Exeter emergency management reports successful medical distribution drill; council asked for MOUs and EMS planning

Exeter's emergency management director told the council Monday that a medical point-of-distribution (POD) drill held Feb. 18 at the Wallowalung School completed a full setup and walk-through with state and local partners, and that the exercise highlighted volunteer and EMS needs for a real event.

“This plan is approved by myself, my department, extra fire 1, extra fire 2, and it's updated annually,” the emergency management director said when describing the POD plan and the recent drill. The drill included table and signage setup and a walkthrough with the state Department of Health.

The director said volunteers and local partners were critical: Sue Hoxley and volunteers from the fire district participated, and the town worked with West Greenwich's emergency management and the school superintendent. “We had volunteers… Asa Davis was there. Cal came and Maria Tian came,” the director said.

Council members and the director discussed practical needs before the town could host state-run vaccine or medication clinics: an on-site EMT/ambulance presence, shifts of trained volunteers, agreements on reimbursement or compensation for emergency responders, and security planning with the town sergeant. The director asked the council for guidance on whether to pursue memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with district EMS providers, what agreements with the state would look like, and what cost or insurance implications to anticipate.

Council members thanked the director for the drill and asked staff to explore formal agreements and funding or contract mechanisms with ambulance and fire districts. No formal MOU or contract was approved at Monday’s meeting; the director will return with recommended next steps, including potential MOUs, staffing proposals and an estimate of costs.