Minutes from Meeting on January 11, 2011

Present:  Richard Amico (St. Edward the Confessor Church), Jennifer Baldwin (Saratoga Hospital), Cindy Harrington (Shelters of Saratoga), Peter Whitten (Shelters of Saratoga), Candy Rivera Whitehead (NYS-EPIC), Jennifer Frigolette (Attentive Home Companions), Leslie Carroll (Vet Help), Pat Hughes (Home Helpers & Direct Link), Tara Dillingham (eCareAssist), Jill Cunningham (Home Instead Sr. Care), Ann Quinn (Home Health Care Partners), Kim Swire (St. Peter's CHOICES), Jocelyn Blanchard (SAIL), JoAnn Zales (National Grid), Karl Francis (CDCI), Robin Blostein (Eddy VNA), Clare Colamaria (A Senior's Choice)

Announcement and Community Sharing
- It was suggested that we invite Cathleen’s Kitchen to come (a new provider brining an alternative to Meals on Wheels)
- April 7th is the Gala date for Shelters of Saratoga


“The First 72 Hours”

Presentation by Joe Geiger of RSVP and Barb Digangi of Saratoga Public Health

Presenters are members of Reserve Corps a disaster emergency volunteer group of medical and non-medical volunteer opportunities for all ages. This group of registered volunteers is contacted in an emergency and is the preferred way of getting volunteers in an emergency opposed to spontaneous volunteers that arise in times of an emergency. This includes about 200 volunteers in Saratoga.

What to do to Prepare for Disasters:
What disasters?
- Natural: ice storms, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, mud slides, earth quakes
- Accidental: fires, chemical leaks
- Other: terrorist (biological, chemical or nuclear)

Handouts included a disaster plan, disaster supplies sheet, and a preparedness checklist.

USE the ICE (in case of emergency) contact on your cell phone to help emergency personnel know who to call in case of an emergency.

Enroll in a Special Needs Registry (and have clients with special needs e.g. Oxygen, etc. enroll) to help local government know of special needs in case of an emergency

Think about your pets and have a plan before a disaster with how to care for them. Consider having a carrier on hand to transport your pets if needed.

Prepare by establishing an emergency plan with your family, have supplies gathered (at home and a grab and go bag if you need to find shelter), and establish an emergency communication plan with your family members including a place to meet/go if disaster comes. Supplies at home should prepare your family members for three days (the first 72 hours).

If you would like to be fit for a N-95 mask Saratoga Public Health will fit you.

Consider having important documents scanned and backed up on a USB/disc to be accessed if destroyed.

Try to remain calm and patient in an emergency. Keep cell calls to a minimum to open up for others to get through to their loved ones. Know your local schools plans and listen on local radio stations for the advice of emergency officials. Avoid candles but have glow sticks and flashlights ready.

If your utilities go off don’t turn them back on (due to pilot lights) if you are not familiar with the equipment. If you have a generator, be familiar with how to use it safely. Do not use equipment you are unfamiliar with and get training if needed before an emergency. If you burn wood be sure there is adequate ventilation, don’t burn household things other than wood due to fumes. If you heat with Kerosene have the right type.

If your leave your home: lock the door, use authority’s routes only (shortcuts may be dangerous or in use by emergency personnel), go to a shelter, don’t bring anything you don’t want to lose, bring important numbers, bring ID for your pet if lost (like a family member and pet in a picture).

Respectfully submitted,

Jocelyn Blanchard