Emergency Preparedness and Self-Reliant Living: Dennis Murphy (City of Springfield Fire Cheif) Pandemic Influenza Plan:

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Dennis Murphy (City of Springfield Fire Cheif) Pandemic Influenza Plan:

Pandemic Influenza Plan

Pandemic Influenza
“Get Prepared, Not Scared!”

The Flu Threat – The threat of flu has become more important as the possibility of a world wide influenza pandemic has become well known. Starting with concerns over world wide spread of Bird (Avian) Flu from birds to humans, world health experts now predict there is a much greater likelihood of a mutation (change) in this new type of flu so that it is easily transmitted from human-to-human. If this happens, there would likely be widespread serious illness and deaths as a result. There are currently no vaccines for a new type of flu, since it is unknown what form it will take. As a result, it will take an estimated 4-6 months or longer after the start of a pandemic for a sufficient quantity of vaccine to be manufactured and distributed. During this time, each community and every person should be prepared to take steps to limit the spread of illness.
Better Prepared than Scared – There are a number of steps that we can all take to be better prepared for the possibility of a pandemic. Federal, state, and local governments are leading the way with Pandemic Influenza Plans (PIP) but they need your help to make them work. This website offers simple instructions for all persons, groups, and organizations. Just click on the links below that match your interest and see what you can do. This advice comes directly from the official website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Springfield Pandemic Influenza Plan (SPIP) – If you live in the City of Springfield or areas nearby, you receive one or more services from local government (fire, ambulance, schools, parks and recreation, utilities, police, library, planning, public works, etc.). All local government agencies in this area have joined together in what is known as “Team Springfield.” These agencies are collaborating in the development, testing, and improvement of the Springfield Pandemic Influenza Plan (SPIP). The SPIP addresses the need for government, business, community agencies, and individuals to continue to function during this type of major emergency. The plan is modeled after similar plans at the state and federal level. More information will be made available on SPIP in the coming months. Check here for the City of Springfield's Emergency Management Plan.
FireMed Program Provides Pandemic Control Information Materials – FireMed, the City of Springfield ambulance membership program, sponsors information on illness and injury prevention, including this website on pandemic control. The “Get Prepared, Not Scared!” campaign is a public information service of FireMed.
Check back periodically to learn more about local preparations for Pandemic Flu. For more information and useful planning guides check out the U.S. Government avian and pandemic flu information pages below. These pages are managed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Planning for yourself and your family

Business & Industry planning

Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist [Printer-Friendly PDF - 151KB] [En Español (PDF)]

Schools and Daycare

Community and Faith-Based

Faith-Based & Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist [Printer-Friendly PDF - 69KB] [En Español (PDF) (268KB)]

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Tips:

* When a wind or snow storm is on the way and you live in the country, fill up the bathtub with water. That way, you can fill up a bucket with water and use it to flush the toilet if the electricity goes out and the pump quits working. You can also use the water from your hot tub if you have one.

* Keep an old phone (with a cord) around the house to use in case the power goes out - for when your cordless phone will not work. For other reasons, your cell phone may not work either in case of a disaster. Make sure to have a list of phone numbers written down (in addition to having them stored on speed dials).

* Stock up! Some people strive for 3 days worth of food and water, others 3 months, others 2 years. Remember, you may be asked to share with others, so start preparing now.

* Have kerosene oil lamps and lamp oil on hand. They look pretty in the home, and give good lighting when the power goes out.

* Make cheap and easy lanterns by filling a canning jar halfway up with sand and placing an emergency candle in it. You can put a lid on it for easy storage in the cupboard until it is needed.

* Keep a couple of those long lighters (used for BBQ's) in your home for lighting candles and lanterns.

* Have the number of the electric company in an easy location. Call as soon as your power goes out (using your old phone or your cell phone)... don't assume that somebody else already has. I have been the first one to call several times, and after one really bad windstorm I had to call again the next day because they thought that everybody had been taken care of, but we were not.

* If you experience a "brown-out", where the lights dim, unplug your refrigerator and freezer! We had the motor burn out of our fridge one time due to a brown-out and had to buy a whole new fridge.

* Learn about cooking with cast iron dutch ovens and how to use charcoal as a heat sorce for them. There is a link on the bottom of this page with information about this.

* Buy boxed soy and rice milk to have with your extra food supplies. They stay good for quite a while and you are not stuck with only powdered milk.

* If you have a baby in diapers, have a several dozen cloth
diapers on hand, along with diaper pins, plastic pants or diaper wraps. If you can't go to the store to buy more disposables, you can always wash and reuse the cloth ones.

* Just think about what your grandparents or great-grandparents must have done or used when thinking about emergency preparedness ... make it fun when it is not an emergency. Get creative! Share your ideas with friends, and email them to me so that I can put them on here. Thanks!