In Case of An Emergency: Area Officials Plan

Pomperaug Health District’s new office space in Playhouse Corner was filled to capacity last week, when health officials hosted a dinner and information session for Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, emergency planning partners, and chief elected officials.

Rickert, who also serves as Southbury’s emergency management director, thanked the crowd of nearly 40 MRC and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers, calling them ‘part of the solution’ in relation to disasters and community resiliency.  His Emergency Management counterpart from Woodbury, Randy Ashmore, echoed these sentiments and fielded questions from the crowd regarding preparedness and response, according to a release from the health district.

Edelson, who has served as an MRC volunteer in the past, also extended a heartfelt thank you to the attendees for their commitment to the community.

Lustig and his emergency preparedness team did an overview of what to expect in the event of a widespread public health emergency declared at the state and/or federal level.

If the emergency requires mass vaccination (i.e., pandemic flu) or mass dispensing of antibiotics (i.e. an Anthrax attack), Pomperaug Health District will operate as one of the state’s 41 Mass Dispensing Areas, designated strategically by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, according to the release.

Supplies will be obtained, by order of the governor, from the Strategic National Stockpile, and the dispensing efforts will benefit all residents of Southbury, Woodbury, Oxford, and Middlebury.  Residents of these towns will be given explicit instructions regarding receipt of their medication(s), depending on the type of emergency.   Volunteers will play an integral role in the activation and operation of the dispensing site, which is slated to be Pomperaug High School.