Public safety takes step forward
dan Swanson

Progress in public safety includes preparations for pandemic flu, rescue equipment and the one-stop social service center.

The $1.5 million Nebraska City Center for Children and Families, proposed for the former Elks Lodge building on the western edge of the Wildwood Municipal Golf Course in Nebraska City, will house state Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor. Other possible tenants include People United For Families, Southeast Community College, Project Response, Head Start and an Hispanic center.

Dale Haverty, an active volunteer in the development of the center, said another impetus for the one-stop concept was the recognition of the importance of Hispanic residents to the workforce and the need to better serve their needs health care and education needs.

The Wirth Family Foundation recently donated $200,000 to the center.

Project Reponse

The state’s settlement with wireless telephone carriers regarding misleading advertising benefited Project Response, which received a check for $10,000.

The organization, which started in 1987, serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and sexual abuse. It offers a 24-hour abuse hotline and hopes to obtain a larger, older home to provide shelter.

Rescue Squad

Donations from the Steinhart and Nelson Family foundations expanded Nebraska City Rescue Squad’s ability to provide on-site rescue services.

The donation of up to 40 radios and portable pagers will improve communications between first responders and emergency dispatchers. A new Stryker gurney, four chair stretchers and a Snapper Trail Cruiser were also put into use by the rescue squad.

Pandemic flu plans

The area also developed response plans in the event of a pandemic flu.

Each year there are influenza epidemics in the region, but a portion of the population is already immune to the flu strains that move through and healthy people can expect to recover with normal care.

Pandemic flu occurs when the virus is so new that no one in the population is immune. Health officials warn that the worst fatality rates can be among young men and women with the strongest immune systems.

Nebraska City commissioners approved pandemic influenza management guidelines at its November meeting based on a scenario where thousands of Nebraska City’s citizens are sick after a worldwide outbreak.

Phases of the city’s response are tied to the national exposure to a rapidly spreading pandemic flu. If Nebraska Health and Human Services issues a public health alert, the Nebraska City Influenza Management Group will ask citizens to watch for symptoms of pandemic flu and inform them through special internet pages and a flu hotline.

If people in surrounding states are infected, activities in Nebraska City will be voluntarily limited to those considered essential: school, grocery shopping, medical visits and work. Plans to limit social contacts will be discussed.

If the governor declares a public health emergency in Nebraska, voluntary quarantine of exposed people will be recommended. Employers will be asked to implement their own pandemic flu plans.