been discussed the FEMA through various fire chief associations and Under-Sheriff David Laffranchini. Response: I agree. Recommendation #1: Investigate the Title III and/or Grant funding for immediate repair/upgrade, of the emergency phone service repeaters. Response: Has been implemented. $245,000 in Title III funds have been earmarked for use in upgrading the emergency repeaters within the County. —5— Finding #2: Natural and man-made disasters outside of Trinity County were discussed. There was a concern over residents from larger populated area traveling to the county for refuge and not having resources to accommodate the influx. Recommendation #2: Develop a plan to regulate how many refugees come into the county, and what they must have in the way of supplies to maintain themselves. Response: Will not be implemented. The County does not have jurisdiction to determine how many people travel into (or out of) the County at any given time, nor can we require people looking for "refuge" to come adequately supplied. Finding #3: Another concern with all departments was, will the residences of Trinity County have supplies to maintain themselves andf amilies until help is organized. Recommendation #3: Publish a brochure outlining emergency evacuation procedures and temporary housing facilities and basic needs for survival. This publication could be included in the county tax billed mailed each year. • Response: Requires further analysis. I will meet with EMS/OES personnel to determine procedures and needs. It is doubtful this would be accomplished before December 31, 2006. We do not place bill stuffers in property tax bills. Finding #4: There is currently no plan in place to identify medically fragile citizens. The new 911 system is not able to do a "reverse address search" that would help in the event of emergencies. Response: I agree. Recommendation #4: Identify mmeeddiiccaallllyy fragile citizens through the disbursement of questionnaires. Placement could be made utilizing the Trinity Journal, the Golden Age Center or tax billings. A list of questions might include the following: A. Do you require evacuation assistance? B. Are friends or relatives available for immediate help? C. Do you have access to sufficient emergency supplies? Response: Will not be implemented. Although this identification is a good idea, the County does not have the manpower available to take on such a project. This would require continual updates. Also a great portion of the County's population does not have access to the Trinity Journal or the Golden Age Center. Renters do not have access to tax billings. Findings #5: Individual communities do not have designated meeting places to get information, report missing people, etc. -6- Response: I disagree in part. Most communities do have community gathering places, such as the post office or local general store, although there has been no formal designation. Recommendation #5: Establish a grid map system advising meeting locations for each community, such as the local school, for information and for displaced citizens to generate a missing persons list. Response: Will not be implemented. The County believes this recommendation would be best implemented by the individual communities with the assistance of the Fire Safe Council and County if requested. Findings #6: Support groups for the fire departments has been beneficial in helping to support the departments. Response: I agree. Recommendation #6: Aid in the continued establishment for fire department support groups, such as the volunteer auxiliaries. Response: Has been implemented. The County places great value on our volunteer fire departments and recognizes the importance of their support groups. LAL:wt RECEIVED OCT 1 2 2006 TRINITY COUNTY TRINITY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUPERIOR COURT P.O. BOX 1613, WEAVERVILLE, CA 96093 PHONE (530) 623-1217 FAX (530) 623-8398 TO: The Honorable Anthony C. Edwards FROM: Trinity County Board of Supervisors CC: Kelly Frost, Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors SUBJECT: Response to Recommendations of 2005-06 Grand Jury Environmental & Development Committee Final Report On Office of Emergency Services DATE October 3, 2006 .• ,•••• • The Grand Jury Environmental and Development Committee has requested a written response to their final report on The Office of Emergency Services. In my capacity as Chairman and on behalf of the Trinity County Board of Supervisors, my response is as follows: Finding #1: Funding critical programs remain a most important issue. (Recently, a grant was applied for but was denied.) Chief Smith discussed Title III funding and grants as a way to satisfy this need. He also reported that the funding issue have been discussed the FEMA through various fire chief associations and Under-Sheriff David Laffranchini. Response: The Board of Supervisors agrees with this finding. Recommendation #1: Investigate the Title III and/or Grant Funding for immediate repair/upgrade, of the emergency phone service repeaters. Response: This recommendation has been implemented and the Board of Supervisors has contributed $245,000 of Title III money for this project. This project upgrade is currently being implemented. Finding #2: Natural and manmade-made disasters outside of Trinity County were discussed. There was concern over residents from larger populated area traveling to the county for refuge and not having resources to accommodate the influx. Response: The Board of Supervisors agrees with this finding. -8- Recommendation #2: Develop a plan to regulate how many refugees come into the county, and what they must have in the way of supplies to maintain themselves. Response: Will not be implemented. This would be too large a job and it must be remembered that the majority of these refugees will more than likely be traveling with everything they have. Finding #3: Another concern with all departments was, will the residences of Trinity County have supplies to maintain themselves and the families until help is organized. Response: The Board of Supervisors agrees with this finding, but believes the Red Cross and Salvation Army will be available early in the response to provide help needed. Recommendation #3: Publish a brochure outlining emergency evacuation procedures and temporary housing facilities and basic needs for survival. This publication could be included in the county tax billed mailed each year. Response #3: Will be implemented, however, nothing will be included in the county tax bill mailed each year. Perhaps it could be distributed by emergency agencies such as Red Cross, Volunteer Fire Departments etc. Finding #4: There is currently no plan in place to identify medically fragile citizens. The new 911 system is not able to do a "reverse address search" that would help in the event of emergencies. Response #4: The Board of Supervisors agrees with this finding. Recommendation #4: Identify medically fragile citizens through the disbursement of questionnaires. Placement could be made utilizing the Trinity Journal, the Golden Age Center or tax billings. A list of questions might include the following: A. Do you require evacuation assistance? B. Are friends or relatives available for immediate help? C. Do you have access to sufficient emergency supplies? Response #4: Will be implemented, except the part of using Tax Billings. Nothing will be placed in the Tax Billing notices each year. Finding #5: Individual communities do not have designated meeting places to get information, report missing people etc. Response: The Board of Supervisors agrees with this finding. -9- Recommendation #5: Establish a grid map system advising meeting locations for each community, such as the local school, for information and for displaced citizens to generate a missing persons list. Response: Will be implemented. Each community should be encouraged to establish a plan. They might get assistance from the local Red Cross. Finding #6: Support groups for the fire departments have been beneficial in helping to support the departments. Response: The Board of Supervisors agrees with this finding. Recommendation #6: Aid in the continued establishment of fire department support groups, such as the volunteer auxiliaries. Response: Will be implemented. The Board of Supervisors agrees that all communities should be encouraged to support their local departments.

No Responses Found 2

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.