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Robert L. (Bob) McFalls, M.Div.Chief Operating Officer
National Association of Area Agencies on AgingAIRS Conference
May 24, 2010Rochester, New York
Acknowledgments
Funding for this project provided through AoA grant 90AM3126 to n4a
Survey development, data collection, analysis and figure development conducted by Scripps Gerontology Center
For further information:Abigail Morgan, Program Manager, n4a
([email protected])Robert McFalls, C.O.O., n4a ([email protected])National Association of Area Agencies on Aging,
Washington, D.C.http://www.n4a.org/pdf/Emergency2009Final.pdf
Plan for TodayBackgroundSurvey of Area Agencies on Aging
(AAAs)FindingsImplications & Challenges for the
Aging Services Network
Older Adults and EmergenciesDisproportional death rates in Katrina (64% of
deaths age 65+)Less likely to be willing to evacuateAdults 55+ least personally prepared for
disasterHigh reliance on first respondersA third of those with a disability or caring for
someone with a disability would need extra helpChronic conditions may be worsened in an
emergency Medications, medical care present challenges
How do we think about disasters?
Disaster is “when routines…are seriously disrupted and when unplanned courses of action have to be undertaken to cope with the crisis” (Quarentelli, 2000).
“there is no such thing as a “natural” disaster. In every phase and aspect of a disaster…the difference between who lives and who dies is to a greater or lesser extent a social calculus “(Smith, 2006).
Preparedness prevents emergencies from becoming disasters.
AAA preparedness involves services to older adults and preparedness as a business entity
Hazards/Disaster CatalystsDam FailureEarthquakeFire or WildfireFloodHazardous MaterialHeatHurricaneLandslide
Nuclear Power Plant Emergency
Pandemic InfluenzaTerrorismThunderstormTornadoTsunamiVolcanoWinter Storm
States with Federal Major Disaster Declarations, 2008
One Two Three
Assessing Preparedness of AAAsPurpose-Developed Survey
n4a Advisory CouncilAAA DirectorsAoA Project ManagersAoA Office of Preparedness and Response
Focus onWhat programs/policies/provisions they had in
placeWhat elements were covered in their emergency
plansPerceptions about or experience with their plansNeeds for the future
AAA SurveyInternet Survey—May 2009All 629 AAAs invited to participate via e-mail
Survey in the field 3 weeks58.6% response rate (N=369)
Findings—Plan Participation
Three-quarters are part of one emergency plan (local, SUA, other statewide)
About 2/3 (64.5%) are part of a local planAbout 1/3 (33.9%) are part of an SUA planOnly 7 out of 100 (7.3 %) did not have a plan
What does the plan include?
Challenges for Future PlansCollaborations with nursing homes
and assisted living facilities (only about ¼ have this)
Planning for pets (less than 20% have this)
Plans for obtaining essential back-up supplies (over half, but not all have this)
Of 11 plan elements, average was 5
Communications in a Disaster
Important Locations
Business Practices
Maintaining Services
Maintaining Services (cont.)
Experience with DisastersAbout one-quarter (90 AAAs) had been
part of federally declared disasterHow well did their systems work?Only 3 out of 90 rated their plans as
“least effective”Over half said their plans were
“effective”(52.4%)Only 2 said their plans were “most
effective”
Confidence Among those with No Recent ExperienceHow confident are you about your
organization’s capacity to respond? (n=366)
Over 1 in 10 (11.5%) were not at all confident
Over half (53%) were somewhat confident
Over 1/3 were confident (28.1%) or very confident (7.4%)
Challenges for the FutureAAAs would like training/technical assistance in
the following:Process for obtaining immediate $$ to respondBest practices for different types of disastersEstablishing external communication systemsEstablishing roles and responsibilities with their
partners and other local organizationsProcesses for tracking disaster-related expenses
Strengths of AAA Preparedness
Highly involved in planningMultiple components to their plansAlmost all (only 8 do not) review
their plans at least yearlySurvey process had an educational
element
Questions?Abigail Morgan, [email protected] Robert McFalls, [email protected]
www.n4a.org/programs/annual-survey www.scrippsaging.org
