Orange County Emergency Management (OCEM) is planning a mass casualty exercise for June 2, 2007 and needs assistance from CERT and PHRC volunteers. The name of the exercise is Operation Quailview. Through Operation Quailview, OCEM will test Orange County's Mass Casualty Incident Plan, which includes response from Emergency Medical Services, UNC Hospital, fire services, Orange County American Red Cross, the Orange County Health Department, and other agencies.

Volunteers will be needed from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2007 in the Quailview neighborhood, which is located in southwest Orange County. CERT and PHRC volunteers will provide logistical and safety support to persons acting as role players. Please note that CERT and PHRC volunteers will not function as responders in this exercise, as the goal is to test and evaluate first responders' ability to respond to a mass casualty incident. Logistical support will entail making sure that all role players and first responders are well hydrated, have adequate sun protection, and in some cases, providing information about "patients" to responders. Volunteers may also be needed to assist with check-in operations and participate as victim role players.

All volunteers should expect to work outside from 7:00am until 5:00pm, but the exercise may not run this long. The exact staging (check-in) location for Operation Quailview is being determined. The final staging, parking, and driving directions will be sent to all volunteers who express interest once these details are confirmed.

Operation Quailview will be a great opportunity for volunteers to see how a multi-agency response is coordinated and carried out under the Incident Command System framework. It will also be a great way to connect with other volunteers. If you're interested in helping, please contact me by Monday, May 21, 2007 to be added to the volunteer list. A briefing meeting will be held on Monday, May 21, 2007 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at the Carrboro EMS Station located at 202 Roberson Street in Carrboro. Interested volunteers are expected to attend. (Roberson Street runs directly off S.Greensboro Street and directly off of E. Main Street. The station is behind Armadillo Grill and around the corner from Open Eye Cafe.)

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,

Candice Watkins Robinson
Volunteer Coordinator / Sr. Public Health Educator
Public Health Reserve Corps & CERT Programs
Orange County Health Department
300 W. Tryon Street Hillsborough, NC 27278
919.245.2388 / cwatkins@co.orange.nc.us
Visit us online: www.co.orange.nc.us/health