Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs

“The Pandemic Flu Summit was well received. Sec. Leavitt later told Gov. Kaine that it was the best state summit he had attended.”

The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) programs collaborate with their partners at all levels of government, the health care community, businesses, educators and others to plan for and respond to all public health emergencies.

EP&R programs involve partnerships with offices within VDH, as well as other state agencies. Activities include planning, disease surveillance, and laboratory testing and response for biologic, chemical and radiological agents. To communicate urgent public health messages immediately, EP&R uses a Web-based, statewide emergency altering/communications system called the Health Alert Network. EP&R also conducts training and education, and public information campaigns.

Over the past year, EP&R has continued to focus its planning for a possible pandemic of influenza, or flu. VDH’s pandemic flu plan has been in place since 2002, and was updated in early 2006 to reflect recommendations of the November 2005 federal pandemic flu plan. The plan will continue to be updated as more information becomes available. The VDH Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee comprises representation from the fields of public health, private industry, law enforcement, government and the private health care industry to lead the Commonwealth’s preparedness efforts. This team meets quarterly to advise VDH on pandemic influenza planning activities. VDH also works closely with national and other state partners to coordinate planning efforts.

EP&R also organized the Virginia Pandemic Influenza Summit, which was held in March 2006 and attended by more than 1,000 people. Featured speakers included U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt, Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marilyn B. Tavenner and Tom Lockwood of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Afternoon breakout sessions facilitated planning and discussion for various sectors, including government, business, health care and education. VDH also produced a widely successful pandemic flu video for use as a tool for attendees to raise awareness about pandemic flu in their communities.

EP&R continues to plan for a broad range of emergency events, including man-made and natural disasters. For three consecutive years Virginia has received the highest ranking for management of the Strategic National Stockpile. Virginia has conducted extensive testing of local and state mass dispensing plans, and led a multi-state exercise of response to two biologic events in October, 2005, with West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. After Hurricane Katrina, VDH was responsible for establishment of the public health and medical response teams and efforts for Town Pickett. The comprehensive shelter and recovery center was set up at Fort Pickett Army National Guard Base in Blackstone as preparation to accommodate up to 1,400 evacuees.

EP&R has played a leading role in the establishment of Terrorism and Security Awareness training for all state employees. In addition, hundreds of VDH employees have been trained in incident management and command, as well as in the operations of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and the VDH Emergency Coordination Center.