Whether wildfire or flood, earthquake or gas leak, or all of the above, Douglas County is subject to as many different potential disasters as any place in the nation.
Planning for these disasters for the county has fallen to the East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts, which serves as the county's emergency management.
Bringing together all the elements required to deal with a major incident is the focus of a revised emergency response plan being presented for adoption to Douglas County commissioners on Thursday.
East Fork Districts Chief Tod Carlini said the plan defines specific roles and functions of government during a major disaster related event.
As part of the county's disaster preparedness, the districts conducted a table-top exercise and workshop on June 11 in Minden to explore emergency management.
In addition to the districts, all five county commissioners, District Attorney Mark Jackson, Clerk-Treasurer Ted Thran, and County Manager T. Michael Brown participated in the event.
Under the new emergency plan, and the National Incident Management System, the Emergency Management Policy Group is responsible for:
• Carrying out appropriate provisions of Nevada Revised Statutes in addition to local ordinances
• Encouraging cooperation between local emergency service organizations, law enforcement, local government agencies, private sector businesses, facilities and other applicable organizations
• Assuring continuity of county governance
• Issuing disaster declarations and delegations of authority
• Determining need for Emergency Operations Center activation
• Establishing incident policy level decisions
• Providing legal policy and direction
• Instituting emergency funding authorizations
• Approving emergency contracts
• Approving assistance for hire agreements
• Managing, through policy, the recovery phase
• Assisting in determining incident termination
• Maintaining a record of policy level decisions and actions
The training consisted of an overview of emergency management functions, the National Incident Command System, and the actual role of the policy group. Deputy District Attorney Mike McCormick conducted a session on the legal aspects of emergency management and the proper procedure to follow to declare an emergency at the county level.
Nevada Department of Emergency Management Duty Officer Paul Burke, was also on hand and provided an overview of the services that the state and federal government have to offer as well as the procedure to access those services and grant assistance.
Group members then rendered policy level decisions on two major simulated events in Douglas County. One in the Carson Valley and the other at Lake Tahoe.
Commission Chairman Mike Olson was interviewed by the TV news media, while Brown dealt with an angry casino executive after his casinos were ordered closed on a busy July 4 holiday weekend.
Carlini, who officially serves as Douglas County's emergency manager, said that the training was productive.
"I was very pleased that all five commissioners, Jackson, and Thran, were able to attend, given the very busy schedules at play," Carlini said.
Assistant County Manager Steve Mokrohisky and Clerk to the Board Lorraine Diedrichsen attended as well.
"This was the first ever training at this level," Carlini said. "This sends a very positive message through out the county organization, from the top down, the importance of emergency management training and preparation."
The course curriculum was written by Deputy Fire Chief Dave Fogerson, who also provided instruction and ran the two exercises.
"Douglas County continues to work hard to become a disaster resilient county and this course, as well as the local emergency planning committee, just delegated to serve as an all-hazard committee, are just two very significant steps towards that objective," Carlini said.
