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First Steps for a Small Town Mayor

by: Average Concerned Mom

Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 14:42:56 PM EST


(practical question that we might all need to deal with - promoted by DemFromCT)

What would you advise a mayor and his/her town council to do to prepare for a possible pandemic?
Average Concerned Mom :: First Steps for a Small Town Mayor
Let's assume town officials are aware of pandemic flu but haven't given it all that much thought, assuming that the state or county would have mentioned something to them if there were anything to be seriously concerned about (not, just that something might happen in 10 years -- or might not happen ever.)  Maybe some staff have been to a meeting or two, but this is in a state that has ranked just about dead last in pandemic preparedness, so the meetings might not have amounted to much useful information. 

I went to pandemicflu.gov and sure didn't see any suggestions for what to do at the very local level.

What are some steps that you could suggest that would not be very expensive?  Assume a small town, small police force and public works team which is responsible for garbage, recycling,  and yard-waste collection; and snowplowing; no responsibility for schools or fire or EMTs or hospitals (county handles that). 

What, exactly, is a small-town mayor's role in pandemic preparation?

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First Steps for a Small Town Mayor | 90 comments
education is first
Even small towns have medical advisors. Sometimes it's the sanitarian, sometimes it's a part-time position manned by a local doc. Just convince someone the mayor knows. The best person to convince, btw, is whever is in charge of EMS. They worry about such things as mass casualty. Introduce them to pandemicflu.gov and flu wiki.

The mayor, school board, EMS and town council should have a 'what do I need to know' seminar from trusted sources. That may mean  the state DPH, or the nearest academic center, or any of a dozen resources, or those local advisors can organize it. Or it can be a taped version of Mike Leavitt's summit. A half-day or 2 hour session should do.

Once that is done, and the local folks have a better idea of what the fuss is, they then form a pandemic flu task force. Fancy name for the usual players in town to meet monthly to plan such things as medical/EMS issues, school closures, etc.

And part of that is the idea that citizens will need to SIP and be educated about that.

Okay, on paper it's simple.

given that the mayor is not responsible for EMS/EMT
approach them to approach the mayor, or vice versa. The county can be part of the trainer seminar.
[ Parent ]
no doc
most small towns I know have no doctor, no nurse,.....


Be Prepared
[ Parent ]
I suppose I'm thinking New England 'small'
where there's a sanitarian but not a full time public health person. Who pronounces bodies? Who clears the septic and the home for human habitation? There's usually someone in that role, even if borrowed from the next town.
[ Parent ]
Handled at the county level in Maryland as far as I know. n/t


GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.
[ Parent ]
Dem, what is the typical
role of a NE small town sanitarian in an epidemic situation?  What comes under their purview, what does not? 
[ Parent ]
speaking of cheap education
these are free...

Online Training for Pandemics, Agroterrorism, and Other Emergencies

The following courses are available online free of charge. For some of these, certificates are available after a brief online test, providing continuing education credits, including medical, EMT, and nursing. I am only listing courses available through institutions I have some experience with. I would be glad to hear of any others.

http://www.prepareio... site, sponsored by the Upper Midwest Center for Public Health Preparedness, provides the technological facility for courses from several institutions, including U. Albany programs listed further down this posting. I have only taken their webcast courses on my home computer. Other methods are available for individuals and groups. Some courses: Genesis of an Influenza Pandemic: Preparedness vs. Poultry, Poverty, and Practices; Ethical Hazards in Pandemic Planning and Response; Epidemiology and Surveillance of Emerging Infections; Risky Business: Communication during a Crisis

http://www.ualbanycp... base for the excellent Grand Rounds program at the University of Albany School of Public Health Center for Public Health Preparedness. Some of their upcoming courses: Agroterrorism: Managing Foreign and Emerging Animal Diseases; Mass Evacuation for Rural Communities; Managing Contemporary Mass Fatalities Note that some of their past courses are still available at the Iowa site listed above. If you catch the courses the first time they are run, you can submit questions via phone or fax.

http://www.kiprc.uky... Kentucky Terrorism Response and Preparedness (TRAP) program provides several courses, including two on Agroterrorism (one at the introductory level, one at extension level), bioterrorism, chemical terrorism, and pediatric terrorism (recognition and treatment of problems particularly affecting children).

http://www.training.... Emergency Management Institute (EMI) National Emergency Training Institute (NETC) electronic campus offers a wide variety of courses, including those on the incident command system which is required for local governments which hope to receive financial assistance for preparedness (e.g., equipment). See the list at: http://http://www.tr...

see link for original post from stillwaggon:
http://www.fluwikie2...

Public Engagement Upcoming Webcast - Free - With Registration
COURSE NUMBER AND NAME: W1155 UA - Engaging the Public in Pandemic Flu Planning (Webcast)Thursday, January 11, 2007

Program Description: 

The study completed in the first phase of Dr Lasker's project "Redefining Readiness" showed that many emergency response plans will not work because people will not react the way planners want them to. The second phase of the project has carried out local demonstration projects to develop model plans and public engagement practices for more effective terrorism/emergency preparedness planning. Dr Lasker will present findings from this project that can be utilized to involve the enormous number of stakeholders that are needed to develop the most effective pandemic flu plans possible.


ITW(Joel J)
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain
 
[ Parent ]
URL for Lasker's "Engaging the Public in Pandemic Flu Planning" webcast
In case the url above doesn't work, try:

http://tinyurl.com/y...

[ Parent ]
Thks. n/t


ITW(Joel J)
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain
 
[ Parent ]
small town blues
Our fire department and ambulance service are both volunteer.  This leaves the Mayor in charge of one town worker and one policeman.  Since I have served in the past on the Town Council, I know how things work and considered it mostly a waste of time, but still petitioned to present facts about pandemic flu to the Mayor and Town Council.  An email and a written letter have both been ignored so far, as well as requests that the Town contact local utilities to see if they have emergency plans.  I really didn't expect to get far, but it seems I didn't get anywhere at all.

If I had done this on my own, I would have done most of it incorrectly.
what about
the FD and EMS contacting the mayor instead of the other way around?

What about the free courses?

Just brainstorming.

[ Parent ]
what about the above being preceded by a news article
in the local paper?

More brainstorming.

[ Parent ]
But once you get their attentin -- what do they do?
What if a small-town mayor comes to the Flu Wiki forum and is looking for some concrete cuggestions; along the lines for individuals of "Store this, prep that".

A cheat sheet for mayors.

ALert your consituents to the need to prepare.  OK

What else -- build community?  Set up telephone trees of neighbors to check on each other?  Encourage Group Buys?

Just looking for ideas.

Hey, what ever happened to that Peter Carpenter poster who had something to do with a group called Resilient COmmunities?  Is that going to be ready to be published/put out sometime soon, does anyone know?

GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

[ Parent ]
I've spoken with Peter and it will be published
but 'soon' means a few more months. it is a very detailed community response plan, and maybe too much for a small town as described.

when we first envisioned the wiki, we hoped to have plans for international, national, state and local entities. We now have it down to the city level, but not much for small towns in terms of a crib sheet template.

[ Parent ]
Thanks Dem!
I thought I was missing something.

Might be room for "soccer mom" approach here!  (-:

GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

[ Parent ]
still, there's a difference between convincing the mayor
to make a plan and taking the convinced mayor and showing him where he can get a plan.

I thought we were focusing on the former, but you are right that there's a need for the latter.

[ Parent ]
Town Emergency Plan
I sent some information to a City Council member that I'm friendly with. He was receptive, and even knew about the issue! Our town apparently has emergency response plans drawn up for various emergencies, and he said these were being reviewed, and pandemic preparedness would be included. I have not seen these emergency response plans, but I assume many small towns have them. Perhaps reviewing these plans and presenting suggestions would be a way to work with the town instead of risking coming off preachy by "educating" them.

I serve on an advisory commission (a volunteer position) so I know that folks in my tiny city serve in government on top of work, family and other community activities, and it takes a monsterous amount of time. The city "staff" consists of two totally overworked and underqualified persons. I always appreciate it when someone comes forward and says "I have an idea AND i'm willing to research it, put a plan together, and present you with a report of recommendations, along with an explanation of why these recommendations are a good idea."

I would be less receptive to someone saying "I'm going to present a slide show so that you know the issues so that you can then take this on as another project." My response would be "get in line!"

 

[ Parent ]
heh my response would be "good... you're chairing the committee"
and that's fine.
[ Parent ]
they've had the past 14 months to do that- if public isn't ready; all for naught
"he said these were being reviewed, and pandemic preparedness would be included"
Doesn't work like that.

How about if you say, I have papers in my hand I'm going to put in the next mailing and or on the website, and or up at the town hall and the library where they will be seen, ect,

Maybe print http://www.nga.org/F... pdf p 17 (and change the stockpiling to "12 weeks or more" - and just don't say it is a govt quote )

"Social Disruption May Be Widespread
Being Able to Work May Be Difficult or Impossible
Schools May Be Closed for an Extended Period of Time
  Transportation Services May Be Disrupted
People Will Need Advice and Help at Work and Home
Be Prepared
Stay Healthy
Get Informed"
  http://pandemicflu.g...

..."The collaboration of Faith-Based and Community Organizations with public health agencies will be essential in protecting the public’s health and safety if and when an influenza pandemic occurs. This checklist provides guidance for religious organizations (churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc.), social service agencies that are faithbased, and community organizations in developing and improving influenza pandemic response and preparedness plans. Many of the points suggested here can improve your organization’s ability to protect your community during emergencies in general"...
http://pandemicflu.g...

..."important, specific activities you can do now to prepare."...
http://pandemicflu.g...
"Establish a Pandemic Preparedness Coordinating Committee
that represents all relevant stakeholders in the jurisdiction (including governmental, public health, healthcare, emergency response,
agriculture, education, business, communication, community based, and faith-based sectors, as well as private citizens)
and that is accountable for articulating strategic priorities and overseeing the development and execution of the jurisdiction's operational pandemic plan"...
http://pandemicflu.g...

sigh

[ Parent ]
not everyone responds to the two by four across the forehead approach
although admittedly some do. ;-)
[ Parent ]
if officals hadn't tried to hide it under a barrel
I wouldn't have to be overcompensating for them.

They had their chance; they wanted to gamble everyone's lives without their consent- while the public paid their salaries!

Local officials didn't want me as an ally; picky little matter about
can't "tell the public to look at the pandemicflu.gov site" when it came out, -honcho sure it will "cause panic. Still not putting it on the Town Meeting, not being "honest", nor transparent, no timely communication, ect,

so, the rest of you seem to be stuck with me, for the time being.

[ Parent ]
All for naught? WTF?
"he said these were being reviewed, and pandemic preparedness would be included"
"Doesn't work like that."

Yes, it does. Progress is a series of little steps. Evolution, not revolution. There is good news here:

- My town has written emergency plans that are periodically reviewed.
- A council member has heard of pandemic flu, knows that it is different than bird flu, and knows that we need to plan for it.
- The emergency plans are currently being reviewed, and pandemic plans will be included.

You should be so lucky.

[ Parent ]
FUN water pumps for community gardens
You can say that the hand pumps are for the kids "to get that old-tyme experience"  (kids always line up to use the pumps at the kiddie-farms we visit) and to water the square foot gardens.

A quick google search on "water pump kids playground" provides these links:

- http://www.worldchan...
- http://www.afrigadge...
- http://mingo.info-sc...

Of course, they should also be "operated" by one or two adults in case it's not the right time for people to mix.  Or there could be other adaptations for respiratory protection?

btw: http://www.squarefoo... is here.  Getting compost in huge quantities is a problem, too.  There was a wikipage about all this, somewhere ...

You arm yourself to the teeth just in case.  You don't leave the gun near the baby's hand.

[ Parent ]
advise for a mayor
Potable water is always top on the list of survival supplies!

The city is probably responsible for the public water supply. As mayor he will not want the people he serves to suffer in the event that the city is unable to provide water. If he were delicately informed about the problems of just in time delivery and the chlorine supplies, the lack of manpower in a pandemic, and the likelihood that the public water supply would be disrupted he might be willing to consider solutions.

If he knows that he will not be able to rely on the red cross or feds or whoever he might be able to think outside the box.

The obvious solution is to stockpile more chlorine at the water plant. I doubt that will ever happen.

However, the forest preserve has installed manual water pumps at all the forest preserves. This clearly provides a benefit to the people who use the forests -- and not just in an emergency.

Let the park district install water pumps in the public parks as well. Then people will be able to get a drink while enjoying the park and the city will have a secondary source of water in an emergency all at the same time.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Lakeman, excellent idea!
"Let the park district install water pumps in the public parks as well. Then people will be able to get a drink while enjoying the park and the city will have a secondary source of water in an emergency all at the same time."

That idea is intriguing. It would cost money and then, someone would have to be responsible for testing and ensuring the safety of the well water wouldn't they?

But it is something that could be done by a mayor with no real power to, say, increase staff at the water plant.  (Is it called a plant?)

Other ideas?

Mount a massive campaign to trim branches of trees that overhand electrical wires?  (I'm sure this would cost money -- the power company is supposed to do it around here but usually just waits for a big storm to do the "deciding" for them.)

Purchase PPE for police force.



GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

[ Parent ]
some lateral thinking
i.e., aproach the majors through their spouses or other people on their side?

Can't get more lateral than that. :)

You arm yourself to the teeth just in case.  You don't leave the gun near the baby's hand.

VERY clever Lugon n/t

[ Parent ]
If this question is being asked by the mayor...
Then I think the first few things need to be:

1.  A gap analysis... Set it up so that the analysis show not only WHAT needs to be done.... but who is the responsible party. (A small group can do this, but it needs to include those persons you listed above, fire and rescue, any hospital or clinic, public health department, police (county and city), city commissioners, etc...)

The reasoning for this is because anything that is run by the county only will still have an effect on the city and ALL plans need to be coordinated.  I would venture a guess, that if the city hasn't planned at this point..... the county would not have begun planning either or this city mayor would have been a part.

2.  Next would be a framework , of sorts, that would cover the roles of each party.  And at which point do you change your plan to include others, (nontraditional).

3.  Identify what IS possible; What MIGHT be possible and what WILL NOT be possible.  This will help form workable plans. (Time to think out of the box.)

4.  Identify ABSOLUTE focus areas: i.e. communication; surge capacity; NPI's; education to the public, etc.

5.  Identify WISH lists... and assign somone to look into them.

6.  Research possible areas for funding for disaster preparedness.  There is money out there.

7.  Use an open house public forum for focus groups for their suggestions.... assign some of them to tasks.

8.  Lead by example.... Make this a city / county effort.

9.  Test your plan... Identify any weakness, and then retest.  This is only way to get people to see if something works or not.

Just my thoughts.......

Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have. ~ Margaret Mead

Citizen Engagement
Talk to him about the importance of engaging his constituents in a discussion about the competing values and ethical dilemas that government at all levels will face.

Roger Bernier, PhD, MPH, senior advisor for scientific strategy and innovation at the CDC

"We need the public for three reasons," he added. "We need their help, we need their advice, and we need their buy-in. . . . Even if we have the world's greatest plan, if there's not compliance, it can't be implemented."

The Health Canada Policy Toolkit for Public Involvement in Decision Making

…
Canadians expect their governments to provide appropriate opportunities for their involvement. The key word here is appropriate. Canadians do not expect their governments to involve them extensively in every issue. That would paralyze policy making and quickly exhaust citizen participants. A rough guideline on whether to involve citizens/groups at the higher level of the continuum is the extent to which the issues at play involve potential conflicts in values or identity, difficult choices or trade-offs that would entail a major impact on either citizens’ health or the health system. The greater the impact in these areas, the more likely the issue should be considered for citizen engagement. …

You might see if they have looked into getting any grant money for preparedness - offered by either your State or the Feds.

You might also encourage him or her to look not only at that city's level of planning, but also nearby cities, the county in which it is located.  Any of this that you can provide advance work on would be valuable (provding copies, URLs and contact information for those in charge on those levels.)

ITW(Joel J)
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain
 

Lots of leg work up front
While the smaller towns will not get much help from state/feds, they are in some ways better off than larger towns/small cities.  If the mayor doesn't know someone, he/she knows someone who knows someone.  There are fewer special interest groups to contend with and he/she can go straight to people in town who can get things done.  The more he/she can get things organized upfront, the better.  But this merely requires TALKING with people.  Even if only having a list of all community groups that could help out in a crisis and key contact people, that's a start.  Something as simple as putting together emails lists with all those key contacts.  It sounds minor but who wants to be trying to reach those people if things are heating up?  Talk with leaders of all local orgs (especially churches) to discuss what help they could provide - even do a roundtable with community leaders to discuss who could do what and assign tasks (eg. who could organize a food bank, how could check on seniors, who could deliver food to ill residents, etc).  Also, it's not hard to put together free seminars for townsfolk to attend.  The more residents are prepped, the easier his/her job will be.  Get local EMS/Police/Fire involved from the start.  Get their opinoins on what their needs might be and what backup they may have (especially for mostly volunteer serivices like in our town, there probably isn't much backup).
Our mayor is a figurehead
the village is run by a manger appointed by the village council. We will have many problems because everything is decided by committe. We don't even have a Medical Examiner in the county anymore. it wasn't cost effective. So the County outsourced the position. If we need an ME in our little village, we have to wait for one to come down from Detroit. But since that is unlikely, the Sheriff's Deputies of sargeants rank or higher are allowed to pronounce death. then any unclaimed HR are shipped north to Detroit.
so if the sheriff wanted to learn more
it'd happen, and it likely won't until the state says "it's time to learn".
[ Parent ]
Just curious...
Retired Paramedic MI,  Pronouncing death is not usually the main job of a medical examiner; Many places allow other qualified persons to pronounce death. Nurses may perform this duty in many cases.

My question is... WHo do you guys call if you have an unexpected death, or a death that may be questionable; i.e suicide or murder... or death in a person with no history of illness.  Do you have to also request someone to come down and perform those duties?

Just wondering....

(Not sure, but I think we use the ME in the next County.)

Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have. ~ Margaret Mead

[ Parent ]
"field expedient" seems unaviodable. Say now, During pandemic is allowed to
determine cause of death with two or more un-allied people at the scene;

a citizen and a municipal employee,

a hcw and the next-of-kin,

a first responder and a citizen,

a neighbor or a law enforcement and a next-of-kin,

whatever, as long as the people would not be thought as those who commited the homicide, ect,

- take notes, take photos if possible, get written acconts from any witnesses, keep it safe, somewhere, so it can be tallied, later. ID bodies, when possible, and, write down where they are buried. (What are Notary Public's planning on doing, during pandemic?)

Saying things have to be by the non-high cfr-pandemic-influenza-year book, is just bizarre.

Saying, if regular systems break down, (which they look to in a fortnight)

no one has authority, nor responsibility, to act, (nor will have a clue how to, because they hadn't thought about it).
Remember the bodies after the hurricanes and after the tsunami?
If the public thnks they aren't allowed to act, and the ptb drop the ball and no one will be able to pick it up for months or years,
this will not not be an unforeseen catastrophe.

[ Parent ]
Put in some hand pumped wells and community gardens
I thought about it last night (as usual I need to sleep on things) and think this is a great idea, thanks Lakeman.

Only problem is I have no idea if it is practicable OR expensive to dig wells.  Anyone know? 

But if people start getting serious about the need for each community to be self-sufficient and self-reliant in an emergency, the very first thing they need to do is be sure their constituents have a back up drinking supply in the event of a big disaster.

Current advice has people recommending households to store water.  But no one really wants to do that because water is so bulky.  So few people really will.

But communities could dig some wells with hand pumps.  And, I think they should do it along with some "square foot gardening" plots on town or neighborhood prperty.  You can say that the hand pumps are for the kids "to get that old-tyme experience"  (kids always line up to use the pumps at the kiddie-farms we visit) and to water the square foot gardens.

I would have the gardens grow small, not-unsightly vegetable sources of Vit A. and Vit. C.  So -- leafy greens and root crops like carrots.  Simple, easy.  Ask each Girl Sout, Boy Scout troop, choir, train club, whatever -- to take a garden plot.  With the idea that this trains a bunch of kids and adults who might not know how to grow their own produce; so they can take the idea back to their families.  Call them "Resilenece Gardens".  But the main point of the gardens is to get those hand pumps in!

Communities that are worried about how these gardens will look can purchase some really pretty lumber to make beautiful square foot gardens (see www.squarefootgardening.com) but others who don't care about looks can just make do with whatever!

Once communities know they have some source of water they don't have to worry so much about "how to store water, how to gather rainwater" etc.  If water supply was interrupted, communities could have a system where each household could get 1 gallon of water per person per day.  Use gloves to pump the water.

This well-water probably wouldn't be of any use in certain disatsers like floods I realize.  On the other hand, if you had a sudden water-main break you could get water to the whole town without having to send people out to buy bottled water.

Just thinking out loud.

Water is my biggest concern.

GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

resilience gardens
I love your idea of resilience gardens. A much better name, at this time, than victory gardens.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
[ Parent ]
Where I live, the permit is 75.00...
Most wells are dug and paid for by the foot.  So, if you can get to the water table around 30 feet, it will not be as expensive as a 200 foot well.

A hand pump would vary also.  One that reaches 25 or 30 feet max, is not that expensive. around 30 to 80 dollars.

A hand pump that you can use on wells up to 200 feet will cost more. around 250.00 and up.

Ideally, (if you live in an area that still allows it) you could have an artesian well dug.  Then you would not need a hand pump.

Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have. ~ Margaret Mead

[ Parent ]
cost of wells
About a month ago I called a local well digger to see what it would cost me to have a well put on my property.

He told me it varied quit a bit depending on how deep the water was found. (some parts of the country don't have a water table to tap into)

In the end it would probably cost about a thousand dollars to dig the well and the pump might cost another five hundred. These are really rough numbers.

I have no idea if there needs to be any maintenance done on these hand pumps.

Lastly, as a private citizen the zoning laws in my area prohibit putting in a well. About five miles from me the groundwater is contaminated. The pollution is not moving but I wonder if this might be the reason for the prohibition.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

water and school closures
Today our school closed down by noon (during finals).  We have had power outages but never closed schools here.  He have had 2 to 5 feet of snow overnight but never had a snow day in 20 years.  However we had to close school today because the water was off. 

Now I am very much in favor of closing schools as early as possible for a pandemic.  However, those that want to keep schools open need to have plans for water problems and restroom sanitization. (also some thought to backup heat and power).

Be Prepared

[ Parent ]
lakeman
you must have high water tables if it is that cheap to dig a well.  Around here (CT) because it is so rocky and hilly it costs thousands to dig a well.  This is the first place I've ever lived that had a well.  At times it drives me nuts because we've had issues with ours and it's costly to take care of.  You can't just call the municipal water company to fix it.  But, if it's PF and towns have water supply issues, I think I'll go out and kiss my well cap every morning. 
[ Parent ]
some towns will have some say regarding fire/police/EMS services
but some don't. You still need to meet with these people and find out exactly what plans have been made and who is responsible for what, who do you contact when this happens. Like FloridaGirl was saying above.  Preferably have a representative from each area attend at least the first meeting with local stakeholders.

Ask leaders of local community groups, churches, PTA's, school trustees +/or principal to meet- preferably as a group- with you and lay out the problems and possible complications, then brainstorm possible solutions. Don't forget to include local business owners/managers in the meeting. They'll be the ones supplying food, fuel, etc. locally if it's able to be shipped. Do you know the plans of the companies supplying power to your community? Does your community have a municipal water system or private wells? Find out and plan back-up as much as your budget allows for everything deemed essential. IMO you should really have a short series of meetings, then have one open to the public.

That's where it it all comes together. Have a town meeting- tell the public, your constituents what plans your comittee has decided upon. Be honest- lay it all out for them. Tell them what you can and can't do. Ask them the hard questions- like how will they heat their homes if power is interrupted? Invite them to ask questions about the plan, point out problems and suggest solutions.

Have material ready for them, with basic guidelines for personal and family preparation- please recommend at least 2 weeks (more would be better, but 2 weeks is a start) of food, water, maintenance meds and other essentials. The 10 safety things to remember when heating your home discussed here would be another great point to cover, give them information to take home and keep.

Especially if there is no local health clinic or doctor find someone who is qualified to give a talk on appropriate home care for those sick with flu, how to make an administer oral rehydration solution. Set a date for the talk and have sign up sheets there at the town meeting.

Encourage people to set up networks with their neighbors to help each other. If possible, appoint a 'Community Assitance Co-ordinator(s)' to help you with all of this and one or more to work with the churches, shelters and interested individuals to identify those who may have no one to care for them and develop contingency plans to accomodate that (elderly, mentally challenged, etc.) wherever possible. Most small towns have one or several individuals that would be well-suited to that task (you know- the ones that you want to turn around and run when you see them cause you know they'll rope you into something and you're busy, but you don't run cause you know that whatever it is will be worthy of your time and important to the community:-)

While you're doing all this, remember that each and every individual and family that is prepared is one less that you are likely to have to provide essential services to in an emergency, of any kind.


Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

And What if...
they tell you they can't tell you their plans?
who are 'they' in the question? n/t


Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke
[ Parent ]
Fire Chief/Emergency Manager
I have asked and he quotes a law in my state that states something to the effect that they can't release any plans that would have to do with emergency planning for a deliberate act that would make large groups sick.  So of course I called him on it. Said avian flu is not a deliberate act.  He said he is not a lawyer.  I get no where. I am pretty much fed up and am probably not going to ask anymore. 

I am pretty much gun ho and have time and the enthusiasm to do stuff for my small town but as time goes on I am starting not to care.

They are not doing any public awareness and I have no idea when they will. 

We did have a community forum.  He has the cookies to say that a lot has to be done but they just don't have the time, personel, resources, etc. to work on it.  Hello! I felt like screaming. I have volunteered to do everything under the sun, but no.

[ Parent ]
I share your frustrations Birdie Kate
It's a similar situation here. My hubby is a volunteer fire-fighter here and the chief is concerned about pandemic preparation but his hands are tied by the town council. He only has jurisdiction over the day to day details of running the fire hall and ordering equipment and that is constrained by the budget and guidelines given.

With the town council, well let me just say that our 'emergency plan' is many years out of date, so much so in fact that a couple people listed on it are deceased. I've been trying to get things moving on developing a new one, that takes into account pan-prep and have been told repeatedly, that basically it's none of my business. The only reason I even got to see the old plan was that my hubby has access to it being on the FD. When I asked about provisions for power failure I got directed to the hydro office and then the hydro office told me I had to discuss any concerns with my town council- and round and round it goes with no one willing to take responsibility.

A while ago I went again to the municipal office to speak with a council member and was informed that the Reeve's wife had been appointed the pandemic co-ordinator. Since then nothing has been done- no discussion with FD or EMT people, no release of information whatsoever.

It's hard not to give up trying with so much (what seems to me like) blatant stupidity and bullheadedness. I have offered numerous times to assist in any way, no dice. I'm going to try a few more things (approaching the schools and putting a family plan prep 'ad' in the local paper) and if they don't work then so be it, I'm done.

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

[ Parent ]
pan-demic = "all the people" - all will be impacted
What a stupid waste: " have been told repeatedly, that basically it's none of my business"

- the people at the top who think all is well and the states and locals went and did what they should have need to hear this; repeatedly, and now : big problems.

Some VIP needs to do a PSA about the private/public pandemic preparedness planning and execution that was supposed to be being done;
so the public knows
and the local offcials stop being part of them problem and do more "of the people, by the people, for the people" if they want "continuity of government".

Our taxes pay their salary; our lives and futures are on the line; they don't have the luxury to say it's none of our business, and "plan to fail".

[ Parent ]
re: pan-demic = "all the people" - all will be impacted
It is indeed a stupid waste.

Especially considering the limited resources available to small communities. You'd think that local officials would welcome with open arms people willing and able to share in the  planning, make good use of the skills they had to offer. In some cases though, it's just not so.



Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

[ Parent ]
Well.....
I did see the old plan when the old fire chief was there about 4 months ago. Since the old plan had the health officer in charge I proceeded (with the chief's permission) to go higher up the chain to find out if we had a "Health officer" plan.  In the time it took for all the emails to go back and forth the new chief came. Next thing ya know I am going over his head. I tried to explain but he wouldn't hear any of it. He was convinced I went over his head.

When I asked to see the plan he quoted the law. When I called him on the "law" which said nothing about avian flu only "deliberate acts" he told me he wasn't a lawyer and he was just doing as told.

I really don't care what they do with dead bodies, where they house them, etc (ok I do care but...) what I care about is public information and getting the townsfolks ready. Right now the townsfolks think it isn't gonna happen.

I made a website which has gotten about 600 hits (100 probably me checking my hit number!), a few brochures and a powerpoint. 

The town is moving way to slow for me. Goodness it took me two years to be so educated, do they think people can just "get it" in a few weeks? What if it happens soon? We are screwed. Well not me and a few others, but the majority because the town isn't educating.

Very frustrating to say the least.

tell me this, if the plans are so top secret what are they going to tell the people?  I can see it now "just get on the bus, nothing to see here, move along"

I will tell you, if TSHTF anytime soon and we lose a lot of people because of the ignorance and political aspect of this town I will be one mad mother!

Thanks for the vent!

[ Parent ]
I quit
I sent him an email last night telling him I had attended the Harvard Avian flu conference and came away with a few questions.  I sent him a list of about 10 questions and also told him I was writing a series of articles for the local paper and would appreciate it if he could update me.

he replied - said thanks for the questions, we will make sure we check our plan at the next meeting.

I quit

[ Parent ]
That will all make a great series of newspaper articles!
(May some interested citizens find you
and start an "un-official" Pandemic Influenza Year Impact Mitigation Neighborhood Resiliance/Defense
Radical Mothers and Others ;-) Gardening, Burial and Common Sense Society!)

(Or, barring that, may you and yours find a place, and a way, to live long and prosper.)

(I have no such wishes for our officals)

..."are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. "...

..."mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."...

..."He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained;
and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them."...

..."the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within."...

"Plus c'est la meme chose, plus ça change"

[ Parent ]
I did take
the newspaper article writen by Mike(?) and tailor it to my needs and plan on having it published.  I asked the EM what his plans are so that I could write something about them. As you see from my previous post he did not give me any answers.

I guess that is what I will have to put in my article.

Something to the effect of:

Make sure you stock up on essentials, blah blah blah.  The town of XXX's plan is a working document. According to our emergency manager, Mr. XXX, he cannot give me the plan due to Law XXX.  While I believe in following the law this makes for a very sad situation to the residents of XXX.  How will we be informed? How will our town take care of us if a pandemic were to happen. I guess we won't know until it does. Will our town have medical facilities set up for our medical needs? Another unknown.  The residents of the town of XXX are basically on their own. Were are our tax dollars going for emergency management? You will need a court order to find out. blah, blah, blah

[ Parent ]
it's not easy
when you have recovered somewhat from this incursion, maybe you can consider going about it from a different angle, and go the PTA/school board route.  As in, are we going to close schools, what are the consequences, we need to start preparing for them.  If you can get the parents to be concerned about closing schools, then you got a foothold in the process.

The fact that guidelines about school closure is coming out soon will give you a topic to start the process.  I hope.



All 'safety concerns' are hypothetical.  If not, they'd be called side effects...

[ Parent ]
I am going
to try a different approach. I plan on making copies of my bird flu flyer and how to prepare for disaster. I also emailed olymom about the school material.  After I have all that together I will mail a copy to everyone in my neighborhood, anonymously of course.  I can then set up maybe a yahoo group for my neighbors to see if anyone is interested.

This way I can at least prepare people, the people that will be near me in a pandemic, and it won't cost me much for stamps.

Teh more I think about the town not showing me the plan really ticks me off. The state has their plan on line. There is also the freedom of information act.  I might push this after the beginning of the year.  I think it is a power thing

[ Parent ]
My guess is the plan cupboard is bare and they don't want you to notice
-or- that it is something

a schoolchild who has seen the MadTv birdflu street video, and the PBS NOVA segment on H5N1 (and the UD Dept of Ed pandemic video for parents) could refute as fast as it comes out of the official's mouth?

Would the public take the angle of  -You won't even tell us exactly what you spent the pandemic prep money on? (There is no pandemic prep money!? Well we better do something, because, the feds and state said we're on our own.)

[ Parent ]
Local cable
is running a show from the dept of ed. I didn't see the whole thing but hubby said they say right in the show to make sure you know your towns plan and get it from them!

I also have a friend who is higher up in government, I might just drop her an email too.

[ Parent ]
...
may be a rebroadcast of the 10/17/06 show:
http://registerevent...

checked for other related, didn't see any.
http://registerevent...

[ Parent ]
I think that
that is the one we have playing on local cable.

Pretty interesting

[ Parent ]
Elected Officials
Ask the Mayor, or ask the member of the City Council representing your area, to get it for you. 

If they come back with the same answer, ask them if that's the answer they would give to a reporter, because that will have to be your next call.

I would also check with your state plan to see if it requires local government to have a local plan available to the public.  The state govt officials dealing with this might be interested in the fact that they are dealing with the process with this degree of cloak and dagger.  They might get a better interpretation out from the state to the Homeland Secrurity officials on the state and local level. 

If its a problem now, what do you think you are going to get as far as information when something starts to cook?  Better to punch through it now than to try to later.

ITW(Joel J)
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
- Mark Twain
 

[ Parent ]
Exactly
Good idea into the woods. I will wait until after the holidays and then ask someone I know on the city council.  I have also emailed my friend who is friends with the state director of emergency management if in fact these documents are public.

I also have a contact in our region who is working on our region planning. I spoke to him about the regional plan which our state is requiring. It is not complete yet but he did say he would give me a copy once he gets it. He said he would have to black out sensitive info which is fine with me. He did make the comment "of course, it is a public document"

I really, really hate to push this too far. Small town politics. I have already stepped on toes. But geez it is their own fault for not giving the info out.  It makes me mad. I do have to live here. I just want to read the *amn thing. 

[ Parent ]
Close Parks and Playgrounds
It is probably a small point, but one thing a small-town mayor could do (while doing all the other grat comminity-building things) is let parents in town know that, in the evnt schools are closed due to an infectious disease, then ALL PLAYGROUNDS AND SOCCER FIELDS will be closed down as well.

Yes, it might be obvious -- who would want to send their kids to play with other kids on the town playground?  But at the start of a pandemic, if schools close early, with no reports of death in your area, it might be tempting to take the kids out to the park.

If you let people know this step would be taken, it might get them thinking more about how a 3 month school closure would affect their lives.  I think it would hit home more.


GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

ACM -
I've thought the same thing as well, especially since our public school will only close if absolutely necessary.  If the school is still open, other programs will keep running and parks will be open too.  And eventhough I know the real risk is PF( H2H), many of our fields are litterd with goose poop - disgusting.  I guess if the media is calling it bird flu and H5N1 lands here in the US, some parents will hesitate sending their kids.  Sometimes a little ignorance helps.
[ Parent ]
school board material
I prepared a packet for education school boards that has been well received and could easily be adapted to city council members.  Send me an email at cefprice atcomcast dot net and I'll forward it to you.

Think of educating your community as being like talking to your teenager.  You say the same thing over and over and sometimes you do wonder if it's registering -- and then one day something comes out of their mouth and you realize that they really did hear.

I mailed a packet to each school board member -- and then told the local fire department that I would draft and distribute emergency preparedess fliers if they would "sponsor" it (ie I put their name on it but I did all the work).  They were ok with it after they saw a draft.  Now I've been enlisting neighborhood walkers to stuff flyers into newspaper tubes. 

Yes, I am the "Weird bird flu lady" -- just three cats shy of eccentric -- but we are making progress here.

Create a Newsletter Column
Since official US government prep recommendations suggest at least 2 weeks worth of water stored -- urge residents to understand they may be without water/sewage for that length of time.

Ask residents for ideas as to how the community could cope with not being able to flush toilets.

Solicit ideas and suggestions; print resident's ideas in the newsletter.

Framing the problem in this way accomplishes two things.

1) lends legitimacy (town board/mayor) to the idea that a pandemic may occur and may have consequences beyond just medical -- might get people thinking, would wake them up a bit (hey, this could actually happen)

2)  starts getting the public brainstorming at a local level -- instead of TELLING them "do this and that" which seems to imply whatever problems there are are OWNED by the local government -- it gets people thinking -- this will be MY PROBLEM.  Changes thinking from "how will the town solve my sewage problem" to "how will I deal with this if it happens.

Continue this process with "what will you do with your garbage if the town can't pick it up for several weeks?"  (I know, the real question will be, where will the garbage come from if you don't stock up on food and supplies now?"  But the garnage and flush-toilets questions are the ones that will get people started thinking, I believe.)

GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

Set Up a Bare Basics Communication Plan
Think primitive.

In the event of an emergency, communication is all important.  You cannot be sure you will have telephone; internet; even electricity.  So set up a bare-basics communicatino plan for your small town.

In the center of town, in a natural place for people to comgregate -- frontof the town hall if centrally located; or in a park if that is where most people go -- set up a large board, covered, with bulletin board on one side and chalkboard on the other.  Could have glass cover and lock if you wish to be sure people won't mess with it.

In a pandemic emergency when you need to get news to residents, and you have no abilty/paper/toner/electricity to distribute flyers door-to-door -- you can post information or even just write it on the blackboard; residents can come to the central location, keeping their distance to avoid infection -- and get whatever information there is to be had.

It might only be -- Water Truck is coming tomorrow at 3:00 PM.  If you need water, come at that time -- residents will be given 4 gallons per day.  Or it could be relaying information from the country or state to people who do not have radios.

A small amount of information in a crisis could be the difference between panic and orderly behavior.  Having a backup plan for information distributin without electricity would be a helpful thing for the community to know.

GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

glass is breakable - any non-shattering substitute?
what about signage on any police or other official thing on wheels that is still out and about? (They have loudspeakers too, they were probably thinking of using, right?)

Having a community-known plan for different colored rags or ribbons was old style, but, would still work if neighbors wanted to be able to ask for certain kinds of help, (or body pickup), or wave at each other to signal they were ok...

High-density housing should have a board such as you describe; a big one, that's covered, for "official" use, and a big one that building dwellers can write messages on?

Or, not... sigh, not feeling hopeful anyone will ever be psychologically into planning for this on a community scale, before it happens.

[ Parent ]
sure plastic is better than glass
Any plan will be better than no plan; and I think people wil be ready to think about such things but not until the last minute -- still -- having some idea of what could be done -- and would not cost too much money or take a lot of time, because when things finally get serious there won't be a lot of time left to plan --

when schools close, appropriate - borrow -- buy -- rent  one of their portable blackboards (most schools have one) and a bunch of the chalk they are no longer using and set it up outside town hall or whereever it won't get rained on.

Inform citizens that if all else fails, that's where the latests news will be written.  Keep you distance from others while reading it.

JKust like kids look to their moms and dads in times of crisis -- and stay calm if the parents are calm, seem to know what they are doing, and tell them what they need to know -- people will stay calm and focused if their authority figures tell them what they know and keep communicatin going.  When communication stops (or seems to be unreliable) is when rumors start flying.

GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

[ Parent ]
Life in the Digital world
My small village just had a new Siren installed. For those of you in the big city, let me first explain...
  In most or rural Amercia, Fire protection is provided by volunteer Fire departments. The Fire Fighters back in the day were summoned to the Fire Hall by means of a siren. Loud enough to be heard throughout the Township so as to summon those that lived distant from the Fire Hall. Many Departments had Civil Defense sirens at their stations as well, although as these were VERY loud, they were mostly used for Tornado warnings. Now of days every Fire Fighter wears a pager that is set off from central dispatch, or by the fire station itself. When they work, which they don't quite often. So the sirens are set off  as soon as the tones go out to the pagers. 
  We just got our new siren. It's digital. It looks like five radar domes stacked atop one another. The small town a few miles away from us got theirs this past summer. They do more than just make a siren sound. They are digital, programable. They can chime like Big ben every hour, they can make dozens of different siren sounds. they can also be programed to transmit a voice message.

http://co.monroe.mi....

hm...
and, how much backup power do they have during grid disruptions of various sorts...?

Messages out "after" pandemic influenza year starts, still would have less to manage if

all the public was properly informed and planning for contingencies now...

[ Parent ]
What would you advise a mayor and his/her town council to do to prepare for a possible pandemic?
If it were me, before advising the mayor and/or his/her council of what actions to take I would ask for a copy of the emergency management preparedness plan/policy/guideline which includes plans for avian flu preparedness.  I would request advance notice of all meetings related to avian flu preparedness.  I would submit the request in writing to the mayor, city manager or city administrator, city attorney. emergency management coordinator, county judge, county health officer, county health office, regional health office and state health office (by certified mail or other verification of receipt method) with a copy to your state's governor, attorney general and local newspaper(s).  I would followup by phone, e-mail and in writing every other day until I received requested response.  I would carefully review the plan and inquire/advise accordingly. 
That's Great!
Rural Dweler -- that approach sounds great.  You are letting everyone know "I expect you to be on the ball and to have a plan, and to share that plan with me, and I'll keep after you until you get a plan and let me see it" which is all great.

But... confidentially, just between us ... what are you hoping to see in the plan?  Say the mayor says, "What can we even do?  I'm not in charge of the hospital or the Tamiflu distribution.  Schools will close; also not my decision.  Parents have the resposibility of caring for their kids.  And feeding them.  Dead bodies?  That's the County I guess."  And so on.

What, really, would we have the mayor and town council do?  Small town, 6,000 to 10,000 people.  I'm looking for neighnorhood and community-based ideas -- when people finally actually sit down at the very most local level and say "what should be in our plan?" -- what should be in their plan?

Or should the very local levels not even bother?  They have such little control anyhow over anything.  Yet to leave planning up to the very last minute or mid-disaster -- when the local small police force, the mayor and town council realize their little town is truly all alone -- no one from the County Health Dept. is coming to pick up the bodies, maybe, or the trash is piling up or whatever is happening, then either towns will figure it out or more likely, not -- maybe street by street, some streets wil pull together and others won't.  MAybe you only get authority to deal with some times when all else has failed -- maybe the higher ups in County/State need ot be a it more explicit about "You are on Your Own."

GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

[ Parent ]
the major's responsibility is to coordinate, maybe
or what are townhalls (physical places) for?

You arm yourself to the teeth just in case.  You don't leave the gun near the baby's hand.
[ Parent ]
what major?
I'm confused (again) -- oh, do you mean mayor?

Yeah, the mayor's responsibility is to coordinate his tasks -- which are things related to protecting property values; enforcing town ordinances (how high the fences can be, what can be parked in front an dback yards).  OK the budget for Dept of Public Works -- garbage collection and the small police force.

But if you check www.pandemicflu.gov for what plans should be made at the local level -- they just say, be aware that a pandemic will have an effect on communities.  Schools will be closed; large gatherings will be cancelled; stores may shut down.

Why is this anything to do with a small-town mayor? 

School closures -- OK.  Not his decision, and not his problem.  Parents have to figure out how to deal with that.  Large gatherings will be cancelled, OK.  No large gatherings.  Cancel the big Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Town Square.  Close down the Rec Center and no indoor soccer tournaments.  (None of this needs to be planned for NOW, ahead of time.  We'll just do it when it happens.)  Stores may be shut down or have reduced hours or limited supplies.  Again, what can a mayor do?  Feds and state and local government aren't currently telling people "Therefore stock up on supplies now" so why would anyone listen to the mayor? 



GetPandemicReady.org - non commerical website with practical ways for families to prepare.

[ Parent ]
right - so there's no "pandemic department"
and likewise there's no "complementary currency" department, etc

Is there a department that has to do with "developement", "future", "threats and oportunities", etc?

A council of elders?  People just over 65?  Or people who don't have a job?

You arm yourself to the teeth just in case.  You don't leave the gun near the baby's hand.

[ Parent ]
Where I come from
the Fire Chief is the Emergency Manager. I would think that unless it is a big city that is who is in charge. The mayor, town administrator, manager, what ever he/she is called in your neck of the woods is not in charge of emergency management, unless you are a very small town.

I would think if you had a health department or the people who are in charge of emergency medical calls or even maybe the police could help you with what "thier" plans are.

Every town or city should have a local person in charge.

[ Parent ]
Let me know....
how that works out Rural Dweller. It seems like a great approach. Depending on if they will tell you that is.  In my situation I cannot see the plan. I have asked and been denied. I don't really care about the super, duper, top secret part of the plan, I just want to make sure they have all their basis covered.

Seriously, I wish you would put your plan into action and report back as to what you have been told and/or shown.

Good luck
BK

[ Parent ]
That's Great!
I'm hoping to see citizens stand up and ask for answers.  If we start asking in the official mode to really elicit a required response, then we'll get it.  If we keep politely "asking" verbally then we won't get answers or actions. 
[ Parent ]
What would you advise a mayor and his/her town council to do to prepare for a possible pandemic?
Birdie Kate, don't just ask.  You have to put it in writing to trigger the open records or public information or whatever request.  You need to list on your letter request that everyone/entity is getting a copy.  They HAVE to respond.  It's the law.
Rural...
I have done that to a point. I sent an email. I have already ticked them off. The EM is quoting me the law. I am just sitting back and biding my time at this point.

The law in NH about open meetings and minutes, etc. states anything to do with emergency functions is not public record.

I have a few irons in the fire so I will just patiently wait.

I can see a copy of the regional plan when that is done per the regional director.

I will be curious to know what you find out. Please keep us posted.

[ Parent ]
Exemption of Records
Birdie Kate, I took a look at your NH laws and they state: "Records pertaining to matters relating to the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, including training to carry out such functions, developed by local or state safety officials that are directly intended to thwart a DELIBERATE ACT that is intended to result in widespread or severe damage to property or widespread injury or loss of life." 

I don't think bird flu falls under "deliberate act".  You might want to confront them on this technicality. 

 

[ Parent ]
oh......
I did call them on that and his response was " I am not a lawyer, I just do as I am told"

I am already on his *hit list so I don't know if I want to push much further. Like I said I will give it some time.

But you are exactly right Rural, I am not being given the info cause I ask too many questions and when I don't like the answer I went higher.

Small town politics at its best!

[ Parent ]
hm, it's a deliberate act -the plan about, Don't prep the public
anyway... Har har.

Fluwikian is just trying "to thwart a DELIBERATE ACT that is intended to result in widespread or severe damage to property or widespread injury or loss of life."

The deliberate act of letting an unwarned unprepped public get hit by a panflu year.

(Say goodnight, Gracie)

 

[ Parent ]
Well....
I emailed someone who should have the answer to this question - whether it is public info or not. I will keep you posted if, and a big if, I hear back from them.

My days are numbered trying to help out. It seems something else had happened to tick TPTB off in regards to my questions. I don't know exactly what that was and hopefully some day will find out.

If the person who I emailed gets back to me and tells me I can see it, well, let's just say I will be in really deep doo for going above and beyond.......LOL

[ Parent ]
I thought Local govt means mayors do have a to-do list:
http://www.pandemicf... Quote:

"Planning for pandemic influenza is critical.

To assist you in your efforts,

the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed the following checklist.

It identifies important, specific activities you can do

now

to prepare"...

If they had done this first task, listed below, the "potential fluwikians" of each locale's public might have risen to the challenge and brainstormed the rest of it out themselves (proving local bureaucracy not worth their salt..?):

"Establish a Pandemic Preparedness Coordinating Committee

that represents all relevant stakeholders in the jurisdiction

(including governmental, public health, healthcare, emergency response, agriculture, education, business, communication, community based, and faith-based sectors, as well as private citizens)

and that is accountable for articulating strategic priorities

and overseeing the development and execution of the jurisdiction's operational pandemic plan."

What part of that don't state and LOCAL officials understand??

"Critical"? "Now"? "All Relevant Stakeholders"? "As well as Private Citizens"?

That PPCC has the accountability to articulate strategic priorities, develop and execute the jurisdiction's operational pandemic plan.

Not some cabal of a few town employees who defer to the health dept who is staying his (rather bizarre in my book) course of
Mustn't Tell the Public or we'll have "Bad Outcomes".
(Only aping the poor example set by so many other state and federal politicians and officials -and the media- who remain silent on pandemic while making many words, ads, and speeches every day on far less important matters which will be tsunamied off the map once a pandemic influenza year breaks out.)

LOL
crfullmoon, I know, I know. When I asked about this in October I think it was they said they have not done that yet.  They are still only meeting on a monthly basis.

Note to self: don't tick off the new quy! too late now.

I have updated my local webpage and under the link for our town for their plan I have told others to ask. No one in my town that I am aware of is concerned, only a handful of people. 

ce la vi

[ Parent ]
ya can't schedule a tea party with a volcano!
this isn't a bureaucracy excercise;

if they lived in a valley under a dam would they be saying,
"Well, we'll add your comment to next year's meeting, if you submit it in writing- why don't you talk to the water dept? They would want to know if there might be something wrong with the dam; that's water-related, right? What do you want me to do; not in my budget/job description to say anything about impending dam collapses..."?

Dam, impending, collapses...!

Any of the past human and especially human-to-human+ cases/clusters could have been the start of the pandemic influenza year:

they only know that wasn't the pandemic after it has stopped; didn't infect health care workers, casual contacts, press, travellers, ect,

What would the local government have done/be doing if this recent cluster in Egypt (if it is over?) or the children in Alabama on life support, or the end of the current hajj was/is the start of a deadly pandemic influenza year?

The public, some of the public, would be willing to discuss this and make contingency plans and if the government is not willing to do so they should publically give over the pandemic plans and make an open call for all community members to start thinking, while they still have a chance to prep, and talk things out before people are dropping.

[ Parent ]
Considering
the University of Albany is having that webcast I believe Jan 11th on how to engage citizens.....since it is the citizens who need to be engaged and advised......then maybe they shoudl have some citizens on their local committee.

It just baffles my mind. First they *itch and moan that they don't have the manpower or time to get it done, then they tell volunteers NO thanks.

[ Parent ]
I asked
I posted this on my webpage that I had made to educate people in my town. My website was linked off of the town webpage. I recently received an email telling me that my link had to come down since my site represents personal opinions on items under the jurisdiction of the Emergency Management Director, which may be in conflict of the Town's official position on topics.  The linkage to the home page may cause resident confusion.

I did in my reply say that I wasn't aware of that because I wasn't sure what they towns official position was.

What I had posted was why does our town not have all relevent stakeholders on our planning board. I also posted that people should email their elected officials and ask the necessary questions since our elected officials are responsible for the plans our town has for its residents. I provided all their emails.

So...I am now officially done trying. The webpage is down and now that I have gotten my name out there and associated it with preparing, etc. I will have to consider heading for the hills sooner rather than later.

so much for trying to educate

[ Parent ]
I would like to know...
has anyone been successful getting a copy of their town plan? Are you on a committee? and how did you get there? If you do have a copy of the plan is it on the web? link?

How about some success stories to make me feel better :)

sort of success plan
It took a year +, but at the Jan 2007 Board of Health meeting it was decided we should ask different departments for their current emergency plan, and then start to work on a pandemic plan (I got to suggest which depts to start with so I suggested Police/fire/rescue/public works(trash, sewer water)

It really sucks, but you have to be persistant to a near point of insanity.....

It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.

[ Parent ]
First Steps for a Small Town Mayor | 90 comments
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