FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elisa Munoz
203-797-4511
December 4, 2008

DANBURY SELECTED AS A MODEL COMMUNITY

Demonstrating Emergency Medical Services and Partnerships

The City of Danbury is one of seven communities receiving recognition from the TIIDE (Terrorism Injuries: Information, Dissemination and Exchange) partners as a model of how emergency medical services can work with other safety and public health agencies in times of disaster.

“The TIIDE project’s Model Communities initiative is just one way that Danbury is preparing for emerging public health threats,” said Mayor Mark Boughton. “Mass casualties can occur from natural disasters as well as terrorism. Danbury has learned with natural disasters in this country and recent bombings abroad, organizations and communities have to change the way they operate and begin to work more collaboratively to address these critical issues.”

These communities were selected because they have established emergency care community and public health partnerships which are tested through drills and exercises. Through this process, each community demonstrates they are regularly testing their capabilities to show that they could respond to potentially large-scale emergencies that may be terrorist-related or natural disasters that could cause a large numbers of injuries.

The seven Model Communities selected for 2008 are: Orlando, Florida, Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Aurora, Colorado, Danbury, Connecticut, Southern New Jersey, and Kalamazoo, Michigan.

“This recognition means that our work will serve as an example to other communities in Connecticut and the U.S., and I am very pleased to receive this award on behalf of all of those health and safety professionals who work hard every day to make Danbury safe and prepared,” said Scott LeRoy, Director of Health, Housing & Welfare. “This recognition encourages us to continue to build upon our progress.”

During a crisis, local hospitals, emergency departments and first responders play a vital role on the front lines of emergency care. The role of public health is also critical and the model community program is one way to identify communities where there are strong public health and medical partnerships working together to respond to large-scale crisis.

The TIIDE project was developed through a collaborative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information on Model Communities and the TIIDE project, go to www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties/modelcommunities.asp. Information about mass casualty preparedness and response can be found at www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties. To learn more about CDC’s work in injury and violence prevention, go to www.cdc.gov/injury.

If you have any questions regarding the information in this press release please contact Scott LeRoy, Director of Health, Housing & Welfare at 797-4625.