Updates

The Clock Is Ticking: Pandemic Flu Exercises Prepare Marine Corps for Worst-Case Scenarios

Alexandria, VA — CRA, Inc. concluded a series of exercises designed to prepare multiple Eastern United States Marine Corps Installations for a devastating pandemic flu outbreak.  Over 150 servicemembers, emergency first responders, senior-level officials, and public health specialists attended each exercise, which challenged participants to consider two scenarios of pandemic flu overtaking an entire region.  Todd Cist, a facilitator with the homeland security consulting firm CRA, Inc., said the exercises focused on strengthening “communications, interoperability, resource management, lines of authority, mission assurance, populations control and coordination between military and state.”  For the two scenarios, participants were guided through 6 hours of break-out discussions—meeting as a group at the end of the day to brief each other on key issues and concerns.  Marine Corps officials indicated this open dialogue between the military and State, local, and federal officials is a significant step towards preparedness.  And while questions remain about how the country will fully prepare itself for a pandemic flu outbreak, Col. Brant Bailey of MCIEAST noted one thing is for certain, “This is what future crisis mitigation looks like.  It’s no longer the military operating independently.  We are going to continue working together with federal, state and local authorities with everyone united behind a common purpose.” For more information, contact: Geoff Nagler Phone: (703) 519-4510