3-28-2006
Seabrook has role in flu plan
By Susan Morse
smorse@seacoastonline.com
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/hampton/03282006/news/94900.htm
SEABROOK - In the event of an avian flu epidemic, Seabrook would become a focal point of an evacuation out of the greater Boston area, according to Fire Chief Jeff Brown.
"They?re looking at Seabrook as the hub of vaccines," Brown told the Seabrook Board of Selectmen on March 22.
Brown made his comments after a meeting with representatives from the state involved with emergency management and health, he said.
There are two concerns of the state, said Brown: taking care of its own residents and of people arriving from metro Boston.
"Obviously, we?re the first town north of Boston in New Hampshire," said Brown. "So we have to be prepared to take care of citizens and also (others) in the evacuation area."
State officials told Brown the town?s community center and possibly the building at the Yankee Greyhound Racetrack could be used as vaccination sites.
The state wants to make sure people are vaccinated before heading northward into the state, said Brown.
"Their worse fear is a pandemic," he said.
There are 29 potential vaccine sites in the state, according to Jim van Dongen, a spokesman for the state Bureau of Emergency Management.
Van Dongen referred further comment to the Department of Health and Human Services, which is taking the lead on avian flu plans, he said. No one at the department could be reached by deadline.
To prepare for an avian flu pandemic, Seabrook is responsible for adding the contingency into the town?s emergency plan, said Brown.
Brown and town officials have been working on updating the plan, particularly after Hurricane Katrina this summer.
"As long as the basic plan is in place," Brown said, "we can handle anything."
This page has been printed from the following URL:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/hampton/03282006/news/94900.htm
Seabrook has role in flu plan
By Susan Morse
smorse@seacoastonline.com
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/hampton/03282006/news/94900.htm
SEABROOK - In the event of an avian flu epidemic, Seabrook would become a focal point of an evacuation out of the greater Boston area, according to Fire Chief Jeff Brown.
"They?re looking at Seabrook as the hub of vaccines," Brown told the Seabrook Board of Selectmen on March 22.
Brown made his comments after a meeting with representatives from the state involved with emergency management and health, he said.
There are two concerns of the state, said Brown: taking care of its own residents and of people arriving from metro Boston.
"Obviously, we?re the first town north of Boston in New Hampshire," said Brown. "So we have to be prepared to take care of citizens and also (others) in the evacuation area."
State officials told Brown the town?s community center and possibly the building at the Yankee Greyhound Racetrack could be used as vaccination sites.
The state wants to make sure people are vaccinated before heading northward into the state, said Brown.
"Their worse fear is a pandemic," he said.
There are 29 potential vaccine sites in the state, according to Jim van Dongen, a spokesman for the state Bureau of Emergency Management.
Van Dongen referred further comment to the Department of Health and Human Services, which is taking the lead on avian flu plans, he said. No one at the department could be reached by deadline.
To prepare for an avian flu pandemic, Seabrook is responsible for adding the contingency into the town?s emergency plan, said Brown.
Brown and town officials have been working on updating the plan, particularly after Hurricane Katrina this summer.
"As long as the basic plan is in place," Brown said, "we can handle anything."
This page has been printed from the following URL:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/hampton/03282006/news/94900.htm
