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1. Emergencv Evacuation Plan -Nick Waters, Emergency Management <br />Director -combined items one and two <br />2. Emergencv Communications Study <br />Deputy Director of EMS Kent McKenzie made the presentation. He said <br />that the first study was a joint project with Guilford, Alamance, Durham, <br />Chatham, Wake, and Johnston Counties. The purposes of the study were to <br />provide recommendations for addressing terrorism, to identify a comprehensive <br />management strategy for mass casualty situations, and to provide an analysis of <br />terrorist tactics and targets. The study identified 3,776 licensed hospital beds in <br />the region and 4,829 licensed physicians in the study area. The study identified <br />that there were no existing regional evacuation plans ar routes, na identified <br />reception areas, and based on DOT flow formulae, immediate evacuation is not <br />possible. The evacuation time for the entire region is flue to six days. Also, <br />immediate or large-scale quarantine may be impossible because of too many <br />control points, too many non-system access routes, limited local public health <br />personnel, and too few law enforcement officers. In conclusion, this study found <br />that our region is at risk far all types of terrorism, that there might not be enough <br />hospital beds to handle the number of casualties, that evacuation might take a <br />week or more, and that there is inadequate communication and very limited <br />interoperability at the regional response level. <br />The second study, the Consolidated Communications Study, was <br />approved by County Commissioners in June 2001 to examine existing <br />communication systems. This is an overview of phase I of this study. As part of <br />this study, public safety and other stakeholders were interviewed throughout the <br />County. Existing communications equipment was also examined. It was found <br />that there are limited redundant communications, very limited local <br />interoperability, na regional interoperability, inadequate mobile and portable radio <br />coverage, channel crowding and congestion, and very little compatibility with new <br />technology. The follow-up recommendation is to execute phase II, part I of this <br />study. Phase II involves re-interviewing public safety agencies to determine <br />current and future functional needs, examining interoperability and technology <br />requirements, and designing a system to meet public safety demands for the <br />next ten years. Phase II has not yet been funded. The complete text of both of <br />the study documents is available an the County's website at <br />www.co.orange.nc.us/ems. <br />EMS Director Nick Waters said that it is critical that we start addressing <br />the communication needs over the next five years. The existing technology is 20 <br />years old. He said that there is a recommendation in the budget for the funding <br />for phase II. <br />Jacquelyn Gist asked where all of the homeland security money is. Nick <br />Waters said that it comes in different farms -fire grants and law enforcement. <br />EMS has received one grant for $50,000 for protection far first responders and <br />they bought masks. They did also apply for a one million dollar grant for <br />communication assistance but it was denied. <br />Chair Brawn asked Nick Waters to talk about problems with <br />communication because the different systems are not compatible with each other <br />