Palm Beach County prepares for bioterror attack
New foot soldiers in the war against bioterror attack in a Florida county: Country clubs and condo board presidents, who will help distribute antibiotics to the county’s 1.3 million people in 48 hours
Palm Beach County emergency managers have enlisted a new group of foot soldiers in the war against bioterrorism. Under a proposed containment plan, a group of country clubs and condo board presidents will help distribute antibiotics to the county’s 1.3 million people in 48 hours. If terrorists drop anthrax or another biological weapon over Palm Beach County, residents of neighborhoods that agree to partner with the health department would be able to offer a private supply of antibiotics at their local clubhouses. ABC-WFBF reports that everyone else would head for a shopping mall, where shuttles would carry people to public centers distributing antibiotics.Palm Beach County emergency managers said at least thirty neighborhoods have expressed interest in helping the county distribute antibiotics in the event of a biological terror attack.
Palm Beach County is among dozens of other metro areas nationwide that receive federal funds to plan for a biological attack. The program requires cities to have a broad plan to quickly distribute antibiotics. Some cities have plans to distribute antibiotics by mail. Orlando plans a system of drive-through distribution centers. With Palm Beach County’s large elderly population, however, officials said distribution through homeowners’ associations within their neighborhoods will speed delivery.
