Article Options

Local responders train for flu outbreak

By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

Friday, August 29, 2008 11:59 AM CDT

CARTERVILLE - Local emergency responders, health department officials and hospitals gathered at John A. Logan College Wednesday for statewide pandemic influenza exercise.

The exercises will take place throughout the state through Nov. 6 and have local officials discussing security needs in the county's community-based pandemic influenza plan.

Stephen Westbrooks, emergency response coordinator with the Marion Office of the Illinois Department of Health, said the tabletop exercises allow state and local departments to communicate and refine their plan.

"Almost everyone in here has been in the refining process," Westbrooks said. "They have refined their understanding of the problem and then scope out how to fix the problem."

According to a news release from Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office, the exercise series involves more than 1,400 participants across 21 locations and will look at 97 response plans.

The goals of the exercises include identifying and discussing the roles of law enforcement in responding to a public health event and examining a possible security mission in health care and public health response operations plans, discussing risk communications and public messaging needs and determining any necessary revisions to security sections of local plans.

Williamson County Sheriff Tom Cundiff said the exercises not only help refine plans, but also provide a window to the strengths and limitations of the different departments.

"It gives us insight as to what's expected from other agencies and what you can provide," Cundiff said. "It's a good way to come together and learn about each other."

Steve Land, assistant director of the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency, said the exercise not only helps in preparing for a flu outbreak, but it also helps ready the region for any natural or biological crisis.

"That's the value of getting people in one room like this," Land said. "We can all sit down and talk about it."

Land said that with the exercises, local agencies can be on top of their game when and if disaster does strike.

"You can't play the game until you practice," Land said.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

351-5804