thedrifter
03-14-07, 08:36 AM
Getting the big picture
CHRISSY VICK
March 14, 2007 - 12:00AM
It begins when troops with a Marine Expeditionary Unit return home from Spain. They bring more than souvenirs.
They also unknowingly haul a novel strain of the flu.
Just a few people begin to show seasonal flu symptoms, but before long a pandemic breaks loose across the eastern U.S., supplies of vaccine run short and a large number of people begin to die.
Tuesday it was only a scenario. But if it happens, Marine Corps Installations East and Onslow County want to be prepared.
Officials with MCIEAST, the regional command supporting seven Marine Corps installations along the coast, gathered with Onslow County emergency officials Tuesday to participate in a tabletop exercise. The exercise was the first of its magnitude offered by the new MCIEAST command in an effort to "refine previously established operating procedures concerning public health emergencies," according to a press release.
All seven eastern Marine Corps installations were represented. They met with Onslow County emergency responders for small group exercises and discussions at the Onslow County Multipurpose Complex. Groups focused on resource management, communications, interoperability, mission assurance, population control and coordination between state and local governments.
Community Research Associates, Inc., a Virginia company that provides homeland security services, moderated the exercise, saying it is a necessity because the threat is real.
"The longest period of time between pandemics has been 42 years," said nurse Linda Taylor with CRA, Inc. "The last pandemic was 38 years ago in Hong Kong... The clock is ticking."
A pandemic outbreak is one that spreads around the world and appears to have little to no immunity. It often begins with a novel virus that emerges, such as the avian flu or bird flu. That virus then transfers to humans before mutating to transfer from human to human - the only stage the avian flu has not yet reached.
Higher risk factors for a pandemic that exist today include larger and closer populations, more international travel, more elderly citizens and people who are less self-sufficient, Taylor said. A pandemic happens three to four times per century, and current outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of the avian flu pose an "ongoing threat," she said.
"In the event of a pandemic, this is going to go on for weeks, not days," Taylor said. "And we really should not expect adequate supplies when preparing for a pandemic. There is little to no vaccine until six to nine months after an outbreak."
Officials worked Tuesday to prepare for an outbreak that would overwhelm current health systems, damage essential service and leave hundreds, even thousands, dead.
"This is an exercise to bring all of the agencies, communities and military together," said Maj. Gen. Robert Dickerson, commanding general of MCIEAST, adding that the community has come together in the past during emergency situations such as hurricanes or aviation mishaps.
Col. Adele Hodges, commander of Camp Lejeune, hopes the exercise will help the Marine Corps better prepare for such situations.
"We learned our lessons from (Hurricane) Katrina and other emergency events," she said. "We learn from each other."
In the event of an emergency, the base would not perform the function of law enforcement but can provide support to local and state government, Hodges said.
Mark Goodman, Onslow County's director of emergency services and homeland security, said the county has been preparing for such situations with Camp Lejeune since 1998.
"One of the objectives is to let other bases see what we do here," he said. "We've done three of these pandemic exercises already."
Such exercises helped the county find shortfalls and work to fill those gaps, while improving public safety.
"We learned all kinds of good lessons and updated a number of procedures," he said. "The only time you have a bad exercise is when you don't do one."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.
Ellie
CHRISSY VICK
March 14, 2007 - 12:00AM
It begins when troops with a Marine Expeditionary Unit return home from Spain. They bring more than souvenirs.
They also unknowingly haul a novel strain of the flu.
Just a few people begin to show seasonal flu symptoms, but before long a pandemic breaks loose across the eastern U.S., supplies of vaccine run short and a large number of people begin to die.
Tuesday it was only a scenario. But if it happens, Marine Corps Installations East and Onslow County want to be prepared.
Officials with MCIEAST, the regional command supporting seven Marine Corps installations along the coast, gathered with Onslow County emergency officials Tuesday to participate in a tabletop exercise. The exercise was the first of its magnitude offered by the new MCIEAST command in an effort to "refine previously established operating procedures concerning public health emergencies," according to a press release.
All seven eastern Marine Corps installations were represented. They met with Onslow County emergency responders for small group exercises and discussions at the Onslow County Multipurpose Complex. Groups focused on resource management, communications, interoperability, mission assurance, population control and coordination between state and local governments.
Community Research Associates, Inc., a Virginia company that provides homeland security services, moderated the exercise, saying it is a necessity because the threat is real.
"The longest period of time between pandemics has been 42 years," said nurse Linda Taylor with CRA, Inc. "The last pandemic was 38 years ago in Hong Kong... The clock is ticking."
A pandemic outbreak is one that spreads around the world and appears to have little to no immunity. It often begins with a novel virus that emerges, such as the avian flu or bird flu. That virus then transfers to humans before mutating to transfer from human to human - the only stage the avian flu has not yet reached.
Higher risk factors for a pandemic that exist today include larger and closer populations, more international travel, more elderly citizens and people who are less self-sufficient, Taylor said. A pandemic happens three to four times per century, and current outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of the avian flu pose an "ongoing threat," she said.
"In the event of a pandemic, this is going to go on for weeks, not days," Taylor said. "And we really should not expect adequate supplies when preparing for a pandemic. There is little to no vaccine until six to nine months after an outbreak."
Officials worked Tuesday to prepare for an outbreak that would overwhelm current health systems, damage essential service and leave hundreds, even thousands, dead.
"This is an exercise to bring all of the agencies, communities and military together," said Maj. Gen. Robert Dickerson, commanding general of MCIEAST, adding that the community has come together in the past during emergency situations such as hurricanes or aviation mishaps.
Col. Adele Hodges, commander of Camp Lejeune, hopes the exercise will help the Marine Corps better prepare for such situations.
"We learned our lessons from (Hurricane) Katrina and other emergency events," she said. "We learn from each other."
In the event of an emergency, the base would not perform the function of law enforcement but can provide support to local and state government, Hodges said.
Mark Goodman, Onslow County's director of emergency services and homeland security, said the county has been preparing for such situations with Camp Lejeune since 1998.
"One of the objectives is to let other bases see what we do here," he said. "We've done three of these pandemic exercises already."
Such exercises helped the county find shortfalls and work to fill those gaps, while improving public safety.
"We learned all kinds of good lessons and updated a number of procedures," he said. "The only time you have a bad exercise is when you don't do one."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.
Ellie