Committed Team Ensures Safe Passage Home With Post-Hurricane Assessments

Committed Team Ensures Safe Passage Home With Post-Hurricane Assessments

In the aftermath of a severe storm, a special team of Orange County employees spring into action for a crucial mission. Their task is to assess damage to the homes of its most vulnerable residents forced to vacate to special needs shelters.

"Our number one priority is the safety of our residents, before, during and after a storm," said Amanda Freeman, Disaster Health Medical Manager. "We don't want to send anyone home to an unsafe situation."

You may ask who are these superheroes? Members of Orange County's Mosquito Control Division pivot to take on this lesser-known, yet essential service. It makes sense to leverage this crew, already familiar with navigating neighborhoods in company vehicles and demonstrating unwavering community commitment.

Freeman is grateful for the help. "It's one team, one fight. When it's time to go, they go."

The team collaborates with shelters to identify addresses of those sheltering, divide the tasks and conduct what they loosely call "windshield safety checks." (Most times employees can assess the situation by looking out their windshield.)

They are on the lookout for three things:

• Roadway accessibility for safe passage
• Power outages (Look for signs of electricity, or check the meter)
• Property damage from fallen trees, wind or water

"We don't want to send anyone home that doesn't have electricity or water, or if they have wind or water damage," said Steve Harrison, Manager Mosquito Control Division.

Safety checks are swiftly implemented - usually within about four hours, he said. "We want to get these done as quickly as possible so our clients can get back to their homes."

These County employees radio special needs shelters with real-time updates of damages, or all-clear.

Harrison said though his team often flies under the radar, he's especially proud of their team spirit during and after a storm. Along with safety checks, employees deliver supplies to shelters and assist with logistics during a storm.

"We have to do whatever it takes to fulfill the mission to protect people from public health threats," he said. "There are fragile individuals within our population who need extra care, and we're eager to provide the care and ensure they can get back home safely."

While Orange County residents are not required to register to use these shelters, they must meet certain criteria. For more details about the PSN shelter program call 311.

The People with Special Needs Program (PSN) is designed for any Orange County resident or visitor who during times of disaster evacuation has no other alternative and/or requires transportation assistance to evacuate their home and/or has a health/medical condition that requires medical attention by a skilled medical professional in a shelter environment. Each special needs shelter houses up to 100 clients.

Photo ID: Brett Elliott, Foreman for Orange County Health Services Department and Mosquito Control Division