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<br />to create a composite database of the various lists that each agency maintains for persons with <br />special medical needs and mobility/transportation issues. This database will then be paired with <br />the Geographic Information System to map the locations of these persons in the event of a <br />major disaster where evacuations may be necessary. <br />Regarding Communications, staff has participated in the Countywide Communicators <br />Task Farce comprised of Public Information Officers from agencies, municipalities, hospitals, <br />the University, and other partners to share coordinated information during disasters. They have <br />also provided the Orange Cards to all schools, which are quick sheltering reference cards. <br />There was such demand for the cards that they were able to leverage some additional grant <br />funding to print 14,000 more cards. <br />The staff is also working with the UNC Apples Program to get an intern to assist in <br />helping to make the website even more user-friendly, including making the print larger for those <br />that have trouble seeing. <br />Also, they have contracted far a conference calling capability and this has been put in <br />place. This is exercised on a regular basis from the State down to the local departments. <br />Regarding training, they have been working with other departments, specifically, the <br />Pandemic Flu Symposium put together by the Health Department. They have expanded on this <br />program in-house and they are putting together a pandemic plan far EMS and a training plan <br />that they can share with other County departments. <br />Other information includes working with the Fire Marshall's office and the school <br />systems on the emergency planning for the schools. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the Orange Cards going home with the <br />children and asked about the phone book providers putting this information in the written <br />documents. Jack Ball said that they tried to do this, but there would have been a charge to the <br />County for assisting with distribution of these cards. Commissioner Halkiotis wants to point this <br />out publicly to the citizens that the phone company wants to charge for the health, safety, and <br />welfare information system far citizens in the County. He asked Jack Ball to keep the County <br />Commissioners posted on this. He said that the phone companies get enough money from the <br />911 charges. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked if there was a listing of disabled citizens in the County in <br />the event of a major emergency so that someone could check on these people. Jack Ball said <br />that there is a listing through DSS and the Red Cross there is a list. They are also working on <br />developing a better listing by putting the information on a GIS. Commissioner Halkiotis wants to <br />have an in-house list and not have to rely on DSS or the Red Cross. He wants to know a <br />timeline for an emergency backup generator and having this information in-house. <br />Eric Griffin said that they are compiling a master list with DSS and they are combining it <br />to put on a server so they all have access to it. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he does not want to have any New Orleans type <br />events anywhere in this country. He wants to be prepared. The plan should be developed and <br />then polished periodically. He said that he was shocked to see haw many people in Orange <br />County need electricity because of oxygen tanks. He hopes that there is a GIS map of these <br />people that need immediate attention. Eric Griffin said that they are shooting for December 1, <br />2006. <br />Commissioner Carey said that there are some people that are not on public lists who are <br />aging in place and they should drill down deeper and find these people. He suggested including <br />Meals on Wheels recipients and churches with sick and shut-in lists. <br />Chair Jacobs asked about #6 and haw to get information out when there is no <br />technology to do it. He said that there is no posting area in his community. He would like to <br />have a way to get information to the general populate when the electricity is out. Jack Ball said <br />that if it were possible to send people around through the streets with megaphones, they would <br />