Posted on 09/19/2005 3:20:22 AM PDT by highlymotivated
Nursing Facilities Hurricane Plan
Evacuation Host Facility: This designates arrangements with a host facility outside the risk area where nursing facility clients and staff will shelter during a hurricane evacuation. This facility must be outside the risk area, and signed agreements must be current.
Patient Transport Company: The transportation method that will be used to transport patients and staff to the out-of-town facility in case of evacuation. Signed and current contracts are necessary to fulfill these criteria.
Supply Transport Company: The supply transport is the method by which the supplies will be taken to the out-of-town host facility. A signed and current contract is required or an addendum saying that patient and supply transportation is the same.
Supply Listing: A complete list of the a) Supplies being transported to host site; b) Supplies to be delivered to host site; c) Supplies host facility will provide.
Vendor Agreements: Vendor agreements are necessary to ensure delivery of emergency supplies, food provisions, nursing equipment and laundry needs to host site. These agreements must be current and must include all supplies that might be needed.
Emergency Generator Testing: The number of hours the facility's generator can operate.
Accurate Emergency Telephone Numbers: A complete and accurate list of emergency phone numbers which includes the City of New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness number and fax number.
The Plan was very detailed!!!! Scroll down to read what each person coming to a special needs shelter was supposed to bring. Check what were the criteria that qualified someone to be considered Special Needs.
Special Needs Shelter Plan
City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan
I. PURPOSE
The shelter is intended for individuals who have no other resources and who need assistance that cannot be guaranteed in a regular shelter, i.e. medication that requires refrigeration, oxygen equipment, etc.The Special Needs Shelter (SNS) will only be activated by the Mayor of New Orleans or his designee.Entrance into the SNS does not relieve any individual of the responsibility for their own care.Admission into the Shelter is NOT TO BE INTERPRETED AS A GUARANTEE OF SAFETY, and the City of New Orleans is not assuring anyone protection from harm within the facilities that are being offered or opened for this purpose.
It is critical that everyone understands that this shelter will not be able to substitute for the comforts of the individuals' homes, and that all equipment and special furniture, which are normally used, may not be able to accompany them.It is recommended that all persons with special medical needs and/or their responsible family members develop a viable plan for transportation out of the community to a community that will be able to give long term assistance.The potential exists that New Orleans could be without sufficient supplies to meet the needs of persons with special considerations, and there is significant risk being taken by those individuals who decide to remain in these refuges of last resort.The plan is intended to identify the mechanics of establishing a SNS and when it shall be activated.
II. COORDINATION OF CITY AND STATE OPERATIONS
The coordination of city and state resources and operations is present throughout all planning, implementation, and resolution of declared disasters. This includes the City of New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness (NO OEP), New Orleans Health Department (NOHD), the State of Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness (La OEP), The LSU Health Science Center (LSU HSC){Medical Center of LA}), the State of Louisiana Department of Social Services (La DSS), and the Louisiana National Guard (LANG). The State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (La DHH) remains available as a resource when requested as the need presents and as requested by the No OEP and the La OEP.
Designated representatives of NOHD and DSS will oversee the SNS operations (medical and non-medical areas respectively) and report to the Command and Control Cell (CCC) as outlined.
LSU HSC will provide support in the form of medical personnel or supplies and equipment as available and requested by the Director of NOHD (see Appendix E-1 for the Memorandum of Understanding {MOU}).
The LANG will provide one medical company to the SNS as well as Guardsmen for security and policing of the shelter.
III. SHELTER POPULATION
The population for the shelters established in the New Orleans area will be considered those individuals without the resources to evacuate.Persons who will be entering the SNS shall meet the following criteria:
1.Are able to provide their own basic care but have a chronic, debilitating medical condition requiring intermittent or occasional assistance.
2.Are dependent on intermittent electricity / generator power for necessary medical treatments or maintenance of medication, such as respiratory treatments, pump feedings etc.Note:This does not include continuous electrical needs such as ventilators.
3.Are not acutely ill.
4.Have been triaged by Shelter Staff to assure that the individual does meet the criteria and is a candidate for services which can be provided and assisted in this area, and sign a form acknowledging that there cannot be any guarantee of safety.
5.Are not in the third trimester of a high-risk pregnancy.
It is not appropriate to admit individuals to this shelter who require constant care or who require constant electricity to support machines necessary to maintain their life.Dialysis will not be available.Persons who are acutely ill will be evaluated and referred to local hospitals for definitive care.On a daily basis, every person with a chronic medical problem should have a viable plan that has been discussed with their primary physician so that when a disaster occurs, they will have an action plan established which can be put into effect.
Each person admitted into the SNS will be responsible for:
1.Personal medications and/or equipment necessary to administer medications such as inhalation machines, etc.
2.Personal care materials (toothbrush, soap, towels, drinking water, blanket, pillow, air mattress, diapers, etc.).
3.Personal belongings - should have at least five changes of dress.
4.Non-perishable foodstuffs.Each person must bring specific diet requirements and should have a minimum of five days worth of meals.
5.One caregiver will be allowed to accompany an individual admitted in the SNS.Entire families will not be allowed into this work area.In the event that other caregivers for a particular patient are in the general shelter population, they may be allowed to rotate shifts with the SNS patient on a set schedule and/or as deemed appropriate by the shelter staff.
IV. ADMISSION
Upon declaration that persons living in Region 1 of the State of Louisiana area should voluntarily evacuate to safe locations outside of the potential threat area, a telephone number will be issued to the public. Individuals who are unable find resources within their own parish, or residents of Orleans Parish who are unable to leave the area and who have special medical needs, can call this number to arrange triaging to determine the appropriateness of admission.
Calls for SNS needs will be routed through NOHD EMS for evaluation of the individual and whenever possible a triage team will go to the individual's home to evaluate their needs, capabilities, and the appropriate destination for the person.Minimum criteria needed from the citizen include:
1.Name of current primary physician.
2.Amount of medication and equipment on hand.
3.Medical records for care.
4.Caregiver to attend to the person at the center.
Any citizen going directly to the SNS without previous triaging by NOHD EMS teams will be evaluated for admission to the shelter by triaging personnel. Whether triaged in the home or at the shelter entrance, the decision will be made that:
1.The individual meets admission criteria and is routed through the SNS system.
2.The severity of the individual's condition dictates arrangement of admission to a hospital using the most appropriate mode of transportation. (The coordination of transportation and needs for transportation will be coordinated through the SNS Director and NOHD EMS Administrator and/or their designee).
3.The individual is recommended to a general shelter area.
4.The individual is released from the area with the recommendation to evacuate out of the threat area.
All individuals triaged into the shelter will be issued a METTAG Triage Tag with an exclusive number to be worn by the individual until discharged post event. Anything or anyone associated with the individual in the shelter will be identified with this exclusive number.
V. SNS COMMAND STRUCTURE
The organization of the shelter, its staff and direction of all activities in the unit will be the joint responsibility of the Office of Emergency Preparedness (NO OEP), the New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) and the State of Louisiana Department of Social Services (LA DSS).The Incident Command system (IC) will be enacted in this work area for smooth flow of direction and operation.A color coding system utilizing the IC vest system will be implemented to identify the command structure and color coded caps will be worn by personnel to identify the area to which each of the shelter staff is assigned.
The Director of the NO OEP and the La OEP will institute a Shelter Command and Control Cell (CCC) on site for the entire operations of the Refuge of Last Resort to which the command of the SNS will report.
The Directors of the NO OEP, NOHD, and La DSS shall appoint the SNS Shelter Director and the Assistant Shelter Director, the Medical Director, Supply Officer and the Auxiliary Officer.The chain of command reports to the CCC and is as follows:
NOOEP NOHD La DSS
Command Staff Member
Shelter Director
Assistant Shelter Directord
Medical Director Supply Officer Auxiliary Officer
-Triage Officer
-Transportation
-Staffing Physicians/PA's Nurses
EMT's
Military -Medical Officer
-Pharmacy Supplies
-Equipment -Volunteers
-Records
-Food, Water
-Security
-Sanitation Needs
Upon the Shelter Director's decision that resources may become depleted or exhausted, he will communicate the situation to the CCC who will communicate with the Directors of the NO OEP, NOHD, and DSS.The Director of the NO OEP will the contact the Director of the La OEP to request an augment of personnel, supplies, equipment, etc., and will also make the decision when assistance is needed from DHH .
A.Shelter Director (SD)
The Shelter Director or his designee, shall be responsible for opening the SNS and overseeing the operations of the Medical Director, Supply Officer, and the Auxiliary Officer.The SD will report directly to, and will maintain regular communication with, the CCC
B.Medical Director
The Medical Director will report to the SD or designee, and will be responsible for organizing the medical area.This includes but is not limited to coordinating the staff, delivery of medical care, and the recruitment of physicians.The Medical Director will delegate responsibility..In the event that the Medical Director is a non-physician, there must be a Medical Officer designated to make direct patient care decisions.The Medical Director will be responsible for making the final decisions, in conjunction with the Medial Officer, about the admission in or transfer out of individuals from the SNS. The Medical Officer will be responsible for DNR decisions and completion of all necessary documents for deceased persons with in the SNS.
C.Supply Officer
The Supply Officer will report to the Shelter Director or his designee, and will be responsible for organizing the supply area. The Supply Officer will complete the checklist for supplies and equipment (see Appendix D) and will immediately identify deficits to the SD or his designee.The Supply Officer will be responsible for maintaining records of supply use, for keeping an accurate account of which agency has donated materials, and for the facilitation of returning equipment and/or supplies.
D.Auxiliary Officer
The Auxiliary Officer will be responsible for all needs of a non-medical or non-direct patient care nature. This individual will report to the SD, or designee.The responsibilities shall include, but will not be limited to:oversight of security personnel, sanitation needs, food and water acquisition and preparation, compilation of all records and maintaining a records system, and direction of volunteers to areas of appropriate use. A records officer will oversee and ensure the maintenance ofrecords on all workers within the shelter unit in every work area.
E.Shelter Environment
The SNS is required to meet the following criteria:
1.Providing an enclosed area with controllable ingress and egress.
2.Providing generator power capability and access around the clock.
3.Providing handicap restroom facilities.
4.Providing multiple restroom facilities, both male and female.
5.Providing access to arefrigerator that is under the control of generator power.
6.The ability to cordon off parts of the room for patient privacy and treatment.
7.Providing kitchen facility with the ability to heat food for residents.
8.Providing housekeeping equipment with mops, pails, soap, and water access.
9.Preference should be given to tiled floor area.
10.Providing sufficient space to provide quarantine area if it becomes necessary;.
11.Providing tables that can be used for beds, or a minimum of 200 cots for staff and residents of the area.If the duration of the event becomes prolonged, additional cots may be needed.
VI. SHELTER ORGANIZATION
The designated areas in the selected site shall be determined by the Shelter Director in conjunction with the major staff positions designated in the unit chain of command.The final decision shall rest with the SD. Police Personnel will be assigned immediately to control ingress and egress of authorized personsThere must be two points in ingress and egress, with only one access open and staffed by police agents. The opening of the second doors will be at the direction of the SD or his designee in the event of a site emergency. Generators will be tested to assure they are functional. Primary section designation shall be: 1. Triage, Registration/Records
2. Treatment - must be able to cordon off for privacy of multiple treatment areas being used at one time.
3.Major Medical Treatment - must have generator power and be able to be closed off from all other activities.
4. Supply - an area which can be locked for Pharmacy
5. Shelter Staff Rest Areas
6. Resident Rest Areas
7. Port-o-lets must be on site in the event of rest room failures or disruption.
Command Communications will be done on the dry erase board that will be posted at each area of ingress and egress.Dry erase boards will be located in each work area identifying the area and providing a status update every 4 hours.
A.Triage
A designated Triage Officer from LSU HSC will oversee triaging at the entrance to the SNS.Triaging will be by a minimum of two RN's and a Physician.If further triage staff are needed, no less than an EMT-Paramedic may be assigned.
Every resident entering the area must be triaged to determine eligibility for the area based on the criteria established by the Medical Officer and the SD and stated above.In the event of a question the MedicalDirector will be contacted prior to admission.
An NCR Triage/Registration Form (A-1) will have the triage information completed. The METTAG triage tag designating care level by color and with its unique number will be given to the patient and this tag must be worn throughout the stay in the area.Any caretaker accompanying the individual will be tagged with a card and the tag number for the resident in order to prevent their separation..There will be one caretaker admitted per resident.
B.Registration
The Records Officer will oversee DSS personnel, who will complete, a Registration Form (see Appendix A-1), a Shelter Information Sheet (see Appendix A-2), and an Acknowledgment Form (see Appendix A-3) for each individual, and who will then attach a numbered corner from the triage tag onto the registration form.The individual will be given a room placement assignment and sent to the Pharmacy Area.
C.Pharmacy
The Pharmacy Officer will oversee staff who will complete a Pharmacy Form (see Appendix A-4) and who will attach a numbered corner from the triage tag onto the form identifying all medications (prescription and OTC) brought into the SNS.
Each individual and/or caretaker will take responsibility for maintaining these medications (with the exception of refrigerated medications)and the administration of each in an appropriate time and manner.
The Pharmacy Officer will organize a pharmacy area for keeping the pharmacy forms and the SNS medications The PharmacyOfficer will also ensure the placement of a biohazard waste disposal container that will include a sharps disposal.
D.Shelter Staff
Shelter Staff will sign in and be assigned to an area (see Appendix B-1).Additionally, DSS personnel will complete sign in (see Appendix B-2).All non-city/state employees will complete a City of New Orleans VIGOR Volunteer application (see Appendix B-3).
Shelter Staff will work no more than 12 hours in any 24 hour period, except in the event of a major disaster in the Shelter Area (Appendix B-1).Every effort will be made to give Shelter Staff a 15 to 30 minute break in each 4 hour work period (Appendix B-1).
Every effort will be made to provide food and water supplies for shelter staff.However, everyone in this area will need to bring supplies for a minimum of a 5 day period. Each shelter staff person is expected to bring his own toiletries, bedding and changes of clothing.Safe storage of excessive personal effects cannot be guaranteed.
Work assignments will be documented and overseen by the assigned director.Any disputes regarding workload or assignment shall be documented and forwarded to the SD for mediation.
E.Food
Food will be provided to shelter staff and residents as available by Volume Services of America in the Superdome.
F.Shelter Morgue
An on-site morgue area must be designated.
In the event the on-site morgue must be used, additional police personnel (La DSS Enforcement) will be assigned to guard the area.Every effort will be made to remove deceased persons in a safe and timely manner.
All effects of the deceased will be logged and accounted for by a minimum of two Shelter Staff.One of the staff must be a designated director of a Staffing area, and all materials will be bagged and left in the area with the deceased.
VII. MEDIA
Any request from the media will only go through the Shelter Director to the Command and Control Cell, to the Director of NO OEP.At no time will any media or unauthorized photographs be allowed from any other source.
VIII. IMPLEMENTATION
A.Upon Declaration of the Opening of the SNS
The designated Shelter Director, and Assistant Shelter Director will report to the shelter site with the assigned staff and:
1.Report in to the Control and Command Cell personnel.
2. Meet with designated Medical, Supply, and Auxiliary Officers to assure and oversee the set-up of each of those areas.
3.Identify the designated rooms, and the arrangement of each area (ex: patient rooms, pharmacy, records, personnel caps, etc).
4. Arrange for the setting up of the informational dry erase boards with theappropriate instructions.
5. Arrange for the receiving of, and organization of, supplies and equipment (Appendix D).
6.Arrange for the setting up a registration table for incoming shelter staff to report in, receive assignments and appropriate color cap, and meet with the site staff to coordinate with shelter personnel.
7. As registration continues, the Shelter Director and Assistant Shelter Director will stay apprised of room placements and assure that the necessary rooms are made available to accommodate the incoming residents, organized by triage tag colors.
Designated medical staff (wearing the appropriate colored caps), will man the triage area and will set up at the door to the Special Needs Shelter ingress site.Shelter residents arriving with pre-triage paperwork(Appendix A-1 and METTAG) will be directed to the registration area. Others seeking admittance will be triaged as dictated by the plan.Those deemed appropriate for admittance will be directed to the registration area.
Personnel of the Department of Social Services (wearing the appropriate colored caps) are to set up Registration tables past the triage area within the ingress area.DSS personnel are to complete registration paperwork as dictated by the plan and orient the individuals to the basic layout of the shelter and directions on the dry erase boards.
Personnel of the DSS Support Enforcement will set up security measures at the Shelter Worker rest area and provide security in case of any activation of the shelter morgue.
B.During the Event
The SD is to insure smooth operation of the shelter as delineated in the plan, and identify any problems to the Command Staff Member. Any incident occurring in the shelter will be documented on the Incident Report Form (see Appendix C) and reported to the CCC personnel.
NOHD personnel will provide needed and ongoing medical assessment and care and oversee assisting medical personnel.
LSU HSC will provide needed and ongoing medical assessment and care.
DSS personnel will assist with meals, dissemination of information, counseling, and the arrangment for clergy visits.DSS Enforcement personnel will continue to provide security within the staff rest area and the morgue (if and when opened).
LANG Guardsment will provide SNSsecurity, and the medical company will provide on-going medical assessment and care.
C.Resolution of Declared Emergency
DSS registration personnel will:
1.Complete an exit interview with each shelter resident, completing an exit form (see Appendix A-5).
2. Identify methods of transportation and coordinate with SD for transportation arrangements.
3.Collect triage tags and file with all paperwork pertaining to the resident.
All other SNS personnel will coordinate the area Officers in closing the shelter.Each shelter worker will identify any problems encountered during the disaster, or any suggestions, to the Officer of that section (see Appendix C-2).The area Officers will communicate this information to the SD.
The SD will prepare an After Action Report (see Appendix C-2) with this information to be given to the Command Staff Member.
Mayor's Office
Emergency Preparedness
Homeland Security
Human Relations Commission
Mayor's Military Advisory Committee
Emergency Guide for Citizens with Disabilities
Tracking Chart
Family Disaster Plan
Flash Floods & Flooding
Hurricanes
Saffir-Simpson
Storm Surge
Thunderstorm Information
Tornadoes
Watches & Warnings
Before the Storm
Riding out the Storm
After the Storm
State Evacuation Maps
General Evacuation Guidelines
Boats & RVs
I made the mistake of listening to Bob Beckel on Fox just now. The discussion was about the conflict between Nagin and Adm Allen regarding evacuees returning to NO.
Beckel flat out lied by saying "the federal government is responsible for evacuating cities of this size." Must have been in the DNC memo this morning. I have never heard that suggestion before, and it is nowhere in the lengthy evacuation plan that I just posted on this thread.
Of course, at the same time that the Feds failed in the evacuation, according to Beckel, Allen is wrong to contradict Nagin in allowing residents back in.
Emergency services are still being provided by people from other states. Maybe the first people allowed back in should be the police and fire dept employees, the telephone linemen, the gas and electric co. repairman and the 911 answerers.
It seems to me that Nagin has no problem taking handouts and criticizing the quality of the handout!
I bet you are right..
I am just getting sick and tired of all these moron officials from N.O.And other places blaming our president..fot this storm..
Bookmark.
I saw the same report you did but didn't really listen to it as much as you did..Nagin is just trying to get his project voters back into N.O.I have heard lots of reports that said the people should not be brough back..What if this new storm Rita hits Louisiana the way it is going the whole coast of Texas and parts of Louisiana could be hit..The only one that will get out fast is the Mayor since he has a nice little get away in Dallas..
Great article. Whiners have no place in America. Real Americans stare a problem in the face and think seriously on how to fix it. Solutions are the only way a problem gets fixed. People who whine are uselessly taking up space and wasting oxygen.
The character of the NO residents that I seen on TV leaves me thinking that Neanderthal still walks the streets.
Even that incremental change would be a benefit to our country.
NO folks demanded government aid and Mississippi folks were just happy to be alive. A stark contrast and it embarasses me for the rest of the world to see the civil disorder in NO.
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