Hurricane relief efforts

Hurricane Ike

AMA CPHPDR response

On Sept. 10, the Texas Department of Public Health contacted the AMA's Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response (CPHPDR) and requested assistance. Italo Subbarao, DO, Director of the AMA’s Public Health Readiness Office, was dispatched to Austin, Texas to provide assistance and to assess the situation on behalf of the AMA. Doctor Subbarao is currently in the Texas governor’s office working in the state emergency operations center helping with medical needs assessments and responding to questions. He will continue to provide updates as time and conditions permit.

Federal coordination activities

Texas Medical Special Operations Team liaised with the Department of Health and Human Service’s National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Coordinator, to ensure appropriate forward deployment of Disaster Medical Assist Teams (DMAT’s) and Public Health Services Rapid Deployment Forces (RDF’s) throughout Texas.  The American Red Cross and Medical Reserve Corp. National Headquarters were contacted to assist with coordination in Texas.

State and local coordination activities

Texas Medical Special Operations Team units are forward deploying to staging areas throughout Texas.  They have contacted the Texas Medical Association (TMA), who have established a Web site for TMA members to volunteer and assist with disaster response at the local level.  TMA is also posting information on their Web site regarding the AMA’s In Case of Emergency Prescription (ICERx) Program.

Current medical and public health concerns

• Medical evacuation transportation risks
• Persistent rain, flooding, and loss of essential services in East Texas coastline (hospital and shelter damage)
• Potential risk of injury (downed trees, down power wires, etc.)
• Psychological illness and concerns (anxiety, depression, PTSD
• Water contamination and diarrheal outbreak concerns as a result of contamination from flooding
• Evolving health threats may include carbon monoxide poisoning as the result of portable generator use, as well as vector-born illness from mosquitoes and rats.
  

AMA Foundation grants for physicians

The AMA Foundation is currently accepting donations for its Health Care Recovery Fund, which is offering grants of up to $2,500 to help physicians in FEMA-declared disaster areas to help them rebuild or restore their damaged medical practices in that declared disaster area. This ongoing fund will also be available to physicians affected by future natural or man-made disasters.