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CRI and SCMR

Cities Readiness Initiative

The Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) is a federally funded effort to prepare major U.S. cities and metropolitan areas to effectively respond to a large scale bioterrorist event by dispensing antibiotics to their entire identified population within 48 hours of the decision to do so. The Wichita Metropolitan Area, which includes Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey and Sumner counties, is a particating member of the Cities Readiness Initiative.

CRI is needed to enhance preparedness at all levels of government and to provide a consistent nationwide approach to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a large-scale public health emergency. Past events have taught us that the risk of terrorism, including bioterrorism, being perpetrated against Americans, is real. The ability to quickly deliver countermeasures to a large population is a central component of public health preparedness.

Since 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided funding for CRI through the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement to enhance the mass dispensing capabilities of the CRI cities. The Wichita Metropolitan Area was added to the growing list of participating cities in 2006.

How is the medication distributed? Points of Dispensing (PODs) are designated dispensing locations for persons who are currently healthy but may have been "exposed" and need prophylactic medication.

South Central Metro Region

The South Central Metro Region (SCMR) was formed in 2004 by the initial member counties, Butler, Cowley, Harper, Harvey, Marion, Reno, Sedgwick, and Sumner County to assure cooperation in planning for and responding to disasters whether natural, manmade, or terroristic in nature. Public Health is but one component of the response to these disasters. SCMR member Health Departments recognize that public health emergencies exist beyond the realm of disaster planning. SCMR member counties agree to provide mutual support regardless of the nature of the emergency.

The SCMR region is unique in the Region Preparedness Regions in Kansas. The SCMR region is the second largest region in the state behind the KC Metro region and includes the CRI region that makes up the Wichita MSA. This provides the area with a breadth of knowledge and talent unmatched in any of the other regions in Kansas. In any emergency situation, the nature, location and scope of impact on public health will determine the type(s) of support needed as well as the ability to provide support. In the event of a public health emergency, each SCMR member county is responsible for assessing the real and/ or potential impact upon their county, the availability of resources, and the ability to respond to request(s) for support.

SCMR member counties acknowledge that there may be circumstances where agencies are unable to provide the requested support. No agency will be asked to provide resources that would place their county in an at - risk situation.

SCMR member counties agree that the individual agency's primary responsibility is to the people living and working in their respected county. Members acknowledge that requests from regional partners will be given priority when providing mutual support. The SCMR partnership does not preclude any agency from providing mutual support to a non-member agency when a need does not exist within the SCMR.

All members agree to respond to requests for mutual aid. SCMR maintains a region activation protocol for notifying members of health care situations and requests for assistance. Once notified, members agree to determine their ability to respond and reply to the request in a timely manner. The nature of the situation would determine the type of aid and assistance given by member counties. An initial response to a request for assistance would be made within 4 hours of receipt of request.

In October 2008 the SCMR region changed with Harper County leaving the SCMR region and joining with other rural counties in the SC Coalition. This leaves the SCMR region with the seven original signing members.