MIDDLESEX County’s specialized evac -Buses

1. MIDDLESEX County’s specialized evac-Buses John Ferguson Middlesex County OEM Coordinator June 26, 2014

2. What is a disaster? A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life. Floods Severe weather Utilities emergencies Health Emergencies HazMats Terrorism

3. Train Derailment Tornado Devastation

4. Sandy Storm Surge Damage

5. Preparing for a Disaster The preparedness phase involves activities undertaken in advance of an emergency Two of the most critical items to plan for are : Evacuations Sheltering

6. Responding to a Disaster • Disseminating warning, emergency public information, and other advice and action instructions to the public • Surveying and evaluating the emergency situation • Marshaling, allocating, and positioning personnel and necessary resources • Activating the EOC using established guidelines • Evacuating the community if necessary Actions will be taken to save lives first and then protect property

7. Middlesex County’s Effort In May 2008, we participated in a review of our transportation plans conducted by the State. • The review showed that all 25 of the County’s municipalities were fully dependent on assistance from our County’s para-transit system. • The review also pointed out that the County had 5 major hospitals (now 6) and 37 long-term care facilities (several with planned expansions)and 13 group homes.

8. Middlesex County’s Effort After meeting with the County’s Director of Para-transit, the following areas of concern were noted: • Too many entities listed the County as the main transportation provider in disasters. • The County’s busses could only support two wheelchair positions. • A single facility with multiple mobility device users could potentially use the entire fleet of County busses. • What if transporting was not the main reason for the response? Needed for heating or cooling of residents

9. Middlesex County’s Effort • Questions to be answered: • Should the county be concerned with the items raised in previous slides? Answer YES • What is the county’s plan ? Needed a bus with multiple wheelchair positions • How can we fund it ? Homeland Security project by addressing needs of the AFN community

10. The Project What items were addressed in the project? • Training of the first responder community, both classroom and hands on.

11. Middlesex County’s Effort Initial Training: • Awareness of the AFN community. • Understanding adaptive equipment & vehicles as well as mobility devices. • The purpose was for responders not to destroy vehicles just to get someone out with a minor vehicle problem.

12. Middlesex County’s Effort Secondary Hands on Training: Fully understanding mobility equipment. • The main thing learned was that the devices are a means of a person’s independence.

13. Middlesex County’s Effort

14. Middlesex County’s Effort • The mobility devices could be a simple wheelchair operated manually to a very complex machine that handles many functions. • It was stressed to the responders that a major effort should be to make sure their OWN device accompany the person to wherever they are transported to. • If not that person who functions independently now has to taken care of and uses resources that could be better used by someone else.

15. Middlesex County’s Effort • With that information in mind it was decided that if we were able to fund a vehicle it should include a means to power the mobility device, insuring that when the person arrived at the destination the unit would function. • We also discussed alternative uses to ensure it is multi purpose. • It could easily be used as a temporary shelter where devices could be recharged but also used for cooling or heating.

16. Middlesex County’s Effort So what was needed to accomplish that: • A collaborative design team • County OEM • County Transportation • Service technicians, drivers and management • Partners in the disability community. • Bus Expert

17. WISHLIST • A separate generator so the engine would not be the sole power source. • A heating and air conditioning unit. • Our disability partners recommended 2 wheelchair lifts. • It would increase the ability to load and unload more efficiently and safer. • Comparable lifts to those currently in the fleet. • Ease of maintenance and repairs.

18. WISHLIST The Interior • Ability to accommodate as many wheelchair positions as possible in a bus • Power connection points to recharge the chairs, medical equipment and cellphones. • Seating available for companions traveling with the mobility equipment users. • Capacity for standard passenger seating for all-purpose transportation needs.

19. Middlesex County’s Effort • One can’t be so locked into one usage of specialized equipment not to have other uses available because events are not one-sided. • Teamwork paid off…2 busses were purchased. • I want to thank a few who were instrumental in the project • Steve Fittante, Helene Dougan, Jim Zawistowski, Tom Bykowski, Scott Ellis, Norm Smith, Beverly Briggs, Rich Wolff, Kevin McGrorry and OHSP for the funding

20. Middlesex County’s Effort

26. Questions • Thank you

27. Emergency Management • John F. Ferguson • Emergency Management Coordinator • Middlesex County • 1001 Fire Academy Drive • Sayreville, NJ 08872 • 732-316-7100 (24/7) • john.ferguson@co.middlesex.nj.us