For Release: Aug. 30, 2006
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: jtmartin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
Office of Attorney General and Other State Agencies Hold Virginia’s First Legal Disaster Preparedness Drill
--Exercise Held to Proactively Plan Response to Potential Disasters--
Yesterday, August 29, the Office of the Attorney General, along with the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, hosted the first ever legal disaster preparedness drill for Virginia state agency representatives and state agency counsel. The four-hour event was entitled, “Legal Preparedness During Public Health Emergencies.”
The exercise was facilitated by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and CRA, Inc., of Alexandria. The scenario presented was a public health situation involving a student who returns to a Virginia university following summer break in Asia. The student arrived with a communicable disease that created a variety of public health, public safety, and law enforcement issues.
Attorney General Bob McDonnell noted, “Yesterday’s exercise was a significant and important undertaking, bringing together representatives of all the appropriate state agencies, and some local and private entities, who would be on the front lines of the Commonwealth’s response to a disaster. This exercise provided the opportunity to test and revise Virginia’s preparation for and response to a pandemic disaster.”
McDonnell continued, “We must be prepared. While this drill was focused on the possibility of a pandemic, our Commonwealth is unfortunately at risk from a number of potential natural and manmade disasters. Drills such as yesterdays go a long way towards ensuring we are ready for any possible situation that may occur.”
State agencies participating included the Office of the Governor- represented by Legal Counsel Mark Rubin and Larry Roberts, Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia State Police, Capitol Police, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Military Affairs, Department. of Social Services, Division of Consolidated Labs, Department of Transportation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Corrections, Department of Human Resource Management, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of Education, and the Department of Emergency Management.
Local and private entities included representatives from the City of Richmond Sheriff’s Office, City of Richmond Department of Emergency Management, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
The goals of the Legal Disaster-Response Exercise included:
Yesterday’s drill was part of a continuing effort by the Commonwealth of Virginia, including the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Governor, to prepare for any future disasters the state may encounter. There will be further drills and tests in order to achieve the highest state of readiness possible.
