COUNTYWIDE : Board OKs Funds for Quake Program

The county on Tuesday took another step toward preparing for a major earthquake.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $45,000 agreement with the Society of Orange County Emergency Physicians to continue a medical disaster response program.

The plan is to train a cadre of doctors and equip them with backpacks full of medical supplies that they could carry in the trunks of their cars. Portable medical supply kits also will be placed around the county. Already, 37 doctors have been trained through the program.

“This is one of those programs that is moving along quietly and effectively, and nobody pays it a lot of attention,” Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez said. “But if the big one were to hit, everyone would ask, ‘How prepared were we?’ ”