Emergency Preparedness: Navigating Natural Disasters
Natural Disasters of 2017 Hurricanes and Flooding Northern California Firestorm
Facts about the 2017 Hurricanes -Wikipedia • 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes with 6 of the 10 listed as major hurricanes • All 10 hurricanes occurred in a row • Fifth-most active recorded season since 1851 • Tied for the greatest number of consecutive hurricanes ever observed in the Atlantic since records began in 1851
Facts about Northern California Wildfires -Wikipedia • 210,000+ acres burned/ 90,000 evacuated • Killed at least 44 people, hospitalized at least 185,making the week of October 8, 2017, the deadliest week of wildfires in California history. • Largest loss of life due to wildfires in the United States since 1918. • An estimated 8,900 structures were destroyed. • Most of the victims were elderly • Fires broke out overnight
• • • •
How do you prepare? Shelter in place vs. evacuation? Receiving of Residents How do you recover?
Preparation • Current Effective Disaster Plan
• Steps to be taken before, during and after an event (storm, fire etc) • Resident Go-Bags under the bed
• Emergency Supply Agreements are Current
• Food and Water • Transportation; back up plans if transportation falls through • Alternate Housing (sister communities, distant cousins and hotels) • Fuel • Pharmacy
• Resident Roster and Emergency Contacts (Cloud Based) • • • •
Off Hour Staff phone numbers Local Vendors/Corporate Vendors/Community Partners County/State/Local Emergency Response • e.g., CERT Team; www.nixle.com
Preparation • Relocation Routes & Site Plan • All Major Utility Shut-offs • Who is responsible to monitor road conditions and routes?
• Master Set of Keys in Safe Location • Consider having a combination lock or breakable glass • Extra set of med cart keys
• Communication Plan • • • •
Pre-written letters Designated number or FB posts Scripts for calls Basic talking points for media
• Care Plans and Medications • Paper procedures for EHR and emar
Preparation • Ongoing Training • Evacuation Drills/Fire Drills • Train on what to do with DME (all DME should be labeled)
• Loading on the bus • Roles and Tasks Assignments
• Emergency Supplies • Inventory supplies semi-annually • Secure with a zip tie
• Staff Logistics • • • •
Emergency Pay Procedures List of who is willing to help in an emergency Plans for emergency housing Amazon accounts, Good Samaritan Fund etc.
Shelter in Place/Evacuation • Communication • • • •
Work with local authorities to monitor possible evacuation Family/Staff; keep everyone in the loop Phone is staffed 24 hours; switched do a cell phone Regular Townhall meetings
• Staff
• Activate team member call list • Determine if staff needs housing
• Supplies for 5 days
• Medications/medical supplies • Food/water • Emergency Supplies
• Set up a Command Center • Identify who is in charge
• Activities and Programing
Shelter in Place/Evacuation • Arrange Comfortable accommodations for residents • Transportation • • • • •
All vehicles including staff cars need gas Seating chart for bus Water/food on-board Don’t forget about DME and O2 Know the evacuation routes
• Evacu-checks
• Check each room and know who is in your building
• Medication and Care Plans • Resident Identification Bracelets • Communicate with licensing
Receiving Residents • Command Center
• Who is in charge • Monitor who is where • Identify someone to communicate with families
• Staffing • • • •
Call in support staff to help receive residents Activity person to assist getting residents settled Have Emergency Schedule Person designated solely to staffing
• Supplies
• Pre-negotiated contracts with local vendors
• Furniture, bedding, pharmacies, traveling doctors, DME
• Blending Residents & Staff
• Structure is needed, designate in-charge personnel
• Returning Residents Initially Sheltered Elsewhere • Prepare for more residents to arrive
Receiving Residents • Modified Menus
• Have modified menus prepared in advance that a limited culinary team can prepare. • Have an emergency food order prepared in advance and have your local food vendor keep it on hand • Include paper goods
• Emotional Support and Rest
• Assist in finding rest time and space for staff who may have been displaced or have traveled in • Mandate rest periods and time off
• Activities and Programming • Licensing
• Notify them of plan to receive
Recovery • Residents Return
• Phase in and prioritize
• Building
• Consider hiring security to protect against theft • Remediation/build back • Set up kitchen and ensure that you have ample food
• Staff
• More staff initially upon return • Offer EAP to team members • Amazon set up to help staff, Good Samaritan Fund
• Communication
• Families/team members • Speak with authorities about return and licensing • Talking points for media
• Welcome Home Celebration!