1. Family Assistance Center Planning for Mass Fatality Incidents
Christine Mullarkey-Campbell
October 31, 2016
Fall NCEMA Conference

2. What is a Mass Fatality?

3. Simultaneous Operations
Survivor Gathering Area
MPCC Hotline Service Provision Line
Reunification Center
Family Assistance Center Coordination Cell
Friends & Relative Ctr.
Family Assistance Center
1:00
4:00
18:00
24:00
48:00
96:00
144:00+
0:00
Morgue Operations
Initial Scene Reports
Remains Collection & Transport
Secure Site & Scene Investigation
Unified Command—on scene
EOC

4. Family Assistance Center & Hotline
Incident Scene
Hospital
Morgue
Family Assistance Center & Hotline
EOC

5. Type of Incident Legislated Non-Legislated
Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act
Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act
Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act
Bus or other means of mass transit
Structural Collapse
Terrorism or acts of violence
Natural Disasters

6. When would you open a Family Assistance Center?

7. Family Assistance Operations
Immediate Response
Friends & Relatives Center
Survivor Gathering Area
Reunification Rooms/Centers
Intermediate Response
Family Assistance Center (FAC)
&
FAC Coordination Cell
Recovery Response
Transition & Recovery, Ongoing Long Term
Support & Resources, Agency Coordination

8. Fundamental Concerns of Family Members
Notification of Involvement
What is happening?
Information & Resources
How do I get information and access Resources?
Victim Accounting
Where is my loved one?
Personal Effects
Where are their/my belongings?

9. Who is Family? No established definition
Best practices are to be inclusive
Family groups tend to “self-regulate”
Friend/Family member vs. legal next of kin (NOK)
Legal next of kin is determined during the investigation process.
Valuable antemortem data may come from someone who is not a spouse/partner or blood relative.

10. Media Management Brief FAMILIES First!
Friends & Relatives are free to speak to media.
Must not be inside FRC or FAC
Pre-identify press conference locations
Coordinate with local media to establish satellite truck staging.
Brief FAMILIES First!

11. Family Assistance Operations
Immediate Response
Friends & Relatives Center
Survivor Gathering Area
Reunification Rooms/Centers

12. Crisis Situation: Incident location Hospital(s) A central location
Families seeking information at last known location of loved one
Incident location
Hospital(s)
A central location
“What
Happened?”
Friends
and
Relatives
Center
“Where is
my loved one?”
Law Enforcement
& Fire
Other
First
Responders
“How will I get
information?”
Location
Organization
Families

13. Friends and Relatives Center (FRC)
Why have an FRC?
Protection & privacy
Buffer; not sequester
Introduces order during a chaotic time
Establishes a positive rapport early
Information (in and out)
* This location is temporary and provides basic needs.

14. Friends and Relatives Center (FRC)
Staffing
Staffing Duties
Law Enforcement
Medical Services
Support Services
Local Crisis Support
Clergy
*If applicable—facility or carrier representative.
Check-in Table
Briefing Support
Logistics
Family Escort

15. Family Briefings Suggested Agenda Who you are Why they are there
What services are available
Known facts at this time
Information on next steps
Managing access
Scene situation update
Collect information
Repeat as necessary (more frequently early on, can be a repeat of the exact same information)

16. Reunification Center Small facility
Used to reconnect survivors with family & friends.
Should be separate (away) from FRC
Staffed by:
Law Enforcement
Support Agency/Organization
Facility or carrier representative (when applicable)

17. Family Assistance Operations
Intermediate Response
Family Assistance Center (FAC)
&
FAC Coordination Cell
… Transition

18. Purpose of the FAC
Provide factual information to family members about the incident
Access to assistance and services
Private, safe and secure location for family members to grieve
Facilitate collection of ante-mortem data.
Address basic physical and emotional/spiritual needs.
Coordinate interagency response
Avoid duplication of services and efforts

19. FAC Services Safety & security Crisis & grief counseling
Spiritual Care
Family Liaisons
Childcare
Interpretive services
Legal Services
Official briefings
Meals & beverages
Death notification
Transportation (large and small scale)
First Aid/Medical
Other services as necessary

20. FAC Staffing Support/Services organization(s) Funeral Coordinator
Health services workers or EMS
Local Law Enforcement
Medical Examiner (or Coroner)
Personal effects management coordinator
Other local support personnel (Health Dept., Emergency Management, etc.)
Legislated Disasters will also include:
Carrier management team
Carrier support team
NTSB TDA

21. FAC Considerations Accessibility Facility Security
Security of victims & families
Badging and identification
Space available vs. space needed
Family members that do not travel
Media

22. Estimating space… Estimated Minimum:
# of fatalities X ~3 family members
Estimated Maximum:
# of fatalities X ~8 family members
Remember—Facilities can also be vertical!

24. Estimating space… Estimated Minimum:
# of fatalities X ~3 family members
=Amount of space
Estimated Maximum:
# of fatalities X ~8 family members

25. Estimating space… Estimated Minimum:
# of fatalities X ~3 family members
=Amount of space
Estimated Maximum:
# of fatalities X ~8 family members

26. Agencies in the FAC Coordination Cell
FAC Command Structure
Agencies in the FAC Coordination Cell
Assess the situation
Coordinate all aspects of the family assistance operation
Define incident goals
Define operational period objectives
Develop exit strategy
Troubleshoot issues and determine resolution
Unified Command Structure
Agencies’ core competencies remain intact
Agencies’ missions remain intact
Local jurisdiction’s roles & responsibilities

27. FAC Coordination Cell Primary service providers
Authority according to Federal legislation and/or local or state jurisdiction.
Multi-agency response
Unified Command of the family assistance operation
Each entity maintains its core competency and mission
Representatives with decision-making authority

28. Family Briefings No—should NOT attend YES—should attend Media Local
Attorneys
Elected officials (TBD)
Unassociated agency representatives
What is the purpose?
Local
Emergency Management
Law Enforcement/Fire
Medical Examiner
Support Services
Key orgs. present in FAC
Responsible Party (if applicable)
Investigator
Other, if needed

29. Family Briefings--Logistics
Conference call line for families not present
All families in one room (possible exceptions)
Interpretive Services
A/V Technology: Microphones, Photos/videos
Formal presentation layout
Ensure appropriate entrance/exit locations
Schedule at appropriate times and post agenda

30. Family Briefing: Sample Agenda
Investigator/Incident Commander
Medical Examiner
Responsible Party (if applicable)
Service Provider (ARC, Salvation Army, etc.)
Emergency Management
Childcare Agency
Next Briefing—announce time & date
(First Briefing)
Agencies Introduction
Roles & Responsibilities
FAC Support Services
Preliminary Factual Information, if available
Process expectation
Next Scheduled Briefing

31. Last Briefing Considerations
Dependent upon:
On-scene activity
Medicolegal Processes
Victim Recovery, Antemortem interviews, Death notifications, Return
FAC stats
Pre-planned, announced in advance
Last Briefing Agenda
Current Status
Overview of process moving forward—what to expect
Contact information for continued communication & resources

32. Site Visit-Logistics Scheduled at request of families (~3 days)
All families at the same time (some exceptions)
Identifying objects and remains removed
Schedule at end of work day, consider weather
Transportation to & from site
Site safety
Non-permanent Memorial

33. Family Assistance Operations
Immediate Response
Friends & Relatives Center
Survivor Gathering Area
Reunification Rooms/Centers
Intermediate Response
Family Assistance Center (FAC)
&
FAC Coordination Cell
Recovery Response
Transition & Recovery, Ongoing Long Term
Support & Resources, Agency Coordination

34. Utilizing Industry Professionals
Assisting with remains collection and documentation.
Record keeping at remains storage site.
Collection of Antemortem Family Assistance Center
Supporting hotline call center
Documentation support at morgue

35. Good to know: Resource
Mental Health—Critical Care Team can arrive on-site within approx hours of request receipt.

36. Spiritual Care vs
Evangelism

37. This response is NOT an “All-Call”…it is essential to send the correct people to do the job!

38. Top 5 FAC Pre-Planning Steps
Determine which entity/organization in your county/region will coordinate the FAC.
Identify which organizations/agencies will respond to the FAC and what their likely role(s) will be.
Pre-select possible locations that may serve as a FAC in your community.
Request law enforcement to make necessary site security plans.
Prepare for logistical needs to support this facility.

39. First 5 FAC Activation Steps
Activate best available facility according to incident variables: size, location, accessibility.
Contact FAC coordinator and activate responding partners.
Ensure law enforcement is able to provide security for FAC.
Notify fellow response partners that “need to know” about FAC location and operating hours.
Activate any wrap around services needed for FAC. *If Legislated, ensure carrier rep is in agreement.

40. Upcoming Opportunities:
FAC TTX workshops will be held in February & March 2017 across the 4 Public Health Preparedness Regions.
Continued outreach to industry professionals through provision of approved continuing education credits.

41. Christine Mullarkey-Campbell
Thank You!
Christine Mullarkey-Campbell