Proposed Eye Care Emergency Disaster Response Plan

Houston, Texas, 2007-2008

 

Executive Summary

 

This Disaster Response Plan (DRP) provides the framework for a response to disasters with regard to eye injuries within the jurisdiction of the Houston Branch of Prevent Blindness Texas (PBT) and The Houston Ophthalmological Society (HOS). It is a result of extensive planning and preparedness by both organizations and contains systems and procedures for managing the human and material resources of the organizations in providing emergency eye care to victims of disaster.

The plan consists of the base plan and the hazard-specific annexes. Also listed are the names, addresses, emails of participating medical professionals, lay workers and other volunteers. The base plan includes sections about demographics; geography; climate; hazards and their impact on the community; the readiness capability of Prevent Blindness Texas and Houston Ophthalmological Society and the concept of operations, which details the combined organizations' response to disasters.

The most common disasters that occur within the jurisdiction of Prevent Blindness Texas and the Houston Ophthalmological Society are flooding, hurricane, tornado, explosion and fire. An explosion and resulting fire would provide the highest impact of any risk faced by the HOS and PBT. This entire jurisdiction is vulnerable to rain, hurricane and fire. All are likely to be heavily-impacted by these types of disaster. The major areas within the jurisdiction are Houston, Sugar Land, Baytown, Clear Lake and Galveston.

PBT and HOS serve a potential population of more than 5,500,000 from 10 counties who are 27.5% under the age of 18; 11.2% from 18 to 24; 33.8% from 25 to 44; 19.1% from 45 to 64; and 8.4% are 75 or older. The median age is 31 years. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.39.

The median income for a household is $36,616 and the median income for a family is $40,443. Males have a median income of $32,084 versus $27,371 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,101. 19% of the population and 16% of the families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.1% of those under the age of 18 and 14.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Greater Houston is diverse because of its many academic institutions and strong biomedical, energy, manufacturing and aerospace industries. According to the U.S. Census, the racial makeup of the city is 49.27% White; 18.31% Hispanic or Latino of any race; 25.31% Black; 5.31% Asian; 0.44% Native American; 0.06% Pacific Islander; and 1.30% other.

When needed, PBT and HOS will access additional human and material resources through mutual aid agreements with the Houston Optometric Association; University of Houston, College of Optometry; Baylor College of Medicine; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Also, PBT has many additional community volunteers who have received emergency disaster response training.

If you have questions or concerns about the Prevent Blindness Texas/Houston Ophthalmological Society disaster response plan, please contact Jim Hubbard at PBT, 713-526-2559 x 107.

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