Hurricane Katrina/Rita

Louisiana Office of Public Health 03/2006

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

Hurricane Katrina/Rita



Thank you for the kind invitation to address your assembly

Our Citizens in the State of Louisiana believe it is important that these stories be told, not for entertainment or shock value,But for ----- Merit ----- Education ----- Growth

As your sister state we may look a little different , sound a little funny and cook anything in a pot……………….. but we are suffering and healing and part of this healing is telling our STORY



What was the medical response capability prior to Katrina? Pre-hospital Hospital First responders OPH-SNS MOU’s Plans for TMOSA Regional Pre-staged Hurricane Pam



Hospitals/Nursing Homes evacuation Responders were victims Pre-hospital providers overwhelmed Public Health infrastructure damaged

What actually happened?



What Worked?

Plans for Triage Initial Response Pre-established community resources



Not a Failure of Initiative Communications

- Human- Technology- Risk Communications

Transportation NIMS/NRP

- Timing of federal assets/expectations

What Failed?



Pre-planning integration Training = mandatory + meaningful Exercises - AAR’s Communications Pre-staging Assets

Local State Federal

Lessons Learned



Administration – accountabilityEmergency Management and

Homeland SecurityHealth care infrastructureFederal, state, and local relationshipsReimbursement of responders

What should be different?



Rebirth of a coastal stateRe-shifting of populationsRebirth of health care systemsRestructuring of emergency systemsEconomic and cultural repairRepair of a fragile spiritMedia campaigns/behavioral health

What is happening NOW?



What is the message we bring to UTAH ?

Never take anything for granted. If you think you have planned enough, THINK AGAIN. If you don’t know the person sitting next to you

at the meeting NOW’s the time to get acquainted.

Understand your strengths and your limitations. ADDRESS THEM !

continued



Communicate, communicate, and communicate some more

Redundancy Inter-operability Take care of your responders Be prepared for EMAC’s and ARF’s Never under-estimate the power of a woman

What is the message we bring to UTAH ?



Understand NRP and NIMS Tabletops and Field exercises Determine your response

Shelters - may not be what you expected Primary care Immunizations Other public health problems

Have a back-up plan Don’t rely on hospitals for all the answers Train and back-fill Be prepared for the long haul Shelters - temporary housing

Local, County and State health departments



Understand NRP and NIMSTrain with health care as part of teamPlan your responseHave a back-up planBe prepared for non-traditional rolesUnderstand your valueTake care of yourself first

First RespondersFire/ EMS/ Law enforcement



Understand NRP and NIMSTrain as a communityHave a back-up planBe prepared for the long haul

Hospitals and Long-term Care



Military assistance

Don’t build all plans around state military assetsNational GuardRSS plans



Understand NRP and NIMS Train as a community Have a back-up plan Be prepared for the long haul Be prepared for role of evacuation - reception center Prepare for the worst - IT CAN HAPPEN Take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses

NOW Address your Gap Analysis Prepare for special populations Prepare for security

Community Leaders and Key Decision Makers



Remember no one outside of your state will see it the way you do!



Don’t wait for Cavalry.

But when they arrive make optimum use of them.



Always remember your

YO-YO

……because for 72 hours

You’re On Your Own



Thanks! Thank you for your prayers,

your volunteers, your support and your compassionate care

of our evacuees



For more information

Contact - Nancy Bourgeois

Director – Public Health Emergency Response and Preparedness

Address – Department of Health and Hospitals8919 World Ministry Avenue Suite ABaton Rouge, LA 70810

Email: [email protected]



We Will Rise Again

Documents

Hurricane Katrina/Rita