Hurricane Evacuation Assistance Team H.E.A.T.

1
Hurricane Evacuation Assistance Team (H.E.A.T.)

• June 9, 2008

2
Here is the deal

• 3,600 people need assistance to leave the island
  and the mainland.
• The City of Galveston and Galveston County has
  asked UTMB for help in this.
• There will be 90 buses with 40 people per bus.

3
Who?

• Students, Faculty, and employees of all
  disciplines.
• This is a student led effort under the direction
  of
• Dr. Barbara Thompson.
• Students are at the forefront.
• However, if faculty or employees wish to help,
  they are more than welcome to.

4
What?

• Student volunteers are needed to help with the
  evacuation by
• Registering personal and medical information of
  evacuees during the trip to Austin
• Ride buses and serve as a resource person along
  the way
• Assist at the Shelters in Austin

5
What Not

• Student volunteers are NOT expected to
• Treat medical conditions, prescribe medications,
  perform field surgery, etc
• In the event of an emergency, the buses will pull
  over and 911 will be called
• The shelters will have Red Cross nurses and
  volunteers and a first aid clinic.

6
When?

• A Category 4 or greater hurricane with an
  evacuation of Galveston Island ordered
• Not for a Category 1, 2, or 3
• Not for a Tropical Storm
• Not for a Hurricane that hits without an
  evacuation ordered

7
Where?

• From Galveston to Austin.
• Shelters have already been set aside for both
  evacuees from Galveston and for the volunteers
  assisting them.

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Why?

• Galveston evacuation in 2006 was first ever
• Plenty of buses
• But
• No one to man them
• No record of who was on them or what their health
  conditions were
• No help at Shelters in Austin

9
Available Training

• Red Cross Introduction to Disaster (45 minutes)
• On-Line at Houston Red Cross website
• http//www.houstonredcross.org
• Red Cross Shelter Orientation (2 hrs)
• Offered at various times by the Red Cross
• Red Cross Disaster Training (11 hours in 2 days)

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2008 Orientation Dates

• July 1st Noon to 1 p.m.
• July 16th Noon to 1 p.m.
• August 1st Noon to 1 p.m.
• August 26th Noon to 1 p.m.
• Location to be determined
• Lunch will be provided.

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What Do I Do?

• Plan to have your family and pets taken care of
• Plan to secure your house ASAP if an evacuation
  occurs
• You can park your car in UTMB parking garages

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What if IT happens?

• Quickly take care of personal stuff
• Family, house
• Pack 1 bag to take with you
• Stay alert for a phone call and/or email
• Designated Telephoners will phone all
  volunteers
• All volunteers will meet on campus to discuss
  plans
• Report to Galveston Community Center or Doyle
  Convention Center in Texas City
• Assist with loading and registering evacuees
• Ride Buses to Austin and serve as contact person

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What if IT happens?

• Austin
• Live at shelter until island re-opens
• Probably working 12 hour shifts
• Were also recruiting Austin students to help
  with this
• Help with return voyage

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How Will They Know Us?

• Well have T-shirts to identify us

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What Else?

• As the hurricane season is upon us and we plan
  for the future we need
• Volunteers to help run HEAT next year
• Ideas on how to increase our presence on campus
• Ideas on other ways to serve the UTMB/Galveston
  and Texas City community

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Questions?

• Ask now or
• Email us
• Emily Fisher emafishe_at_utmb.edu
• Sandra Caldwell skcaldwe_at_utmb.edu
• Dr. Barbara Thompson x23125 bathomps_at_utmb.edu
• Tina M. Salinas x20620 tsalinas_at_utmb.edu
• Lodie Massey (SAHS) lmmassey_at_utmb.edu
• Patricia Crane (SON) pacrane_at_utmb.edu