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 Home > MRC Spotlights > Unit Spotlight - Fall 2008
When was the unit founded? The Harrison County WV MRC was established in December 2007. What is the focus of the unit? The primary focus of the Harrison County WV MRC is emergency preparedness. In the event of a mass casualty event in the National Capital area, West Virginia could potentially receive vast numbers of evacuees. Because of the state's infrastructure, it would have difficulty accommodating a large population of evacuees. Therefore, the unit would support the emergency management community by providing medical accomodations. The unit also focuses on public health promotion. For example, the Harrison County MRC hopes to promote health education by providing demonstrations at local schools including hand washing techniques. Personal preparedness for MRC volunteers and their families is also a priority for the unit. How many volunteers does the unit have? The Harrison County WV MRC has about 40 MRC volunteers. Approximately, one third of these volunteers are non-medical. How large is the unit's staff? The Harrison County WV MRC has four administrative staff that volunteer part-time with the unit. Why was the unit selected? The MRC Regional Coordinator, Carla Holder, stated that she is "proud to know that the unit is part of Region III". The MRC Coordinator, Cecelia Reid, is a very committed and dedicated unit leader. In addition, the unit has taken great steps towards becoming integrated into the local community. What are some of the unit's activities? In September 2008, the Harrison County WV MRC held a recruitment event in conjunction with a CERT drill involving the local fire department. The unit managed a booth during the drill. The MRC unit also assisted the health department provide Hepatitis A vaccinations. There were at least 200 children that needed vaccinations. In October 2008, the unit held a recruitment event at a local hospital where they successfully recruited 12 medical professionals. The Harrison County WV MRC plans to hold the event again and be more strategically located to garner additional interest. In June 2008, the Harrison County MRC assisted the health department at a health fair by conducting blood pressure checks and promoting health education. In the past year, the unit leader has also participated in various table top drills that focused on pandemic flu and terrorist threat events. What are some of the unit's achievements? When the Harrison County WV MRC first started, it had attained funds through a Homeland Security Grant to assist with the purchase of some resources. The unit will be awarded funds through the capacity building awards. However, it is an ongoing challenge for the unit to find funding options. The Harrison County WV MRC has been successful in creating partnerships with other agencies such as the local school board, health department, and the Office of Emergency Management. The unit's housing organization, the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), has also helped the unit to make connections with local hospitals and the mental health arena. In addition, the unit has developed a strong partnership with the faith based community through CERT trainings, which has lead to the recruitment of non-medical volunteers for the MRC. The unit plans to start formalized training for volunteers. The Harrison County WV MRC will utilize web-based and small group training on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the MRC Core Competencies. MRC volunteers will then be signed up on the West Virginia ESAR-VHP (WVREDI) system. Interesting facts about the unit! On Sunday, January 11, 2009 the Harrison County WV MRC was spotlighted in a local news article. The MRC Coordinator, Cecelia Reid, is a retired Public Health Service Officer. Last Updated on 4/23/2009 |
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