September 11, 2008

RALEIGH – NC State Representative Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland) has been appointed to serve as Vice-Chairman on the Joint Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Recovery. The appointment was made by Speaker of the House, Joe Hackney (D-Chatham).

 The Committee will continue to study issues related to emergency preparedness and disaster management recovery, including:

-     Whether the State building code sufficiently addresses issues related to commercial and residential construction in hurricane and flood prone areas.

-     The public health infrastructure in place to respond to natural and non-natural disasters, including pandemic flu preparation and response. 

-     A study of the pandemic flu preparation and response should include an assessment of potential threat; funding and mechanisms needed to produce and distribute a vaccine for the avian flu; review of quarantine and isolation laws and processes; coordination issues for local and State public health officials; coordination between State departments of public health, crime control and public safety, and agriculture; establishment of public education infrastructure for any necessary emergency vaccination program; assessment of needs of public health infrastructure and hospital capacity to respond.

-     Hurricane preparedness, evacuation and response.

-     Energy security, including: identifying the State's energy profile, determining the State's essential energy facilities and their connections, evaluating potential threats and the possible consequences of disruptive events; reviewing long-term strategies; outlining strategies for communication to the media and public; offering response options for each type of emergency; identifying the response measures and options that industry and government can take; coordination on a local, State and federal level issues; ensuring protection from cyber attack of computer control systems; monitoring of State's energy supply.

-     Bioterrorism preparedness and response.

-     Flood and natural disaster preparation and response.

-     Any other topic the Committee believes is related to its purpose.

 The Committee will submit a final report on the results of its study, including any proposed legislation, to the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, on or before December 31, 2008.