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DPH: Disaster exercise a success
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Posted on May 28 2004
The Department of Public Health successfully completed the CNMI Multi-Agency Disaster Exercise Wednesday morning at 11:45am.
The department said in a statement that it is grateful for the community’s support and understanding during this event, particularly for those who were seeking care at the Commonwealth Health Center on Wednesday morning.
As a result of the bioterrorism exercise, DPH said it was able to ascertain where its strengths and weaknesses were in preparedness for natural disasters or bioterrorism incidences.
“I think the hospital did very well, especially the decontamination teams and the patient triage staff. We’re one step closer to being fully prepared to be able to respond to natural or terrorist disasters in the CNMI,” said Dr. Richard Brostrom, executive director of the CNMI Public Health Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program.
During the exercise, the hospital successfully triaged and treated 30 victims and expanded its surge capacity to accommodate patients requiring ICU care. The hospital also tested its ability to provide decontamination to individuals who were affected by a simulated terrorist incident.
The DPH said it will be unveiling a significantly upgraded disaster plan in August this year with the assistance of the CDC and the Pacific Emergency Health Initiative.
“The department would like to give special thanks to all the people who participated in this exercise, especially all the volunteers who helped make this project possible,” the statement adds.
