The Peoria Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) Metropolitan Statistical Area member organizations are coordinating a planned emergency response drill June 8 and 9, 2011. This exercise will include health departments, government agencies, and organizations in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Marshall, and Stark Counties. This emergency response exercise is part of a federal grant to help communities prepare for public health emergencies. The purpose of the drill is to enhance collaborative planning and response efforts during emergency events.

Peoria and Marshall Counties- Plans include a drill in conjunction with United States Postal Service Peoria PD&F employees on June 8 to test response of a positive alert of the Biological Detection System including decontamination protocols, Public Health mass dispensing of antibiotics, as well as joint information among counties and agencies affected by this exercise event. The event will begin June 8 at 3:00 p.m. at the Peoria PD&F located on State St, Peoria.

Tazewell County – Just In Time Training (JITT) will focus on Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) drop site operations for acceptance of federal assets for mass dispensing of antibiotics related to a public health emergency. Participating CRI members from all counties will also valuate the JITT training and materials. JITT will be June 9 in Tazewell County.

Woodford County – Interagency communications and SNS drop site procedures will be tested, including pick-up from a designated drop location. Testing will be June 8.

Stark County – Testing the Incident Command System’s capabilities in developing incident action plans began in May and will be included in the final CRI report.

Each County is coordinating public health exercise activities among local agencies and organizations to simulate a real world event. Participating agencies include government, fire, hospitals, police, and media.

Note that this is a drill and all releases pertaining to this exercise will be noted as such.