Hurricane Irene's Impact on Older Adults and the DC DOH Response

DC DOH Health Emergency Preparedness Administration (HEPRA) protects the public health, safety of residents, visitors, including unique challenges of aging population, those with access, functional needs, through an all hazards preparedness and response approach to mitigate public health impacts due to bio events, natural disasters.

During Hurricane Irene, HEPRA activated Emergency Operations, worked with Emergency Health Care Coalition to identify individuals with needs that could be addressed without transportation to the ER stressing hospital operations.

HEPRA seeks to reduce the negative impacts on the aging population and those with the access and functional needs by taking a proactive planning approach, including robust communications, key technologies, partnerships and post event response evaluation.

DOH implemented a web-based “dash board”, with four data feeds, including bed and hospital status, ambulance tracking situational awareness. The tracking system enhances hospital medical surge capacity and capability through the reporting of real-time bed availability.

HEPRA staff was able to identify individuals in the health care system, due to power outages, that were at risk of severe, negative health impacts without immediate intervention or transport to the ER. HEPRA staff prevented transports and prevented taxing the ER.

Numerous individuals were able to remain on site, at assisted living facilities and in homes.

The District of Columbia can address the needs of the aging and those with access and functional needs to mitigate the stress on the healthcare system during emergencies.

Demonstrate reduced stress on Emergency rooms and ability for aging adults to stay on site during emergencies.