ANNEX K
MASS CARE CENTER OPERATIONS
(excerpts)
1. PURPOSE
To provide procedures and responsibilities for care of evacuees when emergency conditions make it necessary for them to leave their homes.
2. SITUATION
A. Hazards Causing Evacuation
The hazards, in order of priority, that are likely to cause evacuations within the City are hazardous materials incidents, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, land slides, earthquakes.
B. Use of Mass Care Centers
Fifty percent of the displaced victims of disasters may require mass care. Many people make their own arrangements with friends or relatives. The American Red Cross, in coordination with the City Emergency Management Agency is generally responsible for providing mass care support to evacuees. (See Annex O for Agreements.) Primary mass care centers are listed in Appendix 1. Additional information and lists of facilities are contained in the Resources Manual.
3. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A. General
1. Red Cross
a. The City has designated the Pittsburgh/Allegheny Chapter of the American Red Cross to assist in the management of mass care centers, as needed.
2. Basic Principle for Activation
The basic principle governing the activation and operation of mass care centers is: Mass care centers should be activated only to meet the needs of evacuees who do not stay with relatives, friends, neighbors or in available commercial facilities.
3. Mass Care Center Mission - Mass care centers are separate units providing for the emergency congregate care of individuals rendered temporarily homeless due to disaster caused situations.
4. Non-Red Cross Opening - When the occurrence prompting utilization of mass care center(s) meets the Red Cross criteria of disaster and the facility is operated by Red Cross managers, then the Red Cross will pay the operational costs of the center(s) as an outright grant. In situations not within Red Cross purview or when the Red Cross is not involved with the management of a center, expenses for operations will be borne by the City government. In these cases complete records of expenditures should be kept for reasons of possible reimbursement from state or federal funds.
5. Mass Care Officer - The City Emergency Management Director will provide the direction and control through the Mass Care Officer. All department heads and EOC staff will support the mass care effort.
6. Act 45 Certification - Any personnel providing Services at a City incident who has a certification, pursuant to Act 45 of 1984 shall display on their person an official patch consistent with their level of certification.
7. Privately Owned Vehicles - Any personnel utilizing private vehicle for response shall observe all state and local laws and be marked for easy identification.
B. Emergency Phases
1. Preparedness
a. Review Mass Care Center Lists - Review mass care center lists and capabilities to include feeding (see Appendix 1). In addition, check agreements for facility use. Check primary/secondary contact person list and check if possibility of using facility staff in emergencies has been authorized and coordinated/approved by appropriate union organization(s).
b. Review Reception Center Lists - Identify and review lists of reception centers (see Appendix 2) and update, as required.
c. Notify Service Providers - Notify persons and organizations identified in mass care resource list about possible need for services and facilities. Preplan the availability and staffing of facilities needed for mass reception and care.
d. Review Plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) - Review plans and SOPs for mass care centers.
e. Report unmet needs to the EMD
2. Response
a. Select Mass Care Center(s) - Select mass care and reception centers in accordance with:
(1) Hazard and situation analysis.
(2) Locations in relation to potential evacuation routes.
(3) Services available in facilities.
(4) Estimated numbers of evacuees needing mass care.
b. Open and staff Mass Care Centers.
c. Establish Communications - Coordinate with emergency operations center (EOC) staff to ensure communications are established, routes to mass care centers are clearly marked, and appropriate traffic control systems are established if required.
d. Display Identifying Markers - Display markers identifying mass care centers at appropriate locations.
e. Make Public Announcements - Make public announcements about mass care center availability and locations in coordination with PIO.
f. Prepare for Evacuees - Prepare to receive evacuees and provide for their health and welfare.
g. Maintain Records - Maintain records of financial expenditures and mass care supply use.
h. Radiological Protection - If appropriate, coordinate with EOC for radiological support of reception and mass care centers.
i. City EMS - City EMS shall coordinate emergency care in shelter and transport to the appropriate hospital.
j. Special Needs - Designate facilities for lodging institutionalized or special needs groups.
3. Recovery
a. Keep mass care centers operating as long as necessary.
b. Release Evacuees - Arrange for return of evacuees to homes or for transportation to long-term mass care centers, if necessary.
c. Deactivate Unneeded Centers.
d. Return Centers to Original condition - Clean and return centers to original condition and negotiate reimbursement for damages.
e. Compile Statistical Data and Reports - Compile statistical data and reports to document what was done and at what costs to justify authorized reimbursement.
f. Access Mass Care Operations - Review operations and revise plans, if necessary.
4. ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Mass Care Officer
1. Provide advice and coordination on mass care and Red Cross matters.
2. Assume overall coordination of mass care center operations.
3. Maintain and Update Inventories - Maintain and update inventories of facilities for use as mass care centers for natural and technological emergencies. Identify those facilities which will be used to shelter institutionalized or special needs groups.
4. Review Arrangements - Review arrangements with Red Cross or other organizations to manage the mass care centers to include mass feeding operations.
5. Pets - check plans for care of pets outside mass care centers. Pets, with the exception of guide dogs, will not be allowed in the mass care facilities.
6. Review agreements for mass care centers use (Resources manual).
7. Decontamination - Check plans for providing suitable clothing for individuals undergoing decontamination.
8. Training - Ensure training of Mass Care Center Managers to include establishing and maintaining appropriate SOPs.
9. Ensure communications capabilities (see Annex B).
10. Injury/Death - Check plan for handling injury and/or death of an evacuee in the mass care center.
11. Health Care - In coordination with Health/Medical Services Officer, arrange with local health, mental health, and social service agencies to provide support personnel and to provide individual and family support services at mass care centers.
12. 24-Hour Operation - Ensure mass care centers activated have appropriate staff for 24-hour operations.
13. Ensure that registration and inquiry procedures are in place.
14. Coordinate with Red Cross to activate reception centers.
15. Coordinate Evacuation - Coordinate with those areas where mass care centers will be provided if evacuation from Pittsburgh becomes necessary.
16. Keep Operations Officer advised of status.
17. Review and Revise Mass Care Annex - Review and revise, as necessary, the Mass Care Annex after emergencies and exercises.
B. Police Services Officer
1. Security and Law Enforcement - Provide security and law enforcement for mass care centers and reception centers to include parking areas.
2. Provide traffic control during movement to centers.
C. Fire Services Officer
1. Survey mass care centers for fire safety and advise as necessary.
2. Train selected evacuees as mass care fire suppression teams.
D. Public Works and Engineering Officer
1. Inspect mass care centers for service ability, if necessary.
2. Water and Sanitation - Maintain water supplies and sanitary facilities at mass care facilities during emergency, as required.
3. Utility Failure - Be prepared to provide emergency lighting, heating or cooling in the event of a utility failure.
E. Agriculture Services Officer
1. USDA Foods for disaster mass feeding - The Stafford Act authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary to provide various relief services, including group feeding or distribution of food as a result of major disasters. The USDA Secretary makes available donated foods purchased by the USDA Food and Nutrition Services through the State Distributing Agency. In Pennsylvania, these foods are handled by the Bureau of Government Donated Food, Department of Agriculture. PEMA is the initial point of contact for the authorization of use of these food stuffs.
2. Additional Food Supplies - Develop and maintain list of local food warehouses and other sources of bulk foodstuffs.
F. City Emergency Management Agency
1. Designate two Mass Care Officers.
2. Enter into written agreement with the ARC Chapters.
3. Make plans and provisions for:
a. Reception centers
b. Mass care centers
c. Mass feeding stations
d. Central resource receiving points
e. Supply/distribution points
4. Establish Authority Procedures - Establish activation and closing authority procedures for mass care centers, to include spontaneously activated centers.
5. Select Facilities - Select mass care facilities in coordination with City ARC officials.
6. Develop Agreements - Develop, in coordination with ARC officials, and sign agreements for use of all facilities designated as primary and alternate mass care centers.
7. Ensure proper staffing of mass care center operations.
8. Render reports - Render reports to PEMA on activation and status of mass care centers.
9. Coordinate Mass Care Activities - Coordinate with Red Cross representatives responsible for mass care activities in support counties.
10. Coordinate Operation of Mass Care Centers - Coordinate operation of the mass care centers within the City and with those communities where mass care centers will be provided.
...