The Arkansas Department of Health issued the following news release:
Conditions on the ground in parts of northern Arkansas are still very bad following last week's ice storm and the subsequent power outages, and disaster recovery efforts are on-going. Under Governor Beebe's leadership, state federal and local agencies, utility companies, retailers and volunteers are struggling with the result of the worst ice storm in recent memory. Public health workers are providing emergency shelters for utility workers, volunteers and those with no warm place to live, while working to protect Arkansans from some serious health threats that are emerging.
Public health workers don't wear uniforms like law enforcement and military personnel do, but they have been working side-by-side with other agencies during the recovery efforts from this week's ice storms.
'Our Emergency Operations Center was activated around noon on January 27. Emergency preparedness staff in Little Rock and Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) personnel in the affected regions have been very busy providing supplies, shelters and communications coordination to many of their clients, their communities and the other agencies and volunteers bringing lifelines to thousands,' said Paul Halverson, DrPH, Director and State Health Officer.
'Our role in the protection of public health will continue as we move into the next phase, which is to help these Arkansans get back to their homes,' Paul Halverson, DrPH, Director and State Health Officer said. 'I urge everyone to use caution during the recovery and clean-up stages as people without power try to stay warm using alternative sources of fuel or electricity. Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen within minutes and it can kill someone or make them very sick.'
'We have worked with many partners during this incident including Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Department of Human Services, hospitals and law enforcement agencies from across the state. It is the relationships that have been established with these public and private sectors during other drills, exercises and real events that has helped us all work efficiently as a team to serve the needs of Arkansans,' Halverson said.
'ADH personnel have helped coordinate needs for oxygen and generators requested by some hospitals. Because of communications limitations created by the power outage, use of the Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) radios has worked well,' Halverson said.
'In some locations, our ADH staff coordinated contact and scheduling for patients requiring alternate locations to receive dialysis treatments. We communicated with sheriff's offices to request help delivering supplies and we helped get patients on priority lists for power restoration,' he continued.
'Our in-home health providers prepared in advance for a possible storm - pre-filling pill packs, making sure wound dressings were replaced, and contacting patient's family members regarding backup assistance. They are now contacting sheriff's offices to get patients moved to shelters or hospitals and to get oxygen delivered to patients' homes,' Halverson said. An on-call system is taking calls and relaying information to field nurses if patients or families call for assistance. Where possible, nurses are making home visits or keeping in contact by phone.
A local health unit (LHU) in Northwest Arkansas sheltered 17 individuals, the majority of whom were without electricity and needed to access to the unit's emergency power supply to power their oxygen concentrators and ventilators. 'These people had no other place to access power because the hospitals were full and emergency electrical supplies were not readily available,' Halverson said. 'Numerous shelters were opened in public facilities, hospitals, clinics and our own local health units. Our personnel worked with the Department of Human Services, the agency responsible for the shelters, to coordinate requests for food, blankets, cots and other medical supplies.' ADH environmental health specialists inspected the shelters to ensure that food and water safety and shelter sanitation issues are being addressed.
According to Kathy Smith, Randolph County administrator for the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), 'Laundry, hot showers, warm food, clean water, and a warm place to sleep is the plan. We have three community shelters in the county - one in Pocahontas at City Hall, one in Maynard, and one in Reyno City Hall. We're being told that power may not be restored in some areas for more than a month, and complete repair for the thousands of power poles that are down will take several months longer,' Smith said. A total of 53 shelters has been activated during the crisis.
Boil water orders across the region have been imposed for more than 65 water systems, affecting more than 112,000 customers. Loss of water pressure as the result of power outages to pumping stations has caused precautionary orders in those systems, which means that all water used for drinking and cooking must be boiled briskly for one minute prior to use. ADH regulations require that tests showing that the water supply is safe must be done for two consecutive days before a system can lift its boil-water orders. Boil water notices known to the Department of Health are listed on its website: http://www.healthyarkansas.com/eng/boilordr.htm .
'We have been working all weekend, trying to get systems back on line, and we have been successful for a few of those,' said Robert Hart, ADH engineering branch chief. 'We think that things will look a little better later on this week,' Hart said.
'Concerns about spoiled food have been keeping environmental health specialists busy,' said Terry Paul, Director of the Environmental Health Branch. 'Today's economic conditions may have people willing to take a chance on food that may be spoiled after reaching temperatures above 40 degrees for more than two hours,' Paul said.
'Just because it doesn't smell bad doesn't mean it is okay - we say, 'When in doubt, throw it out.' We don't want anyone to take a chance like that,' Paul continued. The agency has been working with restaurants and food service operators to help them make sure their refrigerated or frozen foods are safe.
Information on food and water safety and carbon monoxide poisoning can be found at: http://www.healthyarkansas.com.
Contact: Ed Barham, 501/280-4147.
Ed Barham, 501/280-4147.
