[Press Release] : Local Health Departments to Exercise Emergency Plans: Monday, May 15th

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2006

Contact:  Local County Health Department Administrator
	    or Heather Baer 573-874-7632


Local Health Departments to Exercise Emergency Plans: Monday, May 15th

(*Region F, Missouri) Every community utilizes the services provided by
the local public health department on a daily basis - whether it's a
restaurant inspection or getting flu shots.  Our public health
departments protect us everyday in ways that most people do not think
of.  As the nation and the world prepare for the potential of a pandemic
flu outbreak, we are reminded that local public health departments
utilize their plans to deal with disease outbreaks, such as food borne
illnesses or the whooping cough, on a regular basis.

The Local Public Health Departments in the 13 county area of central
Missouri (Highway Patrol *Region F) are collaborating in an exercise of
their emergency plans on Monday, May 15th at the Callaway County Health
Department from 9am-2pm.  The exercise will utilize approx.75 public
health employees from the local and state health departments.  In
coordination with federal and state public health emergency plans, the
exercise is structured using the National Incident Management System
(NIMS).  

The goal of the exercise is to identify both strong and weak points in
the local public health emergency plans.  Lessons learned from the
exercise will be used to continue planning efforts in each county.

*Region F includes the following counties: Audrain, Boone, Callaway,
Camden, Cole, Cooper, Gasconade, Howard, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery,
Morgan, and Osage.   


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