Agenda - 10-03-2005-WS1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I Under optimal conditions, the study area has 3,776 beds licensed beds. However, the actual figures for the availability of these beds is in reality much lower. First, some of these beds are already in use by other patients. Current occupancy rates for these beds hovers around 50 %. Second, some of the licensed beds are currently used for other purpose (i.e., storage and office space), Though assets could be easily reclaimed, it might take up to 48 hours, Third, not all beds are identical substitutes. An OB /GYN or a psychiatry bed is not equivalent to an Emergency Department (ED) bed. Finally, in cases of virulent biological infections (e.g., smallpox) each bed must be separated in a negatively pressured environment, further depleting availability of this resource, Evacuation Table 2 Study area full time populations by county 2000 Census County Population Orange 118,227 Durham 223,314 Wake 627,846 Chatham 49,329 Alamance 130,800 Guilford 421,048 Johnston 121,965 Total 1,692,529 Total evacuation of all counties in the study area is possible within one week, but is not likely to occur within 24 hours. Using the North Carolina Department of Transportation estimate of 2,000- passenger cars /lane/hour on a .3 -lane Interstate, total evacuation would take 5.8 days, assuming that all interstate lanes would be directed for outbound traffic. Evacuation schedules could be accelerated if traffic flows were directed away from a central impact area allowing populations the choice to leave from either direction or if only a partial evacuation was implemented. However, it is likely that recent commercial and residential development would create gridlock areas and drastically hinder any attempt to leave. Other problems are also likely. Fleeing populations do not know where to go after they have been directed to leave. To date, destination centers for displaced urban areas have not been identified or prepared for all study areas.1 Additional difficulties occur in the cases of nuclear and radiological emergencies. In these situations populations would need doses of Potassium Iodide (KI) distributed either through regional centers or through personnel at key interstate sites. Currently the local public health departments are tasked with distribution of KI. While the medication is available, distribution plans may not work as well as anticipated, especially in cases of mass evacuation as would be the case with a WMD event. Mecklenburg County appears to be the only area within the study area to provide information distribution centers through its website. littp' / /www co .inecklenbure.nc.iis/Departments /health +department /ton +news/ news +archive /october /ki +locations ii