The Unit is responsible for many elements of preparedness and planning for public health needs, disasters, and emergencies of all kinds. The Resources Elements are:

Planning

Elements that should be included in existing operational plans, standard operating procedures and/or emergency operations plans. The Unit maintains, updates, and exercises the Office of Health Services disaster and emergency response plans. The Unit participates in local, county, regional and statewide exercises throughout the year to maintain a state of readiness and evaluate the existing plans.

Skills and Training

The baseline competencies and skills necessary for personnel and teams to possess to competently deliver a capability. The Unit coordinates the delivery of training to the staff and MRC volunteers by various organizations and agencies.

Equipment and Technology

The equipment that the Unit should have in their possession (or have access to), should be in sufficient quantities to adequately achieve the capability within the county. The current planning strategy is to be fully self-sufficient for the first 72 hours of a disaster and to be able to operate 24 hours for 14 days. The vehicles and equipment are maintained in a state of readiness along with the replenishment of supplies in the warehouse.

Mission Ready Packaged Team Type

The Unit maintains the following Teams under Public Health ESF-8 National Incident Management System.

• Medical Needs Shelter Teams (MNS)
• Public Health and Medical Team in a Shelter (PHMS)
• Mass Dispensing Consultant Team (MDC)
• Receiving, Staging and Storing (RSS) Task Force
• Medical/Public Health System Assessment Team (MPHA)