June 2023 Newsletter
WELCOME TO THE HEALTHCARE COALITION OF MAINE NEWSLETTER
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Healthcare Coalition of Maine (HCCME) is to develop and sustain a powerful coalition of health care organizations, first responders, and other key partners united to save lives and improve health outcomes during disasters through preparedness, planning, response, and recovery efforts.
upcoming Hospital to home workshop #3
Join us for the final workshop in the series, focused on patient decompression from hospital to community settings. Attendance at Workshop #1 and #2 is not required to participate in Workshop #3. See full details, including who should attend and the registration link below.
limited Seats available for Master Trainer PPE Donning and Doffing Trainings
There is still limited seats available for two of the training session. See flyer below for additional training details and register below for the training of your choice. Advanced registration is required.
Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Reminds Citizens To Prepare As Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins
AUGUSTA, MAINE — June 1 marks the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which extends through November 30. Maine doesn’t usually see many hurricanes, but in 2011 Hurricane Irene, which was downgraded to a tropical storm, still resulted in a disaster declaration in Maine. Hurricane season could also affect Mainers traveling to other destinations. The hurricane outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced last week its forecast of 12 to 17 named storms, five to nine becoming hurricanes, and one to four powering into major hurricanes with winds greater than 110 mph. Normal is 14 named storms, with seven becoming hurricanes, and three of them major hurricanes.
To prepare for a hurricane, you should take the following measures:
Build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
Know your surroundings - especially if you are traveling in unfamiliar territory.
Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.
Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
Make plans to secure your property:
If you live in a high-risk area, cover your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with custom cut to fit plywood. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage, it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans, and anything else that is not tied down.
Determine how and where to secure your boat.
Install a generator for emergencies.
Next month, look for preparedness tips and safety information on MEMA’s Facebook or Twitter during the National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Preparedness Week from July 9 – 15. You can also visit MEMA’s website or learn more at www.MainePrepares.com.
CISA Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Region 1 (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) invites you to join a two-hour security webinar being hosted on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 1:00pm ET. Registration information may be found HERE. This webinar provides information and best practices that supports and enhances the emergency action planning capabilities of your organization. Preparing employees for a potential active shooter event is an integral component of an organization’s incident response planning. Because active shooter incidents are unpredictable and evolve quickly, preparing for and knowing what to do in an active shooter situation can be the difference between life and death. Every second counts!
Three Ways to Improve Your EMS Agency’s Pediatric Readiness
The National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project is highlighting three ways for EMS agencies to improve pediatric emergency care. Read more.
Partner Trainings and Webinars
MEMA
private sector preparedness and response
scEMA
FEMA
All Clear
MGT341 Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Organizations within the Community Infrastructure
The MGT341 Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Organizations within the Community Infrastructure scheduled for delivery July 25-26, is the second in the TEEX Infrastructure Disaster Management Certificate Program, a series of trainings focused on disaster management in key sectors of critical infrastructure in Androscoggin County. This course provides information specific to healthcare organizations vulnerability to a disaster. During this FEMA sponsored course, participants will be introduced to the various natural, technological, and civil hazards to which healthcare organizations may be vulnerable and the potential impacts of those hazards. Federal guidelines and legislation that serve to aid in the preparedness for, and response to, incidents involving these hazards are discussed, as are current emergency management standards for the healthcare community. Participants review response and recovery issues that should be addressed by medical facilities and organizations in preparation for a large-scale incident, including identification of critical resources necessary for response and recovery.
Training Announcement HERE and to REGISTER
Location: 45 Oak St., Lewiston, ME 04240
Date: Jul 25-26, 2023
Private Sector Preparedness Response and Recovery Seminar Series: Mass Casualty Impact & Recovery
Third Thursday of every month Thursday March 16th- November 16th @ 12:00 PM ET
Session 4: June 15- When the Crime Tape Comes Down: Providing Immediate Crisis Support
Session 5: July 20- Reopening and Resuming Operations
Session 6: Aug 17- The Immediate Aftermath: What Short Term Recovery Looks Like
Session 7: Sept 21- Negotiating Mid to Long Term Recovery (NY)
Session 8: Oct 19- Post Incident Scams and Fraud
Session 9: Nov 16- Civil and Criminal Judicial Processes
Private Sector Preparedness Response and Recovery is holding a monthly virtual seminar series titled, “Mass Casualty Impact and Recovery,” which examines how businesses can better prepare, respond and recover from active shooter and other mass casualty events. Flyer attached.
Register HERE.
MGT-381V - Business Continuity Planning
SCEMA is pleased to be offering MGT-381V - Business Continuity Planning. (This course was requested by participants following the MGT-403V – Underserved Populations Preparedness Planning for Rural Responders and Volunteers in April.) MGT 381 is an 8-hour, DHS/FEMA-certified, tuition-free, planning and management-level course. This course provides business continuity training to rural communities nationwide. In an effort to standardize terminology among private and public sector entities, it identifies commonalities between emergency management and business continuity planning (BCP). It outlines BCP within the framework of emergency management and the core capabilities of the National Preparedness Goal. Continuity is an important element of preparedness and an integral part of each core capability across the five mission areas of protection, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery.
WHAT: MGT-381V – Business Continuity Planning
WHEN: August 21st and 22nd, 2023
TIME: 8:30AM-12:30PM EST (both days)
WHERE: Virtual Delivery
FACILITATOR: Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC)
Registration is required, by August 14th, 2023 through the RDPC website. Register for this course by visiting HERE. (FEMA S.I.D. REQUIRED. Register for your FEMA Student Identification Number by visiting HERE. A minimum of 25 participants is required to hold the course. Seats are limited at 40 participants.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Center for Domestic Preparedness
Please see HERE the link to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) training and education information.
All Clear Emergency Management Group has the following upcoming free webinars:
EMSC
andrew altizer
NAccho
Making Planning Documents More Than Words on Paper
President Harry S. Truman once said, “I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can’t possibly foresee now.” However, terms like big and comprehensive do not always equate to size. Something that is laborious and unread adds no value for those tasked with managing emergencies and disasters. However, although comprehensive plans are vitally important, they can easily become a simple “check-the-box” requirement that results in a sizeable unread document that sits on the shelf. The organizational emergency operations plan (EOP) is highly susceptible to such a phenomenon.
Read full article HERE.
National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) Climate Action Toolkit for Local Health Departments
CONTACT US
Email your coalition coordinators at HCCME@AllClearEMG.com to assist you with any of your preparedness needs.
As a reminder, we recommend that you bookmark our website MaineHCCs.com and check in often as we are continually updating the calendar with meetings, trainings, and exercises!