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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Plumas County Grand Jury
• 2007-2008
Office of Emergency Services (o.e.s.)
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 8 findings
F1
Page 42
The Plumas County Organizational Chart obtained from the Human Resources Department by the Grand Jury, dated June 12, 2007 does not include the Plumas Office of Emergency Services, which calls into question the historical chain of command and the extent of the OES assimilation into Plumas County operations.
F2
Page 42
While numerous individual emergency responder agencies in Plumas County possess high levels of training, skill and performance capabilities, there is a lack of inter-agency communication and coordination training. This is in direct violation of the Office of Emergency Services State mandate. The director and the assistant director have not met on a regular basis with the effect that the assistant director is not always advised of the current situations. 42
F3
Page 43
The Multi Agency Coordination Group, which is the local disaster council, does not meet on a regular basis. It is the responsibility of the Director of Emergency Services to schedule these meetings.
F4
Page 43
There is a serious retention issue concerning the HAZMAT responders. After these responders are trained, they are often recruited by outside agencies that provide better compensation.
F5
Page 43
On June 30, 2007 there was a 22-railcar derailment that released toxic chemicals and residents were ordered to evacuate. The Emergency Command Center was not activated nor was the Plumas County Emergency Operations Plan implemented. As a result, post evacuation care was not provided as required by the Plumas County Emergency Operations Plan. 43
F6
Page 44
The Director of Emergency Services has not sought reimbursement from the state and federal governments for Hazardous Spills, Fire Fighting efforts by the Special District responders, or for the Claremont Dynamite incident in Quincy.
F7
Page 44
The Director of Emergency Services has left the grant seeking process to individual departments.
F8
Page 44
The new communication system at the Sheriff’s Office is truly state of the art. The system is hooked up to all agencies in California so that help can be requested 44 quickly. The Communication Center is fully staffed with eight operators. They have two people on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Currently they are working on: • The reverse 911 system • Voting receivers that will select the strongest receiver signal automatically • Wireless broadband communications
Recommendations 7
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R1Page 42The Plumas County Organizational Chart should be amended to reflect the proper chain of command.
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R2Page 43The Office of Emergency Services, in conjunction with the Environmental Health Department, should conduct regular disaster exercises with all response agencies and with voluntary participation of business representatives. The Director and Assistant Director should meet as frequently as necessary to insure that the assistant director is fully advised of all situations.
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R3Page 43The Multi Agency Coordination Group should meet on a regular basis. The Director of Emergency Services should schedule these meetings.
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R4Page 43HAZMAT responders who are trained through Plumas County should receive a pay differential to maintain certification. In addition, they should be required to sign a contractual agreement stating that they will serve the county for a minimal time period or reimburse the county for training expenses.
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R5Page 44In the event of future occurrences, the Office of Emergency Services should activate the Emergency Command Center and implement the Plumas County Emergency Operations Plan. A reception and care site should be activated to provide evacuees with information on the incident and directions to temporary housing. The Director of Emergency Services should contact the displaced county residents to mitigate their evacuation expenses and to keep them apprised of the current situation concerning the cleanup of the site and when it is safe to return to their residences.
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R6Page 44The Director of Emergency Services should seek reimbursement through the State and Federal Governments and follow the procedures set forth in the document that was adopted by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors on September 13, 2005 by Resolution No. 05-7200.
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R7Page 44The Director should also be responsible for the coordination of grant writing activities for the different departments to insure that all needs are being addressed.