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1994.01.19 :  Emergency Services for L.A. Quake Victims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Public Health Service 
Contact:  Tom Williams or Rayford Kytle 
(202) 690-6867 

     HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala said today that over 200 HHS
personnel have arrived in the Los Angeles area to assist in
providing emergency services needed due to Monday's earthquake. 
HHS activated the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) and sent
Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) to the affected area
within hours of the event.

     Secretary Shalala said, "We are bringing the full range of HHS
services to bear as swiftly as possible to assist the state of
California in providing services to those in need due to this
catastrophe."     

     The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which
coordinates federal disaster relief, requested HHS to activate the
DMATs.  Under HHS leadership, FEMA, the Department of Defense and
the Department of Veterans Affairs make up the National Disaster
Medical System, which was established in 1984.

     Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are made up of volunteers
from major metropolitan areas of the United States and are
mobilized by the Office of Emergency Preparedness, which is within
the office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, Philip R. Lee,
M.D., who heads the Public Health Service.

     Teams consisting of 35 persons, including physicians, nurses,
emergency medical technicians and administrative support personnel
will make the initial assessment of health needs in the disaster
area.  Larger teams, as well as other personnel from HHS and
supporting departments and agencies will be sent to the disaster
area as necessary.  The teams already activated are from San
Bernadino, San Diego and Riverside, Calif., and Albuquerque and
Seattle.    

     HHS agencies responding to the earthquake include:

     The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), an agency of the PHS -- offered assistance to local and 
state mental health officials and other HHS agency personnel.
SAMHSA will be working on both immediate crisis counseling programs
and on meeting the long term mental health needs of persons in the
earthquake area.  Children, families and the elderly will be a
particular focus of SAMHSA's activities.     

     The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) --  providing
cash advances and checks to Medicare providers for continued
treatment of impacted recipients.  HCFA has monitored the
relocation of senior citizens from nursing homes damaged by the
earthquake to safer facilities.  HCFA is also preparing guidance to
medical facilities on reimbursement of capital costs for repairing
facilities damaged during the earthquake.  

     The Social Security Administration -- evaluating the effects
of the earthquake on its offices in the affected area, seven of
which have closed.  SSA personnel are being relocated to maintain
services.  Social Security checks will continue uninterrupted. 
Beneficiaries who have questions about SSA services can call
1-800-772-1213.

     Early reports indicate that some community health centers were
damaged by the earthquake.  HHS is supporting the state of
California in meeting the needs of these facilities. 

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