Modoc County ~heriff'~ Office*

R1

The OES administrator lacks OES experience but comes to the position with a wealth of knowledge about the duties and responsibilities, as well as a broad base of other experience that lends well to the requirements of the job and seems to be generally well liked and respected. F1 Response: Agreed

R2

Having the OES administrator handle the job, as well os running the financial department for both the OES and the Sheriff's department may pose a possible conflict of interest. Aside from this possible concern, having one person running three separate jobs seems inappropriate and it is suggested that these jobs be separated out so as to remove any conflicts of interest as well as freeing the administrator up to focus entirely on administrating the OES. These same concerns are roised pertoining to finding grants for the OES and the Sheriff's department. These duties should be shifted over to separate accountants already on staff in the Sheriff's department and the OES, respectively. F2, F3, F4 Response: The OES administrator wears many hats as does everyone in the Modoc County Sheriff's Office. County employees that are in rural areas often have many job duties. The Sheriff's office added an extra help position to assist with administration this fiscal year. This will help take some of the pressure off of the administration staff as well as the OES administrator. As for grants for both OES and the Sheriff's Office- grants is a talent of the OES administratar and something that the employee enjays seeking out. Other employees at the Sheriff's Office also apply and manage grants for the affice. The duties are spread out among current emplayees already an staff.

R3

Possible solutions for fulfilling of the financial needs of the OES, aside from grants, might be ta look into callabarating with locol schools and businesses for fund raising activities, which would raise funds as well as awareness, community relationship building, os well as possibly gaining volunteers in the future. F4, F5 Response: Fundraising activities is not something commonly done with OES ather than donations during a disaster. It is our opinion that the residents are already bombarded with requests to donate funds within our small communities. The OES and Sheriff's Office have already implemented management strategies that reduce costs as well as found programs that help support the needs of the offices. The Sheriff's office was under budget last year for the first time. Staff are diligent in making cast cuts including using smarter scheduling practices, limiting data on cell phone usage and getting items donoted through the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Program. The office is very thoughtful of how funds are spent. Tasking on olready stretched staff and community with additional fundraising activities is not something that we feel is necessary.

R4

Fire preventian, fire awareness, and forest management can help with fires. Advertising and community organizing may be of some help. Searching for forest management grants may help as well. F4, F5, F6 Response: We completely agree with this statement and have already implemented this response. The Sheriff's Office and OES office created a group last year called the Modoc Resource Sustainability Group. The group is made up of state, federal and non-profit agencies and hos 20+ groups represented. This group holds an annual tour that reflects cancerns far the caunty os well as meets bi-monthly warking together to create a safer Modoc. The group recently created a county mop that has all fire mitigation projects far the past ten years as well as forward five years to connect some of the gaps. This group has applied for numerous grants, creoted partnerships on projects that weren't there before and were recently awarded a grant to hire a project coordinator. The Sheriff and OES administrator have been asked to speak at many events about this group and its success including the upcoming CA Rangeland Summit. The OES administrator also held a grant writing workshop for local fire districts os well as Lassen and Siskiyou County fire personnel. 24 attended ond it was requested to do again this Spring. The OES administrator also sits on the Fire Safe Council and a subcommittee of the Fire Safe Council nomed the Fire Prevention and Education Committee that jointly puts on events, marketing campaigns and applies for funding.

R5

Social media and radio stations are a good way of "getting the word out," but ore limited to those with active sociol media accounts and radio listeners. Continued door-to- door efforts are effective, but time consuming. Holding open-to-the-public meetings once a quarter to inform/remind the public of emergency plans, available trainings, ovoilable classes, fund raising activities and the like may provide opportunities to increase aide in a variety of ways. F7, F9, F15, F16, F17 Response: OES holds numerous open to the public meetings throughout the year for this reason. OES also attends many community functions including fairs, festivals, assemblies, committee meetings, etc. that help to spread the word. Last year we partnered with the Forest Service and Fire Safe Council to hold a joint public meeting to discuss upcoming fire projects and correct rumors about planned power autages. Typically community meetings are not well attended but we see the value in them and continue to hold them for those that do attend.

R6

Col OES shall continue to lead large scale emergency situations, with ossistance from the Modoc County OES, F8 Response: Large scale incidents will be supported by Cal QES at the request of the County. Modoc County will always have representatives and decision makers within the EOC to guide decisions and utilize their knowledge of the County as well as relotionships already built with partners.

R7

The Modoc County OES has 20 generators and outsources HAZMAT and SCHMRT, but it connot be determined if this is sufficient of this time, as each emergency situation determines what is needed, how many, where, and to whot extent. As this is the purview the OES administrator, it is recommended that resources be readily ovoilable, as needed, as determined by the situation, F10, F11, F12, F13, F14 Response: Modoc County owns multiple portable generators, animal crates and supplies for evacuation, cots and supplies for shelter set up, technology and equipment to set up a mobile Emergency Operations Center if needed with satellite phone, internet and 911 trunk. If the disaster is more than the County can handle, CalOES, bordering Counties and non- profit organizations are called in for odditional support. The CAO of the County determines if HozMat is necessary. HazMat incidents are an environmental health issue and rore in Modoc County. Most small counties do not have this copobility. We do however have two-4 mon fire ogency crews that are certified to respond as well as two environmental health employees that ore certified (as required by our SCHMR) contract with bordering counties). Disaster council is trying to find solutions for this currently. The upkeep on training is monthly and out of our orea which is costly to the fire districts. We will be looking into grant funding opportunities to help relieve the financial stress of our fire districts.

R8

More extensive training on various systems, such os "IPAW$" and "Code Red," as well as having the Modoc County OES lead on trainings, for consistency and campleteness, is needed. There are grants that can be pursued for funding of these, as well as fund. Response: Modoc County OES and the Sheriff's Office have already implemented this into the community. Staff takes laptops ond walks residents through the process at all outreach events. We have found that helping individuals download the app and sign up at events has been very successful. Last year, we attended local Back to School nights to get the youth involved as well so that they could in turn go home and teach their porents and family members how to use the technology. CalOES has implemented an alert and worning guidelines and training for the county. They have sent a representative for o site visit and we will be adding an annex to our Emergency Operation Plon that details the alert and worning system. Summary Response: OES is a complex department that has many facets. It is hard to summarize in a 45 minute interview. We are disappointed that the report was released before we were able to review it as promised. We have implemented many strategies to improve the resident's knowledge of what OES is and our role in the community. This will be an ongoing effort and will always be a focus of the office. We have worked hard creating and building relationships with partners within the County. Modac County is well-respected within the OES world and is being looked ot os a leader in the state. We have implemented strategies and created graups that ather caunties are mirroring. We look farward to warking hard far aurresidents and creating a safer Modoc Caunty tagether! Sincerely, William "Tex" Dawdy Heather Hadwick Sheriff/Coroner/Director Office of Emergency Services Deputy Director Office of Emergency Services Modoc County Modoc County