Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Brings Executive Team Together for Crisis Communication Training
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today announced his cabinet-level members for the first time participated together in emergency risk communication training to better prepare the state to communicate with Missourians during an emergency. The group focused on pandemic influenza.
“Today’s training was an excellent opportunity for state agency leaders to work together and become better prepared to deliver critical messages to the public should we have an influenza pandemic,” said Julie Eckstein, Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Pandemic influenza would be an enormous public health challenge and every segment of society would be impacted. Extensive efforts are underway to ready the state for avian and/or pandemic influenza, and this training is one component of these preparations.
“As leaders in state government, it is important that we look for ways to coordinate our communication efforts,” Eckstein said. “Missouri citizens will be looking to state agencies for guidance, and it is essential that we work together to educate and prepare them for a possible influenza pandemic.”
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