VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #8596/01 3301502
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261502Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5810

UNCLAS AMMAN 008596 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR A/GSSI - PACKER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT AMED TBIO ASEC EAGR KFLU JO
SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU/PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: EMBASSY PREPAREDNESS AND 
RESOURCES FOR SHELTERING IN PLACE 
 
REFS: A) State 177681   B) Amman 8510 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary: Post has regularly and consistently encouraged the 
personal responsibility measures suggested reftel for avian flu 
preparedness (stockpiling non-perishable food, water, and medicines, 
maintaining good hygiene by washing hands and surfaces, and cooking 
food properly).  Post also maintains significant Embassy resources 
that could support sheltering in place.  End summary. 
 
------------------------- 
Shelter in Place Scenario 
------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Through management notices and Town Hall meetings, Post has 
regularly encouraged both local and American staff to keep adequate 
supplies of food, water and medicine on hand at home to shelter in 
place in case such a measure is required.  Standard guidance had 
been to prepare for at least two-three weeks.  Ref A guidance 
expanding this time frame to twelve weeks was discussed at Post's 
most recent Avian Influenza Task Force meeting (Ref B), and will be 
communicated to all Embassy staff through a management notice. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Water and Food Supply at Residences 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Due to Jordan's intermittent municipal water supply, all 
embassy-owned and leased properties in Amman have cisterns and roof 
tanks with a capacity of at least 780 gallons.  This would cover the 
minimum needs of a family of four for twelve weeks (one gallon per 
person per day), plus a safety margin. 
 
¶4.  (U) Post feels it is unlikely that most American staff families 
have three-month supplies of food on hand at home.  All employees 
are being urged to build up their food stockpiles at home. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Post Resources of Food and Water 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) For planning purposes, post estimates that it has 500 
American staff and dependents.  Post has the following supplies 
available, which should be adequate to supply 60 people for twelve 
weeks: 
 
FOOD: 
-- 2,000 meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) 
-- Frozen food and dry goods at Commissary with two to three weeks 
of inventory at normal levels.  This should sustain 50 people for 90 
days 
 
WATER: 
-- 300,000 gallon cistern 
-- 200,000 gallon swimming pool 
-- 40-50 5-gallon water bottles 
-- Water tank truck with 317 gallon capacity 
-- 800,000 gallon underground tank that captures rain runoff.  Used 
normally only for irrigation. 
 
FUEL: 
-- 12,000 gallon diesel tank to supply generators 
-- 10,000 gallon gasoline tank for the motorpool 
 
 
---------------- 
Hygiene Measures 
---------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) Amman's Regional Medical Office has been encouraging staff 
to use hand sanitizer and to wash hands frequently as a routine 
health precaution.  Embassy normally has a one-month stock of liquid 
hand soap (100 liters).  The cleaning staff has a routine daily and 
weekly schedule, and if necessary, they can implement an increased 
hygiene plan. 
 
--------------- 
HUMAN RESOURCES 
--------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Post's Regional Medical Office keeps a list of staff and 
family members with medical training who would be able to assist 
during a medical emergency.  Regional Security Office (RSO) has 
cross-trained at least 12 Embassy employees as first responders. 
They are equipped for bio-chem response and would be a critical 
stop-gap resource in case of any emergency.  Post has an 
eight-person Marine Security Guard unit.  Post's Avian Influenza 
Task Force met on October 22 (Ref B), and has clearly demarcated 
areas of responsibility.  Members of the Avian Influenza Task Force 
are in contact with State's Avian Influenza Action Group (AIAG), 
 
with other Amman-based embassies and international organizations, 
and with their USG colleagues around the region. 
 
------------- 
COMMUNICATION 
------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) Post management has continually emphasized regular, 
transparent AI information flow to Embassy staff, to the larger 
Embassy community (including TDYers and contractors), and to 
resident Americans.  Management notices are distributed 
electronically to all staff and family, and are posted in community 
areas.  The Consular Section sends warden messages electronically to 
all registered Americans and posts warden notices on the Embassy's 
public website.  The Public Affairs Office maintains an avian flu 
page on the Embassy's public website.  ESTH Officer engaged in a 
webchat about avian flu, and the resulting Q&A is posted on the 
Embassy's public site.  Post maintains a call-in number for Embassy 
staff to get information via a recorded message in the event that it 
is impossible to come to the chancery.  Embassy does not have an 
AI-specific formal succession plan, but would follow normal 
procedure for choosing the CDA and A/DCM in order according to the 
FAM. 
 
HALE