AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

EDM Wednesday Briefing: Recall Issued for over 113,000 Pounds of Ground Beef

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Emergency and disaster management briefing for April 24, 2019: As rescuers scramble to find survivors amid rubble, the death toll has risen to 16 following a strong earthquake that struck the Philippines; Indian intelligence agents allegedly warned Sri Lankan counterparts of credible threats to churches hours ahead of the attacks; a tailings landslide in Myanmar leaves 54 missing and presumed dead; the CDC states that in the ongoing outbreak, 31 new cases of the measles were reported last week; the ongoing investigation into the E. coli O103 outbreak involving ground beef continues as the total number of cases reaches 156; Boeing is seeking a hopeful mid-July ungrounding of the Boeing 737 MAX airplanes; a recall has been issued for over 113,000 pounds of ground beef after it tested positive for E. coli; and six people are dead following a private plane crash near Kerrville, Texas.

1) The death toll from the 6.1 earthquake in the Philippines on Monday has risen to 16, as rescuers race to find survivors amidst the twisted rubble of a collapsed four-story building in Porac. The strong earthquake struck the nation’s biggest island on Monday, killing 12 people, and collapsed the building, which housed a grocery store on the first level. Search and rescue teams, which included dozens of firefighters, military, and civilian personnel, along with heavy equipment and search dogs, found nine survivors and four bodies in the rubble overnight Monday and into Tuesday.

2) The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday that blew up three churches and four hotels — which killed 321 people and injured at least 500 — without providing evidence of its involvement. According to reports, Sri Lanka received notification of credible threats against churches from its Indian intelligence counterparts two hours prior to the attacks. Reports also indicate that Sri Lankan intelligence agents received a warning regarding the planned attacks on Saturday night from Indian intelligence, along with similar messages on April 4 and April 20, lending to concern that a rift between the nation’s prime minister and its president is undermining national security.

3) A tailings refuse pile from a jade mine collapsed on Monday in Myanmar, trapping more than 50 miners and heavy equipment in thick mud. Three bodies have been pulled from the mud, but the remaining 51 people are feared dead. According to one government official, retrieval of bodies is difficult due to the thick, heavy mud. The incident occurred in the Hpakant area of the Kachin state, located in the north part of Myanmar, where it’s common for the poorly regulated mines to have frequent landslides and other accidents.

4) The number of measles cases across the United States has now reached 626, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that 71 new cases of measles were recorded last week. The CDC said the case count had crossed 22 states as of April 19 and was the highest rate of infection in five years; the current outbreak is likely to surpass the 2014 outbreak case total. New York City — primarily a neighborhood in Brooklyn — accounts for at least half of the recorded cases, while Iowa and Tennessee have now joined the list of states with measles cases.

5) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that 156 people across ten states have been infected with E. coli after eating tainted ground beef since March 1. The investigation was launched by the CDC on March 28 after it was notified by officials in Kentucky and Georgia of the outbreak of the E. coli O103 strain. At least 65 cases were reported in Kentucky and another 33 in Georgia, while Tennessee had a total number of 41 reported cases since March 28. Other states that have reported E. coli cases include Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Virginia.

6) Reports indicate that Boeing is targeting a mid-May approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the software fix for the Boeing 737 MAX. The software fix is part of the steps needed to ensure the safety of the 737 MAX aircraft, which has been grounded worldwide since March following two deadly crashes of the aircraft. According to reports, the company has yet to submit the software fix to the FAA. It is unknown how long the re-certification process will take; however, Boeing is allegedly targeting mid-July for ungrounding of the airplanes.

7) A Georgia-based company is recalling 113,424 pounds of ground beef due to concerns of E. coli contamination, which may or may not be related to the E. coli O103 outbreak currently under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ground meat was produced by K2D Foods, doing business as (DBA) Colorado Premium Foods, in two 24-pound, vacuum-packed packages in cardboard boxes, which were sent to distributors in Ft. Orange, Florida, and Norcross, Georgia, for distribution to retailers. The CDC has not yet confirmed the meat as being part of the current outbreak of E. coli, but is continuing its investigation, which may warrant additional product recall.

8) Six people are dead after a private plane crashed near Kerrville, Texas on Monday. The plane, which had taken off from West Houston Airport in Texas earlier on Monday, was preparing to land at the Kerrville Municipal Airport when it crashed about 6 miles northwest of the airport, killing all six people on board. The twin-engine Beechcraft BE85 aircraft, better known as a Baron, appeared to have strayed off the flight path, according to reports. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident.

 

Kimberly Arsenault serves as an intern at the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency where she works on plan revisions and special projects. Previously, Kimberly spent 15 years in commercial and business aviation. Her positions included station manager at the former Midwest Express Airlines, as well as corporate flight attendant, inflight manager, and charter flight coordinator. Kimberly currently holds a master's degree in emergency and disaster management from American Public University.

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