Statewide preparedness exercises for pandemic influenza planned

Logan County exercise Sept. 17

[August 27, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- In another step to keep Illinoisans safe during an emergency, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced Tuesday that the Illinois Department of Public Health is beginning a statewide pandemic influenza tabletop exercise series that will run through Nov. 6. The exercises are designed to discuss county preparedness plans and ways in which the state would provide resources in the case of an influenza pandemic.

"Illinois has become a leader in the nation for emergency preparedness efforts," Blagojevich said. "Exercises like this test our ability to respond at the local level and strengthen the state's overall preparedness. We can identify our strengths and weaknesses during these exercises, build better partnerships, and gain valuable knowledge to respond to emergencies."

The exercise series will provide an opportunity for local health departments, hospitals, local law enforcement and emergency management agencies to discuss security needs outlined in each county's community-based pandemic influenza plan. Additionally, the exercises will identify gaps or discrepancies in security plans and determine necessary plan revisions based on support capacity and capabilities.

"These exercises will not only require a tremendous amount of coordination between state agencies, but also between the state and local level," said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Damon T. Arnold. "On the local level, we have trained with and depended heavily on coordination with local health departments and hospitals for dispensing medications during a pandemic flu. Now we will look at what security measures will be needed at hospitals and medical facilities during an emergency to ensure everyone safely receives the medical help they need and avoid mass chaos."

The exercise series will involve more than 1,400 participants across 21 locations and will look closely at 97 county pandemic response plans.

"This exercise series is about strengthening working relationships among our partners in law enforcement, emergency management communities and the health care industry. It's about increasing preparedness by sharing information and processes," said Greg Chance, Knox County Health Department administrator.

To reach the overarching goal of improving understanding of response plans and identifying areas for improvement, each exercise will focus on the following objectives:

• Identify and discuss roles and responsibilities of the law enforcement community in responding to a public health event.

• Examine possible security missions in health care and public health response operations plans.

• Discuss risk communications and public messaging needs in responding to an influenza pandemic.

• Determine necessary revisions of local emergency plans in the security sections concerning law enforcement, hospitals and public health departments.

A report outlining corrective actions and an improvement plan will be created during the early months of 2009.

Training locations and dates are listed below. (See schedule.)

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]

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Training schedule

Date	Location	Counties involved
Aug. 26	Harrah's Metropolis 100 E. Front St. Metropolis	Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Union
Aug. 27	John A. Logan College 700 Logan College Road Carterville	Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Williamson
Aug. 28	Southeastern Illinois College Route 13 Harrisburg	Edwards, Gallatin, Saline, Wabash, White
Sept. 16	Hilton Garden Inn 3100 S. Dirksen Parkway Springfield	Cass, Mason, Morgan, Scott
Sept. 17	Crowne Plaza 3000 S. Dirksen Parkway Springfield	Christian, Logan, Menard, Sangamon

Sept. 18	Rend Lake Resort 11712 E. Windy Lane Whittington	Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Washington, Wayne
Sept. 23	Holiday Inn 1000 Eastport Plaza Drive Collinsville	Bond, Calhoun, Green, Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery

Sept. 24	Holiday Inn 1000 Eastport Plaza Drive Collinsville, IL 62234	Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair
Sept. 25	Keller Convention Center Hilton Garden Inn 1202 N. Keller Drive Effingham	Clay, Crawford, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland
Sept. 30	Keller Convention Center Hilton Garden Inn 1202 N. Keller Drive Effingham	Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar
Oct. 1	Eagle Creek Findlay	DeWitt, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt
Oct. 2	Hilton Garden Inn Champaign	Champaign, Shelby, Vermilion
Oct. 7	Country Inn & Suites Quincy	Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike, Schuyler
Oct. 8	To be determined	Fulton, Knox, McDonough
Oct. 21	Embassy Suites East Peoria	Marshall, Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford
Oct. 22	Double Tree Hotel Bloomington	Livingston, McLean
Oct. 23	Kankakee	Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee
Oct. 28	Holiday Inn Rock Island	Henderson, Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark, Warren
Oct. 29	Starved Rock Lodge Ottawa	Bureau, Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle, Putnam
Nov. 5	Cliffbreakers Rockford	Boone, DeKalb, Lee, Ogle, Winnebago
Nov. 6	Eagle Ridge Galena	Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Whiteside