Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 5 National and Cross-National Models of Geriatric Disaster 97
community and at-risk groups based on the guide. The third program to
emerge, the Joint Emergency Management System (JEMS), is currently
delivered in 10 communities in Nova Scotia. JEMS networks community
stakeholders with emergency personnel to learn more about emergency
preparedness. This program is also designed to facilitate the creation of
comfort centers (in churches or fire halls) so older persons and persons
with disabilities can more easily access equipment like generators. John
Webb emphasized that each of the programs focuses on increasing community
resiliency.
Randy Hull, City of Winnipeg emergency preparedness coordinator,
and Joe Egan (retired), City of Winnipeg emergency social services
coordinator, Manitoba (interviewed November 6, 2008, and November
13, 2008)
An enhanced local network of older persons’ groups emerged from the
2007 Winnipeg International Workshop on Seniors and Emergency Preparedness.
The enhanced network created an easy-to-read paper presentation
for older persons on how to become better prepared. A core group
of older persons was trained to give presentations on managing in emergencies
and the essential components of an emergency kit. In 2008, 15
presentations were given to over 400 participants. Older persons are also
involved as actor evacuees in local disaster simulation exercises. Older
persons’ participation in these events increased their awareness of what
could happen during a disaster and educated them on preparedness topics
such as what to include in an emergency kit. Other programs initiated
by the City of Winnipeg focus on building personal service plans.
For example, in planning for relatively small-scale disasters involving
100–200 people, 30 to 35 social service workers were trained to specifically
attend to individual older persons’ needs, including locating and
transferring them to temporary housing and implementing a frequent
check-in program for displaced individuals. For larger scale disasters, the
city is working with emergency responders (fire services) to ensure lists
of most-at-risk individuals in buildings are maintained in the building’s
firebox to assist in rapid identification in the event of a disaster or emergency.
Wayne Dauphinee, consultant with the Health, Emergency Management
Unit, BC Ministry of Health Services, and Dave Hutton, FPT
coordination and emergency social services, Public Health Agency
of Canada (interviewed December 2 and 3, 2008)