The Region18 Counties
177 cities
6.3 Million* (27%)
877,000 with disabilities*
(24%)
120+ hospitals
500+ nursing homes
Evacuation Surge Zones
• Planned evacuation times
• Phased-in return times
• Pre-identified shelter Hubs
• 19 acute care hospitals
• 121 nursing homes• 1.2 million citizens
Catastrophic Medical Operations Center (CMOC)
• Local and Regional asset• Co-located in the HEC• Recognized by the MACG for health and
medical coordination• NIMS Compliant• Command authority• Logistical and Operational Components• Stand up when requested by EOC, EMC,
State, or other jurisdictions of authority
Mission• Identify and meet the healthcare needs of the region• Protect and maintain medical infrastructure of all regional
healthcare facilities• Provide appropriate transfer to healthcare
facilities based on capacity and capability• Coordinate unique requirements of “special
needs” population• Maintain patient tracking records
“One Stop Shop”
• Coordination and organization of movement of medical special needs persons during a disaster
• Organization of transportation assets for patient movement
“One Stop Shop”
• Facility Assistance
• Patient Tracking• Organization of
Regional Public Health Issues
• Presentation Trending
• Coordination of Mass Fatality Issues
Special Needs
• Elderly/infirmed• Pediatric• Neurological/mental
disorders• Multi-organ disease• Dialysis• Immunocompromised• Handicapped• Technologically
dependant
Identifying our Special Needs Population…
• 211 Registry– It is estimated that less than
10% of our special needs population have registered
• Distrust– Privacy– Mistrust of government
• Personal reasons– Don’t want to leave their home– Don’t want to leave their pets– Fear from last time….
Identifying our Special Needs population…
• Health homes• Home health care• Hospital discharge• Church and faith-
based organizations• HOA’s• Community leaders• Healthcare for the
Homeless
Secondary Facility(MSN RLR)
• Location, Location, Location…….
• Patient population• Staffing• Supplies• Medical gases• Emergency power• Nutritional support• Access/Security
Field Hospitals
• Collaborative effort– Houston Fire
Department– Regional Hospital
Preparedness Council• Regional Asset• Deployment time: 4 hrs• Shelter, equipment,
pharmaceuticals• Personnel…..
Transportation Ambulances
Limited distribution Tracking Fuel Conflicting priorities Travel time Staging Timeout
Repatriation Community Infrastructure Loss Medical Infrastructure Loss Transportation Assets Individuals’ desire to return Financial Implications Tracking EMTALA