September 13, almost a month to the day before the ADA’s annual session in San Antonio (October 16-19), Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc on Galveston Island and Crystal Beach. The storm was officially ranked a category two, though wind of one more mile per hour would have changed the status to a category three. According to the ADA, about 3400 ADA members’ homes and businesses are in the 12-county region where Ike blew through. Of these members, 200 live or work in what is now a disaster area.
Assistance Programs
The ADA Foundation approved grants up to $2500 per dental professional and organizations that will provide dental services in the area. Henry Schein also set up a hotline for physicians, doctors, healthcare facilities, and veterinarians in need of help. The number is 1-800-999-9729.
Planning Ahead
The ADA worked with Florida Dental Association to create a Disaster Preparedness Manual. Download the manual here: www.floridadental.org/foundation/disaster.html. OSHA offers useful information, as well: www.osha.gov/OshDoc/flood-tornado-recovery.html. And CDC offers a website for emergency preparedness and response: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/.
SOURCE: http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?articleid=3219