Police Departments Prepare Regional Remedy should Flu Strike
Angeljean Chiaramida
November 13,2009
TheDailyNews.com
What would happen to the emergency needs of the public if an epidemic or catastrophe sickens police officers and shuts down local police stations?
Who responds to the roadside emergency 911 call if the local department’s officers are all out with the H1N1 flu?
With flu, swine and seasonal, striking in historic proportions, decimating school populations and other establishments, the notion isn’t as far-fetched as it might sound. Realizing the hazard, regional police chiefs have begun working together to come up with a plan to cross town lines and help each other.
“This is a discussion of ‘what if,’” said Georgetown police Chief James Mulligan. “For example, what would happen if all my people were sick and my building shut down because it was contaminated? It could be from a pandemic of the H1N1 flu or any catastrophe. A fire or an oil spill could shut us down, too. The idea is to formulate a regional plan to deal with the possibilities.”
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