TheFluMaster
Resident
Peoria has plan for bird flu pandemic
Funds set aside in case of outbreak
Cecilia Chan
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 14, 2006 12:00 AM
Peoria is arming itself against a possible avian flu pandemic.
The City Council on June 6 approved $235,108 to fund a response plan
that includes training and equipment.
"Frankly we don't know if this will happen," City Manager Terry
Ellis said. But "most experts do agree we have to deal with some
part of this, some point in the future."
Ellis said the experts' consensus is that local government will need
to be self-sufficient if a global epidemic hits.
He said the staff has been working hard on a plan since last summer
to ensure that Peoria government is able to protect the lives of its
residents.
Deputy Fire Chief Larry Rooney said the heightened need for local
response was demonstrated in the federal government's slow response
to recent disasters.
Rooney said the city has partnered with the state and Maricopa
County health departments and has identified supplies and equipment
needed for prevention and response for a three-month period.
The city has set up on its Web site information on how to handle
potential disasters, and its Channel 11 will air public-safety
announcements such as how to prevent getting the flu, Rooney said.
He said the funding would help increase the level of training for
fire paramedics, provide for awareness and emergency operation
center training sessions, and pay for the 2006 flu vaccine. The
vaccine would be given to key personnel and public-safety employees.
There is no specific vaccine for the avian flu virus.
The city doesn't have the capability to inoculate the general
population, but if needed it can set up distribution points such as
at the high schools, where vaccine from the county or state could be
given, Rooney said.
He said county officials were so impressed with Peoria's plan that
they picked Peoria to do a tabletop exercise or workshop on the
issue, and the county wants to team with the city to do mass
immunization if it becomes necessary for any pandemic.
He also said the city has been accepted to attend next year's
emergency preparedness training in Maryland, considered one of the
best training of its type in the country. Key department heads, the
mayor and vice mayor will attend the four-day class, all paid for by
the federal government.
Councilwoman Pat Dennis said she was concerned that if an epidemic
occurs, the city would be able to keep up with services such as
garbage pickup.
"How deep are we looking at this?" she asked.
Rooney said each department is expected to report in September how
it would be affected by a pandemic.
Ellis said if the city encounters an epidemic, healthy employees
would be moved around to fill needed roles and the council would
have to decide which services to cut.
If there is no pandemic, the equipment and supply can be used in
other ways, he said.
"This kind of puts us on the cutting edge of trying to be ready,"
Councilwoman Joan Evans said.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/peoria/articles/0614gl-peobird14Z2.html
Funds set aside in case of outbreak
Cecilia Chan
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 14, 2006 12:00 AM
Peoria is arming itself against a possible avian flu pandemic.
The City Council on June 6 approved $235,108 to fund a response plan
that includes training and equipment.
"Frankly we don't know if this will happen," City Manager Terry
Ellis said. But "most experts do agree we have to deal with some
part of this, some point in the future."
Ellis said the experts' consensus is that local government will need
to be self-sufficient if a global epidemic hits.
He said the staff has been working hard on a plan since last summer
to ensure that Peoria government is able to protect the lives of its
residents.
Deputy Fire Chief Larry Rooney said the heightened need for local
response was demonstrated in the federal government's slow response
to recent disasters.
Rooney said the city has partnered with the state and Maricopa
County health departments and has identified supplies and equipment
needed for prevention and response for a three-month period.
The city has set up on its Web site information on how to handle
potential disasters, and its Channel 11 will air public-safety
announcements such as how to prevent getting the flu, Rooney said.
He said the funding would help increase the level of training for
fire paramedics, provide for awareness and emergency operation
center training sessions, and pay for the 2006 flu vaccine. The
vaccine would be given to key personnel and public-safety employees.
There is no specific vaccine for the avian flu virus.
The city doesn't have the capability to inoculate the general
population, but if needed it can set up distribution points such as
at the high schools, where vaccine from the county or state could be
given, Rooney said.
He said county officials were so impressed with Peoria's plan that
they picked Peoria to do a tabletop exercise or workshop on the
issue, and the county wants to team with the city to do mass
immunization if it becomes necessary for any pandemic.
He also said the city has been accepted to attend next year's
emergency preparedness training in Maryland, considered one of the
best training of its type in the country. Key department heads, the
mayor and vice mayor will attend the four-day class, all paid for by
the federal government.
Councilwoman Pat Dennis said she was concerned that if an epidemic
occurs, the city would be able to keep up with services such as
garbage pickup.
"How deep are we looking at this?" she asked.
Rooney said each department is expected to report in September how
it would be affected by a pandemic.
Ellis said if the city encounters an epidemic, healthy employees
would be moved around to fill needed roles and the council would
have to decide which services to cut.
If there is no pandemic, the equipment and supply can be used in
other ways, he said.
"This kind of puts us on the cutting edge of trying to be ready,"
Councilwoman Joan Evans said.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/peoria/articles/0614gl-peobird14Z2.html