Page 7- Thur.tag,,August 4, 2011 "WHERE THE KID GOT HIS NAME"
Another step forward for the Emergency Operations Plan
By Sarah Prldgeon
A Crook County Public Health
full-scale, functional mass dis-
pensing exercise took place at
Sundance Hospital last Tues-
day. The intentions of the ex-
ercise were to deploy the first
response equipmentand test its
recent upgrades, and to practice
the public health Emergency
Operations Plan.
Emergency Management was
required to Set up an Emergency
Operation Center (EOC) fer the
event, which involved a remote
clinic setting (a medical tent)
with electricity and internet
communications (running from
the first response truck, which
was upgraded to wireless inter-
net last Friday.) This generated
positive results; all the pcs,
2:way radios and other equip-
ment necessary for a communi-
cations center was successfully
run from one truck. The radius
of the wireless was expected to
be 10 feet, but was discovered to
work at a distance of 39 feet and
will now be tested further using
the communications trailer.
The purpose of the Emergency
Support Function (ESF) is to
coordinate for the incident com-
mander (Barb Coy)and ensure
that members of the medical
team have everything they need
to complete the mission and get
out, so they can be redeployed
as necessary. The exercise high-
lighted for the medical team
that having the equipment on
hand and set up quickly - and
everything that was asked for
delivered almost immediately -
was helpful to them in answer-
ing the emergency.
In general, the morning went
well and ran more effectively
than any previous exercise.
The clinic was set up quickly
and, at the hospital, resources
were tapped by 9:15 a.m. and
the facility was locked down by
9:17 a.m. The conference room
was used as the family area and
the end storage room for staff
turnaround. Of the 12 patients
sent over from the clinic tent,
all at least had their vital signs
checked.
Parts of the Emergency Op-
erations Plan were corrected as
a result of the exercise, includ-
ing the list of people who would
need to be notified. Certain
areas of the plan were flagged
for attention, such as the need
to shut off the nursing home
attached to the hospital and
the issue of certain vulnerable
target groups, such as parents
of small children and the el-
derly, being unable to visit the
clinic.
Public knowledge was em-
phasized as a potential issue;
for example, what a member of
the press should be told, what
public notices should say and
where they should be posted.
The exercise highlighted that
educational material should
be created ahead of time and
placed at a single intake area,
where the public will be able
to find all the information they
may need. Having access to the
county Public Information Of-
ricer, Katie Allen, made it easier
for accurate information to be
released to the public, which
would be imperative in a real
event.
The largest problem encoun-
tered was that, of those offices
in charge of the first respond-
ers, only the EMS, :police and
Sheriff's Office responded. Coy
reported a good response to
personal calls, but explained
that there wouldn't be time to
make these if a real outbreak
took place. It was also sug-
gested that, had first respond-
ers been inoculated at the same
time, the number of people
visiting the clinic might have
risen to around 500, which
would have required all day to
process.
Coy also explained that the
tent, which was originally pur-
chased for triage, would not be
the first choice for the clinic's
location as it leaves visitors
exposed to weather and is not
suited to disabled patients.
Previous exercises have taken
place in the courthouse base-
ment, but the medical team's
preference is the high school
gym. There would also need to
be different waiting areas for
those with symptoms and those
without, and patients would
need to be kept between two
and three feet apart to prevent
the spread of infection.
The team also discovered that
hospital bed tracking needs
to be more strictly monitored.
State epidemiologists would
likely be involved in a real
emergency and would require
a database to search for free
beds at a state level.
The scenario itself involved an
outbreak of "plague" at Devil's
Tower, following a large picnic
event that included a tour of the
prairie dog town, during which
several people hand-fed the
animals and one curious family
touched the carcass of a dead
deer. After symptoms including
fever, chills and coughing were
noticed in a number of separate
patients at the Hulett clinic,
physicians discovered that
Sundance and Moorcroft were
similarly affected and that pa-
tients with matching symptoms
had been admitted in Spearfish
and Gillette.
Tests on the first identified
cases confirmed the "plague"
diagnosis, a potentially fatal
disease caused by fleas infected
with bacteria. The illness is
initially transmitted through
contact with animals hosting
the fleas, and then by infected
humans as they develop coughs
and pneumonia. If antibiot-
ics are not administered, the
condition progresses rapidly to
death.
For this exercise, the Emer-
gency Operations Plan was put
in place on Monday morning
and the ESF was notified of the
problem. Letters for attendees of
the picnic and a radio and tele-
vision release were drafted, ask-
ing those who had been exposed
to the disease to report to the
Public Health tent, located at
Crook County Medical Services,
on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.
for medical attention.
Upcoming projects listed
in draft STIP
A slate of upcoming highway projects and other work is de-
tailed in a draft of WYDOT's State Transportation Improvem ent
Program (STIP) for fiscal year 2012. The document is now avail-
able for public review and comments.
The draft STIP lists about $329 million in projects tentatively
planned for the 12-month period beginning Oct. 1, 2011, as
well as a compilation of engineering and environmental work
the department will undertake in subsequent years. In addition
to highway projects, the document also lists $31 million worth
of airport improvements scheduled for the upcoming year and
$10 million in proposed funding for local public transit opera-
tions.
Copies can be found at WYDOT offices, libraries, and city and
county government offices. The draft STIP is also posted on
the WYDOT Web site within the "Planning/ResearchProjects"
section.
The highway projects are listed according to system classifi-
cation; for example, Interstate, Primary, Urban; and by type of
work, such as reconstruction, resurfacing, bridge replacement,
etc.
Because the needs of the transportation system exceed the
department's budget, WYDOT employs a comprehensive needs
analysis, in concert with a thorough publi c consultation process,
to decide what projects to include in the STIP.
Review and approval of the project schedule in the draft STIP is
the responsibility of the Wyoming Transportation Commission.
Even after a final version of the STIP is published, the project
list remains tentative and will be revised quarterly in accordance
with changes in funding levels and in various advance design
considerations.
Moon Walk to feature Forest
Service Mule Pack String
Join the Black Hills National Forest on Saturday, August 13
for an educational walk featuring the Region 2 Forest Service
Mule Pack String.
The one-mile round-trip walk is over uneven terrain in a rolling
pasture. Walkers should meet at 7 p.m. at TePee Work Center
20 miles west of Custer.
"The speaker is Glenn Ryan, Forest Service packer, who trav-
els the western National Forests using his mules to accomplish
backcountry trail work," says Amy Ballard, USFS Moon Walk
Coordinator.
"Glenn and his mules will demonstrate how lumber and gravel
are packed on then unloaded from the mules and discuss the
use of stock for accomplishing trail work in remote backcountry
areas. The pack string has accomplished work in the Black Elk
Wilderness in the past."
To reach the Moon Walk site travel west 20 miles on Highway
16 from Custer, SD to the TePee Work Center. The Work Center
is on the south side of the highway and well-marked. Signs will
be posted at the highway to direct visitors to the site.
The Forest Service suggests that visitors bring flashlights,
water, and bug repellant and dress for unexpected weather
and hiking on uneven land. Long pants and sturdy footwear
(hiking boots or athletic shoes) are recommended for comfort
and safety.
"This summer I have witnessed many Moon Walk visitors
that are unprepared for hiking through the forest over uneven
ground in hot weather," said Ballard. "This concerns me as
unprepared hikers could experience dehydration and tripping
or falling. For visitor safetyand a more enjoyable experience
please dress appropriately and bring water to drink."
The program will not be cancelled due to rain unless lightning
is present. About 125 visitors per walk have been attending the
programs so please arrive early to aid us in parking vehicles.
For more information about the program and summer sched-
ule go to www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills or call the Black Hills
Need for road improvements
heard "loud and clear"
By Sarah Pridgeon
The county budget for fiscal
year 2011-2012 was decided at
a special meeting of the board of
county commissioners on July
14 at Sundance Courthouse.
Though much of the funding
remained steady from the previ-
ous year, a small increase was
granted for repair and improve-
ments to county roads.
According to Jeannie Whalen,
County Commissioner, there
were few changes to the budget
from the previous year, but
small increases were made to
areas that involve use of gaso-
line or working on vehicles, in
line with the current and ex-
pected gasoline prices. Wages
stayed the same, in light of the
economy, which is just begin-
ning to improve across the
state.
Whalen confirmed that the
commissioners heard the call
for money to be put towards
improved public roads from
readers of The Surdance Ti
"loud and clear" and stressed
that this goal is in line with their
own. Funding was increased
for this purpose in this year's
budget, but "not too much" be-
cause of the pressing need for
flood repairs.
At the time of the meeting,
the county was unsure whether
it would need to pick up the
cost for the road damage and
repairs needed as a result of
the recent flooding. Money was
taken from the cash reserve for
this purpose, although it was
hoped that some of this could
be reimbursed,
Since the budget was decided,
a federal disaster declaration
has been received for the State
of Wyoming from President
Obama, with the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency
(FEMA) visiting this week to
receive Crook County's applica-
tion for public assistance (see
related article on p**). The result
of this fedei-al: aid will'be ,reim-
bursement for damage repair,
which, according to Whalen,
will be returned to the county's
cash reserve.
Fundraiser seeks to
alleviate financial burden
for local family in need
BBQ, entertainment, fundraising and
family fun all for a good cause
The 5th Annual Ride a Horse Feed a Cowboy event is slated
for August 26-27 in Hulett. This local non-profit group is dedicated to
easing the financial burdens of community members who suffer from
debilitating injury, illness or expensive medical treatments. Last year,
thanks to the generous donations of sponsors and the highest atten-
dance numbers to date, the organization was able to present a family in
need with a check for $8000. With a 2011 goal of doubling that amount,
festivities kick off Friday night with the horse ride-in, community BBQ,
and live auction. During the weekend event goers will enjoy the addition
of"Bulls & Broncs Wear Pink Rodeo", the Old West Cowboy & Indian
Collectible Trade Show and the Calcutta Poker Tournament, along with
live music provided by country favorite Paul Bogart.
Founder and event coordinator Chanda Snook says of the weekend,
"I am proud that this fund raiser has quadrupled in attendance since
our inaugural year; making it possible for us to plan even more family
friendly activities and authentic westem events for our 2011 weekend
and increase our publicity and advertifing campaigns." To help increase
donations and reach funding goals, the committee has initiated tiered
sponsorship with complementary advertising benefits and VIP event
access, making it possible for corporations and private citizens to chose
the level of sponsorship for which they are best suited - confident that
all profits go directly to the chosen recipient in need.
With a newly designed website, strong social media campaign, and
community minded supporters, the 2011 Ride a Horse, Feed a Cow-
boy weekend promises to be the most successful Hulett fundraiser to
date. For more information about this year's featured recipients and a
complete schedule of events, please visit www.RideaHorseFeedaCow-
boy.corn
The Sundance Times
FEMA:
continued from page I
on Lame Jones Road, road
damage on the D Road and on
Curren Road and the washed
out bridge over Arch Creek on
McKean Road.
Crook County's flood dam-
age bids are divided into two
phases, the first of which have
been awarded to JW Services
as the lowest bidder. Work
for the second phase will be
divided between Timberline,
JW Services and Tri-City Ex-
cavation.
The next step in the process,
once requests for assistance
are submitted by Crook and
Weston Counties, will be
a kick-off meeting, during
which county representatives
will be given more detail on,
for example, requirements,
eligibility, insurance and haz-
ard mitigation. Projects will
then be formed and approved
by the state and FEMA, after
which the work will be com-
pleted and a proportion of the
costs reimbursed.
Crook County, as the appli-
cant, will be responsible for
formulating projects, identi-
fying special considerations
(such as historical and envi-
ronmental preservation and
hazard mitigation), maintain-
ing documentation and initi-
ating closeout. The county will
be assisted by the state, and
will receive federal help with
parts of the process includ-
ing project management and
technical assistance.
"We appreciate the presi-
dent's approval of financial
assistance to help our com-
munities that were impacted
by heavy rain, snowpack,
flooding and landslides," said
Guy Cameron, director of the
Wyoming Office of Homeland
Security, in a press release.
"I applaud Governor Mead for
his proactive approach to this
flood season and early deploy-
ment of the National Guard to
assist local communities as
well as seeking federal finan-
cial assistance to aid those
communities damaged."
Project Specialist John
Young, from FEMA Region
.... O, is currently, sutrveyig the
:lama ita a.ndjaudng
befor and after pictures of
the damaged sites to evaluate
the work needed. For more
information about the role of
FEMA in disaster assistance,
visit www. fem a.gov
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NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that Crook County School District #1 is
accepting isolation petitions for the 2011-2012 school year.
W.S. 21-4-401(<t) "No person is eligible as an isolated pupil under
this section unless the pupil's parents or legal guardians
demonstrate to the local school board that the family's residing in
the isolated location is necessary for the family's financial well
being."
The total miles claimed shall be computed excluding the first two
(2) miles traveled each way for a total of four (4) miles a day.
Applications may be obtained from and submitted to the Office
of the Superintendent, PO Box 830, Sundance, WY 82729-0830.
Todd Mclnerney, Chairman
Board of Trustees
Crook County School District #1
Publish: Week of August 1,2011
