ALPENA — Alpena County is examining whether the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center could be used as an overflow site should MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena be overrun with COVID-19 patients, county commissioners learned on Tuesday.

County Emergency Services Coordinator Mark Hall told commissioners county crews have been all-hands-on-deck in readying the county for possible coronavirus cases. As of Tuesday, there were no confirmed cases in Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, or Alcona counties, though cases statewide topped 7,600.

Hall is the point person for all health care and public entities, including the hospital, when it comes to orders of personal protection equipment, and some will be distributed soon from the county fairgrounds.

Health care facilities and public health officials are in constant contact about the latest actions by the state and federal governments, as well as updated infection, death, and testing totals, Hall said.

“We are doing our best to push out information to everyone, so we can all be on the same page,” Hall said.

Over the weekend, officials conducted a site review at the CRTC as a secondary option where people could be taken for medical containment and treatment, if need be.

“It could be an alternate care site, should the hospital see a big surge in cases,” Hall said. “We are hoping that isn’t going to happen, but it is something we need to be prepared for.”

Hall said Commissioner John Kozlowski, who works at the base, is the point person for the possible utilization of the base.

Although personal protective equipment is beginning to funnel into the county, there is still a need for surgical masks, gowns, and other items, Hall said. Representatives from Washington, Lansing, and local partners met a while back to try to get more information on when supplies could arrive and what items could be expected.

“We wanted to express our concern about the PPE problem here in the county, and really around the country,” Hall said. “We wanted to know how it was going to affect Alpena. We did receive a shipment in today, so that is good news.”

Hall appointed 911 dispatcher Roy Wekwert to lead 911 operations so Hall can dedicate his time to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioner Bob Adrian applauded Hall and all of those in charge of leading the area in the planning and response to coronavirus.

“This has turned into a monumental job, and some of the things the medical facilities normally do on their own, kind of roll into Mark’s lap now,” Adrian said. “It is quite an undertaking and I appreciate the job everyone has done.”

Hall and Sheriff Steve Kieliszewski said they have noticed that most people are observing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s shelter-in-place order, and there is little traffic around town compared to what there was only a few weeks ago. Kieliszewski said there has also been a significant decrease in calls to 911.

“We have noticed through central dispatch that our call volume is down by a little more than 50%,” he said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.