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