Bolstering emergency power resilience for hospitals during power outages: How the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency initiative offers a blueprint for other jurisdictions

Author's Biography

Eric Cote served as Press Secretary and Senior Advisor for a US Congressman and the Governor of Rhode Island prior to launching Disaster Safety Strategies, public sector experience that became the foundation for his heralded work advancing disaster safety. Eric helped turn the Oklahoma City bombing into a catalysing event for a life-saving US industry. He is considered one of the nation’s leading experts in emergency power resilience, helping critical facilities better safeguard emergency power and advising jurisdictions on how to improve response capabilities when emergency power is threatened during power outages. His expertise has been called on by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA). When Hurricane Irma triggered the deaths of 12 elderly residents at the Hollywood Hills Rehabilitation Center, Eric advised Congress on ways to boost federal support for power outage planning by hospitals and nursing homes. He helped develop the nation’s most far-reaching emergency power threat reporting requirements for hospitals and introduced the nation’s first confidential risk rating by a government agency of hospital emergency power systems. In 2021, Eric won Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding to advance his groundbreaking approach to help in-home life support users extend device run time during power outages. He has shared his expertise as a speaker and panellist at many national conferences and has authored white papers, playbooks and toolkits on a range of preparedness topics.

Terry Crammer currently serves as the Chief of Disaster Response and Coordination for the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency, bringing 36 years of clinical, instructional and programme development experience. In addition, Terry served for ten years as the Hospital Preparedness Program Grant Coordinator for Los Angeles County. He co-founded the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (CA-9) and the National Medical Assistance Team–West, where he held the position of Executive Officer. His contributions to disaster preparedness and EMS have garnered him several prestigious awards. He continues to serve as a subject matter expert on a variety of disaster and emergency management programmes at national, state and local levels. His contributions to disaster preparedness and EMS have elevated national standards and enhanced the safety and resilience of the community.

Christopher Sandoval is the Disaster Program Manager for Disaster Response and Coordination at the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and has built a distinguished career spanning over 27 years in Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services, specialising in emergency preparedness and response. Christopher began his career in the emergency department and trauma centre at MLK/Drew Medical Center, where he served for eight years. He then spent a decade as a primary instructor at the J. Michael Criley Paramedic Training Program, training future paramedics. For the past eight years, he has managed the Hospital Preparedness Program’s Disaster Resource Centers and hospital surge initiatives, significantly enhancing disaster readiness for clinics, long-term care facilities and dialysis programmes. His efforts have been pivotal in coordinating disaster services within the Healthcare Coalition. As the lead project manager for the multiphase ‘Healthcare Facility Emergency Power Resilience Playbook’, Christopher has set benchmarks for best practices in healthcare resilience. He currently oversees the Strategic National Stockpile CHEMPACK programme and the EMS pharmaceutical cache, while also conducting training on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) incidents and decontamination. With a deep commitment to improving healthcare disaster preparedness, Christopher is a respected leader in his field, driven by a passion for ensuring community resilience in the face of emergencies.