ML20054F944
| ML20054F944 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 06/14/1982 |
| From: | Bates C WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20054F925 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8206180243 | |
| Download: ML20054F944 (4) | |
Text
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5 TESTIMONY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHARLES W. BATES j
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES m
s m
My name is Charles W.
Bates.
I am now and have been since March, 1975 j
5 the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services for the County g
of Westchester.
My educational background and relevant professional experience are:
$w Education 1.
B.A.,
1952 St. Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota 2
M.S.W.,
1956 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana 3..
M.P.A., 1982 Pace University Graduate School of Public Administration l
White Plains, New York Relevant Experience 1.
6/51 - 8/51 Group Leader, Red Shield Community Center i
2.
7/52 - 9/54 Child Welfare Trainee and Caseworker, Minnesota f
Department of Public Welfare and Lake of r
the Woods Putlic Welfare Department St. Paul and Baudette, Minnesota 3.
6/56 - 10/60 -
Child Welfare Consultant and District Welfare Representative, Minnesota Department of Public Welfare.
St. Paul, Minnesota 4.
10/60 - 3/64 -
Director of Casework, Children's Home of Cincinnati, and Children's Protective Service of the Ohio Humane Society Cincinnati, Ohio 5.
4/64 - 12/67 -
Executive Director, Child Care Center, Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 8206180243 820614 PDR ADOCK 05000247 G
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i Executive Director, Boston Children's Service Assn.
I 6.
1/68 - 12/72 Boston, Massachusetts j
Director,' Ohio Department of Public Welfare 7.
12/72 - 1/75 Columbus, Ohio 8.
3/75 to Present Commissioner of Social Services, Westchester County Department of Social Services White Plains, New York
.I have reviewed the revised Radiological Emergency Response Plan for Westchester County, with particular interest in the responsibilities assigned to the Department of Social Services.
I also participated in the planning exercise for Indian Point Unit 3 on March 3, 1982.
The major concerns of the Department of Social Services in meeting its responsibilities under the plans are staffing, communication and financial resources.
According to the emergency plans, there are approximately 125 thousand persons in the 10-mile cmergency planning zone, of whom some 32 thousand are projected to require some kind of service from one to six reception centers and other on-going services.
Our estimate is that we would need a minimum of 250 but ideally up to 400 staff members during the initial crisis to operate our centers and communication network.
The Department now has a staff of 1200, how-1 ever a substantial number of employees may refuse to participate in the emergency procedure due to a real or imagined danger, unless safe-guards are provided.
Our staff, along with other county employees I
will face a serious dilemma whether to respond to their jobs or l
attend to their family responsibilities.
One indication of the response l
to this dilemma is that only about fifty out of 1200 staff members responded to a recent request for Civil Defense colunteers.
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j The Department.of Social Services participated in the drill on
%l March 3, 1982.
The drill was planned during working hours and we y
b ware well staffed for one center.
We would have had serious problems g
if the Department of Social Services had been asked to staff 6 f
l reception centers for the initial exercise.
Allowing for vacations, illness, night time and week end problems, in a crisis, we would need on a list at least 40 to 60 people on each reception center roster.
il Realizing the imminent danger and fear of radiation we are not certain how many staff members would actively participate on a non-voluntary I
basis.
..e have as yet no adequate plan for staff notification in the event of an emergency outside of normal working hours.
Weekday, night time I
and week end plans will need to be developed to man 6 centers. Up-dating such a plan is critical and would require additional staff personnel to accurately maintain these volunteer lists.
To date, we have received no funds under the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program to hire such personnel.
In order to prepare for and manage into the future we will need financial resources.
We have not received any funding for equipment, staff or training necessary for carrying out radiological disaster relief efforts.
We also have concerns about communicating.
Certainly the system used during the drill was less than adequate.
Considering the additional problems if we were to be actually impacted by a large crowd of
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,-A-g ovacuees an issue of more phones, Walkie Talkies and perhaps mini computer terminals for relocating family members would be needed.
Training and on-going training is necessary for our plan.
This requires time and money.
In conclusion, because of significant problems in staffing, communica-tion, equipment and training, we are not yet prepared to fully implement our total responsibility in a real crisis.
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