2. Outline
Importance of planning for at-risk groups
Personal preparedness
Organizational preparedness
Community and county preparedness
– How your organization can be involved
3.
4. Who is at Risk
During an Emergency?
Anyone with increased risk of severe
disaster-related consequences
– Economic disadvantage
– Absence of a support network
– Needing support to be independent in daily
activities
– Difficulty reading, speaking, or understanding
English
5. Esther
– 89 years old
– Lives alone
– Has no car, family lives out of state
– History of heart disease
Laura
– 5 years old
– Parents are undocumented
immigrants
James
– 35 years old
– Blind
– Lives with fiancée
6.
7.
8. Hurricane
Katrina - 2005
• 73% of Hurricane Katrina-related deaths in New
Orleans area were among persons age 60 and
over, although they comprised only 15 percent of
the population in New Orleans
• Most had medical conditions and functional or
sensory disabilities that made them more
vulnerable
AARP, We Can Do Better: Lessons Learned for Protecting Older Persons in Disasters, 2006
9. Issues Facing At-Risk Groups
Maintaining independence
Communication
Transportation
Supervision
Medical care
12. Who Needs to be Prepared?
You
Your family
Employees at your organization
People served by your organization
13. Personal Preparedness
Think ahead…make an emergency plan
– Evacuation from your home
– Communication during emergency
– Plans for pets
Make an emergency kit
– Does not need to be complicated or expensive
Stay informed
– Local emergency plans and services
Get involved
– Know your neighbors and check on those at-risk
– Join Community Emergency Response Teams
14. Personal Preparedness for
At-Risk Individuals
Learn basic homecare skills
Work with providers and social support networks to
develop contingency plans for an emergency
Develop food and fluid supply lists for special dietary
needs
Carry a wallet card with a list of medications
Maintain food and supplies for the health and well-
being of service animals and pets
16. Preparing your Organization
Make an emergency plan
Encourage personal
preparedness for
employees and clients
Determine how to continue
services during an
emergency
17. Continuity of Operations
Planning (COOP)
Making sure your organization can
continue to operate during an emergency
– Under stressful conditions
– With fewer staff and other resources
– With increased demand for services
18. COOP Objectives
Ensure safety of employees
Ensure continuous performance of
essential operations
Protect essential equipment, records, and
other assets
Reduce disruption of operations
Minimize damage and losses
Achieve a timely and orderly recovery
19. Ensuring Safety
Shelter in Place
– Safe area
– Food and water
Evacuation
– “Go Kits”
– Transportation
– Destination
20. Continuing Essential Operations
Prioritize key functions
Identify minimum staff, equipment, and
procedures necessary to operate
Plan what to do if your building is not
available
Plan for payroll continuity
Train people for emergency functions
Create/update contact list
21. Community &
County
Preparedness
How Can Your Organization Get Involved?
22. [COUNTY NAME] County Special
Needs Advisory Panel (SNAP)
A small advisory group of [social service
providers] representing various at-risk
populations.
23. SNAP Purpose
To ensure that the concerns and needs of
[older adults, persons with disabilities,
persons who are economically
disadvantaged, and/or persons with
limited English proficiency] are
appropriately considered and addressed
in public health emergency planning and
response in [COUNTY NAME] County.
24. SNAP Activities
Provide information and guidance to [LOCAL
HEALTH DEPARTMENT &/OR EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT] about how to plan for and
communicate with at-risk populations before,
during, and after emergencies
Provide feedback on creating a Community
Communications Network to share messages
with agencies serving at-risk populations
25. Why get involved?
You know the people your organization
serves
You are in a unique position to advocate
for them
Planning before an emergency can save
lives, reduce illness and injury, and speed
recovery
Doing something NOW is better than
hoping for assistance during an
emergency
26. What are the benefits?
You can:
Identify strategies that empower at-risk
individuals to prepare for emergencies
Share ideas and resources with other
agencies
Reduce duplication of efforts across
agencies
Influence public policy
29. Tools Available for COOP
NC Division of Public Health COOP
Template
http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/gcdc/pandemic/AppendixS1_2007.pdf
Nursing homes
www.hsem.state.mn.us/uploadedfile/COOP_Service_Continuation_
Planning.ppt
Agencies serving vulnerable populations
http://www.smhealth.org/vgn/images/portal/cit_609/19/7/898775681vulner
30. Resources
CARD. Prepare Your Business to Prosper!
9 Small Steps that Reap Huge Rewards.
http://www.cardcanhelp.org/downloads/Busine
. Accessed April 14, 2009.
Notas del editor
Wide variety of emergencies in NC…
Broad definition (ASTHO) Economically vulnerable - People may have too little money to stockpile supplies or to stay home from work Key is absence of support network because even have significant disability you are not necessarily at greater risk. - Some children; homeless; travelers; and the socially, culturally, or geographically isolated. Support to be independent in ADL might include Physical disability Developmental disability Substance abuse/dependence Mental Illness Difficulty seeing or hearing Medical conditions
Examples of some people who might be at-risk during an emergency.
Relatively high numbers of disabled people between the ages of 21 and 64 in NC, according to the 2000 Census. http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/ncosbm/facts_and_figures/census/maps/seniordisab.html
As you would expect the percentages are even higher when considering people aged 65 and older. In some counties, over half of the civilian, non-institutionalized population aged 65 and older is disabled, according to the 2000 Census. http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/ncosbm/facts_and_figures/census/maps/seniordisab.html
The issue really came to the forefront of our attention during Hurricane Katrina.
Functional needs from FEMA National Response Framework definition Ask audience for examples of problems in each category during an emergency?
Different levels of preparedness – each are important. The foundation is personal preparedness. This presentation will address personal and organizational preparedness.
Emphasize that preparedness is for everyone, not just individuals at greater risk. If you work in an agency or organization serving at-risk groups, it’s even more important to have your own personal preparedness plan so you will be ready and able to help those at greater risk during an emergency. We’re not focusing on personal preparedness in this presentation, but because it’s so important, we’ll spend the next couple of slides talking briefing about it.
The most important thing to do is think ahead about what you will do in different types of disasters and create an individual or family emergency plan. ADD explanation of CERTs
In addition to creating an emergency plan and a disaster kit, individuals at greater risk should also consider these tips. [From ASTHO Ch. 4 planning tips for at-risk individuals.]
Is your organization prepared for an emergency? How can you tell whether it is prepared or not? Does your organization have an emergency plan?
Generic template for COOP (http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/gcdc/pandemic/AppendixS1_2007.pdf) encourage appropriate CBOs and FBOs to develop contracts or memoranda of understanding to provide essential or specialized supplies and services during a pandemic. Incorporate as much information as possible on potential weaknesses or strengths in the organizations’ supply chains or stockpiles.
Ask audience whether they’ve ever heard of COOP or COOP plans.
COOP objectives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA (Federal Preparedness Circular 65 - http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd/fpc-65.htm)
In most emergencies, there will be a choice whether to shelter-in-place or evacuate to a safer area. Decision depends on the disaster and recommendations from local and state government, ultimately about safety. Especially important for places like nursing homes and child care facilities that have residential populations Go-Kits http://www.cardcanhelp.org/downloads/Go%20Kits.pdf
Special Needs Advisory Panel, Vulnerable Populations Action Team, At-Risk Planning Coalition…the name is not as important as the purpose and activities of the group. Choose whatever name best represents what you want the group to be in your community.
San Mateo Health COOP checklist for agencies serving vulnerable populations (focused on pandemic but some parts applicable to all-hazards)
