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Orange County Office on Aging: Partner in Preparedness & Response

Orange County Office on Aging: Partner in Preparedness & Response. Karen Roper, Executive Director Office on Aging and Homeless Prevention November 15, 2006. Disaster Preparedness and Response Mission. Focus on the needs of homebound older adults and disabled populations Improve Response

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Orange County Office on Aging: Partner in Preparedness & Response

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  1. Orange County Office on Aging:Partner inPreparedness & Response Karen Roper, Executive Director Office on Aging and Homeless Prevention November 15, 2006

  2. Disaster Preparedness and ResponseMission • Focus on the needs of homebound older adults and disabled populations • Improve Response • Strengthen Partnerships • Coordinate Public and Private Partner Planning • Coordinate Resources

  3. Disaster Preparedness and ResponseRegional Planning Partners • Office on Aging • Health Care Agency • Social Services Agency • Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center • Interagency Committee on Aging • 2-1-1 Orange County • American Red Cross • Senior Citizens Advisory Council • Orange County Cities • Community-Based/Faith-Based Organizations

  4. Orange County Office on AgingHomebound Older Adult and DisabledDisaster Planning Initiative • At the regional table representing needs of older adults, persons with disabilities, and caregivers • Senior Citizens Advisory Council actively engaged • Senior Center Directors actively engaged (quarterly meetings) • Participation in disaster “drills” at Huntington Beach Senior Center - a model for other cities and stakeholders • Goal: partner with Orange County’s 34 cities to pre-identify homebound older adults and disabled individuals and model the City of Huntington Beach in terms of comprehensive disaster planning for at-risk seniors • Barriers: HIPAA (electronic information sharing), resources, awareness

  5. Office on Aging HEAT PLAN • July 2006 Board of Supervisors Directive to Office on Aging to coordinate resources to provide relief to seniors and disabled populations during heat waves • Partners: Social Services Agency, Health Care Agency, Orange County Housing Authority, Orange County Transportation Authority, Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center, Southern California Edison, Senior Center Directors, Public Authority • Surveyed other PSAs for best practices • Identified Orange County’s cool zones and cooling stations • Prepared and distributed periodic updates and reports for the Board of Supervisors and other stakeholders • Ongoing Efforts • Community education • Fan distribution plan – donations from hospitals • Finalizing heat activation thresholds with Health Care Agency • Incorporating Heat Wave planning into other disaster planning efforts

  6. Partnership With Health Care Agency • Planning efforts focus on the needs of homebound older adults and disabled populations • Disease prevention • Bioterrorism • Pandemic Influenza and other diseases • Mass vaccinations • Public Information • Emergency Operations

  7. Partnership to ImproveDisaster Preparedness and Response • After Action Reports • Evaluation • Identify Improvements • Revise Plan Plan Improve Train Exercise

  8. Partnership with Social Services Agency:Shelter and Care • Special populations and the mass care & shelter plan • Social Services Agency is partnering with the Office on Aging and the Health Care Agency to address special population needs for care and shelter immediately following a disaster: • Triage and assessment of needs during and after the crisis • Transportation and access to emergency services • Recovery and restabilization • Connection to follow-up services as needed

  9. Partnership with Orange County Sheriff’s DepartmentEmergency Operations Center • Orange County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center responsible to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters • Interfaces with State Office of Emergency Services • Office on Aging presence at the planning table assures that needs of vulnerable older adults and disabled will be considered in crisis situations

  10. Long-Term Recovery Plan • Office on Aging/Homeless Prevention award of $448,954 in county general fund dollars to develop a long-term recovery plan • Goal of plan is to identify partners and resources for transitional and permanent housing options for disaster victims that are unable to return to their homes • An important component of the plan includes the 2-1-1 Orange County surge capacity initiative to bring the call center to full disaster readiness (5,000 calls per day based upon Orange County’s population) • The Office on Aging has a plan of cooperation with 2-1-1 Orange County and fields all calls related to older adults and caregivers

  11. Operation Orange County Purpose: One-Stop Multi-Service Center for Katrina/Rita victims Partners: Office on Aging/Homeless Prevention, Orange County Housing Authorities, Social Services Agency, Health Care Agency, American Red Cross, Orange County Rescue Mission, 2-1-1 Orange County, Orange County Transportation Authority, and many other stakeholders Services: One-stop triage; assistance with housing/shelter, food, clothing, transportation, benefits assistance, health care, mental health care, and many other services Results: Provided comprehensive services to 700+ disaster victims that either temporarily or permanently relocated to Orange County

  12. Questions?

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