In 1996, the national MMRS was initiated by the Department of Health and Human Services. It was started in Seattle, followed closely by Atlanta. In the next year, twenty-five (25) communities were added, with twenty (20) additional areas in 1999 and twenty-five (25) in 2000. Development of MMRS and other similar efforts was motivated by the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Act. The purpose of this legislation was to ensure that communities developed capabilities to address bioterrorism, which is defined as the potential use of biological or chemical weapons. The capabilities of the medical community to respond to bioterrorism are developed and defined through MMRS. Other federal programs examine the needs of other community elements in this regard.

Our community established development of MMRS in September 2000. We began by inviting numerous organizations that might be involved in development of medical efforts. In addition to several local government organizations, hospitals and various private medical entities played a role. The basic strategy for the MMRS is to intersect with and enhance existing emergency response plans by including components that would best respond to a bio-chemical terrorist incident. A structure has been designed to develop and implement these strategies. The MMRS Planning Committee consists of four subcommittees including:

1. Community Resources
2. Emergency Medical Systems
3. Surveillance
4. Hospitals

These committees consist of people from various disciplines that are prepared to develop the protocols we need to respond to an incident of bioterrorism. These plans will also define what new equipment, supplies and infrastructure development is required for implementation. In most instances, these new capabilities will provide additional support for routine community responses to health-related emergencies. Training opportunities will also be afforded to many health care professionals and other, assorted disciplines that will enhance existing capabilities.

Additional information can be provided through more thorough briefings. Recently, one of our local government MMRS representatives made a presentation at a Region VII bioterrorism meeting in Kansas City and outlined how the MMRS was initiated in our community and described potential future efforts. We have also been invited to make a presentation at a national meeting in early September that addresses local community response to the potential use of weapons of mass destruction. These presentations can be given to senior staff or elected leadership as desired.

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