Emergency Management

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. November 2, 2016. Emergency management in the state and in Rich County is mostly designed to deal with hazmat issues and earthquakes.  They are well prepared for those emergencies.  But extreme weather events are becoming more prevalent and causing unexpected damage.  Utah held  a weather summit in April to discuss the changing weather patterns.

“We always train for earthquake, but  we could have an extreme weather event such as 5” of rain in Logan Canyon above Garden City,” said Bryce Nielson, Rich County Emergency Manager.

Nielson reported to commissioners that he was working on the Local Emergency Planning Committee. (LEPC).  He said the fire departments are participating as are EMS, public works managers, health department and law enforcement.  They want more participation of elected officials and private citizens.

Kimberly Giles, State of Utah Emergency Management  Coordinator said that all emergency managers are required to be members of the Utah Association of Emergency Managers to keep up on training. 

Neilson wrote a grant for emergency planning  which pays half the his salary.  He said it has become more complicated that the past.

“This county is required to do everything a big county would, even if it is not needed by the county.  Training, conferences, plans.  There needs to be documentation of how the money is spent and expenditures must be carefully logged and itemized.  We used to get money, but now the money has to be spent on a region wide effort rather than city or county projects.” 

The Debris Management plan must be updated, one of the first responses to emergency is getting roadways cleared.

Tom Weston said that power outages plague the county more than anything.  Many new homes are not equipped with real fireplaces for heat and cooking. 

Neilson talked about the Urban Wildland Interface for fire protection.  He is worried about Sweetwater Hillside.  The hillside probably needs a firebreak like the firebreak above Garden City. 

Neilson said the lost boat exercise that they did with Utah State Parks was very helpful.   One of the tasks they accomplished was to designate view sites for checking for an emergency on the lake.

There are EMPG grants for a mass casualty vehicle, Neilson said there is a need for transporting six or more people in a mass event.  The county only has three ambulances.