Hazard Mitigation Planning for Health Care Systems

2. Hazard Mitigation Planningfor Health Care Systems WSHA Disaster Readiness Conference Wenatchee, Washington May 29, 2013

3. Hazard Mitigation Planning • What is Mitigation? • Mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long term risk to people, property and the environment from natural or manmade disaster. • Example: establishredundant communication system, increase isolation capacity, ensure water storage to sustain operations. • Why Have a Mitigation Plan? • Mitigation plans help to pre-determine possible projects and, looking at those capabilities that already exist, include certain projects or decide ways those projects can be accomplished. • Mitigation plans save lives/property and reduce vulnerability to hazards. • Mitigation plans also determine eligibility to apply for federal grant funds as they become available.

4. Available Federal Grants • Two Types of Grants: • Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grants • Hazard Mitigation Grants •  Grant applications go through WA EMD and are funded either from FEMA directly or the State utilizing FEMA funds.

5. Pierce County Plan Overview • Region 5 Health & Medical Mitigation Plan – Nine Hospitals and Medical Organizations • included JBLM • First attempt (successful) at Planning for Health/Medical Systems in Washington State • Used Secondary Impacts

6. Pierce County Plan Overview • Hospitals and Medical Facilities unique • Required a different perspective in Vulnerability • Indirectly affected by hazards • Used Secondary Hazards • Utility Failures – boilers, electrical, sewage, Medical gases, HVAC • Communication Failures • Employees • Fire • Information Systems • Medical Equipment Failures • Supply disruptions

7. Hazard Mitigation Plan Process • Letters of Intent from participants are necessary for Hazard Mitigation Planning grants. • Hazard Mitigation Teams are formed to oversee the development of the Plan and Planning Teams are formed to represent each jurisdiction. • Public Meetings at the beginning and end of the process are held to inform the jurisdiction and the public of the planning effort. • Meetings with governing Public Officials are held at the beginning to commit members to support of the Plan, including dedicated staff time. • Final Resolution from governing Public Officials completes the process.

8. Hazard Mitigation Planning • Plan Contents: • Profile: a description of the jurisdiction(s): location, size, population, land use, geography, topography, urban/rural, etc. • Capabilities: what resources are available to the planning team to develop the plan? Land Use Regs, Policies, Ordinances, other plans. • Risk Assessment: identification of hazards and risk maps are developed • Infrastructure: identification and location of critical infrastructure is evaluated with the Risk Maps developed in the Risk Section

9. RISK Threat Consequence Vulnerability Risk Assessment • Portrays threats of natural and human caused hazards • Vulnerabilities of communities to the hazards • Consequences of hazards impacting individual communities or jurisdictions.

10. Risk Assessment-Vulnerability Analysis • Vulnerability is analyzed in terms of exposure of both population and infrastructure to each hazard. • GIS is required for Vulnerability Analysis and creating hazard maps.

11. Risk Assessment-Consequences • Identified as anticipated, predicted, or documented impacts caused by a given hazard. • Graphically illustrate exposures from the Vulnerability Analysis for each hazard.

12. Risk Assessment-Hazard Maps

13. Hazard Mitigation Planning • Plan Contents (continued): • Mitigation Strategies: developed to protect the identified infrastructure and protect the jurisdiction assets, population and properties • Plan Maintenance: a plan to identify who will be responsible for plan implementation, review progress and keep policy-makers informed • Process: Developed at the last of the process, it outlines how the plan was developed and by whom, it measures the Plan against the Disaster Management Act requirements

14. Hazard Mitigation Planning • Adoption Process: • Public Official Meetings are held to authorize (Final Resolution) the submission of the plan to WA EMD • WA EMD approves the Plan (30 days) and sends it to FEMA(45 days) for their approval • FEMA returns an accepted Plan for the jurisdiction(s) and the plan is taken to the respective governing Public Officials for the formal approval and adoption by resolution • The finalized PLAN is sent to FEMA • The Jurisdiction has a Plan and it is now eligible to make claims for damages from disaster, or apply for Pre Disaster Mitigation grants for Mitigation Projects

15. Example of Final Resolution RESOLUTION # A RESOLUTION OF THE (Organization)  NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN ADOPTION WHEREAS, the (organization) is a member of the Western Pierce County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee; and WHEREAS, the (organization) recognizes the economic loss, personal injury and damage that can arise from these natural hazards; and WHEREAS, reduction of these impacts can be achieved through a comprehensive, coordinated planning process identifying hazards and vulnerabilities and pairing them with mitigation strategies; and WHEREAS, the Hazard Mitigation Plan has been submitted and approved by the State Emergency Management Division and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and WHEREAS, (Organization) cooperated with Pierce County to develop a joint Hazard Mitigation Plan for the participating agencies; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY (Organization) of PIERCE COUNTY, WASHINGTON, AS FOLLOWS: (Organization) does hereby adopt the (Organization) Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.  ADOPTED BY (Organization) OF PIERCE COUN TY, WASHINGTON on ___________, 201_. __________________________ President ATTEST:  _________________________ Secretary

16. Success Stories. . .Pre Disaster Mitigation Grants • Pierce County DEM (retrofits, planning grants) • Pierce County Surface Water Management • Pacific Lutheran University • Crystal River Ranch

17. Questions? Katie Gillespie Mitigation Coordinator kgilles@co.pierce.wa.us 253-798-3311 Debbie Bailey Mitigation Coordinator dbailey@co.pierce.wa.us 253-798-6366 Kathy McVay Health Coordinator kmcvay@co.pierce.wa.us 253-798-2223