FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 1, 2005
Contact: Jessica Robinson, (573) 751-0290
Governor Applauds Agencies’ Cooperative Efforts to Prepare for Bioterrorist Attack
SPRINGFIELD—Gov. Matt Blunt today commended state and local agencies for working together through exercises held around the state, including one today in Springfield, in preparation of a potential bioterrorist attack on the food supply.
"Thanks to the strong, effective interagency cooperation in today's exercise, Missouri is better prepared to manage a potential emergency situation, bioterrorist attack or large-scale crisis," Blunt said. "I applaud these agencies for working together to improve their ability to protect Missouri families and communities."
As part of the Springfield drill, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, seven local public health agencies, four hospitals, law enforcement, FBI and emergency management throughout southwest Missouri joined forces to discuss their plans for quickly responding to a large-scale communicable disease or bioterrorist event.
"Today’s exercise is part of Missouri’s National Preparedness Month recognition activities and is one example of the work we are doing to ensure that Missouri is safer and more secure," said Julie Eckstein, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. "All of us have been working hard and have plans in place to ensure that during an emergency we are ready to respond quickly."
The department has conducted four similar exercises focused on preparing community response agencies for a deliberate attack on the food supply. The table-top exercise scenario begins with several reports of intestinal illnesses and progresses to a regional outbreak, with a terrorist claim of food contamination. The exercises test interagency and multi-jurisdictional collaboration in communications, environmental and disease investigation work, public policy, and command and control.
"The key for the state of Missouri is to continue looking for ways to improve our ability to protect the safety and health of our citizens during emergencies," said Mark James, director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety. "Today’s exercise brings together public safety and public health professionals from many different agencies to ensure that we are better prepared and more aware of our roles, responsibilities and teamwork needed to successfully help save lives during an emergency."
The local public health agencies and hospitals participating in today’s southwest Missouri exercise include the health departments in Branson city, Springfield/Greene County, Polk, Dallas, Christian, Webster, and Taney counties and the Citizen’s Memorial Hospital, Skaggs Hospital, Cox Hospital, and St. Johns Hospital.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security launched a nationwide initiative last year recognizing September as preparedness month to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies – natural or deliberate.
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