Communicating with communities about emergency preparedness: Resources, strategies, and experiences

1
Communicating with communities about emergency
preparedness Resources, strategies, and
experiences

• New York City Department of Health and Mental
  Hygiene
• Office of Community Relations
• Sarah Roberts
• May 29, 2003

2
DOHMH is one of many

• Other government agencies make presentations on
  emergency preparedness
• NYPD
• FDNY
• Red Cross
• Dept. of Education
• FEMA
• Homeland Security

3
DOHMH presentations include

• What DOHMH is doing now to prepare
• Type of emergencies DOHMH is preparing for
• DOHMHs role during a public health emergency
• What people can do now to prepare for an
  emergency
• Where people can get more information now and in
  the future
• What might DOHMH tell people to do in case of an
  emergency

4
Enhancing Communication Capacity

• Providers
• Public
• Other agencies
• DOHMH employees

5
DOHMH staff training

• Risk Communication
• Media training
• Speakers bureau

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Public

• Informing community leaders
• Preparedness activities
• Sending them regular updates about DOHMH
  activities and information sources
• Website
• Email/fax lists of CBOs
• Educational materials
• Fact sheets
• Video
• Brochures
• Media
• Presentations (upon request)

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What can people do now to prepare?

• Keep informed
• NYC Aware at nyc.gov/health
• Prepare for emergencies
• Same as for other emergencies
• Have an emergency plan for your family
• Where you will meet if something happens
• Out of state contact to phone
• Enough food/water for 3 4 days
• Radio with batteries
• See OEM and Red Cross household preparedness
  guides

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What can people do to protect their health in
case of an emergency?

• In the event of any terrorist attack
• Turn on TV or radio
• follow emergency instructions
• Depending on the threat and risk posed, officials
  may tell you to
• Stay where you are, or
• Evacuate the area immediately, or
• Seek shelter at a designated location

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Frequently asked questions

• What should I do if there is an attack?
• Where can people go to get more information?
• How are we preparing for the needs of special
  populations?
• What are you doing in my neighborhood? Is my
  hospital prepared?
• Will I be able to speak with a live person if
  there is an emergency?

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More challenging FAQs

• The detailed question about a specific agent
• The worst case/specific case scenario question
• Have you been vaccinated against smallpox?
• Do you have enough funding? / Is the you are
  spending on preparedness taking away from other
  core public health activities?

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Example of SARS

• SARS in NYC
• As of May 27, 2003
• In NYC, there have been
• 3 probable cases of SARS
• 19 suspect cases of SARS
• All recently traveled to affected area
• no local spread

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Messages as of 5/28/03

• There has been NO community transmission of SARS
  in NYC
• No need to avoid any area of the city
• No need for anyone who has recently traveled to
  an affected area who DOES NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS to
  stay home or away from work
• Best thing for people to do is stay informed
• DOHMH has been
• Working with health care providers
• Investigating possible cases and preparing for
  the possibility that local spread may occur

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How Can People Protect Themselves From SARS?

• Avoid nonessential travel to affected areas
• WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY!
• Good General Health Practice
• No special precautions for the general public
• If you feel sick, get medical care and stay home
• Suspect and probable cases of SARS should
• Stay away from school, work, day care, other
  public areas until 10 days after fever and
  respiratory symptoms resolve/subside
• Avoid visitors
• Check the CDC WHO websites (www.cdc.gov
  www.who.int) for
• updated travel advisories

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Public information on status of SARS in NYC

• DOHMH communicates with the public
• Community presentations
• Outreach in and meetings with Chinese/Chinese
  American communities in NYC
• Distributing fact sheets
• Via email/fax lists
• At presentations/community meetings
• Information on website, nyc.gov/health
• Press releases and press conferences

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DOHMH website

• SARS Facts
• Fact sheets in multiple languages (English,
  Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish)
• Press Releases (multiple languages)
• Health Care Provider Information
• Guidelines and Recommendations for Health Care
  Workers
• Number/Status of Probable and Suspected Cases in
  NYC
• Links to the CDC and WHO websites
• http//www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/sars.html

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FAQs about SARS

• Quarantine why isnt govt. quarantining
  everyone coming in from an affected area?
• Should workplaces, schools, etc. exclude people
  or quarantine people who come in from an affected
  area?
• Will any hospital be a SARS treatment center if
  SARS spread in NYC?
• MASKS!
• Will the health department give them to people if
  an outbreak?
• Which kinds are useful?

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FAQs about SARS (cont)

• Is it safe to eat in Chinatown?
• Is saying that there is, at this point, no reason
  to avoid any area of the city based on science or
  political correctness?
• Is saying that you cant tell if someone has SARS
  by their race or nationality political
  correctness or based in science?
• What are you doing to address discrimination
  against and stigmatization of Asian people in
  NYC?
• My friend was in Flushing and now has a cough,
  but her doctor wont do anything about itCan the
  health department screen her?

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Mental Health

• Always acknowledge the stress of hearing
  about/thinking about these things
• Dont over-provide information for people who
  are interested, give them resources so they can
  learn more
• Let people know that DOHMH has people worrying
  about all of this full time
• Resources for people in crisis or who need
  counseling provided

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Final thoughts

• Provide
• Regular updates
• Accurate information