Understanding the Health System Impact of the Spillover Effect After Hurricane Sandy

Thomas Chandler, PhD, Benita Panigrahi, MD, David Abramson, PhD, Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, MBA, MPH,

Noelle Gallant, MA

Sandy: The 700 Year Storm?• Knocked power out for 8 million people• 32 ft wave recorded in New York Harbor• 3 feet of snow in West Virginia

http://ncdp.columbia.edu/microsite-page/hurricane-sandy-october-2012/sandy-recovery-1-year-later/

Capacity

Competency

Capability

Interviews and Focus Groups

Capacity

Competency

• EOC Communication systems not compatible

• Lack of usage of EOC systems

• Lack of familiarity with procedures

• An aging workforce with no sign of backfill

• Losing institutional memory

• Concurrent budget cuts

Capability: Effective communication among different departments and organizations

Emerging Theme

“The Spillover Effect”

• The unintended shift in baseline health system (PH + HCD) dynamics months after recovery from a disaster.

Vulnerable Populations

Disaster 12 months 18 months

Routine needs of vulnerable populations

Routine capacity of HSO’s

Post-disaster capacity of HSO’sDisaster CM capacity

Post-disaster needs of vulnerable populations

New York Academy of Medicine, North Shore LIJ, An Opportunity to Innovate: The Aging of Eastern Queens and Nassau County

Training Program

• Continuity of Operations Planning

• Case Interviewing for Outbreak Investigations

• Decision-Making & Problem-Solving Under Emergency Conditions

• Usage of Social Media during Disasters

Continuity of Operations Planning

“Mission Critical”

Protected

Redundant – Back up

Systems

Staff Roles + Organization (ICS)

Communication Plan

Coordination with Emergency Mgmt + PH

Organization & Leadership

Communicate Plan

Resources Available & Needed

Services + Client /

Stakeholder Support

Online Training

• ncdp.crlctraining.org

Implications

• 1/3 of all Americans live in counties immediately bordering the oceans

• The sea level will continue to rise this century and impact storms like Hurricane Sandy

The Aging of America