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Newsletters (PDF)

  2012:  Spring -  Winter |   2011: Spring  - Fall  |  2010: Winter - Spring - Summer - Fall  

Cities Readiness Initiative

To address growing concerns of terrorist acts, weather disasters and contagious diseases, the Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps volunteers regularly participate in training exercises and drills to prepare for potential public health emergencies. All volunteers are asked to complete ten hours of training in their first year and then participate in at least one emergency exercise or drill annually so they can stay current on the county's response plans.

One of the key training programs required of all MRC volunteers is the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI). CRI is a national program sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control, which emphasizes the need to be able to distribute medicines to every resident within 48 hours in the event of a large-scale bioterrorist attack. This program and the related training have also strengthened the capabilities of our medical dispensing plans. The Fairfax County CRI plan calls for opening up 140 county elementary schools as Quick Distribution Centers (QDCs) and thousands of MRC volunteers and spontaneous volunteers would assist the Health Department as a staffing resource.

Several hundred MRC volunteers have been trained as unit leaders to conduct operations at a Quick Distribution Center (QDC), but many more volunteers are needed for this county response plan.