Turnout Low for Florida Disaster Training Program

It's been six years since the anthrax scare at the AMI building put Boca Raton in the national spotlight.

Is Palm Beach County ready if something like that happens again, but on a massive scale?

Based on the response so far from volunteers needed to assist if the area becomes the target of biological warfare or a flu pandemic, it's somewhat doubtful.

Just 55 of the 5,500 to 6,000 trained volunteers needed to handle a countywide emergency showed up Tuesday at the South County Civic Center in suburban Delray Beach to participate in the Cities Readiness Initiative, a pilot program to help cities deliver emergency medical supplies in the event of a large-scale public-health crisis. Volunteer interest has been nominal.

"I think it will be a little difficult, but normally when a disaster hits, you have people who come out of the woodwork who want to help, so we will probably get people that way," said Donna Pulda, who is heading up volunteer coordination through the United Way of Palm Beach County.

In January 2006, the county was designated a Cities Readiness Initiative agency and charged with the task of treating and assisting with the needs of 1.3 million residents in 48 hours.

The county would receive immunizations from the strategic national stockpile within 12 hours. Those immunizations, in turn, would be sent to 45 distribution points where patients would be evaluated and volunteers would administer immunizations and antibiotics or assist in other life-saving procedures, said Philip Levenstein, a government operations consultant with the county's department of health.

It's estimated that as many as 600 people per hour could receive help over a two-day period if a massive crisis were to occur.

Levenstein, who brought his presentation to the civic center, outlined several potential scenarios. Volunteers, he said, would gather at a single place, board a bus and then be taken to one of the distribution points. As first responders, they and family members would be given priority in receiving needed medications.

As the population shrinks during the summer, finding volunteers is always tough, said Adele Abbott, a volunteer coordinator with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. However, she estimated that the county expects to bring in about 500 volunteers as the program gets off the ground.

Those who came for Tuesday's training session had different reasons for wanting to volunteer.

"It was just the ability to help, especially in this area. There are a lot of older patients who will need attending to," said Bonnie Mosher, a nurse from Delray Beach.

Orit Caspi of Boca Raton has lived in the United States for seven years. She's originally from South Africa.

"I have always been community minded and I am also getting my citizenship this year, so I thought it was an appropriate time," Caspi said.

The United Way, which is charged with coordinating the volunteer efforts, is slowly "chipping away" at gaining interest, said Sheri Taylor, director of the Palm Beach County Disaster Recovery Coalition. Community support, she says is imperative.

To volunteer go to www.unitedwaypbc.org.

~susan_miller@pbpost.com

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