FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2001

COUNTY COORDINATES RESPONSE ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER AGENCIES

OLYMPIA – Since the tragedies of September 11^th, a lot of speculation has been given to the possibility of further terrorist events including chemical or biological warfare.  While there are NO credible reports of potential incidents in Thurston County, health and emergency officials are increasing their vigilance and stepping up coordination with local, state and federal agencies.

Thurston County Health Officer Doctor Diana Yu says, “Over the past decade we have strengthened our communicable disease reporting and surveillance system and continue to work with the state Departments of Health and Emergency Management and the federal Centers for Disease Control on these programs.  We are also working with the local medical community to increase our collective ability to track and respond to the outbreaks of disease and that would include any bioterrorist incident.”

The preparations made by the county would also help in a more typical incident like a hazardous materials spill, according to Emergency Management Director Les Olson.  “Most of the steps we would take for a hazardous materials incident are the same that we would take for other types of situations involving chemical releases.  That could involve asking residents of a certain area to “shelter in place”** in their homes or offices until the all clear signal could be given.”

Officials remind county residents that they can prepare for most emergency situations by following the  “72-hour” rule.  That is, having enough food, water, medicines and other supplies on hand to get through 3 days without major urban services such as water, natural gas or electricity.  A battery operated radio and extra batteries should also be on the list of supplies.

Dr. Yu says, “Should we have a chemical or bioterrorist event, the public would be notified by the news media and on the Health Department web site at www.co.thurston.wa.us/health.   While we are monitoring the potential for that threat, we are also preparing for more typical winter situations like flu outbreaks and winter storms.”

For more information on various types of emergency preparedness, call the Thurston County Emergency Operations Center at 360-754-3360.   You can also call the Thurston-Mason County Red Cross at 360-352-8575 or visit them on the World Wide Web at www.redcross.org.

**More Details- Sheltering in place is an advisory request for people to remain in their homes or offices.  Under that advisory, people can take additional actions including-

·         Closing and locking all windows and exterior doors.

·         Turning off all heating and air conditioning systems and fans.

·         Shutting down the fireplace damper.

·         Going to a room on the highest floor available that has few or no windows, and preferably no door to the outside.

·         Using duct tape or available materials such as towels to seal cracks around doors (and/or windows) as best as possible.

·         Making sure you have access to your emergency supplies, especially a battery operated radio so you can hear when the “all-clear” signal is given.