Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters (CARD)

Here is a link to another blog with great information for emergency preparedness and disaster response resources for nonprofits and community agencies serving people with special needs. Pierce County utilizes some of its training curricula for the Emergency Planning Institute is just implented at the end of last year.

http://blog.cardcanhelp.org/

Vulnerable Populations Action Teams

Public Health - Seattle & King County has formed a Vulnerable Populations Action Team (VPAT) to coordinate countywide preparedness efforts with a wide variety of community partners. The team includes a diverse cross section of staff with public health expertise in vulnerable populations, preparedness and infectious diseases. First efforts focus on influenza pandemic planning, with other emergencies included as partnerships and networks are strengthened.

For additional information on what VPAT is doing in Seattle and King County, go to their website - http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/VPAT.aspx

Monthly meetings

There is a monthly meeting of the Pierce County High Risk Populations Disaster Planning Coalition, which is open to the public. The Coalition meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 9 to 11 am at Pierce County Human Services, 3580 Pacific Ave in Tacoma.

Save the Date - 2009 High Risk Populations Disaster Planning Summit

Planning has already started for the 2009 Pierce County High Risk Populations Disaster Planning Summit! This year it is on Tuesday, June 9th from 7:30 to noon at the Oasis of Hope Center, 1937 South G St. in Tacoma.

This is our third summit, and each year it gets better and better. This year we will have a presentation on a nursing home evacuation during the January 2009 flooding; a panel on disaster medications; and some networking opportunities. We hope you will join us. Registration is free, and you can RSVP to sbadger@co.pierce.wa.us anytime.

The picture at the right is from last year's Summit - over 150 people attended from over 110 different agencies and organizations. Participants included representatives from long term care providers, social service agencies, law enforcement, fire departments, military, the deaf and hard of hearing community, homeless providers, local, county and state governments, and others.

'When the Unexpected Happens: Learn How to Prepare'

Last July, the Pierce County High Risk Populations Disaster Planning Coalition decided to put a 10-minute preparedness video together to target people who are in the high risk categories. This can be used by pretty much everyone, because it discusses basic preparedness principles. To view the video, go to the following web page, and click on the link below the picture of the flooding river.

http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/dem/pubed.htm

Disaster Training for people who are Homeless

Last summer (2008), a subcomittee of the Pierce County Homeless Coalition decided to expand its disaster preparedness focus to not only the homeless providers, but the homeless population as well. Two trainings are offered every other month - a two-hour overview of first aid/CPR (taught by the Red Cross) and a two-hour overview of neighborhood disaster preparedenss. After the first session on the two-hour first aid/CPR overview, the 14 participants were asked if they would want to sit through an eight-hour class for their certification. Several weeks later, 10 people were Red Cross-certified.

Here is an article from the local paper http://www.thenewstribune.com/merryman/story/540056.html

Current Projects

Pierce County Emergency Management hired a Vulnerable Populations Coordinator two years ago, and since then, the coordinator has been working with high risk population providers, advocates and individuals to better prepare for emergencies and disasters.

Our 2009 Project list is:

• Include populations we are serving by inviting them into the planning process (including LEP populations) – target is five active representatives by end of year
• Create an Emergency Medication Task Force - the question of medications keeps coming up in all of our discussions, and we'd like to move forward on looking at some possible solutions.
• Create and implement a social services survey - emergency preparedness/readiness - 30% return rate
• Plan and coordinate High Risk Population Disaster Planning Summit with a 10% increase in attendance
• Pursue funding for 20 HAM radios for placement in facilities; coordinate training and licensing staff as operators (at least three per facility).
• Using technology, making the disaster presentations (actually, anything) multimedia accessible
• Continue with the monthly trainings for people who are homeless – rotating at different locations – including full CPR/First Aid certification classes
• Create and offer three trainings on ICS (pre-ICS) using the CARD method
• Offer three ICS 100/700 trainings
• Develop and coordinate quarterly Disaster Readiness Seminars throughout the year
• Hold two Emergency Preparedness Institute classes
• Coordinate 30 Disaster Preparedness trainings for HRP provider employees and/or clients
• Coordinate planning for a Pierce County Medical Needs Sheltering plan
• Coordinate UASI Long Term Care Facility Emergency Readiness Pilot project

If anyone wants more information on the above, please feel free to contact Sheri Badger (me) at sbadger@co.pierce.wa.us