PREPARING FOR THE WORST:
The county is entering Phase I of its preparedness campaign for
avian flu or a pandemic by distributing brochures in supermarkets,
launching a Web site, and hiring a public communications director.
Amid half-joking references to the federal government’s mishandling
of the Katrina disaster, county officials also directed staff to
look into purchasing helicopters and retaining someone to serve in
a command and control capacity in case of emergency.