Disaster Preparedness: Plan to be Really Ready!
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Alexian Brothers Pavilion
Milwaukee, WI
Download the registration form or register online.
As Governor Doyle said in September, "...if we learned one thing from Hurricane Katrina, it is that... we can always improve upon our ability to respond."
WALA shares the Governor's strong desire to improve our ability to respond to disasters. We have partnered with county, state and national resources to organize a hands-on long term care disaster preparedness seminar. On February 7, meet Jo Huey who lost her dementia specific facilities in New Orleans, learn from the experiences of others and gain valuable tips from professionals in disaster planning. Commit now to ensure the safety of your residents!
What it's all about
In the wake of recent natural disasters, emergency management plans are being re-evaluated. Beyond the larger scale of tornadoes, ice storms, fires, and flu pandemics, long term care has a unique set of potential emergencies - from elopement to accidental death. Drills are a great way to practice emergency response, but providers in Louisiana learned the hard way that you can't always just sound the all-clear and head back into the building after the disaster occurs.
- Are you ready with a comprehensive plan so that all staff and residents know how to respond in an emergency?
- Can your leaders confidently react during an emergency with a display of careful planning, foresight and well executed preparation?
- As you watch the flames, or dig out of the tornado debris, are you wondering where you will go, or are the buses already there to take your residents to pre-planned safe havens?
- Do you know who to call if your safe havens and buses are suffering the same fate that you are?
- Will your staff know what to do if their own homes and family members need help at the same time?
If you answered no to any of these questions, this interactive workshop is for you! At the end of this session you will walk away with the worksheets, ideas and confidence to develop a comprehensive emergency management plan.
Who should attend? Staff that will develop, train, or facilitate the emergency management plan. It will benefit team leaders, shift supervisors, department heads, administrators, regional staff and owners.
Objectives
- Learn real-life lessons from WI providers who have been through an emergency situation.
- Find out which agencies provide support and services, and how to reach them when it counts.
- Receive worksheets, checklists and drills that can be updated on the computer to fit your planning needs.
- Understand crucial elements of your plan by testing your response to an actual emergency.
- Connect with peers to explore options in case you are unable to return to your building in an emergency.
- Develop your leadership skills with confidence in your emergency management plan.
Speakers
Sinikka Santala, Administrator, Div of Disability and Elder Svcs, WI Dept of Health & Family Svcs
Jo Huey, Louisiana AL Provider & Hurricane Evacuee
Representatives from:
Wisconsin Emergency Management
Red Cross
County Emergency Services
Wisconsin AL Providers
Agenda (subject to change)
7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Welcome & Objectives
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. "We Can Always Improve Upon Our Ability to Respond"
Sinikka Santala will address the importance of having an emergency plan in place, being prepared to put it in action and responding quickly to emergencies to ensure the safety and continued care of your vulnerable populations.
9:30 - 10:45 a.m. Local & Regional Agencies That You Can Turn To
Wisconsin Emergency Management, the Red Cross and County Emergency Services will explain their roles in various types of emergencies, and how you can plan to best utilize their services. Know who to depend on for support and services in an emergency.
10:45 - 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 - 12:00 a.m. A Provider's Story: Surviving Katrina & Rita
Jo Huey, an assisted living provider from Louisiana, shares lessons learned. Her preparations and advance planning helped her and her residents to move safely from the path of Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Rita tested Jo's leadership skills again the following week. Interestingly, Jo helped to present a Disaster Management session prior to the recent storms - what would she have added if she knew then what she knows now? Find out!
12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch and Networking Assignment
Meet with peers to explore options in case you are unable to return to your building in an emergency.
1:30 - 2:15 p.m. It Could Happen To You
Wisconsin providers will share disaster horror and success stories, the lessons they learned, what they added to their emergency plans after the event, what we could learn from them, and what personal strengths were needed to overcome these disasters.
2:15 - 2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 - 3:00 p.m. Community Specific Scenario Planning
Jo Huey's disaster planning worksheets, based on emergency management team recommendations, regulations and her own experiences, were tested in WI by Laureate Group. They will walk you through their experiences, and answer your questions. The forms will be provided on disk so that you and your staff can customize your plan when you return to your residence.
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. How Would You Respond?
Attendees will break into small groups to examine case-studies of actual events. Groups will examine action plans and identify additional information needed for response when 1) disaster impacts your building; 2) disaster impacts you and your host communities; 3) disaster impacts your entire city or region.
4:00 - 4:30 p.m. Wrap Up
We will present the "personal building blocks of fortitude", necessary personal strengths and ways to cultivate your inner-leader.
Location
Alexian Brothers Pavilion:
9225 N 76th Street
Milwaukee, WI
Phone: 414/357-5105
Directions
From the East:
From I-43, exit Brown Deer Road West; go North/Right on N. 76th Street approx. 1/4 mile and turn left into the Alexian Village Complex. Take the first left into the Pavilion parking area and follow signs to the Alexian Pavilion.
From the West:
From I-45, exit Main Street East; go North/Left on N. 76th Street. Follow the directions as stated above.
Accommodations
You are responsible for your own reservations and costs. If you would like accommodations, please contact the Courtyard Marriott - Milwaukee North at 800/321-2211 and ask for the special Alexian Village Rates. A low rate of $89/night has been negotiated by our friends at Alexian Village for your convenience. The Courtyard is located on Brown Deer Road, just east of Alexian Village.
A special thank you to Alexian Brothers Pavilion and Alexian Village for their generous support of WALA and their kind donation of space for this session.
If you would like to host a WALA session at your
residence, please contact the WALA office at
608/288-0246.
Date & Time
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Registration: 8:00 a.m.
Sessions run 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Certificate
6 hours available toward HFS-83 annual 12 hour training requirement. A certificate will be issued.
Fees
See registration form — includes breakfast, breaks, lunch, handouts and disk of customizable emergency management worksheets.
Refunds
No full refunds will be made after January 27, 2006. For cancellations after January 27, a voucher for future WALA educational events will be issued minus a $50 administration fee.