California hospitals are a critical element within the disaster medical response system and work collaboratively with local government, other health care providers and other agencies to plan, prepare for and respond to the needs of victims of natural or man-made disasters, bioterrorism, and other public health emergencies. Hospital emergency preparedness is a priority for government at all levels, as well as a key focus of regulatory and accrediting agencies.
As Wildfires Continue, CHA Encourages Members to Assist Those Impacted
Hospitals and health care facilities across the state continue to respond to, and be affected by, the devastation caused by the Camp Fire in Northern California and the Woolsey and Hill fires in Southern California. Members who wish to donate are encouraged to support the following funds managed by hospitals:
Adventist Health Feather River — Adventist Health’s fire assistance fund is accepting donations to support hospital employees who have been impacted by the Camp Fire.
The HCA Hope Fund — An employee-run 501(c)(3) charity, HCA is providing grants to support hospital employees in Thousand Oaks who have been impacted by the Woolsey and Hill Fires.
Enloe Medical Center — Located in Chico, the site of multiple evacuation centers for the Camp Fire, Enloe Medical Center is accepting donations on behalf of those who have been displaced.
The Camp Fire stands as the most destructive — and deadliest — fire in the state’s history, and is currently 30 percent contained; the Woolsey and Hill fires are 35 percent contained. Yesterday, President Trump approved California’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, allowing the federal government to bolster ongoing emergency response. A state of emergency has been declared in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
On November 12, A Presidential Declaration was released stating that a major disaster exists in the State of California and that Federal aid would be ordered to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires beginning on November 8, 2018, and continuing. This action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Butte, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties.
On November 11,California requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster emergency response and help residents recover from fires burning in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. On November 12 Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the White House’s approval of the request for the Presidential Declaration.
The Hospital Preparedness Program, funded by DHS, trains U.S. health care systems for disaster readiness to include exercises, training, tools, and technical assistance.
Government scientists have classified 18 U.S. volcanoes as “very high threat” because of what’s been happening inside them and how close they are to people. Three of those are located in California: Mount Shasta, Lassen volcanic center, and Long Valley Cadera. Read full article here.
The Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison have begun public safety power shut off programs in various California counties as part of their Community Wildfire Safety programs.
When a disaster strikes, access to services becomes even more critical. And yet hospital staff and emergency services providers can be victims of that same disaster. ASPR TRACIE has released an updated version of its Tips for Retaining and Caring for Staff after a Disaster to guide facility executives in assisting staff through the recovery period.
OnSite Temp Housing is a leading provider in the United States for temporary housing rental from construction site and construction office rentals to natural disaster housing and portable homes.
This year the 2018 Statewide Medical and Health Exercise (SWMHE) will take place during the third week of November.
The SWMHE Program consists of objective driven exercise templates and generic exercise templates to assist jurisdictions, organizations and facilities participate in the yearly exercise. The program utilizes the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and aligns with Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP)/Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) grant requirements.
The SWMHE Website has background information, exercise templates, references, resources, and more.
