WILMINGTON – The Flu Clinic scheduled for November 1st at the West Intermediate School will serve as much more than a place for residents to receive this year’s flu vaccinations because it will also provide a test of the School as an Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS) as part of required emergency planning for the town.
The flu clinic will provide a mini test of parking, security and traffic flow among other things. Last year’s clinic provided a similar test of the other Emergency Dispensing Site in town, the Middle school. That test went well and Board of Health Director Gregory Erickson expects that this site will also perform well in the test.
While it may seem strange that two emergency sites would be located so close together in one part of town, logistically it makes everything easier for the Incident Command Center to handle both sites. A government grant last year provided, among other things, money for computer linkage that allows for a mobile command post to be set up anywhere. Setting up a command post between the two schools allows for easier control of both settings, shared resources for traffic control, and an ease of sharing equipment and supplies. Erickson said that the town has two of everything in the “Go Kits,” but is nice to know that it is easy to run to the other site to pick up something if one site runs short.
In an emergency situation, such as a pandemic flu, when residents need to receive vaccinations once they are available, residents would each be assigned to one of the two Emergency Dispensing Sites. Carter Lane provides a long space where cars could be backed up in a true emergency, allowing for ease of traffic flow in the surrounding area.
This test and the emergency planning are all part of the ‘Continuity of Operations Plan,’ (COOP). A COOP refers to preparations that allow for essential services to continue in the event of a large-scale disruption, like a pandemic flu that could incapacitate large populations. It is one step in a series of steps that are required by the government and compliance is necessary in order for communities to be eligible for continued emergency planning funds.
The nature of travel today means that if pandemic flu comes today it can move swiftly from one place to another by airplane before authorities even know it has hit. Continuity planning is essential because while it remains uncertain if the next pandemic will be the Avian Flu that is in parts of the world now, experts agree that another pandemic will come as they have throughout history. The government is planning, businesses and schools are planning and Wilmington and the other 33 cities and towns in Region 4A are planning too.
Other ongoing steps in emergency planning include surge capacity planning (in consultation with local hospitals), special population plans, and even animal plans, an aspect of planning that was highlighted when there were so many animal issues after Hurricane Katrina.
Individual planning for emergencies is also encouraged by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). More information about individual, family, workplace, school and community planning can be found at the official U.S. Government website at www.pandemicflu.gov. There are checklists to follow, news items and lengthy explanations about the threat of avian influenza or any other pandemic or emergency situation.
Currently the US Government recommends that households prepare by storing at least a two-week supply of non-perishable food and water for each family member, including pets. Not only would this be helpful in a large-scale emergency, but it would also help with blizzards, power outages or an unexpected loss of a paycheck.
For more information about Region 4A planning, go to the www.town.wilmington.ma.us, click on the link for Public Safety, choose Public Health, and follow the link for emergency preparedness.
Meanwhile, the flu shot clinic will be held on November 1st at the West Intermediate School Cafeteria from 3:30 to 6:30pm. Please note that from 3:30 to 5:00 is for residents over the age of 65 and 5:00 to 6:30 is open to all residents over the age of 18.
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