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Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Waltham officials move to setup up mutual aid networks when disaster strikes
http://www3.dailynewstribune.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=75306
http://www3.dailynewstribune.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=75306
By Galen Moore/ Daily News Staff
Friday, September 8, 2006
WALTHAM -- Firefighters and police officers have long been able to cross city borders to help their counterparts in other communities, in the event of an emergency.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Now, Waltham officials are supporting State House efforts to create a law allowing public works and health department employees to do the same, in the event of a terrorist attack, flu pandemic or other major disaster.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "We can have all the plans in the world, but we don't have the infrastructure laid out to act quickly," said state Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian, D-Waltham, who is preparing to file legislation in December that would create a framework for cities and towns to set up mutual aid networks.
Waltham Health Director Walter Sweder said such networks are vital to the success of new state protocols that have made local health departments responsible for planning the medical response to major incidents.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "The theory is good -- to be more self-sufficient," Sweder said. "But there's only so much you can do."
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Currently, collaboration is discouraged by questions over how workers would be insured if they should be injured while working beyond city borders, Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy said.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "In light of the overall national security situation, which is trickling down to the local level, in the event of an emergency next door, you want to have the flexibility that your personnel who respond to it are properly protected," McCarthy said. "Local boards of health are just that -- local."
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Sweder said he has met with Koutoujian, who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, asking for his support for the measure.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> In the state Senate, Sen. Jarrett Barrios, D-Cambridge, filed a bill this spring that is similar to the House legislation planned for this session. He said yesterday the bill would address concerns raised by an occurrence of hepatitis last year at a restaurant in Arlington, in which town health officials had to vaccinate individuals who had been exposed.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "They had to serve a lot of people in a short amount of time," Barrios said. "If Lexington or Waltham sent someone over to help, and they got sick, there's a question about who would be liable."
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> McCarthy said in addition to clarifying liability issues, she would like to see more from the state as to what exactly might be expected of Waltham in the event of a major regional disaster.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "There's also an issue of how do you coordinate it statewide? If they say OK, Waltham, you have to provide X, Y and Z, we have to have the appropriate facility and support," she said. "What's the standard operating procedure? What exactly would we be doing?"
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> McCarthy said those specifications are important so the city's local emergency planning committee can adapt.
Friday, September 8, 2006
WALTHAM -- Firefighters and police officers have long been able to cross city borders to help their counterparts in other communities, in the event of an emergency.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Now, Waltham officials are supporting State House efforts to create a law allowing public works and health department employees to do the same, in the event of a terrorist attack, flu pandemic or other major disaster.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "We can have all the plans in the world, but we don't have the infrastructure laid out to act quickly," said state Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian, D-Waltham, who is preparing to file legislation in December that would create a framework for cities and towns to set up mutual aid networks.
Waltham Health Director Walter Sweder said such networks are vital to the success of new state protocols that have made local health departments responsible for planning the medical response to major incidents.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "The theory is good -- to be more self-sufficient," Sweder said. "But there's only so much you can do."
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Currently, collaboration is discouraged by questions over how workers would be insured if they should be injured while working beyond city borders, Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy said.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "In light of the overall national security situation, which is trickling down to the local level, in the event of an emergency next door, you want to have the flexibility that your personnel who respond to it are properly protected," McCarthy said. "Local boards of health are just that -- local."
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Sweder said he has met with Koutoujian, who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, asking for his support for the measure.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> In the state Senate, Sen. Jarrett Barrios, D-Cambridge, filed a bill this spring that is similar to the House legislation planned for this session. He said yesterday the bill would address concerns raised by an occurrence of hepatitis last year at a restaurant in Arlington, in which town health officials had to vaccinate individuals who had been exposed.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "They had to serve a lot of people in a short amount of time," Barrios said. "If Lexington or Waltham sent someone over to help, and they got sick, there's a question about who would be liable."
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> McCarthy said in addition to clarifying liability issues, she would like to see more from the state as to what exactly might be expected of Waltham in the event of a major regional disaster.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> "There's also an issue of how do you coordinate it statewide? If they say OK, Waltham, you have to provide X, Y and Z, we have to have the appropriate facility and support," she said. "What's the standard operating procedure? What exactly would we be doing?"
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> McCarthy said those specifications are important so the city's local emergency planning committee can adapt.