1. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition Tornado! Lessons learned from Joplin Christopher E. Way, BA, Paramedic Chief, Kootenai County EMS System

2. Chris Way 24 Years in Emergency Services Multiple Roles, 15 Years Chief Officer ICS/NIMS Instructor IC Position on Kansas IMT Deputy Commander, Kansas MERGe 7 Tornado Responses 3 EMAC Response for Kansas Now forming a Response Plan for N. Idaho Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

3. Joplin 4 th largest metro area in Missouri (pop. 165,000) City of Joplin (pop. 52,000) same size as Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho Retail/Medical hub of the “4-state area” 2 Level II trauma centers 1 State University (MSSU) Major industrial center Regional airport

4. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition The Storm 1637 Hours - First tornado warning of storm issued in Labette County (KS) Warnings continue for Cherokee (KS) and Jasper (MO) Counties over next 90 minutes 1734 Hours - St. John’s Hospital declares a “condition gray”, 8 minute ETA 1741 Hours – EF5 tornado strikes Joplin “20 minutes of hell” 161 fatalities, 1500+ injuries (EMS only)

5. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition The Path Large regional hospital Several churches Nursing homes Apartment complexes Low income housing 9 schools Major retail centers

6. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition The Response Over 200 EMS units Over 75 fire depts. Multiple USAR teams IST teams State/Federal government

7. My Role(s) Box Stores EOC Freeman Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

8. St. John’s They had warning and knew the plan Saved lives Selfless WOW!

9. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition Freeman Overwhelming response 600+ patients True battlefield medicine Teamwork (Hospitals, EMS, Patients)

10. Success/Failure Region 9 Healthcare Coalition 1500 Patients Got Transported Primary EMS Objectives Accomplished in 16 Hours Comms Outside Hospitals Outside Airport Took Too Long to Grasp Scope Outside Agencies Could Not Communicate No Good Way of Tracking Resources Long Term Planning Took To Long

11. Lesson # 1: Threats Know YOUR threats Be realistic to YOUR threats Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

12. Lesson # 2: Plan Got to have a good disaster plan Everyone has to be engaged & practiced People look for organization/leadership People have to know their roles in the plan

13. Planning Region 9 Healthcare Coalition “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower

14. Good to Great Disaster Planning Be Engaged Be a Leader Learn, Learn, Learn Network, Network, Network Plan, Plan, Plan Practice! A Lot! Know really talented people Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

15. Changes We’ve Made in KC Med Comms Hospital Liaison MCI Plan Update Every Two Years Equipment Purchase/Location Alternate Care/Transport Facilities Simplify Everything Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

16. Lesson # 3: NIMS NIMS, it is what’s for disaster! Arrival at the Chaos Role creep/confusion, know the system used locally

17. Lesson # 4: Public Message Form partnerships Form and control the message early Social media – Good & Bad Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

18. Lesson # 5: Patients Greatest good for the greatest number They’re everywhere, they’re everywhere Unconventional medicine Unimaginable numbers

19. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition Lesson # 6: Secondary MCI Medical infrastructure damaged Patients won’t wait Hospitals will call EMS Patients, where and how do they go

20. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition Lesson # 7: Equipment Lots of BLS equipment needed Know where resource caches are Don’t put all eggs in one basket Have agreements with neighbors

21. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition Lesson # 8: Communications Use a universal language Inability to communicate is bad (Cell/Radio/Internet) Disaster communication needs 700 MHz system (ID & beyond)

22. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition Lesson # 9: People It takes a lot of people You have to take care of YOUR/the people Never under estimate the toll it takes Get them ready

23. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition Lesson # 10: Emergency Services Life is forever changed Make it safer and better Ask for and thank the help Learn from others

24. Lesson # 11: Local Hospital(s) 1/3, 2/3 rule People will show up no matter what EMS/Hospital Liaison Outside resources Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

25. Lesson # 12: Area Hospitals Internet Systems, be ready Keep people home, be ready for EMS One vs. multiple Transfer vs. MCI Rural hospital role – they have one

26. Lesson #13: Other Partners Mental Health Tribal Clinics Religious Organizations Government Organizations Other Medical Organizations Volunteer Organizations Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

27. Lesson # 14: Aftermath Emergency Services are a part of it Embrace it with history in mind Use it to your advantage Be the best you can be

28. Region 9 Healthcare Coalition Lesson # 15: It can happen to You If not you, it has happened to your neighbor It will happen again The onus is on you, act now

29. Control What You Can Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

30. People Do Great Things Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

31. The Sun Will Come Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

32. Greatest Country Ever Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

33. Make Changes in Memory Of Region 9 Healthcare Coalition

34. The End Region 9 Healthcare Coalition