Emergency Management is also about being prepared and about community preparedness in general. As part of that process, the Local
Emergency Planning Committee was re-established. The LEPC brings together government, business, and community leaders to better prepare the community for all types of
emergencies. Deputy Fire Chief Tognoli has done an exceptional job with the LEPC. We have over 18 active members who meet on a regular basis to better prepare the
community for emergency events.
We also, and this is a huge part of the job, manage grants. Hats off to Lisa Owen for her role in this part of the job of emergency management. Currently, Lisa is
working hard to manage over ten different grants and well over a $1,000,000 in funds, both potential and actually realized, with the largest grant being one for the Tahoe
Douglas Bomb Team.
In the area of planning, we are currently working on several plans, and what is referred to as an annex of the County Plan. They include a Debris Management Plan, Mass
Care and Shelter Plan, Evacuation Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, and Mass Fatality Plan. (Actually, Mike Biaggini from the Sheriff’s Office is working on the Mass Fatality
Plan, since DCSO is delegated with the coroner duties for the County) We are also working on a complete revision of the entire Douglas County Emergency Operations Plan as
part of a strategic object of the County.
Emergency Management is also about training. Deputy Chief Fogerson and associates have done a fantastic job in this area. In particular with the NIMS training. We have
worked hard to provide this critical and required training to as many county staff positions as possible and at all levels of the NIMS program. We are currently in the
planning stages of providing the required exercises so we can all practice the NIMS concept throughout the County.
