Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times
RANDOLPH, Utah.
August 7, 2019. Bryce Nielson, Rich
County Emergency Management Coordinator, said he needed a letter agreeing with
the emergency operations plan. It is a 200 page document which outlines ESS (emergency
support services). Transportation,
communication, damage , firefighting,
planning, mass care, resource support, health and medical services, search and
rescue, hazardous material, food and water, energy, law enforcement, and
terrorism are addressed.
It also notes who is responsible for each of these
services. It has been updated to reflect
that social media has become more of an emergency support.
Commissioner Norm Weston asked how the rest of the county
officials will know their specific responsibility. Nielson said that he would send it to them,
but they may or may not read them.
Neilson said he has been doing this for 12 years and then
watched emergencies in the county so his job will be to oversee what everyone
is doing under county guidance.
Commissioner Bill Cox said, “For example, what would the
road department do? How that plays into
the plan and what their responsibilities are.
And wouldn’t it be good for them
to know what their role is before the emergency occurs? And what happens if you are out of town?"
“The county officials need to find out what their roles are
and have the procedures in place. Weston said “Hopefully they will look at their responsibilities first
and then read the whole plan.” However
there is no real plan to educate county officials.
Nielson said five years ago when Laketown was out of power
for 5 days, the entire community pulled together
to make sure everyone was taken care of .
Weather is our biggest threat he added.
With the increase of tourists and the short term rentals that have no
hotel fire requirements, and are packed with 60 or 70 people a fire emergency scares him. He suggested that the commissioners take an
emergency training but he understands their time constraints.
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