Homeland Security to be lead in flu crisis

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9654456/

Homeland Security to be lead in flu crisis
But DHS will defer all medical response to Health and Human Services

WASHINGTON - If the nightmare of an avian flu pandemic emerges from the dark chapters of doomsday scenarios, it will fall to the Department of the Homeland Security, not the medical establishment, to manage the crisis, according to federal documents and interviews with government officials.

The DHS lead role, however, seems at odds with operational plans that call for the Department of Health and Human Services to be the government’s go-to agency in such a crisis.

According to current documents outlining operational plans for public health and medical emergencies, HHS “is the primary Federal Agency responsible for public health and medical emergency planning, preparations, response, and recovery.”

That HHS planning document, currently under revision and circulating among federal agencies for comment, seemingly conflicts with the federal National Response Plan, a kind of overarching playbook for how to manage any number of national disasters, from terrorist events to hurricanes and floods. But under the National Response Plan, which also plans for actions in case of pandemics, DHS assumes top authority when an “incident of national significance” is declared.

[shanti]

1. now, THAT'S something

to be very very afraid of! :scared: :hide:

[melody]

2. That's it, we're all dead n/t

[FVZA_Colonel]

4. I was gonna say the same thing.

This really is the sort of thing that makes you feel safe and secure, doesn't it?

[ToolTex]

16. Took the words out of my mouth!

n/t

[all.of.me]

17. ditto here. we're screwed.

[Just Me]

18. Ya' read my thoughts!

I don't fall anywhere near the "elite"; so, I know I'll be one of the first sacrificed to die IF IF IF I am exposed. I'm pretty far away from population centers. I suppose that gives me an advantage.

[txaslftist]

3. An agency in search of a disaster.

[cassiepriam]

5. we're doomed. But thank god it is not FEMA.

[phantom power]

7. I'd still prefer FEMA. At least it still has vestigal capability.

FEMA used to be effective, and probably still can be, if they put somebody in charge who knows what the hell they're doing.

DHS never did anything, except publish those sexy color charts.

[cassiepriam]

10. Maybe we can use the charts to scare away the birds?

[phantom power]

15. Hmm. Only if we send them to Asia...

It's contact between Asians and Asian poultry (or pigs) that is the problem. I gather that the natural reservoir is ducks. I saw some special video on PBS that showed Vietnamese lined up at a restaraunt, eating raw duck's blood soup. In a big, crowded city.

Oooo. I need a stiff drink.

[cassiepriam]

21. I've been to Asia, what you describe is tame.

[CountAllVotes]

6. might as well get your burial plot

or pre-arrange for being cremated (take your pick - the last "pick" you'll likely ever have).

We are screwed. This B.S. agency has already shown the American people how inept and incompetent they are. And they are going to handle a pandemic? Good fuckin luck!

:kick:

[SpiralHawk]

8. Now it begins. I feel those needles and pins

It hurts now, hurts now, hurts now.

I feel those needles and pins.

[Overseas]

9. I thought Michael Brown was gonna do it because he and his friend GWB

say they know a great mortuary in Texas that would do a wonderful job with the clean up...

[Megahurtz]

11. I'm sure they'll "help it along" real good too. n/t

[ken_g]

12. OH Goody! sigh, now I feel safe. "do you feel red, orange,

or yellow sick".

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. Health crisis, not excuse for military intervention like Bush keeps saying

[flying_wahini]

14. isn't the Surgeon General supposed to do that?

[lutefisk]

19. No doubt, DHS will contract with Blackwater, too.

And of course, they will mainly be there to keep away any medical personnel who are not working directly for "contractors" hired through Joe Allbaugh's "consulting" company.

[ToolTex]

20. Now here is my cunning plan... Fortress America!

Let them drink their ducks blood soup. Just turn back all incoming flights like they're so good at, close the borders, and stop all port arrivals. Only exceptions- all kids to come home from foreign posts and wars-now.

Fortress America! (Think I read that somewhere once).

Let's pump and refine our own cheap oil till it's gone. Then we can all bicycle like the chimp. Fudge them all and their horses!

[Dem2theMax]

25. Just let me out before you close the doors, OK?

;)

I want outta here!!!!!

[AndyTiedye]

22. We're DOOOOMED!!

:scared::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared:

[malaise]

23. Isn't this a matter for the

Center for Disease Control. The Military has taken control.
Qualified professionals will soon explode.

Edit - add sentence.

[jwirr]

24. Goodbye DU friends! What happened to the old

government agency that dealt with epidemics?