Utilizing Coalitions and Volunteers to Support ESF#8 in

Large Scale Disasters

Karin Ford, MSPS, ICEM2013 Whole Community Preparedness Conference

November 20-22, 2013Lisle, Illinois

Full Disclosure

• I am not a nurse• I am afraid of needles• Yes I work for Iowa Dept of Public

Health• But I am a chicken• I can not help you with the medical

piece of ESF#8……..• But I can provide support for medical

personnel

I Wish It Were This Easy

Objectives

• Using existing resources and infrastructure

• Create coalitions • Identify partners• Build off ESF #6 to create ESF #8• What to avoid

Whole Community Planning

• What emergency management has already been doing

• Community continuity planning• Push to speak the same language• Hospitals speak is well, different…• In large scale disaster same

language a must

Benefits of Whole Community Planning

• Shared, informed understanding of needs, risks and capabilities• Establishment of relationship across communities• Integration of resources• Stronger social infrastructure• Increased individual preparedness• Everybody has skin in the game

Five heads are better than one

Comparison

ESF #6• Mass care• Emergency assistance• Housing – shelter• Human services• Feeding• Bulk distribution• Emergency first aid• Disaster welfare

information

ESF #8• Assessment of public

health and medical needs• Epidemiological

investigation and surveillance

• Medical surge, patient care, transport,

• Food, water and agriculture safety and security

• Medical support for general pop shelters

ESF #8

• Logistical support• Security to manage large crowds seeking medical attention• Medical staff for 24/7 immediate to long term• Reception centers, points of distribution• Public information and management• Health system readiness• Mass care

Public Health Infrastructure

• State level - most have daily functions that resemble ESF #8

• County – may have some programs, not as robust

• Some counties may be a dept. of one, the county health nurse

• Many public health agencies do not have the financial means past grants

Public Health Disaster Response

• Length of disaster• Impact on access and functional

needs• Care facilities • Hospitals, particularly surge• Impact on first responders and

healthcare workers• Pandemics and bioterrorism

Challenges in Planning

• Public/private engagement • Maintaining it• Understanding the diversity of each entity• Knowing their level of preparedness• Entities investment• Emerge with a cohesive plan of all hazard

planning to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover

• Money • Manpower

Public/Private Divide

• Most healthcare organizations are private – maintain decision making

• Overall management of healthcare emergencies is public−For example pandemic,

isolation/quarantine would come from public officials

−Response private and public

Follow Through

• Maintaining interest in planning• Coalitions, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) become essential• Task out maintenance• Cross train each group• Credentialing• Keep in mind, we think like responders and planners, the public does not

We’ll gather all the nuts and berries we can find, we’ll survive….

Healthcare Coalitions

• Common ground for public/private• Can enhance ESF #8• Situational awareness, mutual aide,

resource sharing• Patient distribution and redistribution• Maximize regional, state and national

capabilities• Revise healthcare system to maintain

critical medical services• Must be established before disaster

Planning

• Planning can identify what you want to do and what you want to stop doing

• Identify true resources, who will show up when you call

• Opportunity to get the stubborn ones to the table

It Sounded Like A Good IdeaAttempted hospital evacuation plan in Des Moines – purpose

“Common platform for planning, coordination and incident management of an evacuation and is intended to support individual hospital evacuation plans”• Primary mission was to support healthcare response and recovery• This plan included skilled care facilities, nursing homes, etc.• Authority remained with the hospitals• Goal was to identify holding areas, surge and total evacuation

sites• Determine how long the temporary location could function• Determine what assistance Polk County Emergency Management

could provide• After months of meetings, plans came to stalemate• Territorial issues emerged

ESF #6 Can Support

• Addressing access and functional needs• Set up for medical and general population shelters• Staff the shelters in non-medical capacity• Support in disaster relief assistance – locating medical

equipment not evacuated• Communication-interpreters • Help with setting up points of distribution sites• Breakdown of large shipments of pharmaceuticals and

medical supplies – SNS distribution

Recommended Training

• IS 100: Intro to the Incident Command System

• IS 200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents

• IS 700: Intro to National Incident Management System

Promoting

• Website• Brochures• News media• Q & A sheet• Email• Annual report

Mass Care/ESF #6 Providers

• Usually state VOAD• In Iowa – Iowa Disaster Human

Resource Council IDHRC• Identified public/private resources• Receive unmet needs request• Tap into public employees to work in

shelters

When Responders Become Receivers

• Length and size of disaster can require outside resources and manpower

• Needs include housing, feeding, transportation, medical, laundry

• Security due to response equipment• Debriefing• Any staff trained to work in general pop

shelters can work these

Care Facilities

• Should have their own “mutual aid agreements”

• Could transfer to same level of care to avoid shelter or hospital

• Create coalition within the area• Could keep staff employed at

facilities that are not functioning

What to Avoid in Planning

• Whack-a-mole planning• Planning for a disaster that just happened• Plan or assign lead or support agencies,

assuming that they have a robust plan that will fit with yours

Support For ESF #6

• Template for ESF #6• Redundant, lengthy• Take from it what you want• I will email it to you• Access and Functional needs• Accessibility• ADA compliance

Questions/Contact

Karin Ford, MSPS, IACEMKarin.Ford@idph.iowa.gov

515-242-6336