I visited with Temecula Mayor Maryann Edwards yesterday. Unless you've been locked away somewhere, you know that swine flu is the hot button topic. She promised me an update from the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services, and I'm sharing it with you:
County of Riverside / Riverside County Operational Area EOC
SITUATION SUMMARY #1
Date / Time: 4/29/09 1800 hours
Prepared By: Riverside County Fire Department - Office of Emergency Services
Situation Assessment:
The County of Riverside responded today to the discovery of 4 “probable” cases of Swine Flu. (1- Corona, 2 - Riverside, 1- Indio)
A Proclamation of Local Emergency in Riverside County was declared at 1000 hours today
The Governor has issued a Proclamation of Emergency for the State of California
The World Health Organization has elevated it’s Pandemic Threat Level to #5, indicating the possibility of an “imminent pandemic”
EOC / DOC Activations:
The Riverside County Public Health Department Operations Center remains open and active from 0700 -1900 daily
The County Emergency Operations Center is activated to Level One Status from 0700-1900 daily
The City of Indio activated it’s Emergency Operations Center at Management Watch Level
The City of Corona activated it’s Emergency Operations Center at Management Watch Level
The City of Riverside activated it’s Emergency Operations Center to Level 1 from 0800 to 1700 hours and Management Watch after hours
The CalEMA Southern Region EOC is activated from 0800 – 1700 hours daily
Incident Related Closures:
3 Schools were closed on advice of the Public Health Department, until May 7th due to the Swine Flu outbreak:
Indio High School – Indio
Lee Pollard Continuation School – Corona
Mission Bell Elementary School / Headstart – Jurupa
The City of Indio closed indefinitely, it’s Teen Center and Senior Center as a precautionary measure
Miscellaneous Information:
A Public Health Information Hotline (951) 955-2000 is open from 0700 – 1900 hours daily. Additional information and referrals can be found at www.countyofriverside.us
A Press Conference was held today, in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at 1330 hours today with Chairman Stone and Public Health Officials
Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Active Rain Ambassador (951) 907-9701
It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.
I think that this "pandemic" has been blown way out of proportion. People die from the flu every year - I don't think the rate of people becoming infected or dying from the Swine flu is any greater than a typical flu virus, it is just getting more press.
Great info Tom. Maybe if one Realtor for each county did this it would help everyone. I'm going to go look for Orange County and will post it.
Bridget - I think it's a no win situation. Say they downplayed it and it did turn into an epidemic or pandemic. Then people would be screaming "why didn't you warn us?!?"
Valorie - Great idea. I think it's better to be safe than sorry.
Real facts will help to educate, too. I've heard from several sources that most cases already have a hepatitis strain...so a struggling immune system. I also don't believe "THEY" will ever warn us enough about the real things. Too much trapped in politics and who is financing the med schools (the pharmaceutical companies) who need consumers. Being healthy can be bad for others' business.
Mara - Thanks for your perspective. You raise some good points.
Tom,
Thanks for posting that information. I think it is too early to tell what impact this will have on all of us. Good to know what is going on in other areas. I personally think at this point it would be a good idea to close all schools and send the kids home with lots of homework assignments. I think that would really put a lid on a lot of it. We have not lived through an actual pandemic, so who knows?
Tom, I know they're really cute, but you have to stop kissing the pigs!
Sandra - None of us knows what this might or might not turn into. Thanks.
Pat - You know how to dampen a guy's fun, don't you?
Naples swine flu update...0. Maybe it's time for you and your beautiful bride to be to relocate...hint hint. Hope you're great! :)
Shannon - Not so sure about relocating, but we'd love to come visit!
This Flu came and went. Hopefully people will take care of the animals like they should.