Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
8 <br /> Elected Official's Guide to Emergencies and Disasters <br /> Introduction: <br /> Responding effectively to disasters requires a coordinated, community-wide effort. As an <br /> elected or appointed official, you play an important role in the County's response to <br /> disasters and continuity of government within Orange County. Your actions influence <br /> community members, as well as employees, and directly impact the local government's <br /> ability to protect lives and property. This guide was developed to provide you with <br /> information relating to your role before, during, and after disasters in order to help you <br /> make better-informed decisions when disaster strikes. <br /> The County's various local government agencies, individually and collectively, work to <br /> mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters. <br /> This integrated emergency management system is based on an "all-hazards approach" <br /> to disaster management, which allows the County to support an effective response for <br /> any type of disaster that we are likely to face. <br /> The following guide describes the key elements of disaster response and the role of <br /> elected officials, beginning with an overview of your responsibilities in an emergency <br /> situation. There is also a summary of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). <br /> Mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD 5), NIMS provides a <br /> comprehensive methodology for dealing with emergency situations. <br /> It also includes information about the Emergency Management Cycle, and its five phases: <br /> prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. It also includes an <br /> overview of how resources are requested, and the process for declaring a State of <br /> Emergency. <br /> Finally, this guide concludes with a list of important reference points for elected officials, <br /> advice for responding to media inquiries for dealing with the media, and appendices <br /> containing important contact information, further disaster resources, and official <br /> emergency ordinances. <br /> 5 � <br />