Serving Alaskans with Disability: An Integrated Approach
September 11th, 2014 11:15 am ET - Blog Administrator
By: Amanda Cooper, Alaska Health and Disability Program Manager
With 663,000 square miles of land, rural location, and risk for at least seven types of natural disasters, Alaska’s emergency preparedness efforts are vital to the health and well-being of its residents. The majority of Alaska is inaccessible by road; therefore, emergency response efforts rely mostly on air and water transportation. Alaska invests heavily in its local and state health and medical surge capacity following a disaster. Of Alaska’s 735,000 residents, 23.8% live with disability. In addition, only half have enough food and water to last 5 to 7 days, the minimum time Alaska recommends for its citizens plan to be prepared. The unique needs of the state combined with the complex needs of Alaskans with disabilities mean preparedness efforts need to be comprehensive, integrated, and proactive. The State of Alaska has an integrated approach to increasing disaster education and awareness, preparation, and response.
SKIP – Safety Kept in Place
Plan and Practice
In March 2014, Alaska led the Alaska Shield 2014 exercise to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 9.2 magnitude Great Alaska 1964 Earthquake by replicating the earthquake’s effects and resulting tsunami. The Department of Health and Social Services conducted the health and medical component, exercising its capacity to meet the medical needs of patients in a catastrophic earthquake. Alaska, the first state to own and operate a former Federal Medical Station, erected the Alaska Medical Station and treated 356 non-critical patients in 7 hours over two days. Additionally, Samaritan’s Purse opened a field hospital adjacent to the Alaska Medical Station. These resources stood ready to address the needs of all Alaskans, including individuals with disability, who do not require hospitalization. During Alaska Shield 2014, in-state resources and federal assets were used to move patients to unaffected locations in and out of state. During an actual disaster, these resources would only be utilized as a last resort.
Building an Infrastructure using Lessons Learned
In addition to the FANA, the lessons learned from both local and national disasters identified gaps in service for adults with disabilities. Over the next few years, the AHDP and partners will address three areas of need for Alaskans with disability.
With help from CDC, Alaska has made great strides in improving emergency preparedness for Alaskans with disability. AHDP has been able to actively focus not only on emergency preparedness for Alaskans living with a disability, but on health promotion as well. The creation of the AHDP has opened the door to increased advocacy, awareness, planning, and training. The combination of current and future efforts will ensure that Alaskans with disability are included, supported, and regarded during all phases of disaster planning and response. As Alaska moves” North to the Future,” (our state motto), the emergency preparedness efforts focused on Alaskans with disability will continue on a dynamic, progressive path.
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Amanda Cooper serves as the Alaska Health and Disability Program Manager. Amanda’s focus areas include health promotion and emergency preparedness for Alaskans with disability. Amanda received her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage and her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Northwest Nazarene University.
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