Emergency Preparedness Planning at the Emergency Preparedness Planning at the Massachusetts Department of Public HealthMassachusetts Department of Public Health

With a Focus on Populations with Special NeedsWith a Focus on Populations with Special Needs

Jeff TimperiJeff TimperiMassachusetts Department of Public Health Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Center for Emergency PreparednessCenter for Emergency Preparedness

MDPH Center for Emergency PreparednessMDPH Center for Emergency Preparedness

Provides a single point of contact for emergency preparedness at Provides a single point of contact for emergency preparedness at MDPH and coordinates response efforts across MDPH related to:MDPH and coordinates response efforts across MDPH related to:

BioterrorismBioterrorism Chemical & Radiological EmergenciesChemical & Radiological Emergencies Hospital PreparednessHospital Preparedness Laboratory SupportLaboratory Support Behavioral Health & Special PopulationsBehavioral Health & Special Populations Risk CommunicationRisk Communication Drills & ExercisesDrills & Exercises Working with Local Boards of HealthWorking with Local Boards of Health Working with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Working with the Massachusetts Emergency Management

Agency (MEMA)Agency (MEMA)

““Special Populations”Special Populations”

There are many definitions of special populations, andThere are many definitions of special populations, and

MDPH’s Special Populations advisory group hasMDPH’s Special Populations advisory group has

developed the following definition, developed the following definition, meant not to exclude groups,meant not to exclude groups,

but to easier facilitate discussion.but to easier facilitate discussion. Special populations can be Special populations can be

formed into two major groups:formed into two major groups:

‘‘Demographics Group’Demographics Group’ Demographically Demographically diverse individuals (e.g., race, ethnicity, culture, diverse individuals (e.g., race, ethnicity, culture, languages, elders, children, refugees, immigrants, languages, elders, children, refugees, immigrants, and language proficiency etc.)and language proficiency etc.)

‘‘Conditions Group’Conditions Group’ Individuals with physical Individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities (e.g., deaf/hard of hearing, or cognitive disabilities (e.g., deaf/hard of hearing, visually impaired, use of a wheelchair, mental visually impaired, use of a wheelchair, mental health/substance abuse conditions, etc.)health/substance abuse conditions, etc.)

Current & Proposed Emergency Current & Proposed Emergency Preparedness and Special Population Preparedness and Special Population

InitiativesInitiatives

Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) Crisis Counselor TrainingCrisis Counselor Training Training for Local Officials to Enhance Training for Local Officials to Enhance

Emergency Management Services for Emergency Management Services for Populations with Special NeedsPopulations with Special Needs

Proposed Statewide Task Force on Emergency Proposed Statewide Task Force on Emergency Management for Populations with Special NeedsManagement for Populations with Special Needs

Emergency Shelter DevelopmentEmergency Shelter Development

Continuity of Operations PlanningContinuity of Operations Planning

Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) is being done Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) is being done across state government to assure essential government across state government to assure essential government services are not interrupted in the event of an services are not interrupted in the event of an emergency, such as an influenza pandemic.  A COOP emergency, such as an influenza pandemic.  A COOP identifies essential services, agency leads, delegations identifies essential services, agency leads, delegations of authority, and other key pieces of information critical of authority, and other key pieces of information critical to the maintenance of services during an extended to the maintenance of services during an extended emergency. Exercises are being planned in conjunction emergency. Exercises are being planned in conjunction with Harvard School of Public Health and the Executive with Harvard School of Public Health and the Executive Office of Public Safety Office of Public Safety (http://www.mass.gov/?(http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2subtopic&L=6&L0=Home&L1=Provider&L2=Guidelines+andpageID=eohhs2subtopic&L=6&L0=Home&L1=Provider&L2=Guidelines+and+Resources&L3=Guidelines+for+Services++Resources&L3=Guidelines+for+Services+%26+Planning&L4=Emergency+Preparedness+and+Planning&L5=Continuit%26+Planning&L4=Emergency+Preparedness+and+Planning&L5=Continuity+of+Operations+Plan+(COOP)&sid=Eeohhs2)y+of+Operations+Plan+(COOP)&sid=Eeohhs2)

Crisis Counselor TrainingCrisis Counselor Training

Behavioral Health Disaster Responders, or ‘crisis counselors’, Behavioral Health Disaster Responders, or ‘crisis counselors’, provide a short-term intervention with individuals and/or groups provide a short-term intervention with individuals and/or groups experiencing psychological reactions to a major emergency experiencing psychological reactions to a major emergency and/or disaster and its aftermath. and/or disaster and its aftermath.

This type of intervention is not therapy in the traditional sense – This type of intervention is not therapy in the traditional sense – responders (or counselors) link victims to disaster relief responders (or counselors) link victims to disaster relief associations within the shortest amount of time while assessing associations within the shortest amount of time while assessing victims for their need for counseling servicesvictims for their need for counseling services

There will be numerous training courses held throughout the There will be numerous training courses held throughout the Commonwealth. Please check this site for information on future Commonwealth. Please check this site for information on future trainings: http://www.cmmh-cmtp.org/services-bhdrtp-trainings: http://www.cmmh-cmtp.org/services-bhdrtp-trainingdates.phptrainingdates.php

A memorandum detailing how state disaster behavioral health A memorandum detailing how state disaster behavioral health services can be accessed is available here: services can be accessed is available here: http://www.mass.gov/dph/topics/bioterrorism/statedbhservices_http://www.mass.gov/dph/topics/bioterrorism/statedbhservices_memo_3_06.pdfmemo_3_06.pdf

Training for local officials to enhance emergency management Training for local officials to enhance emergency management services for populations with special needsservices for populations with special needs

Training for local officials to enhance emergency managementTraining for local officials to enhance emergency management

services for populations with special needs is being developed.services for populations with special needs is being developed.

A comprehensive report is expected to be disseminated inA comprehensive report is expected to be disseminated in

December 2006 followed by a training module by March 2007.December 2006 followed by a training module by March 2007.

This builds upon the following: This builds upon the following:

Special Populations Guide for Local Boards of Health: Special Populations Guide for Local Boards of Health: http://www.mass.gov/dph/bioterrorism/advisorygrps/pdfs/spohttp://www.mass.gov/dph/bioterrorism/advisorygrps/pdfs/spop_guidance_5_05.pdfp_guidance_5_05.pdf

Emergency Planning and Special Populations – CommunityEmergency Planning and Special Populations – Community

Planning Guide: Planning Guide: http://www.mass.gov/dph/bioterrorism/advisorygrps/pdfs/spohttp://www.mass.gov/dph/bioterrorism/advisorygrps/pdfs/spop_community_plan.pdfp_community_plan.pdf

Statewide Task ForceStatewide Task Force

MDPH, the MA Emergency Management Agency, and the Executive MDPH, the MA Emergency Management Agency, and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs have proposed to convene a statewide task force Office of Elder Affairs have proposed to convene a statewide task force on emergency management for populations with special needs. The on emergency management for populations with special needs. The task force would concentrate on the following five focus areas:task force would concentrate on the following five focus areas:

Strategies for identifying special populations during a disaster at the Strategies for identifying special populations during a disaster at the local and state levels via a registry local and state levels via a registry

Promotion of personal and ‘special population facility’ (e.g., nursing Promotion of personal and ‘special population facility’ (e.g., nursing homes) preparednesshomes) preparedness

EvacuationsEvacuations Sheltering and Influenza Specialty Care Units (ISCU)Sheltering and Influenza Specialty Care Units (ISCU) CommunicationsCommunications

In addition to these five areas, a sixth area (defining "special In addition to these five areas, a sixth area (defining "special populations" and agreeing on acceptable terminology) would be an populations" and agreeing on acceptable terminology) would be an

issue for the entire task force.issue for the entire task force. It is proposed the task force will convene It is proposed the task force will convene by March 2007.by March 2007.

Emergency Shelter DevelopmentEmergency Shelter Development

MDPH, MEMA, and the American Red Cross are MDPH, MEMA, and the American Red Cross are currently meeting on statewide emergency currently meeting on statewide emergency shelter issues. From these meetings, a shelter shelter issues. From these meetings, a shelter definition and concept of operations document definition and concept of operations document will be developed. This document will be used will be developed. This document will be used for larger ESF6 (MassCare) discussions.for larger ESF6 (MassCare) discussions.

Individual PreparednessIndividual Preparedness

Develop a Family or Individual Disaster Plan (one sample is available Develop a Family or Individual Disaster Plan (one sample is available via MassSupport: www.mass.gov/samh; 866.237.8274; TTY via MassSupport: www.mass.gov/samh; 866.237.8274; TTY 617.536.5872617.536.5872

Consider registering with the 9-1-1 Disability Indicator ProgramConsider registering with the 9-1-1 Disability Indicator Program Participate in your community’s emergency preparedness processParticipate in your community’s emergency preparedness process

Contact your local health department or local emergency Contact your local health department or local emergency management directormanagement director

Become a disaster volunteerBecome a disaster volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (Medical Reserve Corps (http://www.mamedicalreservecorps.org/http://www.mamedicalreservecorps.org/)) Connect & Serve (Connect & Serve (

http://www.volunteersolutions.org/mass-service/volunteer/register/http://www.volunteersolutions.org/mass-service/volunteer/register/ )) Massachusetts System for Advance Registration (Massachusetts System for Advance Registration (

http://www.volunteersolutions.org/mass-service/volunteer/register/http://www.volunteersolutions.org/mass-service/volunteer/register/ ))

ContactContact

Jeff Timperi, MPAJeff Timperi, MPA

Behavioral Health and Special Populations LiaisonBehavioral Health and Special Populations Liaison

Massachusetts Department of Public HealthMassachusetts Department of Public Health

Center for Emergency PreparednessCenter for Emergency Preparedness

250 Washington St., 2250 Washington St., 2ndnd floor floor

Boston, MA 02108Boston, MA 02108

Tel 617.624.5275Tel 617.624.5275

Jeffrey.Timperi@state.ma.usJeffrey.Timperi@state.ma.us