Emergency Management and Public Health Partners in Planning and Response Teresa Porter, RN Alabama Department of Public Health Public Health Area 9 Mitchell Sims Director Baldwin County EMA
Emergency Management and Public Health
Partners in Planning and Response
Teresa Porter, RN
Alabama Department of Public Health Public Health Area 9
Mitchell Sims
Director Baldwin County EMA
M.A.D. Civil Defense
The Essential Emergency Manager
Some local history…
•1906/1916
•1969 Hurricane Camille
•1979 Hurricane Frederic
•1985 Hurricane Elena
•1997 Hurricane Danny
•2004 Hurricane Ivan
Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency
Mitchell Sims, Director
Hurricane Ivan
5 days out…
Hurricane Ivan
12 hours out…
#7 – Perdido Key, Al (7/17/01)
#7 – Perdido Key, Al (9/17/04)
#12 – Gulf Shores, Al (7/17/01)
#12 – Gulf Shores, Al (9/17/04)
How time has changed
Hurricane Ivan was beginning for “enhanced” EP
EMA recognizes the importance of Public Health
And they recognize that we are the SME on health and medical issues
Engagement
Conscious effort to actively engaged
Relationship building
Interaction of our Agencies
Know who to call
Involvement with Baldwin EMA
EOC
Shelters
Health Related Press Releases
Exercises – ie: vaccination
SNS planning
ESF 8 Partners
LEPC
Hazard Mitigation
Town Hall Meetings
HCC
MRC
Disaster Epidemiology
Prevent or reduce the number of deaths, illnesses, and injuries caused by disasters
Provide timely and accurate health information for decision-makers
Improve prevention and mitigation strategies for future disasters by collecting information for future response preparation
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/disaster/epidemiology.htm
Type of Disaster Epi Provided
Shelter Data
Environmental Assessment
Surveillance of Population
AIMS
POD numbers
HVA health related issues
CASPER
Uses of CASPER Across Disaster Life Cycle
Preparedness phase (beginning of “disaster season”)
Identify preparedness levels of a community
• Evacuation plans
• Personal readiness plans
• Communications
Response phase (2-14 days following disaster)
Identify needs of affected community to inform response
• Basic necessities (safe water, food, shelter)
• Physical health (medical needs)
• Safety (risk assessment, injury, carbon monoxide)
Recovery phase (3 weeks – 1 year following disaster)
Assess long term or on-going needs
Evaluate response efforts or programs
CASPER in Baldwin County
August 2010
Assess the physical and mental health of the coastal communities impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
August 2011
Assess the same communities one year after initial assessment
Evacuation and communication questions
October 2012
Assess the same communities two years after initial assessment
Addition of county-wide sampling frame
Assess differences in evacuation and communication
CASPER Sampling Frames, October 2012
Baldwin County Baldwin Coastal
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Method of Communication
County Coastal
What forms of communication do you have currently available to communicate with family/friends?
County and Coastal Sampling Frames – October 2012
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100% Es
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Method of Communication
County Coastal
What forms of communication do you have currently available to communicate with family/friends?
County and Coastal Sampling Frames – October 2012
0%
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20%
30%
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100% Es
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Method of Communication
County Coastal
What forms of communication do you have currently available to communicate with family/friends?
County and Coastal Sampling Frames – October 2012
Television 68%
Radio 9%
Cell Phone 5%
Dial Up Internet 1%
High Speed Internet
8%
Neighbors 0.5% Facebook/Social
Media 1%
Other 8%
What would be your main method or way of getting information from authorities in a hurricane?
Coastal Sampling Frame – October 2012
If public authorities announced a mandatory evacuation from your community due to a large-
scale disaster or emergency, would you evacuate?
August 2011 October 2012
90%
10%
Yes
No
77%
23%
Yes
No
Coastal Sampling Frame
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Esti
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of
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2011 2012
Coastal Sampling Frame – August 2011 and October 2012
What would be the main reason you might not evacuate if asked to do so?*
*Among those answering “No” to the question If public authorities announced a mandatory
evacuation from your community due to a large-scale disaster or emergency, would you
evacuate?
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Esti
ma
ted
Pe
rce
nt
of
Ho
use
ho
lds
2011 2012
Coastal Sampling Frame – August 2011 and October 2012
What would be the main reason you might not evacuate if asked to do so?*
*Among those answering “No” to the question If public authorities announced a mandatory
evacuation from your community due to a large-scale disaster or emergency, would you
evacuate?
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Esti
ma
ted
Pe
rce
nt
of
Ho
use
ho
lds
2011 2012
Coastal Sampling Frame – August 2011 and October 2012
What would be the main reason you might not evacuate if asked to do so?*
*Among those answering “No” to the question If public authorities announced a mandatory
evacuation from your community due to a large-scale disaster or emergency, would you
evacuate?
If you had to evacuate for a hurricane, where would you go to stay until you could return home?
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
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Evacuation Location
Coastal Sampling Frame – October 2012
If you had to evacuate for a hurricane, where would you go to stay until you could return home?
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
Esti
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Evacuation Location
Coastal Sampling Frame – October 2012
Future Use of CASPER in Baldwin County
Preparedness CASPER
Hurricane Response CASPER
Teresa Porter, RN Mitchell Sims
EP Coordinator Director
ADPH/Public Health Area 9 Baldwin County EMA
Preparedness
Response
Training
Response Training
Recovery
“Mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of
life and property by lessening the impact
of disasters.”
Baldwin EMA Staff
Mass Care Shelters
• Baldwin Co. Coliseum (Robertsdale)
• Baldwin Co. High School (Bay Minette)
• Fairhope High School (Fairhope)
• Daphne East Elementary (Daphne)
• Bay Minette Middle School (Bay Minette)
Senior Citizen
Shelters
Solely for Senior Citizens, aged 55 & over, who are
independent, self sufficient, and who do not have
mental/physical conditions which require
medical/nursing oversight or have conditions which
require electricity to sustain life support functions.
•Central Baldwin Middle School (Robertsdale)
Medical Needs
Shelters
Electrical Support
Shelters
Impact of Past CASPERs
Resources Allocate scarce resources
Data cited to support requests/needs
Respond to specific needs (e.g., oxygen-dependent individuals, medication)
Support Provide valid information to governors, news media, etc.
Support funding of projects
Confirm suspected need for services (e.g., mental health)
Messaging Target communication messages
Future planning Prompted modification of emergency management plans
Identify where education needed in the community