1 Orange County Office on Aging: Partner in Preparedness & Response Karen Roper, Executive Director Office on Aging and Homeless Prevention November 15, 2006

2 Disaster Preparedness and Response Mission Focus on the needs of homebound older adults and disabled populationsFocus on the needs of homebound older adults and disabled populations Improve ResponseImprove Response Strengthen PartnershipsStrengthen Partnerships Coordinate Public and Private Partner PlanningCoordinate Public and Private Partner Planning Coordinate ResourcesCoordinate Resources

3 Disaster Preparedness and Response Regional Planning Partners Office on AgingOffice on Aging Health Care AgencyHealth Care Agency Social Services AgencySocial Services Agency Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations CenterSheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center Interagency Committee on AgingInteragency Committee on Aging Orange County2-1-1 Orange County American Red CrossAmerican Red Cross Senior Citizens Advisory CouncilSenior Citizens Advisory Council Orange County CitiesOrange County Cities Community-Based/Faith-Based OrganizationsCommunity-Based/Faith-Based Organizations

4 Orange County Office on Aging Homebound Older Adult and Disabled Disaster Planning Initiative At the regional table representing needs of older adults, persons with disabilities, and caregiversAt the regional table representing needs of older adults, persons with disabilities, and caregivers Senior Citizens Advisory Council actively engagedSenior Citizens Advisory Council actively engaged Senior Center Directors actively engaged (quarterly meetings)Senior Center Directors actively engaged (quarterly meetings) Participation in disaster “drills” at Huntington Beach Senior Center - a model for other cities and stakeholdersParticipation in disaster “drills” at Huntington Beach Senior Center - a model for other cities and stakeholders Goal: partner with Orange County’s 34 cities to pre-identify homebound older adults and disabled individuals and model the City of Huntington Beach in terms of comprehensive disaster planning for at-risk seniorsGoal: partner with Orange County’s 34 cities to pre-identify homebound older adults and disabled individuals and model the City of Huntington Beach in terms of comprehensive disaster planning for at-risk seniors Barriers: HIPAA (electronic information sharing), resources, awarenessBarriers: HIPAA (electronic information sharing), resources, awareness

5 Office on Aging HEAT PLAN July 2006 Board of Supervisors Directive to Office on Aging to coordinate resources to provide relief to seniors and disabled populations during heat wavesJuly 2006 Board of Supervisors Directive to Office on Aging to coordinate resources to provide relief to seniors and disabled populations during heat waves Partners: Social Services Agency, Health Care Agency, Orange County Housing Authority, Orange County Transportation Authority, Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center, Southern California Edison, Senior Center Directors, Public AuthorityPartners: Social Services Agency, Health Care Agency, Orange County Housing Authority, Orange County Transportation Authority, Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center, Southern California Edison, Senior Center Directors, Public Authority Surveyed other PSAs for best practicesSurveyed other PSAs for best practices Identified Orange County’s cool zones and cooling stationsIdentified Orange County’s cool zones and cooling stations Prepared and distributed periodic updates and reports for the Board of Supervisors and other stakeholdersPrepared and distributed periodic updates and reports for the Board of Supervisors and other stakeholders Ongoing EffortsOngoing Efforts –Community education –Fan distribution plan – donations from hospitals –Finalizing heat activation thresholds with Health Care Agency –Incorporating Heat Wave planning into other disaster planning efforts

6 Partnership With Health Care Agency Planning efforts focus on the needs of homebound older adults and disabled populationsPlanning efforts focus on the needs of homebound older adults and disabled populations –Disease prevention –Bioterrorism –Pandemic Influenza and other diseases –Mass vaccinations –Public Information –Emergency Operations

7 Partnership to Improve Disaster Preparedness and Response After Action ReportsAfter Action Reports EvaluationEvaluation Identify ImprovementsIdentify Improvements Revise PlanRevise Plan Plan ImproveTrain Exercise

8 Partnership with Social Services Agency: Shelter and Care Special populations and the mass care & shelter planSpecial populations and the mass care & shelter plan Social Services Agency is partnering with the Office on Aging and the Health Care Agency to address special population needs for care and shelter immediately following a disaster:Social Services Agency is partnering with the Office on Aging and the Health Care Agency to address special population needs for care and shelter immediately following a disaster: –Triage and assessment of needs during and after the crisis –Transportation and access to emergency services –Recovery and restabilization –Connection to follow-up services as needed

9 Partnership with Orange County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center Orange County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center responsible to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disastersOrange County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center responsible to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters Interfaces with State Office of Emergency ServicesInterfaces with State Office of Emergency Services Office on Aging presence at the planning table assures that needs of vulnerable older adults and disabled will be considered in crisis situationsOffice on Aging presence at the planning table assures that needs of vulnerable older adults and disabled will be considered in crisis situations

10 Long-Term Recovery Plan Office on Aging/Homeless Prevention award of $448,954 in county general fund dollars to develop a long-term recovery planOffice on Aging/Homeless Prevention award of $448,954 in county general fund dollars to develop a long-term recovery plan Goal of plan is to identify partners and resources for transitional and permanent housing options for disaster victims that are unable to return to their homesGoal of plan is to identify partners and resources for transitional and permanent housing options for disaster victims that are unable to return to their homes An important component of the plan includes the Orange County surge capacity initiative to bring the call center to full disaster readiness (5,000 calls per day based upon Orange County’s population)An important component of the plan includes the Orange County surge capacity initiative to bring the call center to full disaster readiness (5,000 calls per day based upon Orange County’s population) The Office on Aging has a plan of cooperation with Orange County and fields all calls related to older adults and caregiversThe Office on Aging has a plan of cooperation with Orange County and fields all calls related to older adults and caregivers

11 Operation Orange County Operation Orange County Purpose: One-Stop Multi-Service Center for Katrina/Rita victimsPurpose: One-Stop Multi-Service Center for Katrina/Rita victims Partners: Office on Aging/Homeless Prevention, Orange County Housing Authorities, Social Services Agency, Health Care Agency, American Red Cross, Orange County Rescue Mission, Orange County, Orange County Transportation Authority, and many other stakeholdersPartners: Office on Aging/Homeless Prevention, Orange County Housing Authorities, Social Services Agency, Health Care Agency, American Red Cross, Orange County Rescue Mission, Orange County, Orange County Transportation Authority, and many other stakeholders Services: One-stop triage; assistance with housing/shelter, food, clothing, transportation, benefits assistance, health care, mental health care, and many other servicesServices: One-stop triage; assistance with housing/shelter, food, clothing, transportation, benefits assistance, health care, mental health care, and many other services Results: Provided comprehensive services to 700+ disaster victims that either temporarily or permanently relocated to Orange CountyResults: Provided comprehensive services to 700+ disaster victims that either temporarily or permanently relocated to Orange County

12 Questions?