Laura
08-12-2007, 04:51 PM
http://www.newsday.com/ny-lihurr081207,0,7143075,print.story?coll=ny_home_ra il_headlines
newsday.com/ny-lihurr081207,0,5290454.story?coll=ny_home_rail_hea dlines
Newsday.com
Vunerable populations during a LI Hurricane
BY JOIE TYRRELL
joie.tyrrell@newsday.com
8:06 PM EDT, August 11, 2007
Living on the water in Port Washington, Rosalie Silver knows that a major hurricane will likely mean she will have to evacuate.
But she can't just pick up and leave. Silver cares for her 78-year-old mother, Bella Temer, who suffers from dementia. They may have to leave days before a storm is expected to make landfall, and possibly go as far as Chicago to the home of her sister.
"Everybody else can wait the 10 hours or eight hours before a storm," Silver said. "I don't think I could. She doesn't do well in a panic situation."
For Long Island's most vulnerable populations -- those in nursing homes, hospitals, homebound or who have medical conditions that make such transitions complicated -- leaving or enduring a hurricane and its aftermath can be especially difficult.
The state requires all inpatient and residential health care facilities to have evacuation plans. But, in a post-Katrina world, many emergency responders and health care workers on Long Island are going beyond that regulation and expanding readiness plans to accommodate these most vulnerable, would-be evacuees.
"Hurricane Katrina changed what emergency preparedess planners thought was a plausible scenario for a coastal storm -- the complete devastation of the infrastructure of a community," said Brian O'Neill, vice president of emergency services for North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System.
That means planning on Long Island for a possible total evacuation of facilities in flood zones, such as the 300-bed Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, which sits just a few blocks from the Great South Bay. Staffers there recently ran a drill using patient volunteers to practice moving them from the hospital, O'Neill said.
The North Shore system also has been equipped with radio communication, satellite phones and satellite Internet access. There are plans to ensure that enough staff is able to get to work to tend to patients .
North Shore employees who live south of the Southern State Parkway will be asked to partner with employees who live away from the flood zone so families can shelter there. They also plan to house some employees and their families in hotels in the center of the Island.
Both Suffolk and Nassau Counties have similar plans to accommodate families of first responders.
"One of the most important things we are doing is providing care for the family of the emergency worker," said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. "It's irrelevant if you have a bus if you don't have a bus driver."
Suffolk also has created a database of residents who are unable to leave their home without emergency assistance so the county can check on them. About 350 residents have registered so far.
Both counties also plan to open special needs shelters to house evacuees who need extra care such as residents who need oxygen or who are in wheelchairs. Nassau County has scheduled a training session on Sunday at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville for volunteers for such shelters.
And, some local fire departments have stockpiled supplies to assist people unable to evacuate.
John Carney, chief of the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department, said it has purchased satellite phones, chainsaws, portable generators, non-perishable foods, cots and blankets. They also have a truck that can travel through high water.
Still, with forecasters saying the region is overdue for a major storm, some officials say more could be done. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer released a study last year finding that the State Department of Health has failed to adequately prepare nursing homes in New York City for evacuation in the case of a major emergency.
State health department officials said they have reviewed 661 evacuation plans, made recommendations for improvement, provided training and continue to work with facilities to improve their plans.
People who care for the disabled or elderly should develop a plan as well, experts say. But they acknowledge that may be hard to do.
"Many of them they have difficulty getting them up and dressed for the day," said Stephanie DePalma, director of day programs for the Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation in Port Washington. "I can't see them preparing for something down the road."
Copyright © 2007, Newsday Inc.[/quote]
newsday.com/ny-lihurr081207,0,5290454.story?coll=ny_home_rail_hea dlines
Newsday.com
Vunerable populations during a LI Hurricane
BY JOIE TYRRELL
joie.tyrrell@newsday.com
8:06 PM EDT, August 11, 2007
Living on the water in Port Washington, Rosalie Silver knows that a major hurricane will likely mean she will have to evacuate.
But she can't just pick up and leave. Silver cares for her 78-year-old mother, Bella Temer, who suffers from dementia. They may have to leave days before a storm is expected to make landfall, and possibly go as far as Chicago to the home of her sister.
"Everybody else can wait the 10 hours or eight hours before a storm," Silver said. "I don't think I could. She doesn't do well in a panic situation."
For Long Island's most vulnerable populations -- those in nursing homes, hospitals, homebound or who have medical conditions that make such transitions complicated -- leaving or enduring a hurricane and its aftermath can be especially difficult.
The state requires all inpatient and residential health care facilities to have evacuation plans. But, in a post-Katrina world, many emergency responders and health care workers on Long Island are going beyond that regulation and expanding readiness plans to accommodate these most vulnerable, would-be evacuees.
"Hurricane Katrina changed what emergency preparedess planners thought was a plausible scenario for a coastal storm -- the complete devastation of the infrastructure of a community," said Brian O'Neill, vice president of emergency services for North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System.
That means planning on Long Island for a possible total evacuation of facilities in flood zones, such as the 300-bed Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, which sits just a few blocks from the Great South Bay. Staffers there recently ran a drill using patient volunteers to practice moving them from the hospital, O'Neill said.
The North Shore system also has been equipped with radio communication, satellite phones and satellite Internet access. There are plans to ensure that enough staff is able to get to work to tend to patients .
North Shore employees who live south of the Southern State Parkway will be asked to partner with employees who live away from the flood zone so families can shelter there. They also plan to house some employees and their families in hotels in the center of the Island.
Both Suffolk and Nassau Counties have similar plans to accommodate families of first responders.
"One of the most important things we are doing is providing care for the family of the emergency worker," said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. "It's irrelevant if you have a bus if you don't have a bus driver."
Suffolk also has created a database of residents who are unable to leave their home without emergency assistance so the county can check on them. About 350 residents have registered so far.
Both counties also plan to open special needs shelters to house evacuees who need extra care such as residents who need oxygen or who are in wheelchairs. Nassau County has scheduled a training session on Sunday at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville for volunteers for such shelters.
And, some local fire departments have stockpiled supplies to assist people unable to evacuate.
John Carney, chief of the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department, said it has purchased satellite phones, chainsaws, portable generators, non-perishable foods, cots and blankets. They also have a truck that can travel through high water.
Still, with forecasters saying the region is overdue for a major storm, some officials say more could be done. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer released a study last year finding that the State Department of Health has failed to adequately prepare nursing homes in New York City for evacuation in the case of a major emergency.
State health department officials said they have reviewed 661 evacuation plans, made recommendations for improvement, provided training and continue to work with facilities to improve their plans.
People who care for the disabled or elderly should develop a plan as well, experts say. But they acknowledge that may be hard to do.
"Many of them they have difficulty getting them up and dressed for the day," said Stephanie DePalma, director of day programs for the Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation in Port Washington. "I can't see them preparing for something down the road."
Copyright © 2007, Newsday Inc.[/quote]