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Tribal public‑health preparedness: new staff, communications gear and planning updates
Summary
Public health preparedness staff reported a completed five‑year plan, recent hires, restocked mass‑casualty equipment and forthcoming outreach to tribes about communications needs during the June 3 meeting.
Doug Dame, public health preparedness program, briefed the council on tribal public‑health preparedness activities on June 3, reporting completion of a five‑year strategic plan, staff changes and equipment work.
"We have finished our 5 year strategic plan," Dame said, and described a successful annual rural preparedness summit at the Elko Convention Center attended by tribal partners. Dame said the division has onboarded two Health Preparedness Program staff in the last two weeks: a health emergency exercise planner (first name William; last name not specified) and Olivia, a rural health coordinator.
Dame said staff are updating plans including the division operations center plan and medical surge planning, and are restocking mass‑casualty incident (MCI) trailers located in the south of the state. He also said the division is monitoring H1N5 at low levels and tracking measles activity.
Kimberly Palma Ortega, tribal public health preparedness coordinator, said the team is developing a tribal public health district list with the Nevada Department of Health to improve real‑time information sharing. Palma Ortega said the division has purchased BGAN and Iridium SIMs and will distribute them during on‑site tribal visits once received. She said the team will issue a survey to tribes to assess preferred communications formats, replacement equipment needs, training and calendar events.
"I've been tasked to lead the emergency support function EFS 6 mass care desk for the state," Palma Ortega said.
Aaron Thacker, tribal coordinator, said he will meet with the budget officer to finalize a breakdown of tribal travel funding and then reach out to federal partners. The travel assistance under discussion would support attendance at trainings, meetings and conferences; Thacker said local travel is certain and out‑of‑state travel could be explored depending on available funds.
Council members asked no substantive follow‑up questions during this item.
