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EMS Director Nick Waters explained the federal grant and what it would provide. In <br />summary, he said that the grant would allow the County to employ a temporary employee that would <br />work with various agencies on consequence planning. The grant would also allow the County to <br />clearly define the roles and responsibilities of various responding agencies and update the County's <br />multi-hazard plan to address those responsibilities. By doing this, the County has an opportunity to <br />enhance all response plans (i.e., natural disasters, etc.). <br />Chair Halkiotis said that he was concerned about a staging area for storage of what is <br />necessary in an emergency. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if the County would be looking at a terrorist act at the <br />Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant and how that might affect us. Nick Waters said that they would <br />be looking at everything internal to Orange County and external that might affect Orange County. <br />Commissioner Carey asked if the biohazard research going on at UNC-Chapel Hill would <br />be included in the study and Nick Waters said yes. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked that Nick Waters look at the risk with the Shearon Harris <br />Nuclear Power Plant and to take this into account when doing the study. <br />Commissioner Brown said that she had a conversation with Dr. Gordon Thompson, the <br />County's consultant on nuclear power, and he specifically addressed the issue of a nuclear paver <br />plant and how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has developed an approach to terrorism. <br />She would like to see this approach in a report. <br />Chair Halkiotis asked if there were any evacuation plans in place for Orange County if the <br />need arose. Nick Waters said that the evacuation routes stop outside the 10-mile emergency- <br />planning zone far the power plant. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to <br />approve and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution as stated below: <br />RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND TRAINING PROGRAM <br />FOR DOMESTIC TERRORISM PREPAREDNESS <br />WHEREAS, terrorism is defined as "the use of force or violence against persons ar property in <br />violation of the criminal laws of the U.S. for the purpose of intimidation, coercion or ransom"; and, <br />WHEREAS, in recent years, there has been an increase nationwide in terrorism events, including the <br />World Trade Center bombings and school shootings; and, <br />WHEREAS, response to incidents resulting from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction must be <br />well thought out and cannot be handled as routine calls because of the unique hazards they pose to <br />the responders; and, <br />WHEREAS, plans must be developed for the responders and potential target facilities, such as <br />schools and government buildings, as places of mass gatherings; and, <br />WHEREAS, Orange County has been notified that it will receive up to $40,000 in federal funds that <br />will be used to upgrade the County's Multi-Hazard plan to include an element related to Weapons of <br />Mass Destruction; <br />NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby <br />accept the grant award up to $40,000 to develop a plan and training program for Domestic Terrorism <br />Preparedness. <br />This, the 20t" day of March 2001. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />d. Reconsideration of Request for Assessment of Civil Penalties - Henry M. Wilson <br />Zoning Violation <br />The Board reconsidered its approval of the assessment of civil penalties for a zoning <br />violation. <br />