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i c~ <br />Nursing, Pharmacy, and Medicine. An ice storm at the beginning of this year and the recent <br />occurrence of a SARS case in Orange County provided unplanned opportunities to collaborate <br />with local emergency response parbiers, University officials, and technical experts. Much was <br />learned from these experiences, an~-the lessons learned have been examined closely in <br />conjunction with all community pa,-tners in order to revise and refine current preparedness and <br />disaster response plans. The OCHI), Orange County Department of Emergency Management, <br />local law enforcement, the University, and the University Health Care System have agreed to <br />base disaster response on the Incid~:nt Command System (ICS). Health Department staff is <br />currently participating in ICS training through the Orange County Department of Emergency <br />Management and is also undergoing American Red Cross Disaster Health Services and Mass <br />Shelter training. During the recen~: ice storm OCHD nurses and American Red Cross volunteers <br />found it difficult to meet the needs of many of the citizens displaced from their homes, especially <br />frail older adults and individuals vrith special needs. There simply were not enough nurses or <br />volunteers to staff both mass care and special needs shelters. However, given the nature of this <br />community, there is abundant opportunity to tap into and marshal the energy and capacity of <br />volunteers to strengthen the public; health infrastructure and emergency response effort. <br />The mission of the Orangf; County Health Department is "to enhance the quality of life, <br />promote the health, and preserve the environment for all people in the Orange County <br />community" The OCHD divisions consist of Central Administration, Personal Health Services, <br />Health Promotion and Education. Dental Health, Environmental Health, and Animal Control <br />(Appendix B -Organizational Chart). The volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) unit will be <br />established through the Personal Health Services Division, which is the largest division within <br />the Health Department. Services provided by the Personal Health Services Division include <br />5 <br />