A heart mourning the loss of slaying victim Laura Wilcox hangs on a cross in the Rood Center Wednesday. (Photo by John Hart)

Though the employees are expected to report back to work Tuesday, it's not certain whether the Behavioral Heath Department will be ready to open by then, said Nevada County Administrator Ted Gaebler.

The department and its employees were the target of a gunman Wednesday.

The attack at the HEW building left two people dead and one wounded.

Damage to the building has yet to be assessed, Gaebler said.

Gaebler said the Heath Education and Welfare complex in Nevada City, where the Behavioral Health Department is housed, will be closed while investigators sort through the crime scene.

The investigation will prevent the county from assessing damage to the building's interior and could delay repairs, Gaebler said.

"Nobody knows what structural damage has been done," he said.

Despite Wednesday's incident, behavioral health clients are still receiving services, said Human Services Director Phyllis Murdock.

"Services have been available for clients throughout the crisis and will continue to be provided," Murdock said.

The Health Education and Welfare complex will be open next week for limited services, she said.

The Community Health Department, Women, Infants and Children Department and Elections Office will be open Tuesday.

Therapy services at the Behavioral Health Department, where the attack took place, will be unavailable until Thursday, Murdock said.

Crisis services and medication support will continue to be available via the crisis hot line at 265-5811.

Meanwhile the Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting Tuesday at 10 a.m. to consider a declaration of local emergency issued by Emergency Services Director Dennis Cassella following Wednesday's shootings.

"County services has been severely impacted by the death of county staff, citizens and the subsequent closure of county facilities and private businesses," according to the declaration.

Cassella will ask supervisors for authorization to apply for private, federal or state assistance to mitigate the personal and property destruction caused by the events.

- John Dickey contributed to this story ... Know and Go WHAT: Emergency declaration resolution WHEN: 10 a.m. Tuesday WHERE: Rood Administrative Center, 950 Maidu Ave., Nevada City

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