Department of Health and Human Services Liisa Jackson MA Region 4A Medical Reserve Coordinator

MRC Sheltering 101 Shelter Operations  Training Objectives  Review the importance of a clear sheltering plan.  Understand the importance of adjusting the plan to meet local needs during a disaster  Recognize and Challenge global rules that may not work in “real life”.

MRC Sheltering 101 What Katrina taught us Sheltering Rules –challenged and changed  Better serve the needs of the population  Worst case scenario exceeded  Disaster broke all the rules  Some plans and procedures inadequate  Regional and state plans and procedures inconsistent with local

MRC Sheltering 101 What Katrina taught us Headlines you did not see !!  1.2 million people were saved by having a plan  FEMA assets 48-hours before Katrina landfall  Millions opened their cities, homes, hearts and checkbooks to meet human needs  62,000 rescued from rooftops/overpasses in 4 days  1million residents evacuated in 2 days

MRC Sheltering 101 Shelter Selection Criteria  Above 100 Year Flood Plain  Air-Conditioned  Back-up Power Supply  Adequate Restroom Facilities  Adequate Area for Feeding Sheltered Population  Located on Public Transportation Route

MRC Sheltering 101 Shelter Selection Criteria Know your saturation point  Bricks and mortar  Ability to support food/clothing/shelter  Public Safety capabilities  Health Care community  Regional Support  Long term –Infrastructure assimilation capabilities Schools; Rental Property; Jobs

MRC Sheltering 101 Shelter Support Transportation  Population without their own transportation  Identifying and transporting clients to the shelter  Supported by Department of Social Services Food  Local restaurant donations  Contracted Vendors (3meals/24 hours/ 7 days)  Committed volunteers [school cafeteria staff] Sleeping Supplies Medical Supplies Pets – yes or no???

MRC Sheltering 101 Shelter Partners Multi-Agency Coordination  ARC  Medical Reserve Corps  City and Town Health Departments  Fire Departments  Law Enforcement Agencies  Non-Profits Organizations  Faith-Based Community  Healthcare Community

MRC Sheltering 101 Partners – who does what well American Red Cross  Shelter Operations  Volunteers local/national  Commodities  Laundry  Mass Feeding  Local restaurant donations  Contracted Vendors (3meals/24 hours/ 7 days)  Committed volunteers

MRC Sheltering 101 Partners – who does what well Salvation Army  Food services and pastoral counseling  Has managed staff  Individual support  Non-medical special needs  Substance abusers  Mental Health Issues

MRC Sheltering 101 Partners – who does what well Faith Based Shelter  Human Resources  Built in command structure Nurses, clerical staff, food service volunteers. Social Workers Managers  Spiritual Needs

MRC Sheltering 101 Partners – who does what well Fire Department / EMS  Triage/Treatment/Transport  Mass Decontamination  EMS Response  Daily Showers  Off Duty Volunteers Law Enforcement  National Guard  Shelter Security Local Police Department inside Local Police outside shelter

MRC Sheltering 101 Partners – who does what well Healthcare Organizations  Shelter Support  Mental/Physical  In House Clinics  Hospital Surge  Pharmaceutical Support

MRC Sheltering 101 Who are the residents??? General Population Shelters No disabilities [ physical, emotional, mental ] ◘Supported by ARC ◘Medical Reserve Corps Support ARC Shelters by providing medical care Operate Smaller Self Sustaining Shelters under local Health Departments

MRC Sheltering 101 Who are the residents??? Special Needs Shelters  Individuals requiring constant medical attention/care  Shelter Population includes Patients Their immediate family Caregivers  Supported by: State Department of Public Health and Hospitals Local Boards of Health

MRC Sheltering 101 Sheltering & ICS Key Concepts of ICS Chain of Command A series of management positions in order of authority Span of Control Number of people who directly report to someone limited to 3-7 (optimally 5) Scalability Ability to expand and contract depending on incident size and complexity Flexibility Can be used in a wide variety of circumstances

MRC Sheltering 101 Sheltering & ICS

MRC Sheltering 101 Job Action Sheets  What is the general responsibility of this station?  Who do you turn to when you have a problem?  What supplies do you need for this station?  What do you do during Activation stage?  What are some typical actions/jobs during Operation stage?  What do you do during change of shift/Deactivation?

MRC Sheltering 101 Mini-Scenarios

MRC Sheltering 101 Things to think about Registration How to identify residents How to identify families When to hand out rules/regulations How to track residents who leave/return the shelter Who is going to monitor residents taking care of pets

MRC Sheltering 101 Things to think about Dormitory Set-up [single men, single women, families, elderly, medical, special needs] Schedules – activities, meals, lights out, showers Posting of rules [no smoking, weapons, drinking; care of pets, responsibility for personal items]

MRC Sheltering 101 Things to think about Medical How will you handle behavioral problems Where will “ill” residents be cared for [sleep] How will these patients get their meals Do you need to identify residents with allergies [wristband]

MRC Sheltering 101 Things to think about Food Cooking staff [school cafeteria staff?] Residents with food allergies [personal responsibility] Meal hours What about snacks [what, when, where] What about special diets

MRC Sheltering 101 Things to think about Section Chiefs Shelter Manager Medical Director Staffing Coordinator Clinical Unit Supervisor Clerical Unit Leader Dormitory Leader Food Services Leader

MRC Sheltering 101 Things to think about Other areas How will MRC volunteers be identified How will resident helpers be identified Volunteer rest periods Memorandums of understanding Food, transportation, pets, security, sleeping supplies Get them NOW Get to know all of the possible partners

MRC Sheltering 101 What to do NOW Plan for the future Notification –Need for sheltering –How will it be accomplished –Where to go / hours of operation –How to get transportation Volunteers – notification, scheduling Educate your residents Let them know the rules/limitations in advance –No pets, provide own food, care for own pet Responsible for monitoring own food allergies Responsible for own personal items Shelter rules – No smoking, drugs, weapons, alcohol