Date: 04/27/2006
Final
Pandemic Flu Briefing
COMMITTEE ON JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
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12:16 PM
Dr. Ned Calonge, Chief Medical Officer for Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), made introductory remarks. He stressed his desire to provide different information to the committee than what was in his previous presentation. He explained the contents of the handout he distributed to the committee (Attachment A). Dr. Calonge made a distinction between avian influenza and pandemic crises. He stated that the introduction of avian flu into Colorado is not a public health emergency, but something CDPHE is monitoring. Several agencies throughout the state meet regularly to plan for pandemic preparedness. He discussed the funding, both state and federal, that is devoted to pandemic preparedness. He listed the criteria included in pandemic preparedness contracts between local jurisdictions and the CDPHE. These are items that must be part of any preparedness plan made by the local jurisdictions that uses state or federal dollars.
12:26 PM
Dr. Calonge continued his presentation with some areas that still need to be examined. He responded to questions from the committee regarding any difference in planning for natural or intentional disasters. He stated that the process is very much the same, regardless of the type of disaster. The committee discussed the duration and severity of a possible pandemic. Dr. Calonge talked about planning for waves of infection and how that allows authorities to recover over small periods of time, rather than a long duration of infection. The committee discussed the possible economic effects of a pandemic. Dr. Calonge specifically addressed the issue of urging the public to stockpile supplies without causing widespread panic.
12:39 PM
Patrick Steinkirchner, Mesa County Health Department, is an epidemiologist who works on pandemic and bioterrorism issues in his region. Mr. Steinkirchner provided some demographic statistics about Northwestern Colorado (Attachment B). He discussed his region's timetable for completing pandemic preparedness plans. He listed the primary areas covered by local preparedness plans. He talked about communication, distribution of supplies (including medications, food, and other staples), and training for emergency responders. He mentioned that limited numbers of public health care workers are a liability to effective preparedness. He also stressed that prompt infection reporting is key to implementing pandemic plans. Mr. Steinkirchner discussed some of the efforts being made in Mesa County to ensure that the population is properly vaccinated. He also talked about regional medical reserve corps. He responded to committee questions regarding electronic medical records-keeping.
12:53 PM
Senator Grossman presented Senate Bill 06-237 concerning interoperable communications among public safety radio systems to the committee for discussion. The bill requires the director of the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) to adopt an interoperable communications plan to improve communication capabilities between government public safety agencies. The plan shall be adopted by March 1, 2007. Each all-hazards emergency management region shall adopt and submit regional plans to the director by November 1, 2006.
All local government agencies and private entities that operate public safety radio systems shall participate in regional plan development. If a region fails to submit a plan to DOLA by the deadline it will be ineligible to receive homeland security or public safety grant funding administered by the state. Public safety agencies are prohibited from using grant moneys received from DOLA for mobile data communication systems unless the system is capable of interoperable communications. Public safety agencies working together to operate interoperable communication systems shall be protected by the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act.
12:57 PM -- Peg Ackerman, County Sheriffs of Colorado, expressed support for the bill.
12:59 PM -- Dana Hanson, City and County of Denver, responded to questions regarding voice versus data networks.
01:00 PM -- Michael Coleman, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, discussed the issue of voice and data systems.
01:03 PM
The committee discussed the specific language of the bill.
01:05 PM -- Barbara Kirkmeyer, Department of Local Affairs, responded to committee questions regarding the map of all-hazard emergency management regions established by executive order. Ms. Kirkmeyer made comments on the language of the bill.
01:11 PM
Senator Grossman adjourned the committee.