A Florida County's Special Needs Coordination during EOC Activation for Tropical Storm Andrea

Purpose:

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) assigns students to organizations to strengthen fundamental emergency concepts and develop skills necessary to work in emergency management. One student intern was assigned to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Emergency Preparedness Division, Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Duval County Special Needs department during the EOC Level II activation during Tropical Storm Andrea. Data collected during this activation included updating the county’s Special Needs database on the local residents, an essential tool in public health and emergency management.

Methods:

Quantitative methodology was used. Regional cross sectional telephone surveys were performed to gather patient census of all local categories 1-2 healthcare facilities on the number of patients that use stretchers or wheelchairs. This information was used to determine the number and type of health care vehicles needed for a possible evacuation to special needs shelters.

Results:

The results showed that local ambulances (city and private) were limited and additional resources were needed. As the result, the city’s transportation authority were informed to develop plans to provide additional vehicles if needed.

Conclusion:

The EOC relies on telephone communication to receive current patient transportation needs; however, the system has not been tested on full scale activation using category 4-5 healthcare facilities. The process also depends on the number of EOC personnel available to manage phone traffic and if communication to the facilities is still maintained during a disaster.