The first 2016-2017 project year meeting for the Incident Management Workgroup was held on August 22, 2016. During this meeting, workgroup members discussed and set goals and objectives for the new project year. One of the new project goals is to increase partnership with local businesses in preparing for and responding to incidents. Another goal focuses on reviewing and updating NACCHO policy statements related to preparedness and incident management. Additionally, in response to the upcoming release of the updated National Incident Management System (NIMS), the workgroup plans on reviewing the refreshed system and providing communications about it to other local health departments.

A highlight of this meeting was an informative presentation by Dev D. Jani, Ph.D., the Chief of Planning and Preparedness at the New Orleans office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. He gave an overview of “Integrated Chemical Security Programs” in New Orleans and discussed the threats associated with Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive Events (CBRNE) in New Orleans and the city’s planned response. In addition, Dr. Jani reviewed the methods used to develop and improve response plans, training, detection, response, resources, medical countermeasures, plume dispersion modeling, and crisis/risk communications.

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The Incident Management Workgroup addresses topics related to the use of NIMS and the Incident Command System (ICS), the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Capability Three: Emergency Operations Coordination, and incident specific issues, such as those related to CBRNE. The membership of the workgroup consists of local health officials and public health preparedness professionals. For more information, contact Chelsea Gridley-Smith, NACCHO staff lead for the Incident Management Workgroup.