Utilizing Coalitions and Volunteers to Support ESF#8 in Large Scale Disasters

1. Utilizing Coalitions and Volunteers to Support ESF#8 in Large Scale Disasters Karin Ford, MSPS, ICEM 2013 Whole Community Preparedness Conference November 20-22, 2013 Lisle, Illinois

2. Full Disclosure • I am not a nurse • I am afraid of needles • Yes I work for Iowa Dept of Public Health • But I am a chicken • I can not help you with the medical piece of ESF#8…….. • But I can provide support for medical personnel

3. I Wish It Were This Easy

4. Objectives • Using existing resources and infrastructure • Create coalitions • Identify partners • Build off ESF #6 to create ESF #8 • What to avoid

5. Whole Community Planning • What emergency management has already been doing • Community continuity planning • Push to speak the same language • Hospitals speak is well, different… • In large scale disaster same language a must

6. Benefits of Whole Community Planning • Shared, informed understanding of needs, risks and capabilities • Establishment of relationship across communities • Integration of resources • Stronger social infrastructure • Increased individual preparedness • Everybody has skin in the game Five heads are better than one

7. Comparison ESF #6 ESF #8 Assessment of public health and medical needs Epidemiological investigation and surveillance Medical surge, patient care, transport, Food, water and agriculture safety and security Medical support for general pop shelters • Mass care • Emergency assistance • Housing – shelter • Human services • Feeding • Bulk distribution • Emergency first aid • Disaster welfare information

8. ESF #8 Logistical support Security to manage large crowds seeking medical attention Medical staff for 24/7 immediate to long term Reception centers, points of distribution Public information and management Health system readiness Mass care

9. Public Health Infrastructure • State level - most have daily functions that resemble ESF #8 • County – may have some programs, not as robust • Some counties may be a dept. of one, the county health nurse • Many public health agencies do not have the financial means past grants

10. Public Health Disaster Response • Length of disaster • Impact on access and functional needs • Care facilities • Hospitals, particularly surge • Impact on first responders and healthcare workers • Pandemics and bioterrorism

11. Challenges in Planning • Public/private engagement • Maintaining it • Understanding the diversity of each entity • Knowing their level of preparedness • Entities investment • Emerge with a cohesive plan of all hazard planning to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover • Money • Manpower

12. Public/Private Divide • Most healthcare organizations are private – maintain decision making • Overall management of healthcare emergencies is public • For example pandemic, isolation/quarantine would come from public officials • Response private and public

13. Follow Through • Maintaining interest in planning • Coalitions, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), • Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) become essential • Task out maintenance • Cross train each group • Credentialing • Keep in mind, we think like responders • and planners, the public does not We’ll gather all the nuts and berries we can find, we’ll survive….

14. Healthcare Coalitions • Common ground for public/private • Can enhance ESF #8 • Situational awareness, mutual aide, resource sharing • Patient distribution and redistribution • Maximize regional, state and national capabilities • Revise healthcare system to maintain critical medical services • Must be established before disaster

15. Planning • Planning can identify what you want to do and what you want to stop doing • Identify true resources, who will show up when you call • Opportunity to get the stubborn ones to the table

17. It Sounded Like A Good Idea Attempted hospital evacuation plan in Des Moines – purpose “Common platform for planning, coordination and incident management of an evacuation and is intended to support individual hospital evacuation plans” • Primary mission was to support healthcare response and recovery • This plan included skilled care facilities, nursing homes, etc. • Authority remained with the hospitals • Goal was to identify holding areas, surge and total evacuation sites • Determine how long the temporary location could function • Determine what assistance Polk County Emergency Management could provide • After months of meetings, plans came to stalemate • Territorial issues emerged

18. ESF #6 Can Support • Addressing access and functional needs • Set up for medical and general population shelters • Staff the shelters in non-medical capacity • Support in disaster relief assistance – locating medical equipment not evacuated • Communication-interpreters • Help with setting up points of distribution sites • Breakdown of large shipments of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies – SNS distribution

19. Recommended Training • IS 100: Intro to the Incident Command System • IS 200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents • IS 700: Intro to National Incident Management System

20. Promoting • Website • Brochures • News media • Q & A sheet • Email • Annual report

21. Mass Care/ESF #6 Providers • Usually state VOAD • In Iowa – Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council IDHRC • Identified public/private resources • Receive unmet needs request • Tap into public employees to work in shelters

22. When Responders Become Receivers • Length and size of disaster can require outside resources and manpower • Needs include housing, feeding, transportation, medical, laundry • Security due to response equipment • Debriefing • Any staff trained to work in general pop shelters can work these

23. Care Facilities • Should have their own “mutual aid agreements” • Could transfer to same level of care to avoid shelter or hospital • Create coalition within the area • Could keep staff employed at facilities that are not functioning

24. What to Avoid in Planning • Whack-a-mole planning • Planning for a disaster that just happened • Plan or assign lead or support agencies, assuming that they have a robust plan that will fit with yours

25. Support For ESF #6 • Template for ESF #6 • Redundant, lengthy • Take from it what you want • I will email it to you • Access and Functional needs • Accessibility • ADA compliance

26. Questions/Contact Karin Ford, MSPS, IACEM Karin.Ford@idph.iowa.gov 515-242-6336