JANUARY 1998 NEWSLETTER Happy New Year to all of you. We hope you will look forward to another exciting year in your life and that you get excited about the upcoming events with the team.
To recap the past several months:
Focus '97 State DMAT Training Exercise held at the Florida State Forestry Training Center , Brooksville-( Domestic Terrorism Incident - Weapons of Mass Destruction)- was a big success. This was a comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional field training exercise for DMAT's, the Salvation Army, the Civil Air Patrol, VA Hospital medical personnel, military reserve air and medical assets and the State MSU (Medical Support Unit).
The exercise was somewhat different this year. The DMATs meet at the Center but the next day (Sat) FL 2 and FL5 were directed to Orlando Airbase and FL1 and FL3 were stationed at the Tampa airbase. Moulaged patients were shuttled between the two sites via C-130 aircraft. Hot (props turning) on and off loading of patients was practiced, along with triage and treatment in our medical treatment tents. This was also the first time we used the newly released medical treatment forms for patient care. We had 22 members who joined in this exercise and I'm sure they would all agree it was a valuable training experience along with great fun with the team. The weather was cold, but our tents were provided with heat from the generators- (the only team who had heated tents).
If you have not attended a State exercise you are missing out of a dynamic weekend- the exact date for this year's event is undetermined at this time. They are looking into having it the second week of Nov.
Ice Storm New York 1998- many of you may have read or saw news concerning the ice storm of northern N.Y. The state of N.Y. requested the assistance of NDMS -declaring a national disaster- Jan 10th. Partial teams from ove a dozen DMAT units, plus VA and Public Health employees totally over 150 personnel were deployed to the 5 counties in northern N.Y. They augmented hospitals, local EMS, nursing homes and shelters- relieving staff who had worked straight through for several days. The above staffing personnel consisted of MD's, Pharmacists, Dentists, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Paramedics, EMT's, and Mental Health Counselors. Most were outfitted with adverse weather gear-e.g.-subzero boots, parkas, and hard hats.
The MSU (Management Support Unit) est. operations at a Holiday Inn in Albany.
FL 2 was not deployed to this event. However, the MSU requested the assistance of Gary Lindbergh , U.C. and Connie Bowles, Admin. They spent 8 days working 12 hour shifts. Gary acted as DMAT/MSU liaison- a job which entailed coordination with local Emergency Operations Center , DMAT personnel at scene and MSU. He arranged for team sleeping quarters, feeding and medical positions at area sites. He was situated near the Canadian border in Malone. Connie was stationed in Albany and held the position of Medical Supply Officer. She received medical requests from the teams, or local Public Health Dept and with coordination of the VA hospital system in Albany replaced medical supplies. Transportation of equipment to sites was a logistical problem to say the least with the treacherous road conditions. The experience was very beneficial.
The counties were hard hit- e.g. without electricity for weeks, multiple health problems due to alternative heating devices in their homes, with cold weather illness and loss of property and lives. To learn more please visit the NDMS website for the sit reps and cold weather deployment tips.
Unit Commander's Meeting -Audrey Seay, Admin. attended the Unit Commanders quarterly meeting with the State in Tampa 1-20-98 during Gary's absence to N.Y. Issues: Dec. State Exercise will likely be changed to 2nd week of Nov. due to Dec being colder weather and close to holidays. Jim Hinson is the Point of Contact with the State now instead of Ellery Gray. Jim is interested in attending our local meetings or exercises this year and to become involved with the team and it's members. Audrey gave State a copy of our MOU with Charlotte County, a copy of our MOU with the Federal Gov't and our proposed MOU with the State. The State has not committed to providing the Florida DMAT's with liability and payment upon deployment in the State under their direction. MOU pending until these issues are addressed.
Dues and License renewal-As mentioned in an earlier newsletter the membership dues will now be due annually during January and will increase from $12.00 yearly to $20.00- (if you have recently paid your dues you many call me and I'll prorate it.) Please enclose your dues ASAP. Many of you have remained on the roster for years and have never paid dues. For many of you who have never paid dues and who continue to remain inactive by not attending meetings and not sending in a copy of your updated license this may be your last newsletter. The Executive Committee regrets when we have to remove anyone's name from the team but your silence indicates you no longer wish to remain active on the FL 2 DMAT. We need people who attend meetings- who will know the direction of the team, & who attend exercises to know the correct way to assemble tents and our equipment. We need involvement. We know that occasionally your job, health and other responsibilities in your life require your time and if you let us know we can work with you. However, we do not require a lot of your time. And besides that- our times together are so much fun.
Please send a copy of your license to me: 1153 Se 32nd Terrace, CC-33904 or fax to me 941-549-0704. Several times a year NDMS requires that we provide copies of your current license for a credential check.
Phone Numbers- E-mail- since obviously if this newsletter arrived we have your correct address- We still find members who change their phone numbers and forget to pass that info along- you cannot be called out if we cannot reach you. Also send us your e-mail address to save on postage and to receive your newsletter quickly.

Executive Committee will continue to meet on the 1st Monday of each month with alternating sites of CC and PC . Positions that are available are 1-Pharmacist 2- Training Officers 3-Telphone committee. If you are interested in any position or have an idea for a position please notify us.
If you have any talents that you can share with the team please call- let us hear from you- you hear from us concerning the meetings and exercises- this is your team so become involved.
Information from the Jan. Executive Mtg-
1.Bill Bishop has been promoted to Deputy Unit Commander. YeaBill!!!
2.U.C. Lindbergh attended a NADMAT (National Assoc. of DMAT's) Mtg in Washington, DC 12-5-97. Issues addressed: still need load master class-pending, annual funding for Level 1 teams coming this year- from NDMS.,DMAT rotation plan for 1998- 2 teams will be on call each month- one for east coast and one for west coast deployments.
3.We will be looking into a paging system for the team- the telephone tree call up is antiquated- most teams have membership paging. This, however, would require the members to have a pager- this facilitates a quick call up and ready response to continue to keep us in a level 1 status.
4. Investigating purchase of Rubbermaid containers to repackage supplies.
The itinerary for this year is in the process of development. We would like to have your suggestions. !! Please call us, e-mail or snail mail us your suggestions.

1998 Itinerary
ORIENTATION - February 22nd (Sunday) 6:00pm Cape Coral Hospital Conference room B. for more info/registration call Connie 549-7893. Pass the word.
February 18-21, DISASTER '98 - State Disaster Conference in Orlando-1-800-766-7665 for info.
March 28-April 1, 1998 NDMS Conference "Lifesaving Intervention"-inter-agency and multi-disciplinary forum on reducing the health effects of disasters. This is a fully accredited education program designed for all health care providers. For more information call 1-800-USA.NDMS, then press the star * key or visit the website: ttp://www.oep_ndms.dhhs.gov. This year it will be held at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Denver, Co. (Burr).
Hurricane Expos- Spring- Summer- more info when it comes in- we had tables last year at all 3 sites- Port Charlotte, Ft. Myers and Naples.
State Exercise at Brooksville- tentatively the 2nd week of Nov- will let you know exact date when the plans have been firmed up by the State.
Please remember to visit the NDMS WEBSITE*** NEW http://www.oep_ndms.dhhs.gov They list the current info concerning deployments so at present is the New York Ice Storm-they have the sit reps for that deployment. Also they have posted a good article on cold weather deployment- something even those of us who live in Fl need to know because we also can be deployed to cold weather areas to work.
Visit our FL 2 webpage. www.geocities.com. Note how many people have visited our site!!!
Keep in touch via the web:
Gary Lindbergh, U.C. lindberghg@aol.com
Connie Bowles, Admin clbowles@aol.com
Audrey Seay, Admin ABS1130@aol.com
Shorty Palmer, Webmaster GGNH13A@prodigy.com

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