Proposed Eye Care Emergency Disaster Response Plan
Houston, Texas, 2007-2008
- TOC
- Page 7 of 11
The following situations will activate this plan.
1. Any disaster occurring within the jurisdiction of Prevent Blindness Texas and Houston Ophthalmological Society.
2. Transportation disasters that occur outside of the jurisdiction, but where the families of a victim or victims reside within the jurisdiction of Prevent Blindness Texas and Houston Ophthalmological Society.
a) Any pending disaster, e.g., hurricane or severe weather watch
b) Any major sheltering of evacuees from another jurisdiction
3. Notification of Prevent Blindness Texas
The 24-hour Eye Disaster number is the primary means used by the local fire department to alert the PBT/HOS contact person of pending or actual events and requests for emergency eye care assistance. The President of HOS and/or his designee will be notified. The Director on Call and Captain from the Emergency Response Team will carry cell phones for incidents requiring immediate activation of the collaborative vision services.
Positions to Include:
1. PBT and HOS Chairs
2. Board of Directors
3. PBT and HOS Executives or Manager
4. PBT Program Director
5. PBT Emergency Response Committee
6. HOS Emergency Response Committee
7. PBT Staff Usually Activated
8. Full Emergency Response Team (DAT)
9. Liaisons to local government; e.g., Incident Command and/or emergency operations center (EOC)
a) Optometrists: assess and triage patients –therapeutic optometrists treat as licensed
b) Ophthalmologists: assess, treat, and triage patients
c) Volunteers, PBT staff: set up care area, check-in and provide badges for volunteers, organize patient flow, sterilize treatment area, scribe, replenish supplies, telephone and e-mail support and communication, implement triage plans
a) Opening up a Vision Emergency Relief Operation
b) Providing Individual Assistance
c) Coordinating with Government Agencies
d) Coordinating with Voluntary Agencies
e) Coordinating with other Emergency units.
f) Requesting Local External Resources
1. Emergency Response Team to HOS and PBT
2. PBT to Board
3. PBT/HOS Disaster response team with Local Government
4. PBT with Other Voluntary Agencies
During the same period that disaster service is being handled, PBT, HOS, and all of the many medical professionals who work as a part of the ongoing relief process must continue to perform their day-to-day work of screening vision, performing examinations, and performing surgeries to continue caring for the ongoing vision needs of the general population of Houston. It is through this plan that the "Vision Community" seeks to serve those individuals devastated by a disaster and still continue to work with the greater population.
Copies of all of our agreements are kept in the PBT offices. Unless noted otherwise above Jim Hubbard and Dr. Amy Coburn are responsible for maintaining these relationships and are the primary contacts for our two organizations.
toc | return to top | previous page | next page
Content ©2007. All rights reserved.
Date last modified: November 29, 2007.
Prevent Blindness Texas
Houston Ophthalmological Society
