Health centers are actively involved in helping those individuals who are disproportionately affected by disasters and have carved out specific emergency management roles and responsibilities based on the needs of the community in which they operate.
To align ourselves with the need for emergency planning, NCCHCA works with many local, state, and national partners to assist community health centers in emergency preparedness planning and response. NCCHCA also provides information to partners about the role of community health centers in their community at all times, and the potential role of community health centers in the event of an emergency.
In North Carolina, the Office of Emergency Medical Services divides the state into Healthcare Coalitions. CHCs should be well-connected with their healthcare coalitions and attend their meetings regularly. See the map with live links to each coalition here.
Emergency Preparedness Resources:
Please report site damage and closures as you are able to ep@ncchca.org for HRSA reporting. Subscribe to NCCHCA’s weekly newsletter for updates.
The below links are from 2020 or earlier and will be archived soon:
FEMA Guidance For HRSA Community Based Service Delivery Grantees
CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule: Applies to Community Health Centers
Compliance and implementation were to be completed by November 15, 2017.
Check out this excellent resource from ASPR-TRACIE that describes both requirements for FQHCs/CHCs and what changed in 2019 within those requirements:
Rural Health Clinic / Federally Qualified Health Center Requirements CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule Revised March 6, 2019
Check out our page dedicated to just COVID-19.
National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC) Course Catalog
FEMA National Preparedness Course Catalog
Kaiser Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA)
Use this tool to create a Hazard Vulnerability Analysis for your health center.
Pandemic Operations Plan PandemicOpsPlanTemplate (developed by the California PCA)
Community Health Center Planning Guidelines Template: This document is a template to develop a basic Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
Community Health Center Emergency Management Manual: This document produced by Community Health Center Association of New York State provides excellent guidance and resource assistance to a Community Health Center in developing a comprehensive emergency management plan.
Emergency Operations Plan Template: This document produced by JCAHO provides excellent guidance and resource assistance to Community Health Centers in developing a comprehensive emergency operations plan.
Modes of Communication: This checklist can be used to identify all potential modes of communication that will be available for a facility during an emergency or a disaster. This document will help illustrate a facility’s communication plan.
Ready.gov Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning Template
CDC Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment in Heatlh Care Settings
Communicating in a Crisis: Guidelines for Public Health Officials
Regional Advisory Committees
Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) were initially established for the purpose of regional trauma planning, to include establishing and maintaining a coordinated trauma system. Following September 11, 2001, RAC responsibilities/members significantly expanded to account for increased disaster and terrorism related activities. The North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) oversees the RACs in North Carolina and works with them to coordinate their responsibilities regarding the state’s trauma/terrorism initiatives.
North Carolina Division of Emergency Management
The North Carolina Division of Emergency Management is part of the Department of Public Safety (DPS.) DPS serves as the coordinating agency for North Carolina’s homeland security preparednes, and is tasked with focusing public and legislative attention on public safety issues like preparation for natural disasters. In addition, the department is updates plans and provides training for local officials to respond to emergencies such as terrorism, communicable diseases, nuclear power plant incidents and civil unrest.
North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services
“The mission of the Office of Emergency Medical Services is to foster emergency medical systems, trauma systems and credentialed EMS personnel to improve in providing responses to emergencies and disasters which will result in higher quality emergency medical care being delivered to the residents and visitors of North Carolina.”
North Carolina Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response // CONNECTION NOT SECURE
North Carolina Health Alert Network (NCHAN)
University of North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness
During a local emergency like a hurricane, tropical storm, or severe winter weather, Health Center patients should follow all local instructions from emergency managers, including evacuation. Health Center patients may seek a community health center in other cities or states by using the HRSA Find a Health Center website.
The linked documents highlight some key information on Temporary sites in scope and FTCA coverage during declared emergencies. Please see the policy guidance linked here for more complete guidance. https://bphc.hrsa.gov/emergency-response/hurricane-updates.html
NASW-NC Hurricane Preparedness Resources: NASW-NC has compiled a disaster relief guide for social workers with information on both state and federal resources.
Disaster Response Network: The North Carolina Disaster Response Network (NC DRN) is a network of mental health professionals who are trained to respond in the event of a disaster.
Americares: Americares is a health-focused humanitarian relief organization based out of Stamford, CT. They work with over 1,000 health facilities throughout the US, including 45 health partners in North Carolina. During disasters, they are able to assist partners, and new partners, with shipments of medicine, including TDAP and insulin, and relief supplies, including first aid kits, in addition to many other products. They are also able to provide small grants for activities related to the hurricane. Please reach out to JP Fisher at jfisher@americares.org and emergency@americares.org to receive a list of available inventory and for more information.”
Additional Resources:
The NC Disaster Information Center offers several resources in Spanish regarding natural disasters in North Carolina. Information includes preparation checklists, explanations of what to do during a storm, and information on health and safety that will help the Hispanic/Latino community before, during, and after a natural disaster.
Shelter info, in case of flooding:
Weather and emergency alerts:
General hurricane guidance, Ready NC:
Know Your Zone (DPS website in the event of evacuation):
Puerto Rico playbook and educational materials
Western NC health centers have stepped up to provide incredible service to their communities, acting immediately after the storm to re-open sites, deliver supplies, and volunteer in shelters, public housing complexes, and senior living centers, bringing care to their most vulnerable neighbors. Now it’s our turn to support these health care heroes and help them rebuild their communities: