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New York State Department of Health
Extreme Weather Planning & Response
Bryon Backenson
New York State Department of Health
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NYSDOH currently maintains an All Hazards based Health
Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, which includes
the Department’s Incident Management System (IMS) Plan
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IMS is the Department’s adaptation of Incident Command and
establishes the methods, roles and responsibilities for the
department in ALL emergencies
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Command & Control
Operations
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Subject Matter Experts: Epidemiology, Environmental, Laboratories,
Healthcare Facilities, etc…
Planning
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Agency situation reporting, Incident Action Plans (IAPs)
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The IMS Group uses Department plans and operating guides
such as the Incident Management System Annex to manage
any and all incidents within New York State
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2009 H1N1
2011 Hurricane Irene & Tropical Storm Lee
2012 Hurricane Sandy
The Extreme Weather Planning & Response Guide sits as an
Appendix in the IMS Annex, this document:
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Defines Extreme Weather Events in New York State
Identifies the Department’s role in a defined weather event
Outlines the Department’s actions
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*State and Local Government Action
*Issued States of Emergency
*Used Traditional News Media and Social Media
to Communicate with Population
*NYC Mayor ordered evacuation of 400,000
people
*NYS Governor ordered shutdown of NYC
subway system
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* Public Action
* Most people obeyed order to evacuate when told to do so
* Even if not ordered to evacuate
* Listened to news media about warnings
* Bought bottled water and non-perishable foods, batteries and
flashlights and lanterns
* Purchased drugs and other medical supplies
* Charged mobile phones and filled automobiles with gasoline
* Purchased generators for back-up power if needed
* Schools and businesses closed to prevent travelling during storm
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48 Situation Reports & Daily IMS Coordination
Calls
Issued - 61 Boil Water Orders (BWO)
Co-lead for State Mass Care Support Group and
supported mass care efforts in the affected
jurisdictions.
Disaster Recovery Centers – provided Staff for
61 locations
IHANS Notifications over 600,000
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Healthcare Facility Evacuations During Sandy:
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6,001 Patients and residents were evacuated from NYC
Healthcare Facilities
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56 Facilities evacuated in NYC, Nassau, Westchester and
Suffolk Counties
Primary plans used for response were the NYC
Coastal Storm Plan and the NYS Response and
Recovery Annexes
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The Extreme Weather Planning & Response Guide was
not formally implemented, the public messaging included
in the plan is a primary response role
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Multiple areas of NYSDOH all participate in Sandy response
Regional staff impacted personally
NYSDOH acting as county health departments at varying times.
Need to relay that information to pertinent agencies
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Relay of electronic laboratory reports with power compromised
Implement novel surveillance mechanisms earlier than
anticipated
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Hospitals, commercial labs, residents, etc.
Computer-assisted surveillance for multiple illnesses
GI list expanded, but impacted by power and reporting issues?
Have different areas/facilities to monitor
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Multiple shelters, run by multiple organizations
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In 2010 - Local Health Departments within New York State
used a similar format to develop local All Hazards Public
Health Emergency Response (PHEPR) Plans
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The NYSDOH Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
(HEPR) Plan is formally updated every 4 years, however,
portions are updated as needed
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Future updated guidance will include a use-able template for
Local Health Departments to include in future iterations of
their local plans
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Office of Health Emergency Preparedness Plan Coordinator - Sarah-Anne Roberts
Kate Butler-Azzopardi & Michael Perillo
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Office of Public Health Practice
Dr. Millicent Eidson & Kathleen Clancy
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Division of Epidemiology
Hwa-Gan H. Chang
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Center for Environmental Health (CEH)
Dr. Wanda Lizak-Welles & Eileen Franko
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Public Affairs Group & Crisis Emergency Risk Communications
John Emery
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Public Health Emergency Epidemiology (PHEEP)
Dr. Daniel Kuhles, Lynn Couey
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Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS)
James Soto
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Office of Health Systems Management (OHSM)
Deborah Sottolano
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For More Information Please Contact:
Office of Heath Emergency Preparedness
518.474.2893