COUNTY FOLLOWS UP EMERGENCY TRAINING

During a training exercise last fall, David Hitt, emergency operations director for Cape Girardeau County, was confident the emergency plan he and others put together would work.

Ten minutes into the mock disaster, Hitt stood with a stack of messages in one hand and a ringing telephone in the other, and realized he didn't know what to do next.

Hitt learned he shouldn't answer the telephone during an emergency.

His lesson was among many discussed at a Thursday night meeting of people from various governments, agencies and businesses interested in preparing for an emergency.

In September about 60 key decision-makers from Cape Girardeau County attended a three-day training session in Jefferson City. Cape Girardeau County was chosen as the first local government to participate in the training.

Thursday's meeting was an "after-action" review. Those who had attended the exercise and some who couldn't be in Jefferson City met to decide what to do next. About 75 people attended.

"We must do more than say, `That sure was a good meeting in Jefferson City,'" said Gerald Jones, Cape Girardeau County presiding commissioner.

Eric Evans of the State Emergency Management Agency said: "The momentum continues to go forward. You can take what you learned, the mistakes you made, and improve yourselves."

Being prepared is key, all the officials said.

In an emergency like a tornado, an earthquake or an ice storm, Cape Girardeau County will be on its own for an estimated 72 hours before help could be expected from state and federal sources.

Among issues raised during discussion was the need for good communication, not only a willingness to share information, but also the physical means for collecting and disseminating information.

The area needs a plan in the event of mass fatalities.

A series of first-aid stations is needed as a backup for the local hospitals. Those attending also asked what medical resources, both personnel and supplies, are available in the county and where they are located.

Among other questions: Where would emergency shelters be located? What about the university and its students? Can local personnel make the damage assessments needed to activate state and federal assistance?

The brain-storming session Thursday was the next step in helping prepare the county in the event of an emergency, Hitt said.

He would like to follow up with annual countywide training exercises in the spring.

After Thursday's meeting Jones said, "I think this is the start of being the best prepared county in Missouri."

Evans agreed. He said Cape Girardeau County has become a model in emergency preparation.

He said the level of cooperation among the different entities in the county is especially encouraging.

"This just doesn't happen in Missouri," Evans said.

"It doesn't happen across the nation. You have the county, city and private sector coming together."