EVENT #1 – Outbreak overseas and infected persons are in the US.
Agencies will maintain close communications with each other locally and their state counterparts.
Hospitals will communicate with the LPHA but probably not each other.
Commission will request additional surveillance to have a better situational awareness. LPHA will increase county surveillance and contact other counties for information.
How can we see all this surveillance data in one place?
How can we get better participation in surveillance efforts?
Will share information with local media with a local angle. LPHA will lead PIO efforts with conference with county commission, LEPC, and hospitals. Will follow NIMS public information guidance for a JIC. Use CHART as well for information distribution – can form an emergency meeting within 24 hours.
Each agency involved should call in all their staff and share information with them.
Personal preparedness is critical because responders wear multiple hats and 99% of them are volunteer. LPHA should create information to be shared with agencies they can share with their staff (hand washing, preparedness, etc.).
EVENT #2 – Patient in local hospital has influenza.
LPHA should contact hospitals for confirmed cases of influenza.
LPHA should still be lead PIO. Should contact press and inform of all facts and educate public.
Should designate only a few from each agency to answer questions from the public.
LPHA only has 2 phone lines – maybe have recorded message.
Some confusion on whether all agencies should be briefed before all facts are in or wait for lab confirmation. Consensus was reached to keep everyone on the same page as new info comes in. Email can be a tool to share messages with a follow-up phone call. Emergency Management will develop text messaging system. Can also use radio traffic to inform responders and citizens with scanners.
Once lab confirmation comes to hospital, they will send lab report to LPHA. LPHA will notify all agencies and radio stations.
Conflicting ideas of communicating with patient contacts. Hospital stated the patient is a minor and no identifying information can be shared or used. LPHA will inform patient contacts and create media message for those at the game to look for symptoms. LPHA will also contact the church group for more contacts.
Someone needs to notify the airline and airport. LPHA will contact DHSS and they have state-wide responsibility to cross region boundaries and disseminate information.
First responders should increase their PPE usage (such as masks). Some responders do not have much communication technology such as TVs, etc. Some may have reading difficulty. Only 80% have radio communication so tone-outs won’t get everyone. Need picture-type information for self-protection.
Need a triage phone service hotline. Some people calling with symptoms will need to go to the ER, some their regular physician, most stay home, etc. LPHA has two phone lines plus fax line and the hospital has several lines that will probably end up providing this service. The phone company cannot add any more lines in the area – Emergency Management has asked and no more lines are available.
Sac-OsageHospital will be overloaded quickly (20-30 patients).
Schools close when percentage of kids are absent. That percentage is unknown and may be decided by the superintendent on a case-by-case basis.
EVENT #3 – Outbreak in community
Proactive messaging has already informed public of everything LPHA, etc. know.
LPHA requesting assistance from any neighboring county and from the community.
Emergency Management requests approval from commission to support the LPHA by locating RN’s, housing for volunteers, mobilize local law enforcement and responders, etc.
Hospitals are probably on divert and communicated with all other hospitals looking for places for patients.
PIO message remains consistent and honest. Providing protection messages (hand washing, social distancing, etc.). People will probably heed warnings based on historic outbreaks (pandemics, polio, etc.). Most messaging will rely on Springfield and KC media.
Should cultivate relationships with retired population as they may not be hit as hard as the working population.
EMA can also use the emergency broadcast system for PIO messages.
Quarantine will be a waste of time – voluntary social distancing and closing of large public events will be recommended.
EVENT #4 – Vaccine is being distributed to each county
LPHA will make the list of vaccine receivers.
Absentee percentage threshold that will close a school is based on total absenteeism in district – not per grade or building. If the elementary school is seriously hit and upper grades not, school may stay in session. Faculty and staff absenteeism may be the factor that forces schools to close but no set percentage has been set there either.
LPHA should issue public gathering limits (may be voluntary). These limits could be pre-set and messages pre-made.
Most employees are expected to come to work even without the vaccine as increased PPE is in place.
Each agency should have a list of minimum staffing requirements to maintain services. Priority lists for medications should be pre-established (agencies, staff, etc.).
Critical personnel should stay at work and families should stay home. Support services for families need to be created. Find retirees to care for children and find facilities where families can come for supplies, support, etc.
EOC will be open on a limited basis for backup and support of LPHA and Hospital services. Communication lines will be primary role of EMA. EMA will facilitate group meeting to decide medication receivers. Joint PIO will be housed by EMA. Transportation issues and logistics will be handled and decided at the EOC.
Copyright (c) 2007
by the St Clair County Health Center
Osceola, Missouri
