Disaster Planning Information

 

This page last updated: 03/14/2006
 
Contents:
DelDot Evacuation Plans
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
American Red Cross
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Community Participation in Disaster Planning
Disaster Charities
Disaster Preparedness Information and Preparedness Kits
Elderly Health Needs
Emergency Departments
Guidelines and Strategies
Military Evacuees Can Move Prescriptions
National Institute of Cancer
National Emergency Response Registry
Terms and Definitions

 

DelDot Evacuation Plans:

 

Sussex County Emergency Evacuation Plans

 

To review and/or print the Sussex County Emergency evacuation plans, go to the DelDot website at
http://www.deldot.gov/static/projects/tmt/proj_docs.shtml#sc_draft

 

Note: You will need Adobe to view most of the material. If you do not have Adobe, you can download it for free at
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ):

  • Web-assisted Audioconference Calls - The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is conducting a series of free Web-assisted audioconference calls on bioterrorism and health system preparedness. These calls are designed to share the latest health services research findings, promising practices, and other important information with State and local health officials and key health systems decisionmakers.  For more information, go to http://www.ahrq.gov/news/ulp/biotconf.htm.
  • Bioterrorism and Health System Preparedeness Issues Briefs - Support of bioterrorism research and knowledge transfer is a natural outgrowth of ongoing efforts by the AHRQ to develop and disseminate evidence-based information aimed at improving the quality of the U.S. health care system.  For current list of Briefs available, go to http://www.ahrq.gov/news/ulp/btbriefs/. 
    • The AHRQ has issued four new briefs on bioterrorism and health system preparedness:
      • Addressing the Smallpox Threat: Issues, Strategies, and Tools;
      • Disaster Planning Drills and Readiness Assessment;
      • Optimizing Surge Capacity: Hospital Assessment and  Planning and Optimizing Surge Capacity;
      • Regional Efforts in Bioterrorism Readiness.
  • AHRQ Expert Panel Report Examines Standards of Care During Mass Casualty Events - Guidelines for officials on how to plan for delivering health and medical care in a mass casualty event are outlined in a new report from an expert panel convened by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness.  The report, Altered Standards of Care in Mass Casualty Events, offers a framework for how to provide optimal care during a potential bioterrorism or other public health emergency involving thousands, or even tens of thousands, of victims. For example, planners at the Federal, State, regional, community, and health systems levels should develop or revise triage guidelines for specific types of events and allocation guidelines for the use of scarce resources such as ventilators, burn beds, or surgical suites, according to the report. Altered Standards of Care in Mass Casualty Events includes the recommendations of a 39-member panel of experts in bioethics, emergency medicine, emergency management, health administration, health law and policy, and public health that was convened in August 2004 to examine this challenge.  Altered Standards of Care in Mass Casualty Events can be found online at http://www.ahrq.gov/research/altstand/.  Printed copies may be ordered by calling (800) 358-9295 or by sending an e-mail to ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov.
  • AHRQ Evidence Report Helps Hospitals Respond to Bioterrorism or Other Public Health Emergencies
    As part of its public health and emergency preparedness portfolio, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a new report titled
    "Training of Hospital Staff to Respond to a Mass Casualty Incident." The report identifies key elements to be used in evaluating hospital disaster
    drills. The report is available at http://www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/tp/hospmcitp.htm
  • AHRQ Tool Helps Hospitals Evaluate Disaster-Training Drills. 
    HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a free tool to help hospitals evaluate their disaster training drills. Developed by the Evidence-based Practice Center at Johns Hopkins University, the tool helps hospitals identify their strengths and weaknesses during a disaster drill and improve their ability to meet required emergency management plans. Areas assessed include pre-drill planning, incident command, decontamination, triage and treatment. The tool also includes checklists to help hospitals tailor drills to specific health threats, such as a biological or radiation incidents, and a spreadsheet to track and compare drill performance among hospital units or hospitals. The resource, "Evaluation of Hospital Disaster Drills: A Module-Based Approach," is available from the agency as a notebook with accompanying CD-ROM by calling (800) 358-9295 and referencing AHRQ Publication No. 04-0032. It also can be downloaded online at http://www.ahrq.gov/research/hospdrills/hospdrill.htm.

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American Red Cross:

  • American Red Cross National Emergency Preparedness Information Hotline Contact (866) GET INFO or (866) 438-4636

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • Centers for Disease Control and PreventionIssues guidelines for automated detection of anthrax in workplace. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today published guidelines for responding to the detection of aerosolized anthrax by Autonomous Detection Systems in the workplace. It said every employer that deploys an ADS, which are under development, should create detailed plans for responding to a positive signal and coordinating responses with community partners. The guidelines can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts have reviewed strategies that healthcare providers can use to Recognize Illnesses Associated with the Covert Release of a Chemical Agent. Among the clues cited by CDC Medical Toxicologist Martin Belson, MD, are an unusual increase in the number of patients seeking medical care; the rapid onset of symptoms after exposure to a potentially contaminated medium; unexplained death of plants,fish or animals; and unexplained deaths among young or healthy people. For more information or to access a replay of an Aug. 5 Webcast on the topic,go to http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/webcast/chemical-exp

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Community Participation in Disaster Planning:

  • Study Suggests Need To Involve Public In Readiness Planning -A study released by the New York Academy of Medicine suggests only two-fifths of Americans would follow instructions to go to a public vaccination site in a smallpox outbreak and only three-fifths would stay inside an undamaged building other than their home after a dirty bomb explosion.  The study found vaccine safety concerns would keep many people away from the vaccination site and that others would not go because they would avoid being with strangers in a smallpox outbreak.  Many people who would not fully cooperate with instructions to stay inside a building after a dirty bomb explosion said they would do so if they could communicate with people they care about or were sure they were in places prepared to take good care of them in that situation.  The researchers suggested readiness planners use the study findings to strengthen their responses to such disasters.  To view the study, go to http://www.cacsh.org/eptpp.html

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Disaster Charities:

The list of disaster charities provide aid to areas affected by disasters within the United States of America and was obtained from the FEMA listing of agencies assisting with recovery efforts in LA, MS, and AL.  Click here to see the listing.
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Disaster Preparedness Information and Preparedness Kits:

  • Business Disaster Planning:
    • Department of Homeland Security Ready Business is designed to help owners and managers of small to medium-sized businesses prepare their employees, operations, and assets in the event of an emergency, go to http://www.ready.gov/

The kit offered at the Coast Guard Exchange System, good for one person for up to 72 hours, comes packed into a nylon backpack. Included in the backpack is a radio, emergency drinking water, 12 food rations, a flashlight, heavy duty batteries, N59 mask, first aid kit, whistle, turnoff wrench, towelettes, 50 square feet of Home Guard plastic barrier sheeting, duct tape, and an emergency preparedness information book.  If interested in the kit offered by the Coast Guard Exchange System, visit their web site at: www.cg-exchange.com.

Check the website of other vendors to determine if kits are available online or through their retail outlets. 

Additional information is available at www.ready.gov and at www.americaprepared.org.

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Elderly Health Needs:

  • Report Examines Health Needs of Elderly Following Hurricane Charley - The elderly are a particularly vulnerable population during and following hurricanes because of physical mobility, hearing difficulties and the need for care for pre-existing medical conditions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes today in a report summarizing findings and recommendations from assessments of the immediate health needs of Florida residents age 60 and older following Hurricane Charley.  CDC said the assessments provided critical information to state and local public health response teams, and will be used in response planning and to improve public health communications.  For example, the assessments suggested accelerating restoration of medical care services, improving access to prescription medications, improving garbage and storm debris pickup, and improving awareness of advisories concerning use of bottled water for drinking and cooking until local water sources are safe. To view the report, go to http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5336a2.htm

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Emergency Departments:

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Guidelines and Strategies:

  • Centers for Disease Control and PreventionIssues Guidelines for Automated Detection of Anthrax in Workplace. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today published guidelines for responding to the detection of aerosolized anthrax by Autonomous Detection Systems in the workplace. It said every employer that deploys an ADS, which are under development, should create detailed plans for responding to a positive signal and coordinating responses with community partners. The guidelines can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts have reviewed strategies that healthcare providers can use to Recognize Illnesses Associated with the Covert Release of a Chemical Agent. Among the clues cited by CDC Medical Toxicologist Martin Belson, MD, are an unusual increase in the number of patients seeking medical care; the rapid onset of symptoms after exposure to a potentially contaminated medium; unexplained death of plants,fish or animals; and unexplained deaths among young or healthy people. For more information or to access a replay of an Aug. 5 Webcast on the topic,go to http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/webcast/chemical-exp 
·                The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a National Public Health Strategy for Terrorism Preparedness and Response http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/tprstrategy/index.asp
  • Guide Helps Communities Dispense Drugs, Vaccines In Emergency - The Department of Health and Human Services today announced a new planning guide designed to help communities ensure all Americans have needed drugs and vaccines in the event of a natural epidemic or bioterrorist attack.  Developed by researchers at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, the guide complements a Strategic National Stockpile Guidebook prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which includes a chapter on dispensing medications and vaccines. "States and localities are charged with the enormous task of readying medicines needed in an emergency," said HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson. "This guide goes a long way toward helping them put the necessary resources into place and to meeting the federal government's call for readiness." The guide, funded by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, can be found at www.ahrq.gov/research/cbmprophyl/cbmpro.htm 

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Military Evacuees Can Move Prescriptions:

Tricare has said that military evacuees displaced by Hurricane Katrina can move their prescription records at military treatment facilities in the Golf Coast to any other military or retail pharmacy nationwide.  If the displaced beneficiary was using mail-order pharmacy, they can request the prescription to be moved to a retail pharmacy if they are not able to receive mail.  For assistance, call Tricare at (866) 275-4732 or visit their web site at www.tricare.osd.mil.

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National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health:

The National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health has a Web site (www.cancer.gov/katrina) with information for health care providers and cancer patients, including 1-800-4 CANCER, which can be used as an additional contact point for oncologists and cancer patients.

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National Emergency Response Registry:

The National Emergency Response Registry (www.nerr.gov), set up by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provides coordination of resources that are needed with resources that may be available from the public and private sectors.  Organizations wishing to provide or find items can register via the Web site.

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Terms and Definitions:

The National Mutual Aid Glossary of Terms and Definitions, which provides terms for equipment, teams, and personnel used in disasters, and Resource Typing Definitions I ,which organizes equipment and teams by category, capability, and capacity. Each resource is organized in the following categories: emergency management, emergency medical systems, fire/hazardous materials, health and medical, law enforcement, public works, and search and rescue.  http://www.fema.gov/preparedness/mutual_aid.shtm

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Delaware Healthcare Association Members - log into the Member Area for additional information and resources.

If there is some information which you would like to see added to this disaster/terrorism preparedness resource page, please contact Christine Pauley at the Delaware Healthcare Association at christinep@deha.org.