Disaster trailer stationed nearby
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 02:15 p.m., February 29, 2008
Updated 02:15 p.m., February 29, 2008
If a disaster strikes — whether it be a pandemic or a weather disaster — the Northeast Kansas Homeland Security Region is ready to respond with the arrival of a $125,000 emergency response trailer and truck.
The trailer, which will be placed in Franklin County, made a stop in Emporia Thursday where officials with Lyon County Emergency Management and Flint Hills Community Health Center had the opportunity to get familiar with it in a non-disaster situation.
Rick Frevert, of Lyon County Emergency Management, said the trailer was paid for through Homeland Security funds and will serve the Northeast Kansas Homeland Security Region counties, which includes Lyon County. Franklin County Emergency Management Director Alan Radcliffe was showing Frevert around the equipment Thursday.
The trailer can be used in a disaster such as a pandemic or the tornado that leveled Greensburg last year. It is designed to be stocked to be self sufficient for 72 hours, Frevert said. It also is equipped with data hookups, a printer/fax and radios.
Radcliffe said everything in the trailer is designed to be sanitized and cleaned and all the walls are set up as dry-erase boards.
Lougene Marsh, executive director of the health center, said this morning the idea of the trailer came up during some discussion in the East Central Kansas Public Health Coalition, which includes eight counties including Lyon County.
“It was an idea that we forwarded on to the Northeast Kansas Homeland Security Council,” Marsh said. “We are very impressed with the trailer.”
The idea was approved and the public health council had input on how it was designed. Frevert said this is the only public health trailer in the state that he is aware of.
“Our public health region has a very vested interest. ...” Marsh said.
The trailer can be used as a mass vaccination clinic. There is a refrigerator on board as well as ample supply cabinets. The public health coalition has made a commitment to deploy one of the area nurses with the trailer.
“It’s really a good deal,” Marsh said. “If we could actually take that trailer and put it up around the community or in the outlying communities, we would certainty increase our capacity and response ... we could bring in this trailer and set up shop anywhere.”
Frevert said the counties in the state are taking steps to prepare for disasters.
“It’s not what the state is doing, but what the counties are doing to prepare themselves,” he said.
Lyon County is expected to house a similar piece of equipment later this year.
Frevert said, while it’s nice to have the trailer, it’s not something he’s hoping to use.
“It’s equipment that you train on but hope you never actually have to use it,” he said. “Because somebody is having a really bad day.”
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
frevert, didnt you spend a grant on a trailer a couple of years ago? What do you plan to do with that trailer? And does anyone know who much of the grant was spend to completely furnish the trailer you have now? guess you cant never have to many trailers, for home security,
February 29, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )