It was a basic run-through of how we would facilitate our SNS, or strategic national stockpile plan, which is how we dispense meds to citizens in La Salle County, whether it's medication or vaccination.

They could have been a 35-year-old with three kids, or a 67-year-old male with a list of meds he is taking.

We kept a log on who called us back or faxed us back and asked them a couple of questions ... We feel we have a good working relationship with the media during the daytime hours but we're trying to get a handle on their after-hours systems if we had to send out a fax.

Everything went fairly smooth (with the drill). It was a good learning experience and it's the best way to test a plan.

The new strategic plan has a fatal flaw and that is the cost - $500 million.

Both sides have shown an accommodative stance to get to talks. This could be a strategic move, but the basic thing is that there shouldn't be a situation where war could be a reasonable expectation.