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RICHLAND PLANS BIRD FLU DRILLS
By Anna Jauhola (Wahpeton Daily News)
August 9, 2006
As reported last week, there seems to be no worry about an avian flu outbreak in Richland and Wilkin counties, let alone the United States. However, businesses and other groups are preparing for a possible pandemic in the off chance the virus breaks into the country, Richland County Emergency Manager Brett Lambrecht said.
A few meetings are slated for September in Richland and Wilkin counties, Lambrecht told the County Commission Monday morning. On Sept. 21, Richland County Emergency Management will host a bird flu/pandemic/emergency home survival kit workshop. This workshop will be from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Clair T. Blikre Activities Center on North Dakota State College of Science campus.
A similar workshop for businesses in Richland and Wilkin counties will be held from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the NDSCS Tech Center. The workshops are sponsored by Richland County Health Department.
Scientists have found two strains of the bird flu and have a vaccine for one strain, Lambrecht said. With the upcoming workshops, the public and businesses will be able to prepare for a possible pandemic. The public will learn facts about the bird flu and how to prepare their families for a pandemic. The public will also be taught about creating their own home emergency kit.
"The workshop will educate the public on a pandemic and what will happen if it happens," Lambrecht said. The home emergency kit will be for any emergency, not just a bird flu pandemic. The kit would include a proper amount of food and water to prepare for a flood, an extended power outage or a bird flu pandemic.
Businesses will learn how to "safeguard employees, retain skills and productivity, and to minimize financial losses during a pandemic," according to the Richland County Health Department.
On Oct. 5 a full-scale dorm fire/bird flu/pandemic drill will take place at NDSCS. Emergency personnel will use one of the tall dorms in the drill. It is still in the planning stages now, Lambrecht said. He is looking at conducting a table top exercise from 2-4 p.m. on Sept. 7 first, though. Currently Lambrecht is in the process of designing the exercise, in which authorities will test many aspects of emergency responses. For example, the Wahpeton Fire Department will practice rescuing mannequins from a third story in an NDSCS dorm.
Both Richland and Wilkin counties' emergency management offices, MeritCare and Dakota Clinic, St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Wahpeton Fire Department, Wahpeton Police and Richland County Sheriff's Department will participate in the drill.
Source
By Anna Jauhola (Wahpeton Daily News)
August 9, 2006
As reported last week, there seems to be no worry about an avian flu outbreak in Richland and Wilkin counties, let alone the United States. However, businesses and other groups are preparing for a possible pandemic in the off chance the virus breaks into the country, Richland County Emergency Manager Brett Lambrecht said.
A few meetings are slated for September in Richland and Wilkin counties, Lambrecht told the County Commission Monday morning. On Sept. 21, Richland County Emergency Management will host a bird flu/pandemic/emergency home survival kit workshop. This workshop will be from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Clair T. Blikre Activities Center on North Dakota State College of Science campus.
A similar workshop for businesses in Richland and Wilkin counties will be held from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the NDSCS Tech Center. The workshops are sponsored by Richland County Health Department.
Scientists have found two strains of the bird flu and have a vaccine for one strain, Lambrecht said. With the upcoming workshops, the public and businesses will be able to prepare for a possible pandemic. The public will learn facts about the bird flu and how to prepare their families for a pandemic. The public will also be taught about creating their own home emergency kit.
"The workshop will educate the public on a pandemic and what will happen if it happens," Lambrecht said. The home emergency kit will be for any emergency, not just a bird flu pandemic. The kit would include a proper amount of food and water to prepare for a flood, an extended power outage or a bird flu pandemic.
Businesses will learn how to "safeguard employees, retain skills and productivity, and to minimize financial losses during a pandemic," according to the Richland County Health Department.
On Oct. 5 a full-scale dorm fire/bird flu/pandemic drill will take place at NDSCS. Emergency personnel will use one of the tall dorms in the drill. It is still in the planning stages now, Lambrecht said. He is looking at conducting a table top exercise from 2-4 p.m. on Sept. 7 first, though. Currently Lambrecht is in the process of designing the exercise, in which authorities will test many aspects of emergency responses. For example, the Wahpeton Fire Department will practice rescuing mannequins from a third story in an NDSCS dorm.
Both Richland and Wilkin counties' emergency management offices, MeritCare and Dakota Clinic, St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Wahpeton Fire Department, Wahpeton Police and Richland County Sheriff's Department will participate in the drill.
Source