Exercise Overview

Florida's Franklin County Health Department undertook an initiative to assess the ability of the county and its partner agencies to establish Points of Dispensing during a health emergency such as the recent H1N1 scare.

Code named "Operation POD Squad" the tabletop exercise had the staff of the Franklin County Health Department along with its various partners working together to receive pharmaceuticals from the Strategic National Stockpile then provide access to these pharmaceuticals to the residents of Franklin County.

Operation POD Squad tested the viability of the county's Point of Dispensing Plan while identifying the best means of establishing a drive through Point of Dispensing.

Exercise Scenario

An outbreak of unusually severe respiratory illness is identified in a small village in southern China. Over the next 45 to 60 days the outbreak become a devastating Phase 6 Influenza Pandemic effecting communities throughout the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) release the antiviral drugs contained within the Strategic National Stockpile

Exercise Conclusion

The Operation Pod Squad Tabletop Exercise was held on the morning of June 23 2009 at the Franklin County Health Department in Apalachicola Florida.

Exercise Photos

This exercise is an example of the kind of exercises that comprise the nationwide Caduceus Shield Exercise Initiative. This initiative provides meaningful exercise opportunities for America's health system.