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  Managers & Sheriffs

Town of Alamosa (Alamosa County) – Salmonella Outbreak - 10/25/08

1. Report Date/Time: March 25, 2008 - 10:30am
   
   
2. Location: Town of Alamosa, CO along Hwy 160 in San Luis Valley Region
   
   
3. Event Start Date/Time: March 15, 2008 - unknown time
   
   
4. Agencies involved: Alamosa County agencies, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado Department of Human Services, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Division of Emergency Management, Colorado Division of Fire Safety, Colorado Division of Local Government, Colorado Division of Mental Health, Colorado National Guard, Colorado Office of Preparedness and Security, Governor’s Office of Economic Development, American Red Cross, Colorado Volunteer Agencies Active in Disasters (COVOAD), Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation, Eastern Colorado IMT, Jefferson IMT, FEMA Region VIII
   
   
5. State assistance anticipated: The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated at level II status. An SEOC information line has been established at 720-852-6644. Continuation of public health advisories/assistance as well long-term economic assistance.
   
   
6. Deaths/Major Injuries: 72 confirmed cases, 176 suspected cases, 1 individual remains hospitalized, 0 deaths.
   
   
7. Damage: No physical damage, economic: 4 businesses have closed, all public schools and Adams State are closed for the remainder of the week.
   
   
8. Current Status: The City of Alamosa has begun (9am) the initial treating the City's water distribution system for bacterial contamination today, Tuesday, March 25. The process will continue in stages until the water treatment is complete for the entire community. It is estimated that this process could take from 10 to 14 days. The water distribution system will be disinfected with chlorine in a three-stage process, with color-coded Safety Notices delivered to individual residences at the beginning of each stage.

   STAGE 1 (Red Safety Notice) begins with the introduction of a high concentration of chlorine (approximately 25 ppm) into the water system. This will occur neighborhood by neighborhood. City officials will notify each neighborhood before the process begins. DURING STAGE 1, DO NOT USE CITY WATER FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN FLUSHING TOILETS. In Stage 1, citizens may experience skin, eye, or other irritation from exposure to the highly concentrated chlorinated water. If signs of irritation occur, immediately rinse irritated areas with bottled water. If the irritation continues or spreads, contact your health care provider for follow up care. At the end of Stage 1, residents will be notified as the concentration of chlorine decreases to Stage 2 levels and additional uses of the water become possible.

   STAGE 2 (Yellow Safety Notice) will occur as the concentration of chlorine decreases to approximately 10 ppm. This is 2 to 3 times greater than the maximum level acceptable for drinking water, and slightly above the level found in a properly maintained swimming pool. At this time, residents should run their bathtub faucet - 5 minutes on hot, then 5 minutes on cold, or until they smell chlorine. Some people may experience skin, eye or nose irritation from chlorine at this level, but may bathe with caution. Tap water should not be consumed or used to brush teeth. This stage is expected to last up to 10 days, but may last longer depending on results of the flush.

   STAGE 3 (Green Safety Notice) will occur when chlorine concentration decreases to approximately 1-2mg per liter, which is a safe drinking level. At this time, residents should run all taps in their homes for at least two minutes to charge their system with drinkable, chlorinated water. Normal drinking, bathing, and other water uses can be resumed at this stage.
   
   This process may change depending on further developments. City officials will notify the public as soon as possible as changes occur. For more information, please call the CO-Help line at 1-877-462-2911, visit www.CityofAlamosa.org.
   

9. Future threats: Increased number of confirmed salmonella case throughout the region. Particularly from the “Easter Buffet” at the Inn of the Rio Grande on March 23, 2008
   
   
10. Incident Command Jurisdiction/Location: Alamosa County