CITY OF KINGSTON SHELTERS
By Candis Carlson
No. of pages 10 (4 pages plus 6 page report on Hospital Shelters)
On the morning of Thursday, January 8, 1998, Hotel Dieu Hospital very quickly offered its services to the City as a shelter for the frail elderly and families with young children in particular, as well as Kingston residents in general. This shelter became an integral part of the activities and decisions regarding people housed at city shelters, as Hotel Dieu soon realized that their capacity limits would only allow them to accept or keep people with medical conditions which required monitoring or treatment and their own healthier "residents" were decanted to city shelters. People in city shelters who were in need of medical attention were then able to be sent to the shelter at Hotel Dieu.
In addition to the shelter established by Hotel Dieu, the City of Kingston opened two shelters that first day at Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute (L.C.V.I.) and Queen Elizabeth Collegiate & Vocational Institute (Q.E.C.V.I.). These and subsequent city shelters (including Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School (Holy Cross), St. Martha Catholic School, Bartlett Gym (at Queen's University) and Penrose (on the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital grounds) were opened under the supervision of Social Services. They were operated jointly, however, by Social Services, Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and staff at the facilities used. They were also assisted by volunteers from the Victim Crisis Assistance & Referral Service , medical and nursing students from Queen's University and St. Lawrence College, R.M.C. Cadets, and many others from the community-at-large. The KFL&A Health Unit also played a major role as the need arose.
On that first day, Lance Thurston , Cheryl Mastantuono , Tanie Steacy and others from Social Services met as part of an "emergency control group" while the situation was being assessed. Mayor Gary Bennett assigned Lance Thurston to oversee the shelters and the operations and communications centre. Cheryl Mastantuono went to City Hall to set up "operation central", where they received calls from school shelters regarding medical problems (as well as receiving many other phone calls). Tanie Steacy took over the shelter operations and made calls to the Salvation Army and Red Cross regarding establishing the shelters. They then worked as a team to implement operations in the shelter facilities. Many Social Services people were involved including Adele Lafrance , who also worked at the command post at City Hall keeping in touch with the shelters keeping bed counts and lists of provisions for the shelters, and relaying information about which shelters might be the better location for different "residents", and Debbie LaVallee .
The Red Cross was responsible for coordinating the acquisition of cots and bedding (among other functions during the storm), the Salvation Army was responsible for the supply of food and clothing and Social Services representatives were assigned to all city shelters to assist with a variety of needs and concerns that the shelter residents had .
Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute
The shelter at L.C.V.I. was opened on Thursday afternoon at about 4:00. Tilly Nelson (Administrative Head of the school) was at the school to assist Social Services, Red Cross, and Salvation Army in establishing a shelter for immediate operations. For the duration of the shelter staff from the school and Social Services slept at the school. The Red Cross took care of supplies and medical needs while the Salvation Army organized the food. This shelter was actually run on a generator because the building itself lost power on Thursday the 9th and it continued to go on and off for several days. They had a wide variety of shelter residents from babies to seniors. When it was apparent that people were in medical need, they would send these people to the shelter at Hotel Dieu Hospital. The Public Health department, the police, and Guy-Tash Security were present and they had many volunteers ranging from medical students and cadets to members from the community. This shelter worked very well because of the large kitchen they have for students and things ran quite smoothly. The only exception to that was a theft that they experienced at the end of their operation as a shelter. They were also lucky in that they were able to send their residents over to the Family Y.M.C.A. during the day for a swim so they could get a break. (The Y.M.C.A., under the direction of Gary Bissonette , operated in a sense as a daytime shelter for many people, serving food, opening their swimming pool to the public for free and conducting their regular programs. They also housed some PUC workers overnight during the emergency.) The L.C.V.I. shelter closed on Tuesday at 1:00 in the afternoon. Anybody who still needed to stay in a shelter was moved over to Penrose. The school itself did not open again until Thursday so that they could have time to clear the area surrounding the school of tree limbs and downed wires. When the students went back to the school the staff made sure that all of them had hot meals as many of them still did not have power at home.
Queen Elizabeth Collegiate & Vocational Institute
This shelter was also opened on Thursday afternoon by Social Services, Red Cross, and Salvation Army. Although the principle, Ron Sharp, did not physically stay in the building during the shelter operations, he was in constant contact. This shelter was not as easy to operate because of the physical layout of the school and the shelter managers could not use the main office. People were spread around, and communication was not easy. Mike Stoneman (Red Cross) and Yvonne Evoy stayed at the shelter overnight. The most serious problem at this shelter was that they had some residents who were infected with Hepatitis C so there was some concern which the Health Unit helped out with. After the shelter was closed the school board gave Q.E.C.V.I. an extra day and extra caretaking staff to disinfect the school. Overall, this shelter experienced the most difficulties related to health issues of various kinds.
Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
The shelter at Holy Cross was opened on Friday. The layout of this school was superb for running a shelter although it was probably "under-used" due to its location. They had many seniors here and they served rural and outlying areas because its location was more convenient for those people. Ciro Calcafuoco, Vice Principal, helped to open the school and remained there full-time to help in the shelter operations. There were no major problems at this shelter, no theft, no vandalism, and no serious medical issues.
Penrose
The Kingston Psychiatric Hospital was already running a few shelters of its own when the City asked them to establish a shelter at the Penrose building, which had been closed for a couple of years. Here again the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Social Services went in to set up the shelter on Friday. This shelter did have the advantage of being able to offer private rooms for families and couples. As the other city shelters (at the schools) became too crowded, people were sent to Penrose. This is also the shelter that remained open the longest. When the school shelters were closed and when all of the hospital shelters were closed, Penrose remained in operation and people in need were funnelled over there. Beverley Jones, Paul Miller, and Ian Irving were the main people in charge of this particular shelter. It was not closed until the evening of January 16th.
Hospital Shelters
Meanwhile, there were shelters established at various times during the emergency at all of the local hospitals, including Hotel Dieu Hospital , Kingston General Hospital , St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital , and Kingston Psychiatric Hospital .
The Southeastern Ontario Health Sciences Centre News Release (see attached) provides a complete chronology of events at the healthcare facilities and also includes the involvement of the KFL&A Community Care Access Centre .
Southeastern Ontario Health Sciences Centre
Queen’s University, Hotel Dieu Hospital,
Kingston General Hospital, Kingston Psychiatric Hospital,
Kingston Regional Cancer Centre, Kingston-Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Health Unit,
Kingston-Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Community Care Access Centre,
Providence Continuing Care Centre
Ice Storm ’98
News Release
For Immediate Release - January 23, 1998
The recent ice storm has brought special challenges to the healthcare system in Kingston. The Southeastern Ontario Health Sciences Centre - Which includes this area’s hospitals, cancer centre, health unit, community care access centre, and the university - has faced one of its most challenging periods ever. Our distinct focus is to maintain our status as a tertiary care centre. That means always being ready to care for those who require the most specialized care, including critically ill or injured patients – while meeting the urgent needs of our community throughout this crisis. The story that follows is just one of many unique challenges – and solutions – faced by the partners that make up the southeastern Ontario Health Sciences Centre.
A CHRONOLOGY: HOW ICE STORM ’98 AFFECTED KINGSTON’S MAJOR HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
Wednesday, January 7
Ice storm hits Kingston and southeastern Ontario, beginning late afternoon.
Thursday, January 8
Conditions continue to deteriorate. Roads are icy and covered with fallen trees. Power outages are widespread. Throughout the day, conditions worsen: transformers explode, and electrical and phone lines came down over the entire region.
Power goes out at most Southeastern Ontario Health Science Centre organizations, including the hospitals, health unit, community care access centre and Queen’s University. The hospitals switch to emergency auxiliary power, allowing all patient care and service areas to function.
KGH senior management and other key hospital representatives have the first of many meetings to assess how the storm has affected hospital operations. All areas of the hospital are discussed: Nursing Units, Labs, Imaging, Emergency, Information Systems, etc. The hospital’s main objective is to maintain its role as a tertiary care hospital for the critically ill and injured while dealing with the effects of the ice storm.
Volume of patients in KGH Emergency Department is below normal. Some people arrive with minor traumas (slips/falls, fractures) related to the ice storm.
All KGH and Hotel Dieu clinics, elective surgery and outpatient procedures are canceled for the day because of potential staffing shortages (many staff are unable to get to work), and concerns about maintaining adequate blood supply.
Hotel Dieu Emergency Department temporarily extends its hours to 24 hours per day.
KGH bed occupancy is high. Discharges are delayed because many patients cannot go to homes without power.
Kingston Regional Cancer Centre cancels scheduled radiation therapy because of temporary power outage at Kingston General Hospital. Some patients who come for their appointments later in the day are seen by medical staff and receive chemotherapy treatment. Radiation and chemotherapy services resume the next day.
Two Providence Continuing Care Centre sites – St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital and Providence Manor – take in elderly, frail spouses of residents/patients.
Providence Continuing Care Centre management begins to identify space and equipment that can be used to provide shelter to the frail elderly in the community and their caregivers.
The KFL&A Health Unit, without power, makes arrangements to move thousands of dollars worth of vaccines to refrigeration area at KGH.
Power is out at home care offices of Community Care Access Centre. Staff move to Hotel Dieu. They identify clients whose health or living situation may put them at most risk (e.g. with IVs or oxygen or devices that need power to operate) or are very frail. They start phoning. Their goal is to eventually reach all 3,187 clients to make sure they are secure, and identify people needing immediate transportation to Hotel Dieu shelter. Phone blitz continues all weekend through to following Tuesday in spite of difficulties with the phone system across the region.
Community Care Access Centre coordinates provision of health care at city shelters with cooperation of VON and two teams of Queen’s medical students accompanied by volunteer nurses from Hotel Dieu. Department of Family Medicine provides assistance.
Kingston Psychiatric Hospital provides shelter for the seriously mentally ill in the community, who arrive by bus, taxi and private transportation from Seeley’s Bay Lodge, homes and apartments run by Kingston Friendship Homes, Desroches Private Boarding Home, Clement Residential Home and Dias Residential Home.
Throughout the crisis, Kingston Psychiatric Hospital staff go door to door, checking on all KPH clients living in the community. Many were brought back to KPH for food and shelter.
Hotel Dieu Hospital announces that it will operate an emergency shelter for the frail elderly whose homes are without power. Hospital shuttle bus is dispatched to pick up elderly in their homes and return them to the shelter.
Friday, January 9
More than 340 frail elderly have arrived at the Hotel Dieu shelter, cared for by volunteers, nursing staff and others.
All hospital clinics, elective surgery and out-patient procedures are canceled for the day.
In the early morning hours, power lines continue to be damaged by falling trees. The freezing rain stops, but the extent of the damage and the impact on the region starts to become clear.
KGH sends out a shipment of formula and diapers to City Hall for area emergency shelters.
KGH Emergency Department volume increases to normal levels. There are fewer minor trauma cases and an increase in frail elderly who cannot cope with the conditions at home. There are a number of patients who are dependent upon medical devices at home, but have no power.
KGH sets up its own emergency shelter in its Burr Gym for people who do not require continuous medical care but do need assessment and occasional monitoring. People are transferred from the Hotel Dieu shelter; others – including those who rely on electricity to operate medical equipment at home – arrive through Emergency. Hospital volunteers and retired and off-duty staff watch over the shelter’s occupants. Base Hospital provides mattresses.
At the request of the City, Kingston Psychiatric Hospital establishes the Penrose Building shelter. With staffing provided by City volunteers, Penrose becomes a shelter for the overflow at other city shelters. Also, lodging and meals provided at Penrose for 22 firefighters from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Community Care Access Centre moves back to its offices when power returns. Phoning blitz stepped up as more staff arrive. Case managers and nursing agencies’ staff visit clients where possible, climbing stairs where elevators don’t work, scrambling up lanes where branches cover driveways. Continue to work with Hotel Dieu coordinating intake of clients to their shelter.
Saturday, January 10
Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital, Providence Continuing Care Centre and Kingston Psychiatric Hospital discuss how to best provide shelter for the frail elderly and medically dependent people. It is decided that Hotel Dieu will be the entry point for those needing shelter, and send people to shelters at the other hospitals, as appropriate. Hotel Dieu becomes the designated shelter for people with high medical needs. Approximately 240 people are at the Dieu shelter by day’s end.
Medical staff at KGH/Hotel Dieu/St. Mary’s of the Lake call the first of many meetings to discuss how to deal with the crisis. Discussions include physician availability, reopening clinics and establishing a physician registry for communication. It is agreed that returning to normal operation as quickly as possible is the priority in order to avoid backing up the healthcare system.
The Health Unit sets up a station at the City Hall Emergency Control Centre. Public health nurses staff two phone lines to provide expertise and advice on health related issues. Public health inspectors visit area shelters to ensure they meet health and safety standards. Particular attention is paid to food safety measures.
Health Unit contacts local media to assure the public that municipal water supplies are safe to drink and are being monitored regularly.
Sunday, January 11
Community care Access Centre and KGH meet to plan discharge for patients who can’t go home because of ice storm problems. St. Mary’s of the Lake and KGH open shelter for Community Care Access Centre patients with lower nursing needs. Some clients also go to Penrose Shelter opened by Kingston Psychiatric Hospital and city. Community Care provides nurse care managers to assist in co-ordination care to its clients at those shelters and to work with clients and their families (local and out of area) to find and move them to homes of family members. Also provide nurses to consult with shelter staff or care for Community Care clients. Provide personal support staff for clients in Hotel Dieu’s shelter.
P. 5 Southeastern Ontario Health Sciences Centre - An Ice Storm Chronology
Health Unit public health nurses report an increase in number of calls about frail elderly neighbors and relatives. They work closely with volunteer drivers and area police to ensure that those who need medical attention are transported to Hotel Dieu Hospital and that those at risk are either helped to an appropriate shelter or checked regularly if they insist on remaining in their homes.
Medical staff met to assess and plan for physician requirements at Hotel Dieu, KGH and family physician practices.
Monday, January 12
All clinics, elective surgery and out-patient procedures are cancelled for the day at Hotel Dieu and KGH.
Medical staff meet to bring every one up to date, present plans for in-patient, out-patient and clinic services as well as family medicine services in the community.
The KGH Burr Gym shelter continues to operate smoothly. Decisions are finalized to resume normal activity on Tuesday.
Kingston Psychiatric Hospital’s Penrose Building becomes the main shelter for the city. It is now operated jointly by KPH, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Community Care Access Centre is now fully operational. Staff continues contacting clients, not just those with high priority needs. Teenage volunteers help out by looking after staff’s children in special area set up in City Place. Placement Services begin organizing placement for clients in crisis in long term care facilities.
Tuesday, January 13
Most clinics, elective surgery and out-patient procedures resume as usual at KGH and Hotel Dieu.
Burr Wing shelter at KGH is closed.
Wednesday, January 14
Community Care Access Centre opens “guest house” in Bawden Wing at KGH for people, discharged from the hospital, who can’t go home.
P. 6 Southeastern Ontario Health Sciences Centre - An Ice Storm Chronology
Community Care Access Centre arranges for admission of 12 people from KGH to nursing homes - the most admitted in one day - with special co-operation from nursing homes across the area and the Ministry of Health. This enables KGH to admit more acutely ill patients. Every one of the Community Care Access Centre’s 3,187 clients are found and contacted except eight. OPP and military go to their doors to make sure they have left and found shelter elsewhere.
Health Unit’s Public health inspectors continue daily inspections of emergency shelters and distribute fact sheets on food safety, carbon monoxide poisoning and hypothermia to shelters, operation centres and municipal offices.
Health Unit prepares information and tips on health and safety for school-age children in the wake of the storm, including stress management for children and adults.
All hospital shelters are closed, expect for Kingston Psychiatric Hospital’s Penrose Building.
Contact Dr. Ruth Wilson, co-chair, Joint Medical Advisory Committee;
(613) 544-3310, ext. 3959
Southeastern Ontario Health Sciences Centre, c/o Susan Beeby,
Kingston General Hospital PR; (613) 548-2358
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