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Sally 2008 Alamosa, Colorado. Salmonella Disaster How The Story Began City of Alamosa Water appears to be the only common denominator. Salmonella Disaster. “It’s not in the water! Salmonella cannot grow in water”
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Salmonella DisasterHow The Story BeganCity of Alamosa Water appears to be the only common denominator
Salmonella Disaster “It’s not in the water! Salmonella cannot grow in water” In the meantime, Salmonella cases increase eventually reaching hundreds and ultimately resulting in one confirmed death.
Salmonella Disaster Alamosa County Nursing Services Incident Command Operations Beth Quinlan; EPR Training Coordinator INCIDENT COMMANDER (ESF 8/Alamosa County Nursing Services/Public Health)
Salmonella Disaster Alamosa County Nursing Services Incident Command Operations Julie Geiser, PIO Dr. Bill Brinton, Epi Della Vieira, RN, Epi Kelly Gallegos, RN Ola Bovin, RN Pat Radford, Coordinator
Salmonella Disaster • Saguache County Public Health Director Donna Newsom provided much needed assistance as did Rio Grande County Public Health, and Costilla County Nursing Services The San Luis Valley has come to count on the local Red Cross during times of need. This event was no different and their participation was vital during this disaster. • Norm and Lorrie Crawford; San Luis Valley Red Cross San Luis Valley Hero's
Salmonella Disaster Joint Emergency Declaration by City and County of Alamosa The City and County of Alamosa jointly declared a disaster emergency on Wednesday March 19th, 2008 through the Colorado Department of Emergency Management to the Governor’s Office. The Governor’s Office released $300,000 to assist with this disaster
Salmonella Disaster Incident Management Teams • Alamosa County Nursing Services and San Luis Valley Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response March 15th till March 19th, 2008 • Local San Luis Valley Incident Management Team (unofficial) under direction of Alamosa County Emergency Manager and Incident Commander Pete Magee: March 19th through March 23rd, 2008 • Jefferson County Incident Management Team March 23rd, 2008 • Northwest Incident Management Team March 28th, 2008 • Eastern Colorado Incident Management Team April 1st, 2008 • City of Alamosa staff under direction of Incident Commander Heinz Bergann Thursday April 3rd, 2008
Salmonella DisasterTime Line • Friday March 7, 2008 -First resident becomes ill • Wednesday March 12, 2008 -First case of Salmonella reported • Saturday March 15, 2008 -Alamosa County Nursing Services establishes Emergency Operations Center -Consultation between ACNS, CDPHE and CDEM on-going • Monday March 17, 2008 @ 0800 hours (SHTF!!)salmonella hits town folks -ACNS and Regional EPR staff (Trainer, Eppi, and Planner) open and initiate Incident Command within Emergency Operations Center -25 Salmonella cases identified with 8 culture confirmed
Salmonella DisasterTime Line Continued • Wednesday March 19, 2008 -Disaster declaration by City and County of Alamosa -Emergency Operations Center in full operation with most identified Incident Command positions manned. City of Alamosa still absent from E.O.C. Command of incident assumed by Alamosa County Emergency Manager Pete Magee. -Bottled water advisory order issued by CDPHE to City of Alamosa • Thursday March 20, 2008 -Resources begin arriving (water, personnel) -American Red Cross on-board to assist -Three water distribution sites open within City of Alamosa (vacant K Mart, Hospital parking lot, and local park)
Salmonella Disaster TIME LINE CONT. • Friday March 21, 2008 -RESOURCES ARRIVE: Colorado National Guard
Salmonella Disaster: Politicians “We’re from the Government & we’re here to help!!” • Saturday March 22, 2008 -Politicians from State of Colorado and local area arrive (Gov. Ritter, Senator Ken Salazar, Congressman John Salazar, Representative Gallegos) to witness incident operations and discuss mitigation.
Salmonella DisasterPete Magee, Governor Ritter, Hans Kallam, John Salazar, Dave Pote, Jeff Babcock, Jon Montano and Lorrie Crawford
Salmonella DisasterOne Big Family… SLV RETAC Alamosa Fire & Police Dept EOC Denver Water Alamosa County Public Health City of Alamosa San Luis Valley Public Health Environmental Health Red Cross SLV Exercise Design Team Alamosa County Water Resources CDOT JIC SLV Homeland Security CDEM Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office CDPHE Consumer Protection
Salmonella Disaster TIME LINE CONT. • Sunday March 23rd, 2008 Easter Holiday Will volunteers arrive during a real-life disaster? They will in the San Luis Valley. On this Easter Sunday, over two-hundred (200) volunteers showed up to drive busses, hand out flyers, disperse water rations and other duties. These were non-compensated volunteers interested in helping their communities.
Salmonella Disaster Volunteer and Resource Management • Over 1032 individuals volunteered during event • 4539 volunteer hours • Approximately 30 different local business volunteered during event • Trinidad State Junior College Massage Therapy Program provided chair massages to volunteers on the ground • Countless semi-trucks of water, hand sanitizer, Pedialite and more..
Salmonella DisasterCOHELP • COHELP: March 18th through April 6th2855 calls made for information Very valuable resource and tool for both the community and those managing the incident. Requests were received from home-bound residents for water resources and forwarded to the Emergency Operations Center * COHELP is not a free service. This resource came with a price tag estimated to be approximately $40,000 for a 3 week period, THANKFULLY paid for by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Salmonella Disaster Special Populations • 84 received water resource delivery by Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office and Alamosa Fire Department -Identified and mapped previously within Alamosa County Nursing Services Emergency Plans -Delivered every other day (provided 2 day supply) • Other organizations throughout the State of Colorado arrive with semi-trucks to take care of “their people” included within special populations
Salmonella Disaster Delegation/Transitioning of Command The Alamosa County assembled Incident Management Team was most grateful to be fully relieved of their duties on Sunday March 23rd, 2008 by the Jefferson County IMT. -Position “shadowing” before turnover (one or part of one operational period) -Off-going and on-coming IMT’s conduct meeting brief -All Incident Command Transition Forms signed by team being relieved and on-coming team NOTE: Some of the SLV Team remained to assist in areas such as Logistics and Food Unit Group. The public health element continued throughout the event.
Salmonella DisasterHighlights • Daily briefings provided in documented correspondence form, in addition to meetings, and/or events scheduled with media organizations. • Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers -The question has been answered: San Luis Valley volunteers will arrive during a disaster -Volunteer Coordinator requirement within Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Salmonella DisasterHighlights • I.C.S. Training Alamosa County employees have been trained in Incident Command due to EPR Trainer Beth Quinlan’s continual efforts. This training has extended to regional personnel in RETAC, Homeland Security, CSP Communications and others. THIS DISASTER WOULD HAVE BEEN UNMANAGEABLE should the aforementioned not occur. “PREPAREDNESS ISN’T BY COINCIDENCE” We had a plan!!
Salmonella Disaster Beth Quinlan EPR Training Coordinator and RETAC Coordinator Jon Montano For all the training you have provided the San Luis Valley
Salmonella DisasterLessons Learned -During large incident/s in rural areas, Front Range media will arrive and push local media to the back. Local media organizations must remain priority and remain informed!!! -All resources requested (include those arriving voluntarily) need to be coordinated with/through Logistics
Salmonella DisasterLesson’s Learned Cont. • As soon as possible, set up separate phone line and number in an effort to address the high volume of calls that will arrive and/or come into the E.O.C. inquiring about the event.
Salmonella DisasterLessons Learned Cont. -LIFE GOES ON OUTSIDE THE INCIDENT. San Luis Valley Public Health Agencies felt as though they were not informed nor kept “in the loop” during the duration of the disaster. -Ensure HAN (Health Alert Network) Alerts are continually updated for accurate information -Joint Information Center (JIC) is essential to the success of the operation/event.
Joint Information Center (JIC) & Public Information Officer (PIO) Salmonella DisasterMedia and the P.I.O REQUIRED!! Finance Section Chief
Salmonella Disaster City of Alamosa Water System -Deep Well Water will now and forever be chemically chlorinated -New water treatment plan due to go on-line in June 2008 -At minimum, one water reservoir was taken off-line as a requirement by the State -One new water tower must be built
Salmonella DisasterContinue -Financial hardships for the community, businesses, and local government -Taniff benefits available to working residents with children -Small business low interest loans available -Salmonella cases continue (person to person)
Salmonella Disaster • Continued water monitoring?? -Supervised by whom? -Duration of evaluation? -”What If” another outbreak occurs? - Public Health role and responsibilities continue…….