Next, in TOPOFF 3, we exposed weaknesses between all levels of government, and between government and the public, in communicating effectively to keep first responders and the public informed and calm. As a result, the “worried well” began taxing our health-care system and first responders. Studies show that people will remain calm if the government keeps them informed. Absent reliable information, fear will drive the public to engage in counterproductive actions that will tax our systems.
With this growing Ebola event, our government leaders have so far failed to demonstrate strong leadership and communicate a coherent message. On a taxi ride to the airport, the cab driver told me about the utter confusion and ineptness illustrated by “clipboard man” — the aviation worker on television surrounded by people in hazmat suits escorting the sick nurse to an airplane. He summed up the incident: “They don’t know what they’re doing, and that is scary.”
Finally, during the TOPOFF 3 exercise, we learned that our hospitals and health-care system were wholly unprepared to deal with a new and potentially deadly threat. The deficiencies involved a lack of proper training, a shortage of qualified medical staff, and not enough facilities to effectively handle the sick.
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