A Sanitarian s Role During Disaster Relief Efforts Experience Following Hurricane Katrina at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston Texas Houston Department of Health and Human Services Disaster Recovery 2 Houston, Texas 4 th largest city with a population of 2.01 million 5 million people in the Houston Metropolitan area 38 million people travel through Houston airports each year Home of the largest medical center in the world 600 square mileswater 22.3 sq mi (57.7 km²) Disaster Recovery 3 Page 1
Disaster Recovery 4 ROLE OF A SANITARIAN FOOD SERVICE & PREPARATION COMMUNICATION & TRAINING Disaster Recovery 5 FOOD SERVICE AND PREPARATION Time and Temperature Control COOKING TEMPERATURES HOT HOLDING COLD HOLDING COOLING TECHNIQUES QUICK CHILLING (FREEZER) ICE BATH Disaster Recovery 6 Page 2
FOOD SERVICE AND PREPARATION Food Service Techniques TRAINING OF VOLUNTEER SERVING FROM BOTTOM TO MAINTAIN HEAT PROPER UTENSILS SCOOPS INSTEAD OF A CUP OR BUCKET Disaster Recovery 7 FOOD SERVICE AND PREPARATION Food Protection STORAGE AREA COVERING FOODS PREPARATION AREA SERVICE AREA SERVICE LINE SET-UP LIMIT SELF SERVICE CONTROL OF FOOD FOOD ISOLATED TO DINING AREA CONTROLLED EXIT POSSIBILITY OF HORDING Disaster Recovery 8 FOOD SERVICE AND PREPARATION Single Service Items USE OF SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS DISPOSABLE UTENSILS (Wrapped) DISPOSABLE PLATES PROTECTION HANDLING DISPENSING Disaster Recovery 9 Page 3
FOOD SERVICE AND PREPARATION Equipment Cleaning & Sanitizing PROPER USE OF DISH MACHINE CHECKED FOR SANITIZER STRENGTH INSTRUCTIONS: TO PROPERLY LOAD, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN EQUIPMENT CONCENTRATIONS OF CHEMICALS SANITIZER Disaster Recovery 10 FOOD SERVICE AND PREPARATION Personal Hygiene SIGNAGE HAND WASHING PROCEDURE WHEN AND HOW TO USE OF APPROVED HAND SANITIZER GLOVES PRE-SCREENING OF WORKERS Disaster Recovery 11 ROLE OF A SANITARIAN FOOD SERVICE & PREPARATION LIVING QUARTERS COMMUNICATION & TRAINING Disaster Recovery 12 Page 4
LIVING QUARTERS Layout LOCATION OF COTS SEPARATION OF POPULATIONS: SEX FAMILY ILL PERSONS SAFETY FIRE PATHS EXIT DOORS Disaster Recovery 13 LIVING QUARTERS Laundry Service CLEANING OUTSIDE PROVIDER PROPER SANITIZATION IDENTIFICATION BAGGED ID ANNOUNCING OF LAUNDRY SERVICES Disaster Recovery 14 LIVING QUARTERS Surveillance MONITORING BEDDING MOVEMENTS BLOCKING OF EXITS CONDENSE & RELOCATE CONDITIONS UNSANITARY CONDITIONS SPILLS & SPECIAL TECHNIQUE INCIDENT REPORTING TO SHIFT LEADER SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS Disaster Recovery 15 Page 5
LIVING QUARTERS Cleaning & Garbage Control LIVING AREA CLEANING SELF RESPONSIBLE ITEMS PROVIDED BY FACILITY GARBAGE REMOVED BY FACILITY AS NEEDED ROUTINE CHECKS Disaster Recovery 16 ROLE OF A SANITARIAN FOOD SERVICE & PREPARATION COMMUNICATION & TRAINING Disaster Recovery 17 OUTBREAK CONTROL Separation of the Ill SELECTIVE ISOLATION (AS PER PHYSICIAN) RECOVERY AREA AMENITIES TO ENCOURAGE SELF IMPOSED ISOLATION Disaster Recovery 18 Page 6
OUTBREAK CONTROL Education IDENTIFICATION: STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, SURVIVORS, MEDICAL PERSONNEL PROPER HAND WASHING & USE OF HAND SANITIZER PROPER USE OF EFFECTIVE SANITIZER Disaster Recovery 19 OUTBREAK CONTROL Tracing of Illness IDENTIFY ILLNESS vs. FOOD- BORNE ILLNESS QUARANTINE OF INFECTED EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS Disaster Recovery 20 ROLE OF A SANITARIAN FOOD SERVICE & PREPARATION COMMUNICATION & TRAINING Disaster Recovery 21 Page 7
RESTROOMS & PLUMBING Toilet Facilities AVAILABLE IN FACILITY AUTOMATIC FLUSH AUTOMATIC FAUCET PORTABLE ADDED HAND-WASH SET UP MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES Disaster Recovery 22 RESTROOMS & PLUMBING Hand Washing FACILITY ALLOWED FOR ADDITIONAL PLUMBED CONNECTIONS (HOT/COLD WATER) TEMPORARY HAND WASH STATION SET-UP WHERE NEEDED Disaster Recovery 23 RESTROOMS & PLUMBING Showers LAYOUT PERSONAL STALLS SHOWER SCHEDULE BY SLEEPING AREA CLEANING PROPER SOLUTION AND PREPARATION RECIPE MAINTENANCE Disaster Recovery 24 Page 8
ROLE OF A SANITARIAN FOOD SERVICE & PREPARATION CHEMICAL SANITIZATION COMMUNICATION & TRAINING Disaster Recovery 25 CHEMICALS & SANITIZATION HAND SANITIZERS EFFECTIVE SANITIZER CLEANING AGENTS APPROVED AGENTS NOT MIXING CHEMICALS (SAFETY) IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH RISK AREAS (FREQUENT CLEANING) Disaster Recovery 26 ROLE OF A SANITARIAN FOOD SERVICE & PREPARATION COMMUNICATION & TRAINING Disaster Recovery 27 Page 9
FACILITY SET-UP Specific to the Shelter SPECIFIC TO SHELTER SEPARATION OF AREAS PLUMBING P.A. SYSTEM FOOD PREPARATION AIR CONDITIONING AVAILABLE STAFF Disaster Recovery 28 ROLE OF A SANITARIAN FOOD SERVICE & PREPARATION COMMUNICATION & TRAINING Disaster Recovery 29 INSPECTIONS FREQUENCY EVERY DAY & EVERY MEAL SURVEILLANCE ON FLOOR REPORTING SYSTEM CONSISTENCY MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND SPECIALTIES Disaster Recovery 30 Page 10
ROLE OF A SANITARIAN FOOD SERVICE & PREPARATION COMMUNICATION & TRAINING Disaster Recovery 31 COMMUNICATION VOLUNTEER KITCHEN HELPERS FOOD SERVICE HELPERS CHILDREN S AREA FLOOR HELPERS TRAINERS SURVIVORS SIGNAGE & NEWSLETTER SPECIAL NEEDS Disaster Recovery 32 IN CLOSING.. DISEASE OUTBREAKS DURING THE SHELTERING = ZERO OFFICIALS, PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES, WORKERS, & VOLUNTEERS HOUSTON (ONE OF MANY THAT TOOK CARE OF THE SURVIVORS) MAY NEVER MOUNT AN OPERATION LIKE THIS AGAIN, BUT THERE WERE LESSONS LEARNED. IF THEY COME TO YOUR CITY, WILL YOU BE READY? GET YOUR STAFF READY AND GET SPECIFIC DETAILS. GENERAL EMERGENCY PLANS ARE OFTEN TOO VAGUE. DEFINE YOUR CAPACITY AND NEEDS, IDENTIFY RESOURCES OBTAINABLE IN AN EMERGENCY. SHARE YOUR PLANS AND START TODAY! Disaster Recovery 33 Page 11
Chirag H. Bhatt and Courtney Bock Houston Department of Health and Human Services www.houstonhealth.org Disaster Recovery 34 Page 12