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Emergency situations can strike unexpectedly, and when they do, it is crucial for organizations and agencies to have staff members who are well-prepared to effectively manage these crises. In Buncombe County, North Carolina, the importance of Incident Command System (ICS) training for staff members has been recognized as a vital component of emergency response planning. Buncombe County's ICS training series offered a range of courses and exercises designed to equip staff members and partners with the skills and knowledge necessary to handle various emergency scenarios using the ICS structure and processes. This training and exercise series engaged around 300 people in our region.
This ICS training series included ICS 300 and ICS 400, which provide essential incident management training to personnel who may serve as command staff, section chiefs, or unit leaders in emergency situations. This training series defined and exercised the response organizational structure, decision-making processes, and coordination of resources through coursework, table top exercises, and 2 functional exercises. Trainings and exercises were funded with Region 2 ARPA funds, coordinated by Foothills Health District.
The Public Information Officer (PIO) courses, including the Basic Public Information Officer and Advanced Public Information Officer classes, were also offered in Buncombe County, with heavy support from Stacey Wood, Buncombe County PIO. PIOs play a crucial role in not only informing the community about an ongoing situation but also help to manage public expectations and minimizing panic or confusion. Representatives from Buncombe County Public Health, Sheriff's Office and County Administration completed this demanding series, culminating with a 2-day functional crisis and emergency risk communication exercise.
Additionally, a functional exercise for a Point of Distribution (POD), and 2 Tabletop Exercises were held to evaluate the county's response plans and identify areas for improvement. Agencies involved in these exercises included Public Health, Asheville Fire Department, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, Buncombe Emergency Management, Skyland Fire Department, Western Carolina University Nursing Program, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, the NC Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Elevated Training and Consulting, Appalachian State Medical Reserve Corp., MAHEC Internal Medicine Residency, and NC Public Health Preparedness and Response..
Nathan Greene, Buncombe County Public Health Preparedness Officer, was instrumental in coordinating this training series for WNC. Nathan states, “Buncombe County's ICS training series is a testament to the county's commitment to emergency preparedness and its desire to have well-trained staff members who can effectively respond to and manage crisis situations.” He continues, “This ICS training series serves as a valuable asset in safeguarding the well-being of Buncombe County's residents and securing the community's resilience in the face of natural and manmade disasters.”