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Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=131128&sc=58
Last updated at 11:24 PM on 01/05/08
Town preparing for the worst
DARRELL COLE
The Amherst Daily News
AMHERST - When the next global pandemic strikes, Amherst can expect to be missing at least half its employees for up to two months. At the same time, many non-essential services will not be available and public buildings, such as town hall and the Amherst Stadium, will be closed.
?There will be a reduction in some services and a possible slowdown in others,? the author of Amherst?s pandemic plan, fire chief and EMO co-ordinator Bill Crossman, said. ?We will be as ready as we can be. You can?t predict what?s going to happen but you have to be as prepared as you can.?
Crossman?s plan, that was adopted by town council on Monday, represents compiling information on past pandemics and what each town department is going to do when the next one strikes.
It sets out roles and responsibilities before, during and after the pandemic hits and sets priorities such as maintaing services like sewer, water and garbage
?I think our plan is good. Each department has their own individual plan on providing the service, dealing with the public and preventative maintenance on their behalf,? Crossman said. ?The experts predict it will happen, they just don?t know when. That?s why they say it?s important to be as prepared as they can.?
The town?s pandemic plan compliments other plans that have been put in place by Health Canada, the provincial Health Department and the Cumberland Health Authority.
Historic evidence suggests pandemics occur three to four times a century. There have been three pandemics in the last 100 years including the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918-1919 that may have killed as many as 40 million, the Asian influenza in 1957-1958 and the Hong Kong influenza in 1968-1969.
It?s expected the next pandemic will be in Canada about three months after it emerges in another part of the world. Amherst?s plan goes on the assumption that the town will have a month?s warning.
The town?s plan also goes on the assumption that a substantial number of its workers may not be able to work because they?ll be ill or members of their family will be.
In the meantime, Amherst will continue to tweak and update its plan and development additional contingency plans as required.
dcole@amherstdaily.com
Last updated at 11:24 PM on 01/05/08
Town preparing for the worst
DARRELL COLE
The Amherst Daily News
AMHERST - When the next global pandemic strikes, Amherst can expect to be missing at least half its employees for up to two months. At the same time, many non-essential services will not be available and public buildings, such as town hall and the Amherst Stadium, will be closed.
?There will be a reduction in some services and a possible slowdown in others,? the author of Amherst?s pandemic plan, fire chief and EMO co-ordinator Bill Crossman, said. ?We will be as ready as we can be. You can?t predict what?s going to happen but you have to be as prepared as you can.?
Crossman?s plan, that was adopted by town council on Monday, represents compiling information on past pandemics and what each town department is going to do when the next one strikes.
It sets out roles and responsibilities before, during and after the pandemic hits and sets priorities such as maintaing services like sewer, water and garbage
?I think our plan is good. Each department has their own individual plan on providing the service, dealing with the public and preventative maintenance on their behalf,? Crossman said. ?The experts predict it will happen, they just don?t know when. That?s why they say it?s important to be as prepared as they can.?
The town?s pandemic plan compliments other plans that have been put in place by Health Canada, the provincial Health Department and the Cumberland Health Authority.
Historic evidence suggests pandemics occur three to four times a century. There have been three pandemics in the last 100 years including the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918-1919 that may have killed as many as 40 million, the Asian influenza in 1957-1958 and the Hong Kong influenza in 1968-1969.
It?s expected the next pandemic will be in Canada about three months after it emerges in another part of the world. Amherst?s plan goes on the assumption that the town will have a month?s warning.
The town?s plan also goes on the assumption that a substantial number of its workers may not be able to work because they?ll be ill or members of their family will be.
In the meantime, Amherst will continue to tweak and update its plan and development additional contingency plans as required.
dcole@amherstdaily.com