“Hurricane Katrina taught us that we can’t rely on the federal government’s support in a disaster. We are not going to wait until it arrives in our region to start working on a response plan,” said Councilmember Carolyn Edmonds, chair of the King County Board of Health and a co-sponsor of the legislation. “This funding will be used to purchase the medication that can help slow the spread of a pandemic. The preparedness plan and information campaign will help individuals and businesses organize their response to an outbreak.”

“This proposal will ensure the safety of our first responders and medical professionals who will be on the front line of an outbreak,” said co-sponsor and Council Chair Larry Phillips. “Any response to a pandemic must reach across jurisdictional and political boundaries. This requires us to start making the necessary contacts that will be needed to alleviate an influenza outbreak that could cripple schools and businesses throughout the Puget Sound region.”

“This legislation demonstrates a proactive County government,” said Councilmember Jane Hague, chair of the Council’s Labor, Operations and Technology Committee. “We need to take our planning to the next level with a comprehensive infrastructure of public, private and non-profit groups countywide that work as a team if a pandemic strikes.”

The funds approved by the Council would be used to purchase antiviral medication for high-risk individuals who could contract influenza as well as front-line health care physicians and nurses who would be providing care to those who contract the flu and who thereby may be at great risk for catching the virus. Funding would also be provided for creation of a public outreach and information plan and formation of a strategy to handle the large influx of people who would need medical assistance during a pandemic.

During the negotiations on the 2006 Budget, the Council’s budget leadership team recognized that King County is in a unique position to provide leadership during a pandemic flu outbreak. The county has regional responsibility for coordinating emergency preparedness and public health. It provides many critical government services that would need to be maintained even with many employees absent due to illness, and it is one of the region’s large employers and has a responsibility to protect the health of its workers.

Recognizing these roles of County government, the Council in its action today requires the Executive to submit a comprehensive pandemic influenza response plan to address the provision of basic services and clarify the decision-making process during such an event. The Executive will present a status report on the plan to the Council on January 15, 2006 with the goal of submitting the plan to the Council for approval in March.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system.
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