Collaborative Announces
Emergency Planning Conference

August 12, 2004
Published in the Daily News 08/14/04

La Marque – The Galveston County Health District and local collaborators announce its September 1st conference, “Diseases and Disasters: Are We Ready?” The conference is designed to bring together all public and private entities that would have a role in responding to disease outbreaks, possible acts of terrorism, and natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear presentations and participate in facilitated planning sessions for aspects of improving the readiness of Galveston cities and county for responding to emergencies. Attendees will include local elected officials, members of the County Boards of Health, health department staff, medical professionals, hospital infection control personnel, public information officers, law enforcement, military units, volunteers and related organizations, veterinarians, community based organizations, faith-based institutions, and more!

Key collaborators will be members of the Galveston County Emergency Response Collaborative which has been meeting since February to plan for such emergencies, to coordinate resources, and to develop collaborative approaches to meeting the needs of citizens throughout Galveston County. The vision of this collaborative is to prevent or minimize adverse consequences of community health emergencies, and its mission is to ensure an effective and comprehensive response to community health emergencies through collaboration among member institutions.

Members of the Galveston County Emergency Response Collaborative represent several entities throughout the county, including: the Galveston County Health District, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Devereux Hospital, the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management, the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, Mainland Medical Center, the Galveston Shriner’s Hospital, the American Red Cross, and local municipal emergency management representatives.

According to Brian Rutherford, the Health District’s Public Health Planner and group facilitator, “By working together as a group, we have the opportunity to share information and collaborate in planning so we will be better prepared to face future threats.”

The conference Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Mary desVignes-Kendrick, former City of Houston Health Authority and currently the Deputy Director of the Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness at the UT School of Public Health in Houston. Dr. Kendrick will share her experiences as the Director of the City of Houston’s health department during the anthrax scares following 9/11 and about other public health emergencies.

The morning session will feature opening remarks by County Judge Jim Yarbrough, and an overview of public health readiness efforts and goals by Dr. Mark Guidry, Galveston County Health Authority, and health district senior staff.

The afternoon session will feature participatory breakout sessions in facilitated groups to address many critical aspects of emergency preparedness including: delivering accurate messages to the public, identifying a public health threat through surveillance, maintaining a secure environment in an emergency, coordinating communication among large, diverse groups and special population, operating mass vaccination clinics and the role of volunteers, how to prepare for mental health consequences, how to deal with environmental and zoonotic issues, and readiness of first responders and hospital emergency rooms. During these afternoon sessions all participants will have an opportunity to share ideas with other participants. Health District planning staffs expect to gather many helpful ideas from attendees that will assist them in future planning efforts.

The conference will be held at the Johnnie Arolfo Civic Center, 400 W. Walker in League City beginning at 9:00 a.m. For more information those interested can call (409) 938-2208 or see online information at www.gchd.org/bt/d&dbrochure.pdf. Registration for the event is $15 to cover the cost of lunch and refreshments.