An Environmental Public Health Response to a Major High Water Event

An Environmental Public Health Response to a Major High Water Event Tyler Zerwekh, DrPH, REHS Administrator Environmental Health Services Bureau Shelby County Health Department

Presentation Objectives Highlight the environmental public health mitigation, response, and recovery to a flood event Discuss the environmental public health components of mitigation, response, and recovery from flood activities. Identify environmental sheltering practices along with processes identified and executed in the remediation of vectors, sanitation, and pollution post flood event. Present intra- and inter-agency collaboration through all phases of the flood event

Flooding on MS River at Memphis, TN known unknown

Mississippi River at Memphis/Shelby County: Timeline 1927 historic flood at 45.8 ft 1937 historic flood at 48.7 ft Planning Response April 27 Urban flooding; MS River begins to rise April 28 Flooding is modeled; secure GIS mapping website is created April 29 Urban flood peak, receding begins May 2 Evacuation list is produced from modeling May 4 Public awareness maps are created; call center opens May 3-10 GIS maps modified based on NWS predictions of river stage; evacuations begin Response Recovery May 10 MS River crests at 47.6 ft May 11 EH Risk and Needs Assessment Performed May 13 Properties identified for inspections as waters recede May 29 Damage assessment QA/QC d June 5 Damage assessment validated through GIS & field survey

Two sequential events Event 1: Urban flash flooding Event 2: Mississippi River flood Partners EMA Public Health Law Enforcement Public Works Fire/EMS Shelters Volunteers Code Enforcement

Presentation of issues An urban flood event manifested in late April of 2011. Major tributaries in Shelby County (Wolf River, Loosahatchie River, Nonconnah Creek) began to swell as a large rain event stalled over the local area Another massive precipitation event in the Ohio valley melted headwater snow packs resulting in a historic Mississippi River flood Would the Mississippi River flood waters reach Memphis before urban flooding of the tributaries subsided?

Kennedy Park, Park View Apts Memphis, TN (Raleigh Area)

Memphis Mobile City Thomas Road, North Memphis

Kennedy Park, Memphis, TN

EPH Response Disaster Management Unorthodox EPH response Full EOC Activation Initial EH Actions

EH Response - Sheltering Red Cross vs. Faith based shelters Sheltering Strike Team CDC EH Shelter Assessment Toolkit

CDC Shelter Assessment Tool

Inspection Results A total of 32 inspection violations cited over 30 day sheltering operation (5/3/11 6/3/11) 22 directly Sanitation related 18 6 facilities inspected 10 times over 30 days = 50 total inspections Total Violations 16 14 12 10 8 Total Violations 6 4 2 0 Facility Food Drinking Water and Ice Health and Medical Sanitation Solid Waste Generated Childcare Area Sleeping Area Companion Animals

Ed Rice Community Center/Shelter

Ed Rice Community Center/Shelter taking picture IDs

Ed Rice Community Center

EPH Response Responder Safety PPE Considerations EPH Hazards Safety Officer?

EPH Response Water Issues Drinking Water Not PH responsibility Messages prepared Wells Wastewater City Engineer Report Septic Tanks Mississippi River and Tributaries

EPH Response Food Safety Food Issues Faced Response PIO Messaging Key Partners

EPH Vector Control EPH Functions EPH Concerns Mosquito Control Rodent / Pest Control Urban Sanitation Animal Control FEMA s Infinite Wisdom

EPH Response Building Assessment Non-Traditional Assessment Operations Health Code = Condemned Residences!

EPH Response Solid Waste and Hazardous Materials Partner Agencies Disaster Waste PPE Considerations Disposal Process

Lessons Learned It s a marathon, not a sprint. Role of Public Information Messaging Development of EH Response Plan Development of EH Strike Team Training for EOC ESF-8 back-ups Documentation

QUESTIONS?