Family Assistance

Legislative Background Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act of 1997

Mission The NTSB coordinates and provides additional resources to the airline and local government to help victims and their families while preserving local responsibility and jurisdiction

Primary Concerns Initial notification Recovery and identification of remains Return of personal effects Information sharing

Local Government Role Fire and rescue Medical assistance Security

Local Government Role Recovery Victim identification Environmental cleanup

Victim Support Tasks NTSB tasks Airline tasks Family care and mental health Victim identification, forensic & medical services

Victim Support Tasks Assisting foreign families Communications Assisting victims of crime

NTSB Tasks Coordinate with state and local authorities Coordinate federal assistance Coordinate with airline about family and support staff logistics

NTSB Tasks Serve as liaison between airline and families Integrate airline/federal support to form operations center

NTSB Tasks Provide timely briefings to families on the Progress of the investigation Progress on recovery and identification Personal effects process Coordinate visits to crash site

NTSB Tasks Provide information to media on family support issues Maintain contact with families through entire investigation

Airline Tasks Provide reliable toll-free telephone number and sufficient staff to respond to public inquiries Provide timely notification to families of victims

Airline Tasks Provide a secure facility for families Provide a joint family support operations center Provide logistical support for families and support staff

Airline Tasks Provide families with a point of contact person Maintain communications with families who are not at the site

Family Care and Mental Health The American Red Cross (ARC) is the agency responsible for family care and mental health issues. They: Activate national ARC response system Coordinate resources for critical incident stress debriefing of support personnel prior to departure

Family Care and Mental Health Coordinate and manage volunteer counseling and support services Coordinate childcare services

Family Care and Mental Health Coordinate with airline for the delivery of mental health support to family members. This includes family members who do not travel to the incident site. Arrange an inter faith memorial service

Victim Identification, Forensic & Medical Services The Department of Health and Human Services is the responsible agency supported by the Department of Defense. They: Assist in mortuary and identification support Provide temporary morgue facility

Victim Identification, Forensic & Medical Services Interview families for antemortem information Collect disposition of remains information

Victim Identification, Forensic & Medical Services Assist with notification of families Coordinate release of remains to funeral director

Foreign Victim Families The Department of State has primary responsibility for foreign victim families. They: Notify the appropriate foreign government Provide translation services

Foreign Victim Families Assist families with entry into the U.S. Assist in the return of remains & personal effects

Communications The Federal Emergency Management Agency has the responsibility for communications. They: Provide personnel to assist in public information dissemination Provide enhanced and secure communications

Assisting Victims of Crime The Department of Justice is the responsible agency for assisting victims of crime. They: Provide information about the Office of Victims of Crime Program Provide the Federal Bureau of Investigation Disaster Squad for finger print identification

Summary Assist families and victims through immediate crisis Coordinate federal resources to assist the airline and local government Maintain a core group of experienced personnel to respond to aviation disasters