Literature Review

Historic flooding hits Kentucky: Death toll rises to 14 as recovery efforts continue NBC WLWT-5, Cincinnati, OH; by Emily Sanderson; updated 2/18/25The death toll is continuing to rise across Kentucky amid devastating flood conditions. Beshear says at least 14 people have died due to the severe flooding, weather. The deaths include a mother and her child who were swept away by flood waters in their car. The governor confirmed hundreds of people have been displaced. Swift Water Boat Teams and 146 Kentucky National Guard soldiers have been activated. Beshear says there have been over 1,000 water rescues already. Ohio Task Force 1 has also been activated as a Type III team in response to heavy flooding in Kentucky and surrounding states. [Additionally, snow is expected with temperatures] set to drop significantly, with wind chills dropping below zero. Officials said 300 roads are still impacted or closed, with standing water still an issue across the state. ... The governor also started a donation fund for those impacted by flooding. Donations can be made at TeamKyReliefFund.ky.gov. Beshear stressed the first things the fund will be used for is funerals for victims. ... 

After Eaton fire response, a search and rescue team gears up for a future of wildfire DirectRelief; by Talya Meyers; 2/10/25 Like many California volunteer rescuers, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team members got their start doing wilderness missions. Now, they’re preparing for a bigger role in an era of more frequent, severe wildfires. When the volunteers on the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team look back on the first night’s response to the Eaton Fire, what they remember most is problem-solving, and quickly. ...  “We were building an airplane while we were flying it,” is how operations leader Carolyn Grumm described it. ... For [Rob Klusman, senior paramedic team member], the vast and urgent need came into focus early that evening, when his team went to check on a medically complex patient receiving end-of-life care. ... [Immediately after countless evacuations,] he and his teammates moved into their second, grimmer assignment: Moving through devastated, burned-out neighborhoods, ... to find human remains. ... [Now, on] a larger scale, Klusamn explained, California search and rescue teams are thinking about the escalating severity and frequency of wildfires — and how they can be there to respond.

US flu cases are peaking for a second time this season. Now you can test for the virus at home CNN; by Neha Mukherjee; 2/5/25 The United States is seeing a second peak in flu cases this season. After doctor’s office visits for flu dipped early this year, they jumped past the previous season peak at the end of last month, with a 30% test positivity rate — and there are still months to go. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been at least 20 million cases and 11,000 deaths from flu so far this season. Hospitalizations are rising too, with an estimated 38,255 hospitalizations from flu last week alone. It’s not the only illness spreading, either ... But there are some new tools to help this respiratory virus season: over-the-counter tests that can identify whether an illness is Covid-19 or influenza. The tests are available for purchase at most pharmacies or online ... The tests won’t check for every respiratory virus, but they mark the first time the public can test for flu at home.  

What leaders can learn from the California wildfires Modern Healthcare; by Robert Stone, CEO of City of Hope, Duarte, CA; 1/31/25 When wildfires threatened City of Hope comprehensive cancer center near Los Angeles in recent weeks, hundreds of our leaders and staff – many with homes in the path of the blaze – rushed to campus at 2:30 in the morning to prepare to evacuate more than 200 hospitalized cancer patients. City of Hope, one of the largest research and treatment organizations in the U.S., cares for people with highly complex medical conditions. On the night the wildfires threatened our campus, our patients included people receiving CAR-T immunotherapy, novel clinical trials, and undergoing bone marrow transplants. ... Our healthcare partners in the region were also impacted by wildfires in varying ways. Every health system we spoke with prioritized the safety of not only their own patients and staff but ours as well.  ... What stands out from this middle-of-the-night experience and the days that followed are important lessons that can only emerge from an organization where people are deeply connected to the mission.

Los Angeles wildfires leave older patients vulnerable Direct Relief - California Wildfires; by Talya Meyers; 1/22/25 The radio announcer said nursing home residents were being evacuated to the Pasadena Convention Center, so Dr. Laura Mosqueda headed over. Older adults were arriving at the evacuation shelter with hair and hospital gowns covered in ash. People urgently needed to be on oxygen — in a large convention hall with few electrical outlets — or their catheters were getting full but responders didn’t have gloves. ... Some patients were in hospice and end-of-life care, and getting them placed more comfortably was an urgent priority. ... The wildfires that ripped across Southern California communities this month will hurt the health of millions — causing everything from short-term respiratory symptoms to long-term adverse outcomes from chronic disease — but older adults will likely be among the most vulnerable. ... [And with that,] Dr. Mosqueda cautioned that while older adults may be more likely to be medically fragile, many aren’t. Many have perspectives that help them navigate frightening, uncertain situations like the wildfires. “Older adults…were among the most calm and circumspect people I spoke with,” she recalled. “They just had a lot of wisdom and life experience, and they weren’t getting freaked out. They had so many internal resources.”

New Hampshire woman’s father dies in hospice care when California fires broke out CBS News WBZ, Boston, MA / YouTube; 1/15/25 Just two hours before the fire evacuation--Merle Fetter--Barbara's husband of 64 years died in Royal Oaks Hospice Care, with Barbara holding his hand until the end . … As the fire moved through Altadena towards Monrovia Barbara was forced to leave Merrill's body, unable to be evacuated. ... [Daughter in New Hampshire:]  “I didn't know where my mother was. I didn't know what happened to my father's body.” Barbara's daughter—Joy—thousands thousands of miles away in New Hampshire couldn't fly to Los Angeles until Friday. When she finally landed she received a reassuring call from Royal Oaks her mom was OK and her father's remains taken to the coroner's office. Staff feel like residents here are their family.

Doctors, nurses press ahead as wildfires strain L.A.’s healthcare Los Angeles Times, produced by KFF Health News; by Emily Alpert Reyes, Bernard J. Wolfson and Molly Castle Work; 1/10/25 The rapidly spreading wildfires are not only upending the lives of tens of thousands of Los Angeles County residents and business owners, but also stressing the region’s hospitals, health clinics, first responders and nursing homes. ... Amid the maelstrom, doctors, nurses and other caregivers did their jobs. ... “All hospitals in close proximity to the fires remain on high alert and are prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen,” the Hospital Assn. of Southern California said in a statement. “The fires are creating significant operational hurdles,” the association added. ... [From a nurse,] "In times like this, this is when community si the most powerful."

The Green Workforce Conversation with Neil Yeo: How sustainability shapes tomorrow All Work - Future of Work Podcast; by Frank Cottie; 12/10/24 In this episode of The Future of Work ® Podcast, we dive deep with Neil Yeoh, Founder & CEO of OnePointFive, a Forbes Next 1000-awarded Climate Advisory and Academy with a global network of 700+ sustainability professionals across 45 countries. ... Why This Matters:

Chaos and devastation: How the mountain fire erupted Ventura County Star, Ventura, CA; by Cheri Carlson and Tom Kisken; 11/17/24 ... The mountain fire that ignited 3 miles away was sweeping across Somis in a sprint accelerated by 80 mph Santa Ana winds that rattled the small ranches on their Ridgecrest Lane cul-de-sac. The fire soon leaped to the hills above Camarillo where it fed on more homes. It destroyed some 243 structures and threatened thousands more. In its first hours, the assault triggered roadside rescues, firefighters racing to get ahead of the flames and people scrambling to escape. ... It was lunch time at Bernadette’s, the residential care and hospice home at the bottom of Marissa Lane in Camarillo Heights. Four elderly residents, all in beds, had just started eating chicken nuggets and noodles. Sheriff’s deputies pounded on the door. Though smoke already filled the sky, a darker patch was coming. The home two lots away from the care center would soon burn to the ground. “It was like the apocalypse,” said Bernadette Abiera, the home's administrator. Deputies lifted the residents out of their beds and into wheelchairs. They rolled them down a hill to waiting squad cars. ...  The deputies ran back in to find two caregivers tending to a resident who was still eating his lunch. He wouldn’t stop. “I had to take the food out of his hands and carry him to the wheelchair,” said Deputy Justin Lopez. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.] 

Navigating the aftermath of natural disasters Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Lara McKinnis; 11/15/24 This morning I woke up to two bears outside, a little cub sitting on our front steps eating the pumpkin that my daughter recently carved, the mom nearby completely sprawled out lounging in the sun in a bed of freshly fallen yellow and orange oak leaves.  This is the “fall” that I look forward to every year in Asheville. I wanted to hold onto this feeling, all of us standing at our screened-in window talking to the bears as if they understood us, our dog enthusiastically joining in the conversation.  This feeling is alive and vibrant; however, so is the visceral awareness of the horrific despair that has engulfed my beloved community and so many communities in Western North Carolina. ...  Adjusting to a natural disaster is nuanced and layered.  [Click on the title's link to continue reading this hospice leader's reflections and professional guidance.]

Michigan HHS to pay $13M after unannounced shooter drill at psych hospital Becker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 10/18/24The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services agreed to pay $13 million to settle allegations that it caused psychological damage after conducting a surprise active shooter drill at a children's psychiatric hospital, The Washington Post reported Oct. 17. The Hawthorn Center, based in Northville Township, Mich., is a state-run psychiatric hospital for children with emotional, mood and thought disorders. On Dec. 21, two laborers were instructed by their supervisor to act as armed intruders in an unannounced drill. The two were told to walk around the facility and ensure every room was locked and the people inside were hidden. The receptionist was instructed to announce that there were active shooters in the building and that shots were fired. Neither the staff nor the police were notified a drill was occurring. 911 calls reported the active shooter and 22 police officers rushed to the scene. The two laborers exited the building and were detained while the police sorted out the situation. Employees filed a class action lawsuit in April 2023 against the health department-run facility alleging that the unannounced drill gave them post-traumatic stress and emotional harm. According to the lawsuit, patients acted aggressively toward themselves and others in the subsequent weeks, and staff members experienced increased anxiety and sleep struggles, and some quit their jobs.