Stanislaus County Disaster Council is reborn

1946 program tapped to foster an efficient emergency response

By TIM MORAN
tmoran@modbee.com

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In a disaster such as a flood or earthquake, most people instinctively turn to government to handle the situation.

But the government isn't the only resource that rushes in to help: church groups, nongovernment agencies such as the Red Cross and food banks, community groups, local industries and spontaneous volunteers pitch in as well.

Stanislaus County is resurrecting and restructuring its Disaster Council to make sure all those efforts are coordinated and used efficiently.

The Disaster Council dates back to 1946, and has served various purposes, including civil defense efforts during the Cold War.

At today's Board of Supervisor's meeting, the council is expected to be revamped and combined with an Operational Area Council to bring the community together in planning for disasters.

"A lot of folks have a role in emergency management," said Gary Hinshaw, the county's assistant director of emergency services.

The new Disaster Council structure will make sure they all are following state and federal protocols for handling emergencies and have coordinated plans, so the response is rapid and smoothly integrated.

An example, Hinshaw said, is a disruption of gasoline and diesel fuel supplies. The county knows how many gallons of fuel it uses, but in an emergency, how does the county set priorities for schools, utilities, hospitals, ambulances, fire stations and law enforcement?

The Disaster Council, with county and city representatives, will create a planning framework for the different groups and agencies to use, and will approve the plans developed by the local groups.

The Operational Area Council will include participants from all the groups involved in emergency response, from utilities to radio stations, environmental groups to schools. They will formulate plans for their own group to be submitted to the Disaster Council.

"We want to bring all the good work under one umbrella," Hinshaw said.

The board will consider an ordinance this morning to redefine the role of the Disaster Council.

Supervisors also will:

Hold a public hearing to consider a lot line adjustment on a 224-acre property to allow expansion of a wildlife refuge owned by Friends of the Tuolumne. The property is along the Tuolumne River nine miles east of Waterford. The change was unanimously supported by the Stanislaus County Planning Commission.

Hold a public hearing on the rezoning of a 9-acre parcel near Ceres from agriculture to planned development to allow a manufactured home sales business. The rezoning was unanimously supported by the Planning Commission.

Consider a contract with Stearns, Conrad and Schmidt Engineers for a waste characterization study at the Fink Road Landfill. The study would help determine whether the county can recycle more of the waste that now goes into the landfill.

The county meets the state-mandated 50 percent recycling rate, but the state Legislature is considering an increase, according to the county staff report.

Consider approval of a subdivision improvement agreement for the Legends subdivision in the Diablo Grande resort and community in the hills west of Patterson. The subdivision creates nine residential lots. The developer is RW Hertel & Sons.

The partnership that owns Diablo Grande filed a Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy two weeks ago, and is working on a plan to restructure the development.

Consider a resolution in support of a farmland easement proposal for Menghetti Ranch on Route 132 west of Modesto. The easement would be purchased by the Central Valley Farmland Trust, and would preserve the 156-acre ranch for farming in perpetuity.

Consider adding $849,593 to the $6 million contract with the California Department of Education for child care services for the welfare-to-work program. The money comes from state and federal funds, and is paid directly to child care providers.

An additional 703 children would be covered with the added funds through the end of the fiscal year in June.

Consider accepting $278,735 in grant funding from the state for re-entry and rehabilitation services for minors returning from Department of Juvenile Justice detention facilities. The grant money is expected to grow to $900,000 for the 2008-09 fiscal year, and $1.2 million in 2009-10.

Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be reached at tmoran@modbee.com or 578-2349.