OSLO EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING AND

UNCLAS OSLO 000735 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR, S/CT, INR, DS/IP/ITA, P, M, CA, DS/IP/EUR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC NO OVIP PINR PREL PTER AMED TBIO KFLU CASC, KSAF, KFLO, KSEO, KPAO, AEMR SUBJECT: OSLO EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING AND MEETING OF THE OSLO PANDEMIC INFLUENZA ACTION COMMITTEE, NOVEMBER 25, 2009 REF: A. A) STATE 116027 ¶B. B) STATE 120578 ¶C. C) OSLO 712 ¶1. (U) Summary: The DCM chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC)on November 25. Reported in the EAC were the results of a meeting of post,s Pandemic Influenza Action Committee (PIAC) which also occurred on November 25. Ambassador White participated in the EAC. Others included: RAO; RSO; POL/ECON Counselor; DATT; Consul; MGT Officer; ODC; MSG. ¶2. (SBU) The EAC reviewed the topics covered in reftel A regarding post's preparedness for a crisis, making recommendations for action. The EAC next reviewed and confirmed the results of the PIAC,s response to reftel B. Lastly, RAO briefed the EAC on the latest information regarding on ongoing case covered in reftel C and previous. End Summary. ¶3. (U) RSO reminded the EAC that post,s EAP was completed in March 2009, and will shortly be due for the annual review and update. Management Officer informed the EAC that the PIAC had reviewed post's tripwires in relation to pandemic influenza. Members of the EAC were asked to review all of post,s tripwires which were previously distributed to all country team members. ¶4. (U) In response to the DCM's question on the status of post's E&E radio system, RSO informed the EAC that the system is pending distribution to direct hire Americans due to defective radio batteries. Once functioning batteries are obtained, which is expected in the near term, then radios will be distributed and a drill conducted with direct hire Americans calling into Post 1. The EAC was also informed that a second radio repeater will be installed within the next week on top of one of the taller buildings in Oslo which give greater coverage for the frequency used by the local guard force (LGF) and will finally allow radio communication directly between the CMR and the Chancery. ¶5. (U) The EAC recommended increased usage of post-wide drills, to include after hours emergency notification, emergency destruction, and bomb drills. A duck and cover drill was conducted recently, and a fire drill was conducted earlier in the year. RSO informed the EAC that an internal phone tree for use in after-hours emergency notifications will be completed shortly and that soon thereafter the emergency notification drill will take place. By early next spring, all the remaining drills not completed recently will be conducted. The EAC was reminded that post already has a functioning SMS text messaging system that has been used successfully multiple times this year to send information to direct-hire Americans and LESs after hours. ¶6. (U) The EAC discussed the value of a Crisis Management Exercise (CME) being conducted again in Oslo since so many EAC members turned over this summer. It was agreed that a CME should be held in Oslo within the next six to nine months. Note: the last CME in Oslo was conducted in May 2009. ¶7. (U) The remaining items covered in reftel A, such as developing and updating host country crisis contacts and use of the OPS center, were reviewed and emphasized to members of the EAC. ¶8. (U) Management Officer provided a readout of post's PIAC held on November 25. The EAC agreed that by the deadline of December 14, post will have updated the tripwires in Oslo's EAP in conformity with the guidelines in reftel B. Management Officer reported that confirmed H1N1 deaths in Norway were now at 22 and that the H1N1 pandemic appeared to have crested in Norway, with the incidence of newly confirmed now beginning to decline. ¶9. (SBU) RAO gave the EAC a detailed update on the latest developments of the ongoing case reported in reftel C, which is being conducted by host nation and tracked by RAO. Details are being reported in separate channels. ¶10. (U) Questions about this message should be directed to RSO Eric Carlson or to Management Officer Nathan Bluhm. WHITE