ACHOR INFORMANCE

The response actions to situations is determined by the ACHO or designee that require relocation and/or re-establishment of essential functions of the health department. The COOP may be activated as a result of conditions that arise either with or without warning. The ability to immediately execute the COOP following an event with little or no warning will depend on the severity of the emergency and the number of personnel that are directly impacted and shall be activated as soon as reasonably possible.

All ACHD staff shall ensure that essential functions will continue or resume as rapidly and efficiently as possible during an emergency relocation. Any task not deemed mission essential must be deferred until additional personnel and resources become available. Critical functions are to be restored within 12 hours, priority
functions in 72 hours and ongoing functions should be the last to be restored and the order in which they are restored will depend on the situation and the resources available.

II-11 Devolution
Should sufficient staff be unavailable to conduct the mission-essential functions of the Allegan County Health Department, the ACHO or designee will initiate activation of pre-arranged devolution agreements as follows.
• Assistance could be requested from other Health Departments in Region 5 as there are standing mutual aid agreements between all Health Departments in the Region.
• Allegan County could also declare a local state of emergency and request assistance through the EOC of the MDHHS.

Devolution will be triggered when the ACHO or designee determines that available staff and resources are insufficient to carry out and maintain the health department’s prioritized COOP functions. At that point, the ACHO or designee will begin procedures to draft devolution agreements in consultation with the County Legal Counsel and County Commissioners.

The ACHO or designee will notify the EPC or designee that devolution is being initiated. If a partial devolution is deemed necessary, prioritized essential functions will be transferred the Region 5 Health Department(s).

Devolution plans will involve the following
issues:

• Personnel at the devolution organization are trained and/or capable to perform the COOP functions to the same level of proficiency as the Allegan County Health Department personnel.
• Vital records, documents, and databases are up to date and available.
• Communications and information management systems are able to be transferred or are accessible.
• Delegation of authority includes delegated personnel at the devolution organization.
• The estimated duration of devolution and a process to return functions and equipment to the health department.

If the ACHD’s COOP cannot be implemented for any reason, the ACHD’s operations and responsibilities will revert to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

The MDHHS will:
• Determine which health department or other organization will perform this public health mission for the county.
• Assume the responsibility for ensuring the continuous performance of the ACHD mission essential functions.