Saint Paul - Ramsey County Department of Public Health All Hazards Response and Recovery Plan

Transcription

1 Saint Paul - Ramsey County Department of Public Health All Hazards Response and Recovery Plan Annex: Environmental Health Standard Operating Procedures Version.0 (September 007)

2 Table of Contents Section Page. Introduction. Purpose 4. Situation and Assumptions 4 4. Roles and Responsibilities 5 5. Concept of Operations 9 6. Responsibility, Notification, Activation & Reporting 7. Response Actions 8. Communication 6 9. Training 6 0. Authority 8 Figures. Organization Chart for St. Paul Ramsey County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section 9. Environmental Health Emergency Response Decision Tree 40. SPRCDPH Environmental Health Incident Management Staffing Chart 4 Attachments I. Contact Information for Public Health Emergencies 4 II. Contact Information for Environmental Health Section Staff 44 September 007 Page of 55

3 III: SPRCDPH Policy Activating a Public Health Response 45 IV: SPRCDPH Policy 800 MHz Radio Testing 47 V: SPRCDPH Policy All Staff Information Line 5 VI. Vendor Contact Information 5 VII. Job Action Sheets Template 55 September 007 Page of 55

4 . Introduction The State of Minnesota is subject to major disasters and emergency events that can pose a significant threat to public safety and/or health. The four general types of such events are: () natural disasters; () technological hazards; () civil emergencies; and (4) national security events. Specific hazards include but are not limited to: floods, tornadoes, blizzards, droughts, releases of hazardous materials, high-level radioactive wastes plant and transportation accidents, emergency levee/dam failures, pipeline leaks, explosions, forest fires, terrorism, critical infrastructure failures, health threats and civil disturbances. In times of emergency, such as widespread disease outbreak, floods, tornadoes, extended cold and snow, and acts of terrorism, routine daily living is dramatically changed. People may be evacuated from their homes and taken to temporary shelter; water and sewage systems may be disrupted or made inoperable; gas, electric and phone service may be severely affected; food supplies may be cut off; there may be a need to employ isolation and quarantine (isolation applies to persons who are known to have an illness, and quarantine applies to those who have been exposed to an illness but who may or may not become ill); and there may be widespread destruction of property. Ramsey County is susceptible to a number of hazards, ranging from natural disasters to accidents to deliberate acts of violence. Of the multitude of hazards that could occur, Ramsey County Emergency Management identified 4 as possible concerns. After conducting further analysis of these 4 hazards and their probability, three (earthquake, karst, and solar storm) were determined to be of insignificant concern and the list was reduced to. These include: Natural Extreme Temperatures (cold, heat) Infectious Disease Precipitation (flood, drought) Summer Storms (hailstorm, lightening, thunderstorm, tornado, windstorm) Winter Storms (blizzard, ice, heavy snow, sleet) Technological/Human Induced Dam Failure Domestic Preparedness: Terrorism Fire (urban, wildfire) Hazardous Material (fixed facilities and transport) Water Supply Contamination Radiological Hazards An emergency plan is needed to enable government to continue to operate and to carry out emergency functions, and to protect the public and the environment from the effects of all the above-mentioned hazards. September 007 Page of 55

5 The Environmental Health section of the St. Paul Ramsey County Department of Public Health (SPRCDPH) recognizes the need for intra- and inter-agency communication, interoperability and cooperation during disaster response. In complement to the Department s All-Hazard Response and Recovery Plan that assigns particular tasks to this Section, this document provides clarity around the specific roles and responsibilities for St. Paul Ramsey County environmental health staff.. Purpose The purpose of this document is to provide formal written guidance and instruction for St. Paul Ramsey County Department of Public Health (SPRCDPH) environmental health staff during incident response. It is intended to enable environmental health staff to act in a coordinated fashion with other emergency responders both internal and external to SPRCDPH in the event of an emergency or disaster. Figure outlines the staffing of the Environmental Health section... Scope This document addresses all emergency events in the community that warrant an environmental health response. Public health and environmental health action might be required in the following types of events: Naturally occurring emergencies such as floods and winter storms Large chemical releases or attacks Outbreaks of communicable disease including pandemic influenza Biological terrorism Chemical releases or attacks Radiological releases or attacks Nuclear detonations Circumstances of the emergency event will dictate the nature and extent of public health and environmental health intervention required. SPRCDPH may pool resources with other jurisdictions to meet community needs. Mutual-aid agreements are in place on a regional basis to facilitate this action.. Situation and Assumptions.. Situation Complications affecting the health of the community including disease; sanitation problems; contamination of food, water, people, animals, areas, and structures; the need for mass-care facilities; and mass causalities may occur as a result of an emergency situation. The St. Paul Ramsey County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, is a countywide agency serving all communities in various capacities, except those with their own municipal environmental health agencies (i.e., City of St. Paul and Maplewood). A public emergency is described in the County Charter as a sudden or unforeseen circumstance in the county affecting life, health, property, public peace, or public welfare that requires immediate County Board action. (Ramsey County Charter, Sec C). Certain September 007 Page 4 of 55

6 public health and environmental health emergencies will be of such magnitude that they are encompassed by this definition. Other public health emergencies will exceed the day-to-day capacity of programs within SPRCDPH, and the EH Section specifically, or warrant action by the Section that falls outside its routine responsibilities and require activation of a response but may not be at the level of public emergency as described in the County Charter. (See Figure, Environmental Health Emergency Response Decision Tree. ) This document addresses response and recovery activities under either scenario. For purposes of this document, the terms emergency, disaster, incident, and event are used interchangeably... Assumptions In the development of this document, the following assumptions were made: EH Section staff will be available for emergency response activities on an as-needed basis, acting under the direction of the Department s Public Health Incident Management Team (PHIMT) and the Incident Commander; The safety and security of responding staff is the top priority throughout any emergency event; Staff will receive the necessary training, materials and supplies prior to engaging in emergency response activities; Staff will have prepared a personal emergency plan for themselves and their families, understanding the importance of ensuring the safety of loved ones in order to be effective on the job during times of emergency; All staff participating in a response effort will be provided the opportunity to ask questions about the incident, the Department s overall response, compensation, and other relevant policies and procedures; Staff will have access to all available emotional, mental and personal support systems (e.g., through the American Red Cross, Employee Assistance Programs, etc) Additional staff (e.g., from bordering jurisdictions, other local agencies, and state agencies) will be available as needed (through mutual-aid, delegation, or other agreements); Sufficient laboratory capacity will be available; and Redundant and interoperable communications and computer equipment will be available 4. Roles and Responsibilities 4.. Roles of Local Agencies According to the State of Minnesota s Emergency Operations Plan, local government has the primary responsibility for meeting the immediate health and safety needs of its citizens in the event of a major disaster/emergency. However, state resources will augment those of local government when: the needs generated by a major incident exceed the capability of local government to respond; the state has a specialized resource needed by local government; or the scope of the event is widespread and there is a need to utilize a centralized incident management system. September 007 Page 5 of 55

7 The SPRCDPH Environmental Health Section is charged with improving, protecting, and promoting the health, the environment, and the well being of people in Ramsey County, with a particular focus on protecting the environment and reducing environmental health hazards. Disasters pose a variety of health risks, including physical injury, premature death, increased risk of communicable diseases, and psychological effects such as anxiety, neuroses, and depression. In the event of a public health or environmental health disaster or emergency, it is the Section s responsibility to provide support and advice related to environmental hazards to the public, law enforcement, local fire, and local government responders regarding the protection of the public s health and safety during the emergency event (continuing through the recovery phase of the emergency response effort). In fulfilling this responsibility, the Section s response activities will be directed by the PHIMT and/or the Incident Commander. Section staff will provide public information support as necessary and will support the Department s Joint Information Center (JIC), if activated. Keep in mind: In accordance with Department policy, staff members are not authorized to communicate with the media. During normal, non-emergency operations, SPRCPH adheres to an open-door media policy giving the media access to all designated or appropriate public health representatives (typically department or program leaders) for interviews and written resources that provide health information and education to the public. However, for a bioterrorism event, infectious disease outbreaks, and other serious public health threats and emergencies, the SPRCPH open-door media policy will be closed and all media inquiries should be directed to the Public Information Officer (PIO). Ramsey County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (RCEMHS) is charged with coordinating the emergency preparedness and homeland security efforts of the county. In addition to planning and educating, they provide assistance to local jurisdictions and county agencies before, during and after disaster strikes. RCEMHS works closely with county, local and state law enforcement, and cooperatively with neighboring jurisdictions, to enhance homeland security and better prepare for and respond to incidents ranging from tornadoes to terrorism. RCEMHS also operates a volunteer organization. Ramsey County Emergency Services (RCES) unit members are uniformed volunteers that provide emergency communications, coordination of resources, planning and labor. RCES supports local and neighboring community agencies such as: fire, ambulance, Sheriff, and police departments, with coordination, logistics, communication and staging at emergency scenes. 4.. Roles of State Agencies The State government is responsible for providing resources to support community response, and for some emergencies, performing technical response functions on behalf of the communities. Key State agencies involved in environmental health-related activities include: the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The MN Department of Agriculture (MDA) has primary responsibility for monitoring, enforcement and mitigation when the incident involves agricultural chemicals. In general, MDA September 007 Page 6 of 55

8 is responsible for inspection and regulation of dairy, meat, poultry, feed and food-processing facilities (though some food safety regulatory authority is delegated to certain cities and counties). It ensures compliance with food safety laws and regulations intended to prevent, minimize or remove harmful substances from the food supply. During a disaster, MDA will assure food product safety in regards to a human, animal, or plant disease outbreak. As needed, MDA would work with MPCA for the disposal of contaminated product, feed, water, and any waste generated from decontamination procedures. The MN Board of Animal Health (BAH) is responsible for surveillance and investigation of domestic animal diseases. In the event of an emergency, the BAH will assess animal disease outbreak status to control and prevent further occurrence of disease, including disease outbreaks related to foreign animal diseases, such as Foot and Mouth disease and Exotic Newcastle Disease. The BAH will work with local veterinarians and meat inspectors on the health condition of animals presented for slaughter. The MN Department of Health (MDH) is the lead public health agency responsible for protecting and improving the public s health throughout the state. MDH will perform additional activities above and beyond its normal business efforts in times of crisis, such as a health emergency, disaster, or catastrophic incident. Specific MDH responsibilities for the statewide management of health protection services following a major disaster include:. Provide guidance on protective action levels and medical assistance to state and local authorities in areas affected by a natural disaster or accidents/incidents involving hazardous materials (chemical and radiological) and/or highly infectious disease agents (biological).. Provide advice and technical assistance on the delivery of health protection services and critical medical services to medical providers in areas affected by a natural disaster or accidents/incidents involving hazardous materials (chemical & radiological), and infectious disease agents (biological).. Assess long-term health implications of an incident/accident involving human exposure to hazardous materials (chemical & radiological) and/or highly infectious agents (biological) and establish protocols for managing consequences into the future. 4. The MDH Public Heath Laboratory (PHLD) will make its laboratory capabilities available 4/7 for the analysis and identification of potentially hazardous biological, chemical or radiological agents during a potential weapons of mass destruction (WMD) event, natural disaster, or other public health emergency. 5. In conjunction with local health agencies, MDH is responsible for: determining the safety of water supplies, the identification and management of adulterated and distressed foods in hospitality establishments (e.g., restaurants, bars, boarding houses, resorts, children's camps, institutions, hotels, motels and lodging houses), determination of appropriate actions for measured contamination levels and overall safety conditions prior to re-occupancy. September 007 Page 7 of 55

9 6. Provide protective action decisions/guidance to local authorities for preventing injury and/or death during extreme weather conditions. MDH s environmental health-specific priorities during an emergency or disaster include:. Ensuring an adequate supply of safe drinking water.. Providing food protection measures.. Ensuring basic sanitation services. 4. Promoting personal hygiene. 5. Assisting the efforts of first responders by providing health risk consultations or advising on exposure pathways. 6. Providing information to emergency managers to help assess the scale of the emergency to ensure an effective response. The MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has primary responsibility for response to environmental hazard incidents not involving radiological materials, agricultural chemicals, or weapons of mass destruction. The MPCA: Will perform environmental monitoring and sampling. Will, in a chemical event, provide support and advice to law enforcement, local fire, and local government responders regarding hazardous chemicals, debris removal/disposal, and long-term cleanup. Will take a lead role in directing response to any oil or hazardous material spills or releases (with the exception of agricultural chemicals) and will provide MPCA contractors, if necessary, to assist with cleanup or evidence collection. Is the lead state agency in debris/waste management issues and environmental contamination issues. Will provide personnel, equipment and materials to participate directly in the mitigation activities and debris management. Will assist, or lead if necessary, the debris removal process including collection, sorting, transfer, and disposal. (The amount of debris generated may exceed the local government s ability to respond efficiently or effectively to it. If local resources and staff are overwhelmed, state staff and contractors could lead the debris removal process.) Will monitor for and evaluate any environmental impacts from the site, set outdoor clean-up criteria, and coordinate and/or oversee long-term cleanup. May recommend or direct protective actions (depending on the emergency). Will provide technical assessment and advice. The MPCA will not perform assessment for the identification of nuclear, biological or chemical agents. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) notifies State parks and boaters of protective actions; provides incident command for forest, field or swamp fires; and assists in notification and evacuation of waterways. September 007 Page 8 of 55

10 Other State agencies include: The Department of Public Safety, the lead state agency during the public safety phase of an environmental hazard response to a terrorist incident involving a weapon of mass destruction. Minnesota Homeland Security Emergency Management (HSEM), which: a. Activates and manages the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). b. Coordinates State resources. c. Controls access of air and rail traffic. d. Assists County and other State agencies in coordination of protective actions e. Requests and coordinates federal assistance agencies and programs Minnesota State Patrol, which: a. Provides a representative to the State EOC (SEOC) and/or the RCEOC as requested. b. Assists in route alerting. c. Provides aircraft, as needed. d. Assists in selecting primary and alternate evacuation routes. e. Assists in staffing and providing equipment for access control points. f. Assists in providing security for evacuated area. g. Assists in staffing traffic control points during evacuations and for reentry of the public. Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), which: a. Provides a representative to the SEOC and/or RCEOC as requested. b. Provides traffic and access control equipment. c. Ensures State roads are clear of snow and debris. d. Assists in impediment removal. Minnesota National Guard, which: a. Assists with access control and security for evacuated areas. b. Transports emergency supplies. c. Provides damage assessment assistance for public property. d. Provides other resources and support as requested within its capabilities and as authorized by law. 4.. Roles of Federal Agencies The Federal Government is responsible for providing both technical and operational support to the communities throughout the State. (Details of federal agency roles can be found in the National Response Plan.) Key agencies of the Federal response effort, along with their respective response functions, include: 55th Civil Support Team Weapons of Mass Destruction Unit, which: a. Provides support to county and local incident commanders regarding suspected chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) weapons of mass destruction. b. Provides assessment and emergency response assistance on CBRNE issues to local incident commanders. September 007 Page 9 of 55

11 Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which: a. Coordinates overall Federal response. b. Provides Federal resources and assistance to State and County governments. c. Ensures Federal support exists for recovery operations. U.S. Coast Guard, which: a. Provides on-scene Coordinators for transportation and fixed facility HAZMAT incidents, as required. b. Provides for notification and evacuation of waterways during emergency situations. c. Provides resources and support as requested within its capabilities and as permitted by law. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the lead law enforcement and investigative agency for terrorist events or other situations that constitute a violation or possible violation of federal law. The FBI is typically the lead federal agency on the ground. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the lead federal agency for the investigation of incidents involving air and rail carriers. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) s Emergency Response Program coordinates and implements a wide range of activities to ensure that adequate and timely response measures are taken in communities affected by hazardous substances and oil releases where state and local first responder capabilities have been exceeded or where additional support is needed. The program s primary objectives are: to take reasonable steps to prevent such emergencies; to prepare emergency response personnel at the federal, state, and local levels for such emergencies; and to respond quickly and decisively to such emergencies wherever and whenever they occur within our national borders. The EPA chairs the National Response Team, which provides technical assistance, resources and coordination on preparedness, planning, response and recovery activities for emergencies involving hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants, hazmat, oil, and weapons of mass destruction in natural and technological disasters and other environmental incidents of national significance Role of Other Agencies Other agencies at the local, state or federal level may have a role during an environmental health emergency. These include: Response Agency Typical Actions Law Enforcement Threat assessment; criminal investigation; forensics and evidence processing; security Local Public Health Surveillance and detection; epidemiological investigation; September 007 Page 0 of 55

12 Fire Department Emergency Medical Services Hospitals Medical Examiner Mental Health Clinical Labs Public Works Animal Control medical care coordination; administration of prophylaxis & vaccines; emergency powers; communications with other agencies, the public, and media Scene management (if indicated); decontamination (if indicated); HAZMAT disposal; staff care centers Transport patients; support care centers and triage areas; augment hospital services Provide emergency and definitive medical care; isolate patients; dispense medications and vaccines; supplement lab services Pathologic exams; body disposition; specimen collection casualty lists Monitoring mental health needs; delivery of services to response personnel and general public Initial or confirmatory testing of specimens Water, sewer monitoring and treatment; provision of vehicles and equipment Monitoring and control measures as may be necessary to control spread 4.5. Responsibilities of SPRCDPH Environmental Health Staff During a Disaster The role of SPRCDPH environmental health staff in a public health emergency will vary according to the type and severity of the situation, as well as the emergency response plans in place at other agencies within the community. Generally, local environmental health staff may be called upon to provide public health sanitation advice, as well as information and assistance, to other agencies, response partners, and the general public. In addition, environmental health staff have an important responsibility in identifying, monitoring and mitigating environmental hazards that can affect the health of a community following a disaster. In doing so, they work closely with other public health, emergency management, and volunteer agencies (such as the American Red Cross) to assist and coordinate the reestablishment of basic services such as food safety, water supply, shelter, sanitation and waste management, and to assure access to these services. Broadly defined, staff will have the same roles in a disaster as they do in their normal /routine work, but some roles will receive greater emphasis, work will be done within a different structure, and staff may report to someone other than their usual supervisor. The majority of environmental health emergency response activities will fall within the Operations function of Incident Command (though there may at times be a role for environmental health within Planning as well). During a disaster, the most important role for EH staff is to work within the Incident Command structure to: () Assess hazards, and work with others to analyze risk. (For example, after a September 007 Page of 55

13 tornado, EH professionals would assess whether food donated by volunteers is safe for consumption.) () Intervene, by acting to reduce hazards, using regulatory functions or direct provision of services. (For example, food establishments might need to be closed after a chemical spill until EH professionals can ensure that the food and water is safe to be served.) () Educate, and assure public awareness, using communication methods and tools and by working with other communication professionals. (In any type of disaster, EH professionals have to help the regulated community as well as members of the public understand the scope and severity of the event so that appropriate precautions and personal protection measures can be taken.) Of the activities for which SPRCDPH EH has responsibility, the following are most likely to be relevant during an emergency or disaster: Regulation of: Food-service establishments Retail food establishments Public swimming pools Manufactured home parks Lodging facilities Public-health nuisances Lead hazards Solid waste haulers Solid waste transfer stations Solid waste processing facilities, including medical waste facilities Hazardous waste generators Hazardous waste facilities Illegal dumping of solid and hazardous waste Investigation of food- and water-borne disease outbreaks (in coordination with epidemiologists) Consultation and technical assistance for: Solid and hazardous waste Indoor air quality Outdoor air quality Recreational waters Healthy homes Direct services for various solid and hazardous waste activities Resource recovery and waste processing Outreach and education Depending on the incident, specific environmental health response roles and responsibilities may include: Identify and assess hazards and potential hazards Track, analyze and report on indicators of a possible environmental health threat Collect and analyze environmental samples Inspect damaged buildings for health hazards Provide information on the hazardous waste potential in damaged areas September 007 Page of 55

14 Assess current environmental health response capacity Develop strategies and ensure appropriate actions are taken to prevent or lessen the impact of adverse environmental exposures on the public s health Monitor and ensure safe food for human consumption Monitor and ensure safe water for human consumption Ensure appropriate and adequate functioning of sanitation facilities and services Implement actions to prevent or control vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, rodents and other pests Coordinate with the water, public works, and sanitation departments to ensure the availability of potable water, an effective sewage system, and sanitary garbage disposal Coordinate with the animal care and control agency to dispose of dead animals Ensure that adequate sanitary facilities are provided in emergency shelters and for response personnel Maintain a visible presence in the response community by raising awareness of the environmental health roles in disasters and emergencies Provide consultation to other emergency responders on health risks and/or exposure pathways Provide the environmental health perspective to emergency managers and other decision makers, to help assess the scale of the emergency and ensure an effective response Provide risk communication to affected parties Promote personal hygiene September 007 Page of 55

15 4.6. Responsibilities of Partner Agencies The following tables provide an overview of the responsibilities of various agencies, in crosscutting areas likely to be relevant during any kind of large-scale emergency or disaster. Agency MDA MN Department of Agriculture BAH MN Board of Animal Health MDH MN Department of Health DLI MN Department of Labor and Industry DNR MN Department of Natural Resources PCA MN Pollution Control Agency DPS MN Department of Public Safety HEALTH PROTECTION Responsibility P: Lead role when agricultural chemicals involved; will recommend protective/remedial actions; assure food safety. P: Assure food product safety in regards to a human, animal or plant disease outbreak. S: Advise veterinarians and meat inspectors on the disposition of animal carcasses. S: Advise on the health of livestock presented for processing. P: Animal health protection role, when the incident involves an animal disease outbreak. P: Human health protection role in the event of a public health disaster involving hazardous materials (chemical and radiological) and infectious agents (biological). S: Provide technical assistance to the delivery of health protection services by the medical providers including hospitals, clinics and EMS. S: Assist with assessing and mitigating health hazards to workers. S: Advise on matters relating to operational safety and health relating to employees operating within hazardous areas. S: Identify and sample wildlife in ingestion pathway zone; advise on usage of recreational areas; provide public information on use of natural resources. S: Lead role when incident involves hazardous materials, other than agricultural products or nuclear/chemical/biological Weapons of Mass Destruction, and will recommend protective actions. P: Overall coordination of state agency activities during the response and recovery phases of a public health emergency, including those incidents/accidents that result from the use of and transport of hazardous materials (chemical and radiological), infectious agents (biological) as weapons of mass destruction, and nuclear generating plant incidents. P: Overall responsibility for coordination of animal health protection, during an incident/accident that results from the use of hazardous materials (chemical & radiological), infectious agents (biological), and nuclear generating plant incidents. S: When requested, make hazardous materials chemical assessment teams and emergency response teams available to local authorities. S: When needed, assure the provision of life and safety P= Primary C=Coordination S=Support September 007 Page 4 of 55

16 Agency BAH MN Board of Animal Health EMSRB Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board MDH MN Department of Health DHS Department of Human Services DMA Department of Military Affairs /National Guard DPS MN Department of Public Safety Volunteer agencies/organizations MASS CARE Responsibility S: Support state and local agencies in the coordination of animal rescue and sheltering. S: Coordinate Critical Incident Stress Debriefing support to state and local officials. S: Inspect mass care site and kitchen. S: Provide guidelines regarding health impacts of mass care sites. C: Overall responsibility for coordinating mass care services. S: Provide USDA-donate food, upon request. S: Assist with radiological monitoring of evacuees and monitor their vehicles, during a nuclear generating plant incident or terrorist event; assist with vehicle decontamination. S: Coordinate individual assistance programs and mass care activities with private relief agencies. P: Meet the emergency human service needs of MN residents, including: establishment of a reception center and mass care site; registration of evacuees; disaster welfare inquiry; housing; feeding; clothing; and crisis counseling. P= Primary C=Coordination S=Support NOTIFICATION AND WARNING Agency FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency DNR MN Department of Natural Resources DPS MN Department of Public Safety County Governments Responsibility P: Ensure the operational capability of the National Warning System on a 4- hour basis. S: Outdoor warning to recreationalists in state parks, at high-hazard dams, waterways and campgrounds. P: Maintain emergency notification and warning system, and implement as needed. Coordinate Public Alert and Notification System (PANS) activation during a nuclear generating plant incident. S: Outdoor warning (via helicopter) to recreationalists in pre-determined areas in the event of a nuclear generating plant incident. P: Maintain the 4-hour MN Duty Officer System (under the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) P: Disseminating notifcations and warning to municipalities and rural residents, including special-needs populations. P= Primary C=Coordination S=Support September 007 Page 5 of 55

17 Agency MDA MN Department of Agriculture BAH MN Board of Animal Health MDH MN Department of Health DMA Department of Military Affairs /National Guard DNR MN Department of Natural Resources PCA MN Pollution Control Agency DPS MN Department of Public Safety Mn/DOT MN Department of Transportation DEBRIS MANAGEMENT Responsibility S: Assist with waste characterization and handling/disposal advice. S: Coordinate livestock carcass disposal with state, county and local units of government. C: Provide health protection input to risk management decision making regarding site decontamination and management of debris contaminated with chemical, biological and/or radiological materials, following a terrorist incident. C: Provide health protection input into planning and on-scene guidance in technical matters related to site decontamination and management of debris contaminated with chemical, biological and radiological materials in a terrorism incident. S: Support PCA in the management of on-scene operations, including providing technical input to PCA s supervision of contractor operations. C: Coordinate public information and communications related to health risks of contamination. S: Assist with waste characterization and handling/disposal advice. S: Assist with conventional debris clearance, if requested. S: Provide planning, guidance and on-scene technical support to characterize debris at sites contaminated with hazardous chemicals, biological and radiological material, resulting from suspected terrorism activities. S: Provide technical advice and guidance on decontamination and site clean-up in areas contaminated by hazardous chemicals, biological and radiological materials as a result of possible terrorist activities. S: Technical assistance for debris clearance on state waterways and in forested areas; tree disposal recommendations for state/local governments. Assist state and local governments with the incineration and disposal of dead animal carcasses. S: Assist in defining waste streams and disposal alternatives in support of local units of government or a responsible party. S: In a terrorism incident, support MDH in developing response procedures, protocols and on-scene guidance for site decontamination and management of debris contaminated with chemical, biological and radiological materials. P: Manage on-scene state contractor operations, including hiring and supervising contractor operations and fiscal management. S: Ensure that federal requirements are identified/addressed, as applicable, in debris removal operations. C: Responsible for debris removal on interstate and state trunk highways; provide assistance to local authorities; issue necessary transport permits. P= Primary C=Coordination S=Support September 007 Page 6 of 55

18 ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD RESPONSE Agency MDA MN Department of Agriculture MDH MN Department of Health DMA Department of Military Affairs /National Guard DNR MN Department of Natural Resources PCA MN Pollution Control Agency DPS MN Department of Public Safety Mn/DOT MN Department of Transportation Responsibility P: Lead role when agricultural chemicals are involved. S: Review cleanup of accident/incident site to ensure the protection of public health. S: Provide public health laboratory staff and testing facilities for assessing biological, chemical or radiological contaminants. S: Respond to and support state and local authorities responding to a weapons of mass destruction event. S: Participate in response when wildlife/waterfowl/waterways/public lands are involved. P: Lead role when non-agricultural, non-radiological materials are involved and not a WMD event. P: Lead role in state public safety response to a terrorist event involving weapons of mass destruction. P: Deploy CAT and ERT teams. S: Facilitate an appropriate state/local response; activate HAZMAT Regional Response Teams, when requested by local authorities. S: Lend forensics capabilities for identification/analysis of evidence for potential weapons of mass destruction event; provide investigative support; support and participate in efforts to mitigate terrorist attacks. S: Support state/local response to, and investigation of, WMD event. C: Coordinate bomb squads. C: Coordinate requests for federal assistance from the Department of Homeland Security. S: Ensure that hazardous materials transportation regulations are enforced. P= Primary C=Coordination S=Support September 007 Page 7 of 55

19 Agency DOA Department of Administration MDA MN Department of Agriculture DOC MN Department of Commerce MDE MN Department of Education MDH MN Department of Health DHS Department of Human Services DMA Department of Military Affairs /National Guard DNR MN Department of Natural Resources PCA MN Pollution Control Agency DPS Department of Public Safety Mn/DOT MN Department of Transportation RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Responsibility S: Assist planners and emergency responders by providing geographic information systems tools and geographic data. S: Assist with hazard mitigation plans, upon request. S: Provide supplies and/or equipment and real estate services. S: Assist with the identification of locations of nursing homes and group quarters, upon request. S: Provide food/water/soil sampling equipment/expertise. S: Provide laboratory capabilities. S: Provide food safety expertise, and food/water supply-related information. S: Provide mobile generators. S: Assist schools in finding alternate facilities during and after a disaster. S: Provide surveillance, vaccine handling and expertise, and other treatment or chemo-prophylaxis for an infectious disease outbreak. S: Develop/maintain an inventory of state medical resources. S: Provide food/water supply, lodging and housing-related information to licensed facilities and the general public. S: Provide food and environmental assessments in licensed facilities. S: Provide food/water sampling equipment expertise. S: Provide public health lab equipment/expertise. S: Provide USDA-donated foods to disaster relief agencies; and assist vulnerable individuals and families, during and after a disaster, through emergency food assistance and feeding programs. S: Provide uniformed personnel; transportation, construction and communications equipment, facilities, and other emergency response equipment. S: Provide transportation, heavy equipment and fire fighting equipment. S: Provide air/water/soil sampling equipment and expertise, vehicles. C: Overall coordination during a major disaster/emergency; provide supplies/equipment expertise. S: Resource support for incident response. P: Coordinate and implement the temporary housing program. S: In consultations with MNVOAD, assist local governments in preparing plans for handling/distributing donated goods offers. S: Provide road construction and traffic control equipment, air transportation and reconnaissance. September 007 Page 8 of 55

20 S: Maintain an inventory of their debris removal-related, public worksrelated and transportation-related resources. P= Primary C=Coordination S=Support 5. Concept of Operations In emergency response and recovery, staff will operate within the Incident Command System (ICS) to facilitate efficient incident management and integrate a wide variety of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications within a common organization. ICS is designed to provide a consistent set of terminology and concepts that organizations with varying structures can share. The strength of ICS is that it can be scaled to any size based on the incident, and can grow to accommodate an escalating level of response, or shrink to reflect a reduction in staff and mobilized organizations. For example, in a small incident such as a localized food-borne illness outbreak, the PHIMT may construct an ICS consisting of a lead sanitarian, one or two other sanitarians, and an epidemiologist. This outbreak, however, could grow into a multi-state outbreak. It could show signs of deliberate contamination. The ICS would then expand to accommodate additional local, state and federal agencies, and the sanitarian who began as director of the investigation would become one part of a team investigating one aspect of the overall event. For every incident, the following positions should be considered at the SPRCDPH level (as determined by the PHIMT): Incident Commander responsible for directing the response, identifying roles and responsibilities, and determining response objectives Information Officer responsible for releasing information regarding the incident to the media or other agencies and the public. Safety Officer to monitor worker safety and provide guidelines for protective actions Liaison Officer to interface with external agencies Operations Section Chief responsible for carrying out the specific tasks and objectives necessary for effective response Logistics Section Chief responsible for providing personnel and logistical support to the response Planning Section Chief responsible for incident briefings and the incident action plan Finance and Administration Section Chief to monitor all expenses related to the response Environmental health staff may be assigned to fill one or all of these positions, or may perform their work under one of these positions, depending on the nature of the incident. Assignment to these roles will be determined by the (PHIMT). See Figure, SPRCDPH Environmental Health Incident Management Staffing Chart, as one possible ICS organization chart for an environmental health-specific incident. September 007 Page 9 of 55

21 6. Responsibility, Notification, Activation and Reporting 6.. Responsibility It is the responsibility of the environmental health director to ensure that these procedures are followed when necessary. It is also the responsibility of the director to ensure that the necessary resources, including materials, supplies, personal protective equipment and communication capabilities, are in place to support an effective response. It is the responsibility of EH section staff to be familiar with and comply with these procedures. 6.. Notification Typically, the Environmental Health section will be notified of a public health/environmental health disaster or emergency by the Department s Public Health Incident Management Team (PHIMT). In addition, staff may become aware of an emergency situation through personal discovery, contact with a partner agency or neighboring local public health/environmental health agency, notification from a regulated business or entity, information received from the public, or through the media, among other channels. 6.. Activation Circumstances Activation of this SOP will be considered when information suggesting an emergency or disaster situation/event that requires an environmental health response is received. Many circumstances may activate this plan, including unusual reports from routine environmental health and public health surveillance systems; suspicious epidemiological data; alerts from partner agencies such as MDH, MDA, MPCA, neighboring local jurisdictions, or federal agencies; alerts from law enforcement or emergency management personnel, contact from the MN State Duty Officer, reports from the media, or overt threats received directly by Health Department staff Activation Procedures. The Environmental Health Director, in coordination with PHIMT, will activate this SOP, whenever the situation warrants. (See Attachment III, SPRCDPH Policy Activating a Public Health Response ). Others (e.g., PHIMT, the Director of SPRCDPH, or the Incident Commander) may activate this SOP, whenever the situation warrants.. Once activated, the City of St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections and the City of Maplewood Community Development Department would be notified. 4. Upon activation, the EH Director will convene decision makers (e.g., PHIMT, EH supervisors, and/or others) to determine: a. Nature of the incident (outbreak, natural disaster, etc.). b. Extent of persons affected. c. Populations at risk. d. Potentially vulnerable locations. e. Other agencies involved in response. f. Need to initiate field operations. g. Types of response activities needed. h. Just-in-time training needs for staff. i. Distribution of job action sheets to staff. j. Need for immediate supplies/equipment. k. Assignment of incident command system personnel. September 007 Page 0 of 55

22 l. Routine EH services that will continue during the response and how to meet this need. 5. Upon plan activation, the environmental health director will review the All Staff Information Line message system for appropriate outgoing information and make revisions as necessary. The All Staff Information Line phone number is: 65/66- XXXX. See Figure, Environmental Health Emergency Response Decision Tree Reporting Unless otherwise directed, staff will generally report to their usual worksite, if possible. If unable to report to usual worksite, staff will call the All Staff Information Line (65/66-XXXX) for direction. 7. Response Actions The scope of the environmental health response may include activity in the functional service areas of: Food supply and safety Drinking water supply and safety Waste water Solid waste management Hazardous waste management Household hazardous waste Indoor environments (e.g., mold) Animal waste removal Lodging Emergency shelter or housing (sometimes called mass care or congregate care ) Vector control Public pools Chemical, biological and radiological hazards September 007 Page of 55

23 Impact of Emergency Events on Environmental Health Services September 007 Page of 55 Most likely effects on environmental health Extreme Temperatures Infectious Disease Precipitation (flood, drought) Summer Storms Winter Storms Dam Failure Terrorism Fire Hazardous Material Water Supply Contamination Food supply and safety Spoilage of refrigerated foods Damage to food preparation facilities Transportation failures Power outages Flooding of facilities Contamination/degradation of relief supplies Drinking water supply and safety Damage to civil engineering structures Broken mains Damage to water sources Power outages Contamination (biological or chemical) Transportation failures Personnel shortages System overload Equipment, parts, and supply shortages Wastewater Destruction or damage to structures Contamination of water and food Disruption of power, heating fuel, water supply, or waste disposal services Overcrowding Solid waste management Damage to civil engineering structures Transportation failures Equipment shortages Personnel shortages Water, soil, and air pollution Hazardous waste management Damage to civil engineering structures Transportation failures Equipment shortages Personnel shortages Water, soil, and air pollution Indoor environments Exposure to radon, mold, lead or asbestos or other harmful agents Carbon monoxide poisoning from secondary sources of power/heat Exposure to bacterial or viral pathogens Destruction or damage to structures Animal Waste Removal Sudden generation of animal carcasses and associated wastes

24 Lodging Most likely effects on environmental health Emergency shelter Vector control Public pools and other recreational water Chemical, Biological and Radiological Hazards Destruction or damage to structures Spoilage of refrigerated foods Damage to food preparation facilities Disruption of power, heating fuel, water supply, or waste disposal services Flooding of facilities Personnel shortages Supply shortages Disruption of power, heating fuel, water supply, or waste disposal services Contamination of water and food Personnel shortages Supply shortages Proliferation of vector breeding sites Increase in human/vector contacts Disruption of vector-borne diseasecontrol programs Contamination (physical, biological or chemical) Damage to structures Equipment failures Transportation failures Water, soil and air pollution Extreme Temperatures Infectious Disease Precipitation (flood, drought) Summer Storms Winter Storms Dam Failure Terrorism Fire Hazardous Material Water Supply Contamination =Severe possible effect =Less severe possible effect =Least or no possible effect Adapted from: Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters, World Health Organization 00 In general, environmental health activities will fall under Operations within the C-FLOP (Command Finance, Logistics, Operations, Planning) structure of ICS. Under Incident Command, assignments of particular staff to specific roles will be determined based on the incident. 7.. Food supply and safety SPRCDPH epidemiologists and environmental health staff will work with the MDH, MDA, and other local officials to identify which food supplies have been affected by the incident and ensure a safe food-distribution system. This may include regular inspection of retail food service September 007 Page of 55