Meeting Minutes

Sept 2, 2009

Present: Tony Rohrwasser, SBFD; David Kramer and Bob Graham, Emergency Management; Barry Coleman, LDS Church; Jock Johnson, PVFD; Brad Lowther, HMVFD ; Regina Sherman, Boundary Ambulance; Bob Kesson, Idaho BHS; Wesley Portrey, SBFD; Tina Wilson & De Anna Galbraith, Boundary Community Hospital; Rich Stephens, BCSO; Rick Alonzo, BFPD; Kevin Greenleaf, Kootenai Tribe; Diane Blanford, Erik Ketner, and Dale Peck,Panhandle Health; Brad Lowther, HMVFD; Emma Fields and Leatha Lockhart, Red Cross; Cecil Garza, USBP; Brad Holifield, Chamber of Commerce; Pat Warkentin, BFFD; Greg Swanson, Avista; Ken English, MSVFD; Tish Lagerwey, CBP; John Moss, CCVFD; James Thackray, Bruce Mabin, and Alana Garrett, Creston,B.C.

Next meeting:   Oct 7, 2009 0800, Bonners Ferry Visitors Center Meeting Room

I.            Announcements: Tony Rohrwasser brought the meeting to order at 0800. Introductions were made as there were several new faces at today’s meeting, please see roster above.

Dale Peck, Panhandle Health District: gave a presentation on the H1N1 flu virus.  Dale states the H1N1 virus has spread worldwide making it a pandemic.  He feels that we will see a resurgence as school start, as the current strain has not changed substantially since spring. H1N1 will be seen in addition to the regular seasonal flu. 65% of the population will be under 25 years old, whereas the seasonal flu affects the over 65 year old population.  The Federal Government has purchased 195 million doses of the vaccine, 2 doses will be needed to be effective. 30,000 doses will be available to the Panhandle by mid-October with 13,000 doses per week thereafter.  Prior to the vaccines arrival the best defense is good hygiene, stay home if sick, 24 hours after fever has subsided on its own and cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve.  For more information on the H1N1 virus, visit the PHD website at www.phd1.idaho.gov or community partners information at www.pain.phd1.idaho.gov

Brad Holifield, Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber is offering a series of classes for small non-profit organizations at Memorial Hall Sept. 10th thru October 22nd. Chamber members will be charged $10.00, non-members $15.00 for the class.  Topics will be valuable to all non-profit organizations.  Trisha Sullivan will teach the class and David Burrows from The Horizons Project will be guest on the 19th. For more information on the classes please contact Anita Stockdale-Woods at 208-818-7498.

Bob Kesson, Resource Tech from BHS: Bob is building a data base of Emergency Response resources based on 120 categories in the NIMS type 1 resource list. Bob is responsible for the 5 northern counties and will be doing 2 fire departments today and will be back for several days later this month.  The data base will be available for all agencies.  Barry Coleman has worked extensively on this prior to Bob coming, so all of the information has gathered so far will be invaluable to Bob.

Alana Garrett: The next Creston Emergency Committee meeting will be Sept. 29th,2009 10 am at Creston City Hall.

David Kramer:  Rail Car Class Oct.3rd, 2009. 49 registered so far with only 55 available spaces.  Red Cross will sit in and monitor the event.  Border Patrol has obtained a large tent and is currently stored at the mass casualty trailer.

Boundary County Commissioners approved to apply for a FEMA grant to update the All Hazard Mitigation Plan. Dave would like a small LEPC group to help review and update the plan before taking it back to the commissioners for approval.

Tony Rohrwasser:  Discussed the Communication Committee. 2007 SHSP grant money will be used for pagers as the committee felt this where the greatest need was.

With no further business the Meeting adjourned at 0850

Minutes submitted by J. Jeske BFPD