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.

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Shelter in Place Scenario
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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.

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Water and Food Supply at Residences
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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.

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Post Resources of Food and Water
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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


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Hygiene Measures
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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.

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HUMAN RESOURCES
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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.

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COMMUNICATION
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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