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Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Assistance WebinarDisaster Assistance Webinar

June 6, 2007June 6, 2007

Overview of State and Area Agency on Aging Overview of State and Area Agency on Aging Emergency Preparedness Activities in Emergency Preparedness Activities in

CaliforniaCalifornia

California Department of Aging (CDA)California Department of Aging (CDA)Damon NelsonDamon Nelson(916) 928-3325(916) 928-3325

dnelson@aging.ca.govdnelson@aging.ca.gov

http://www.aging.ca.gov/aaa/guidance/aaa_disaster_preparedness.htmlhttp://www.aging.ca.gov/aaa/guidance/aaa_disaster_preparedness.html

*www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/P*www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Politics/6-05-19-AgingCommitteeTriolitics/6-05-19-AgingCommitteeTriesAgain.htmesAgain.htm

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Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

“…“…it is the government’s responsibility to make it is the government’s responsibility to make certain that adequate steps have been taken to certain that adequate steps have been taken to identify those in need, evacuate seniors to a identify those in need, evacuate seniors to a safe place and provide appropriate care once safe place and provide appropriate care once displaced.“ displaced.“ Gordon H. SmithGordon H. Smith, Former Chair of , Former Chair of Senate Special Committee on Aging*Senate Special Committee on Aging*

Started with a review of various reports on Started with a review of various reports on 9/119/11 & & Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

Determined broad based general guidance Determined broad based general guidance (33 diverse AAAs in CA) (33 diverse AAAs in CA)

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ExperienceExperience 11stst must frame Disaster Preparedness as must frame Disaster Preparedness as

importantimportant

Especially in CA (Especially in CA (4 seasons4 seasons of disasters) of disasters)

Met with AAA DirectorsMet with AAA Directors

Asked for a focus on Disaster Asked for a focus on Disaster Preparedness… Preparedness… 1. Critical for the well-being 1. Critical for the well-being of seniors of seniors

2. OAA responsibility of AAAs to advocate for 2. OAA responsibility of AAAs to advocate for seniors seniors

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General Guidance to AAAs (1)General Guidance to AAAs (1) Coordinate with Coordinate with local OES local OES (seat at the table)(seat at the table)

AdvocateAdvocate for senior’s needs during planning for senior’s needs during planning (transportation, shelter, incontinence supplies)(transportation, shelter, incontinence supplies)

Determine AAA’s response Determine AAA’s response rolesroles before an before an eventevent

AAA RFPs and provider contracts require AAA RFPs and provider contracts require disaster plansdisaster plans

Who is Who is identifying frail and vulnerableidentifying frail and vulnerable & when & when is this information shared with is this information shared with 11stst responders responders

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General Guidance to AAAs (2)General Guidance to AAAs (2) IdentifyIdentify AAA’s AAA’s critical functionscritical functions and and

develop plans to continue servicesdevelop plans to continue services

Central Kitchen MOU’s to share facilitiesCentral Kitchen MOU’s to share facilities

Home Delivered Meal Drivers Home Delivered Meal Drivers recognizedrecognized by law enforcement & by law enforcement & grantedgranted access access

Train AAA staff and providers on their Train AAA staff and providers on their rolesroles

Encourage AAA staff to develop plans for Encourage AAA staff to develop plans for their family their family

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AAA Best PracticesAAA Best Practices Detailed descriptions on website:Detailed descriptions on website:http://www.aging.ca.gov/aaa/guidance/aaa_disaster_preparedness_resources.htmlhttp://www.aging.ca.gov/aaa/guidance/aaa_disaster_preparedness_resources.html

AAA senior advocate on local OES boardAAA senior advocate on local OES board

Volunteer registries with type & degree of Volunteer registries with type & degree of needneed

Call center relocation proceduresCall center relocation procedures

Procedures for evaluating contracted Procedures for evaluating contracted provider status after an eventprovider status after an event

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CDA Relations & Critical CDA Relations & Critical ActivitiesActivities

Developed relation with State OES after Developed relation with State OES after Katrina …highlighted the need to include Katrina …highlighted the need to include senior needs when planning senior needs when planning

Seat at OES command center & input on Seat at OES command center & input on planningplanning

COOP/COG Draft Plan rated 100% by OESCOOP/COG Draft Plan rated 100% by OES1. Maintain Ombudsman Crisis Line to take calls on suspected abuse & 1. Maintain Ombudsman Crisis Line to take calls on suspected abuse & neglectneglect

at long term care facilitiesat long term care facilities

2. Ensure Payment to AAAs2. Ensure Payment to AAAs

3. Maintain 2 way communication down to AAAs and up to Governor, 3. Maintain 2 way communication down to AAAs and up to Governor, OES, and OES, and AoAAoA

Key: MOU in and out of state to share facilitiesKey: MOU in and out of state to share facilities

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CDA’s Response to an EventCDA’s Response to an Event

Team with mission statement & written rolesTeam with mission statement & written roles

Team meets at the onset of a declared Team meets at the onset of a declared emergencyemergency

Conduct a briefing on the situationConduct a briefing on the situation

Coordinate messages Coordinate messages

Contact AAAs and ask for Contact AAAs and ask for briefbrief status report status report on needs and how seniors were affectedon needs and how seniors were affected

Summarize local provider reports and share Summarize local provider reports and share with Governor, OES, and AoAwith Governor, OES, and AoA

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CDA Website & EducationCDA Website & Education Disaster Assistance Handbook (detailed Disaster Assistance Handbook (detailed

descriptions)descriptions)

Links (Links (PrepareNow.orgPrepareNow.org & & 72hours.org)72hours.org)

Resources & Sample Client Emergency Resources & Sample Client Emergency PlansPlans

Tip Sheets for SeniorsTip Sheets for Seniors

Conference presentations on roles, Conference presentations on roles, building capacity, maintaining building capacity, maintaining communication, & pandemic awarenesscommunication, & pandemic awareness

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AAA PlanningAAA Planning

Planning Planning (Facilitates interaction with (Facilitates interaction with other community entities and helps foster other community entities and helps foster awareness about all senior related issues) awareness about all senior related issues)

Area Plan AppendixArea Plan Appendix on Disaster on Disaster Preparedness Preparedness

Electronic copy will be made availableElectronic copy will be made available

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ConclusionConclusion

Excellent Progress by the AAAs in CAExcellent Progress by the AAAs in CA

Starting small can lead to big Starting small can lead to big achievementsachievements