Director of Health Services

At its meeting held September 24, 2002, the Board took the following action:

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Supervisor Yaroslavsky made the following statement:

“In 1995, with financial support from the State Emergency Medical Services Authority and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Health Services created the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) to respond to disasters in Los Angeles County. A second response team, the West Coast National Medical Response Team (NMRT) was created in 1997, utilizing members of both the Los Angeles and San Bernardino County DMATs to be on alert and respond to terrorist incidents involving nuclear, biological or chemical weapons. The NMRT is composed of professional and paraprofessional medical, health and logistic personnel and are self-contained and equipped to provide critical medical care to victims of a disaster.

“The DMAT and its NMRT component play a critical role in disaster preparedness and response. Since 1997, they have been pre-deployed to events such as the Olympic Games in Atlanta and Salt Lake City, the World Conference in Seattle, and the Nike Games in Portland. More recently, the California-9 team members were deployed on official assignment to Ground Zero, at the World Trade Center in New York City, to provide medical services to workers at the site.

On September 13, 2002, the Federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Emergency Response notified the Department that the Award/Contract for the allocation of $595,590 for the continued development and maintenance of NMRT resources and training for emergency support activities under the Federal Response Plan and other disasters and emergencies must be executed and returned by September 30, 2002, in order to ensure the County’s receipt of this funding.

“The DMAT and NMRT have played an important role in national disaster preparedness and response efforts. Given the heightened need to prepare for terrorist and other disasters, it is critical that their work continues to be supported.

Therefore, on motion of Supervisor Yaroslavsky, seconded by Supervisor Antonovich, unanimously carried, the Board took the following actions:

1. Approved and authorized the Director of Health Services to execute a contract for award of $595,590, from the Federal Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Emergency Response, for the continued development and maintenance of the West Coast National Medical Response Team to ensure ready and rapid medical response to terrorist incidents involving nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, effective July 22, 2002 to June 21, 2003; and

2. Authorized the Director of Health Services to execute any documents required to extend the award past the initial term as necessary to complete the award requirements.

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Copies distributed:

Each Supervisor

Chief Administrative Officer

County Counsel