Homeland project addresses outbreaks

Ever thought about what would happen if a public health crisis hit Fort Bend County?

Like an outbreak of ebola, anthrax, smallpox or botulism, for example.

You would be right in thinking there haven't been any recent outbreaks for years, but it could happen.

Remember last year's scare when Andrew Speaker, an American lawyer, traveled in and out of the country all the while carrying a multi-drug resistant strain of tuberculosis?

From Georgia to France, then from Czech Republic to Canada, then returning to the U.S., Speaker came into contact with hundreds of people while carrying the disease.

What if it had been smallpox?

Scenarios like Speaker's are the ones the Fort Bend County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and the Homeland Preparedness Project (HPP) are concerned about.

MRC's purpose is to protect county residents in case of a bioterrorism or epidemic event, and the HPP helps organizations such as MRC prepare for various types of disasters by training volunteers.

John Holleman, Richmond-Rosenberg HPP consultant, said medications have been stockpiled since 1999, and in case of a health emergency a 747 jet will transport medication to the Point of Distribution (POD) site.

A total of 18 POD sites are located around the county, and it is at these sites that people will go in order to receive their medication.

“There is enough medication on the 747 to fill a small H.E.B.,” he said. “We will be able to distributed medication to every single person in Fort Bend within a 48-hour period.”

But all the preparation and plans are worthless if there is no one to carry them out, so the local MRC is currently recruiting qualified individuals to build a strong volunteer base.

Glen Turner, Sugar Land HPP consultant, said the main focus is recruiting as many volunteers as possible to make sure “everything flows just right” in case of an emergency.

Holleman said he cannot stress the importance of volunteers enough.

“The medication will be brought to us ” he said. “But it will be up to us to distribute it. This is our responsibility.”