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Witnesses highlight health risks to first responders and staffing strains across public-health and hospital workforces
Summary
Committee testimony described major staffing disruptions, reliance on volunteers, and long-term health risks for firefighters and public-health workers—witnesses urged better deployment systems, occupational protections and behavioral-health resources.
Lawmakers heard that the wildfires strained health-system staffing, exposed first responders to carcinogens and other occupational hazards, and placed heavy burdens on county public-health workers who were deployed to disaster centers.
Staffing and operational strain Dr. Lori Morgan (Huntington Health) told the committee that within 24 hours more than 50% of the hospital's roughly 4,000 employees were evacuated, producing staff shortages, canceled procedures and increased labor costs for temporary staffing. Morgan said the hospital opened temporary patient-care spaces, provided emergency dialysis, and absorbed…
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