Report finds big flaws in response

In the days after the December windstorm, the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center in Seattle e-mailed clients and other agencies about the dangers of carbon-monoxide poisoning and the availability of money for home repairs. But due to power outages, it was unclear how many received the alerts.

The Crisis Clinic's 211 information line advised hundreds of callers. But the line quickly was overwhelmed and lacked round-the-clock service. Operators didn't have current or accurate information, especially about shelters.

Such stories are part of a new United Way of King County report about the windstorm's impact on vulnerable people and the ability of human-services agencies to respond to their needs.

The report, expected to be released today, found the windstorm left these lessons behind:

• Regulation and oversight of emergency preparedness in long-term-care facilities have been inadequate to meet residents' basic needs in a disaster. Many people in facilities inadequately equipped with backup power suffered. Some had fragile medical conditions that depended on electricity to power oxygen machines and wheelchairs.

• Government and nonprofit human-service agencies tried to help and often succeeded. But relationships weren't in place to coordinate the effort effectively. Grassroots groups that represent non-English-speaking populations also did not have good connections with emergency responders.

• Most social-service agencies could not stay open due to lack of power, transportation and employees. The agencies also often didn't know what to tell people about how and where to find help.

• There wasn't enough information about shelter locations and capacities. Ultimately, far more shelters than needed were opened.

• Finally, most individuals — despite widespread educational campaigns urging emergency preparedness — clearly had not taken those warnings seriously.

Based on these findings, the task force recommends that nonprofit human-services agencies strengthen emergency planning and response capability, build relationships with vulnerable and special populations and coordinate better with government. Among the specific recommendations is that long-term care facilities must have emergency plans, proper equipment and staff trained in disaster response. Some remedies already are under way, such as a proposed law that would require an approved alternative heat source in all long-term care facilities. "We were very lucky because it showed us what we need to do," said Susie Burdick, chief executive officer of the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center.

Her agency now wants to develop a subscriber emergency-paging system that can send out alerts and also wants to train interpreters for shelters.

Public Health — Seattle & King County has created a new position to determine how best to prepare residents in long-term-care facilities for an emergency. The agency also is broadening its reach into community organizations, especially those with links to non-English-speaking residents.

"You can't just wave a magic wand and have all those systems and connections being made," said Dorothy Teeter, chief of health operation at Public Health — Seattle & King County.

"That's why it's so incredibly important to do this work now, when there isn't an emergency."

Marsha King: 206-464-2232 or mking@seattletimes.com