AVIAN FLU/PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: EMBASSY PREPAREDNESS AND

UNCLAS AMMAN 008596 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR A/GSSI - PACKER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT AMED TBIO ASEC EAGR KFLU JO SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU/PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: EMBASSY PREPAREDNESS AND RESOURCES FOR SHELTERING IN PLACE REFS: A) State 177681 B) Amman 8510 ¶1. (U) Summary: Post has regularly and consistently encouraged the personal responsibility measures suggested reftel for avian flu preparedness (stockpiling non-perishable food, water, and medicines, maintaining good hygiene by washing hands and surfaces, and cooking food properly). Post also maintains significant Embassy resources that could support sheltering in place. End summary. -------------- Shelter in Place Scenario -------------- ¶2. (U) Through management notices and Town Hall meetings, Post has regularly encouraged both local and American staff to keep adequate supplies of food, water and medicine on hand at home to shelter in place in case such a measure is required. Standard guidance had been to prepare for at least two-three weeks. Ref A guidance expanding this time frame to twelve weeks was discussed at Post's most recent Avian Influenza Task Force meeting (Ref B),and will be communicated to all Embassy staff through a management notice. -------------- Water and Food Supply at Residences -------------- ¶3. (U) Due to Jordan's intermittent municipal water supply, all embassy-owned and leased properties in Amman have cisterns and roof tanks with a capacity of at least 780 gallons. This would cover the minimum needs of a family of four for twelve weeks (one gallon per person per day),plus a safety margin. ¶4. (U) Post feels it is unlikely that most American staff families have three-month supplies of food on hand at home. All employees are being urged to build up their food stockpiles at home. -------------- Post Resources of Food and Water -------------- ¶5. (SBU) For planning purposes, post estimates that it has 500 American staff and dependents. Post has the following supplies available, which should be adequate to supply 60 people for twelve weeks: FOOD: -- 2,000 meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) -- Frozen food and dry goods at Commissary with two to three weeks of inventory at normal levels. This should sustain 50 people for 90 days WATER: -- 300,000 gallon cistern -- 200,000 gallon swimming pool -- 40-50 5-gallon water bottles -- Water tank truck with 317 gallon capacity -- 800,000 gallon underground tank that captures rain runoff. Used normally only for irrigation. FUEL: -- 12,000 gallon diesel tank to supply generators -- 10,000 gallon gasoline tank for the motorpool -------------- Hygiene Measures -------------- ¶6. (U) Amman's Regional Medical Office has been encouraging staff to use hand sanitizer and to wash hands frequently as a routine health precaution. Embassy normally has a one-month stock of liquid hand soap (100 liters). The cleaning staff has a routine daily and weekly schedule, and if necessary, they can implement an increased hygiene plan. -------------- HUMAN RESOURCES -------------- ¶7. (U) Post's Regional Medical Office keeps a list of staff and family members with medical training who would be able to assist during a medical emergency. Regional Security Office (RSO) has cross-trained at least 12 Embassy employees as first responders. They are equipped for bio-chem response and would be a critical stop-gap resource in case of any emergency. Post has an eight-person Marine Security Guard unit. Post's Avian Influenza Task Force met on October 22 (Ref B),and has clearly demarcated areas of responsibility. Members of the Avian Influenza Task Force are in contact with State's Avian Influenza Action Group (AIAG), with other Amman-based embassies and international organizations, and with their USG colleagues around the region. -------------- COMMUNICATION -------------- ¶8. (U) Post management has continually emphasized regular, transparent AI information flow to Embassy staff, to the larger Embassy community (including TDYers and contractors),and to resident Americans. Management notices are distributed electronically to all staff and family, and are posted in community areas. The Consular Section sends warden messages electronically to all registered Americans and posts warden notices on the Embassy's public website. The Public Affairs Office maintains an avian flu page on the Embassy's public website. ESTH Officer engaged in a webchat about avian flu, and the resulting Q&A is posted on the Embassy's public site. Post maintains a call-in number for Embassy staff to get information via a recorded message in the event that it is impossible to come to the chancery. Embassy does not have an AI-specific formal succession plan, but would follow normal procedure for choosing the CDA and A/DCM in order according to the FAM. HALE