Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health

September 3, 2004 Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343

HHS Personnel Ready to Assist Florida Families

Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today that Department of Health and Human Services emergency medical personnel are prepared to provide assistance to families and communities in Hurricane Frances' path. Secretary Thompson also directed the Department to make all necessary emergency response resources available to states, communities, hospitals and others in need of public health assistance.

HHS is working with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal partners to be prepared to deploy more than 300 public health and medical professionals to Florida to provide care and assistance in the wake of Hurricane Frances. That includes 180 nurses, 50 nurse practitioners and physician assistants, 30 emergency medicine physicians, 25 respiratory therapists, 25 certified nurse assistants and paramedics and 15 radiological technicians.

"We are monitoring Hurricane Frances around the clock, and emergency professionals are already in Florida to immediately assess and respond to the storm," Secretary Thompson said. "Our full emergency response teams are ready to go at a moments notice, and HHS is fully prepared to work with states, communities, hospitals and families to provide the necessary aid and support."

Secretary Thompson directed HHS officials to take the following steps to prepare for Hurricane Frances:

• Maintain constant contact with state health officials, hospitals, health centers and nursing homes in the path of the hurricane to provide rapid response to any storm damage or emergency health needs.
• Monitor blood centers and stand ready to rapidly respond to any need for blood, as well as take necessary steps to ensure the safety of the blood supply.
• Work with state and local governments and the private sector to protect the food and water supplies. HHS will work to make sure contaminated food or crops do not make it into the food supply, as well as help ensure the quality of water supplies. HHS also will work where required to ensure public health in the wake of any flood or sewage backups.
• Provide mental health services to communities, schools and individuals, as necessary.

After Hurricane Charley last month, Secretary Thompson visited storm-damaged areas and announced that HHS was making more than $11 million available to support Florida families. That money included $1 million to assist DeSoto County Hospital and Osceola Regional Hospital; a $200,000 emergency grant to help provide meals, shelter and services to elderly residents; and up to $10 million in emergency one-time grants to Head Start and Early Head Start centers. Secretary Thompson said that HHS will assess any damage from Hurricane Frances before announcing new grants and said that any unused money from Hurricane Charley also will be available to victims of the latest hurricane.

Additionally, more information on personal safety in the wake of a Hurricane from HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is available at www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp.