Hawaii Scores Well in Emergency Preparedness

 
On December 14, 2010, the Department of Health released a communication that the Annual Trust for America's Health reported that Hawaii was one of seven states to score 7 out of 10 in emergency preparedness in a survey of the 50 states. The Trust of America is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that focuses on public health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The report examines states' preparedness in 10 categories that included a review of funding, use of the Web for disseminating information and surveillance, ability to rapidly deploy an emergency response team, establish an emergency operation center, draft after action reports and improvement plans, require childcare centers to have an emergency plan and laboratory reporting requirements. Three states scored a perfect 10: Arkansas, North Dakota and Washington.

All states reported that although there was a surge in funding from the federal level for H1N1 pandemic that assisted in emergency readiness, it was not enough to make up for years of underfunding. Acting Director of Health, Keith Ridley indicated that "The state is working hard at maximizing its resources to meet federal and state mandates. We strive to overcome our vulnerabilities to make sure that the public is informed, prepared and protected in a public health emergency. An investment in preparedness is an investment in our future. Repeated budget cuts require us to seek creative ways to respond in an emergency."

Key indicators used in the study change from year to year. The key indicators used in the study assessed health emergency preparedness in consultation with public health experts based on data from publicly available sources. Ridley indicated that the ability to meet reporting requirements were hindered by Hawaii's financial crisis and reduction in workforce. The areas Hawaii was marked down in were not activating an emergency operations center as part of a drill a minimum of twice a year in 2007-08; the ability to identify disease causing E.coli and submit results to the CDC network within the required time limit; and not staffing labs for five, 12-hour days for six to eight weeks in response to an infectious disease outbreak.

The full report may be reviewed at healthyamericans.org/.

Second Annual Volunteer Management Training Conference

 
The Department of Health (DOH) is hosting the Na Lima Kakoo: "Many Hands, One Heart" 2nd Annual Volunteer Management Conference.  The conference is for the Emergency System for Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP), Medical Reserve Corps Coordinators, and Volunteers from Hawaii and the Pacific jurisdictions, DOH response partners, and various local, state, and federal representatives. The conference is scheduled for January 20 - 21 at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Hotel in Honolulu, HI.

This training conference will feature ESAR-VHP technical assistance, local, state, and federal updates, and training on topics related to volunteer leadership development, cultural sensitivity, safe patient handling, and addressing functional needs in emergency preparedness response. There will also be opportunities to discuss volunteer mobilization and deployment using ESAR-VHP, expanding partnerships between Hawaii and the Pacific Rim areas, and to participate in an Alternate Care Site Functional Exercise.  

For more information, contact Moji Owolabi at (808) 587-5769 or via e-mail.

Functional Assessment Service Team (FAST)

 
The state of California used the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as impetus to develop the Functional Assessment Team (FAST) to prepare for and address the needs of people with disabilities and the elderly (PWD/E) during an emergency. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is the lead agency in the state and supports local government during a disaster in mass care and shelter. CDSS began planning efforts that included government agencies at the municipal, state and federal levels, as well as community-based organizations and private non-profit agencies to create and design improved supports in general population shelters.

Efforts resulted in:

1. An annex to the state's mass care and shelter plan supporting PWD/E in general population shelters;
2. A consultant contract to develop similar plans (annexes) in 10 high-risk counties within the state;
3. A consultant contract to develop curriculum to train staff to work with PWD/E in shelters; and
4. A commitment to fund the training of those staff once the curriculum is developed.

The Functional Assessment and Service Team (FAST) is an important component of the sheltering plan. The purpose of the FAST is to provide trained staff to conduct functional assessments of PWD/E as they arrive at shelters. This assessment will evaluate the needs of PWD/E and determine whether they can be supported within the general population shelter. FAST will be deployed as shelters are opened and remain in shelters until it is determined there is no need for the team. FAST may transfer to other shelters and may return to shelters as needed or requested.

California is conducting FAST training in Santa Clara County, San Francisco, LA/Orange County, Riverside/San Bernardino area, and Roseville between early February through early May 2011. Hawaii has been asked to send participants to the training.

For more information, contact David Smith at State Civil Defense at 733-4300, ext. 576 or via e-mail.