Mass Care

EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION 6

Mass Care

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I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. Purpose

To provide guidance for furnishing basic human needs to persons affected by emergencies and disasters, including the provision of emergency shelter.

B. Scope

This ESF addresses sheltering needs in all of Pierce County during an emergency or disaster having local or widespread impact, and the coordinating of opening shelters through the Pierce County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The initial response activities will focus on meeting urgent needs of victims on a mass care basis.

II. POLICIES

A. It is the policy of Pierce County to coordinate mass care efforts with the American Red Cross Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter (ARC-TPC Chapter) to provide prompt disaster relief to victims of major disasters in the county. The Pierce County Department of Human Services will supply similar services to its respective clients during times of disaster.

B. It is the policy of Pierce County that spiritual support and assistance from churches to those affected by disaster be coordinated by the Associated Ministries of the Tacoma-Pierce County (AM), in cooperation with the ARC-TPC Chapter.

C. The American Red Cross (ARC) policy is to provide emergency shelter for 72 hours to all who have a need. After 72 hours, only those persons who can demonstrate that they have a permanent place of residence by providing a rent receipt, utility bill, etc., and that their domicile is not habitable will continue to receive ARC assistance. Others are considered a socio-economic concern and are referred to other agencies for assistance.

III. SITUATION

A. Emergency/Disaster Conditions and Hazards

Refer to the Pierce County Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis.

B. Planning Assumptions

1. Mass care requirements during an emergency or disaster may overwhelm social service agencies.

2. Depending on the hazard and the severity of its effects, the county may have limited numbers of shelters or resources to manage them.

3. The ARC-TPC Chapter is responsible for mass care and shelter during an emergency or disaster. If the Chapter cannot provide all of the services needed, victims will be referred to community, church, or other social service shelters that may be opened.

4. The opening of ARC shelter for all jurisdictions will be coordinated through the EOC.

IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

A. Mass Care

1. The ARC-TPC Chapter provides the emergency service function of feeding and sheltering victims of an emergency or disaster for 72 hours after the event.

2. The Pierce County Department of Human Services is responsible for coordinating the support to the emergency needs of agency clients. The chain of command for the Pierce County Human Services is as follows:

a. Director, Human Services.

b. Emergency Management Plan Coordinator.

c. Involuntary Commitment Services Supervisor.

d. Aging Case Management and RN supervisors.

Any of the chain of command, when acting as the lead for the Director of Human Services, has the authority of the Director in matters of operations and department policy.

On a day to day basis, the Emergency Management Plan Coordinator for the Department of Human Services is the primary point of contact to the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (DEM).

3. Each cooperating religious body is requested to appoint a qualified person as its Response Coordinator.

4. The AM Response Coordinator will maintain contact with the EOC on progress, needs and assistance in the event of an emergency or disaster. The AM will make the initial contact with the DEM.

B. Shelter

1. The ARC-TPC Chapter, in cooperation with the Salvation Army and other volunteer groups, manages the emergency shelter program in Pierce County. This includes identification and inventory of shelters, opening and closing shelters, registration of persons coming to the shelters, medical care, feeding and the accountability of personnel occupying shelters.

2. Pierce County Department of Human Services coordinates long term shelter needs, in cooperation with the ARC-TPC Chapter and other human service agencies, as necessary.

3. It is the national policy of the ARC that animals and pets are not allowed in shelters, other than animals used to assist the physically impaired. The Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society may assist evacuees with the care of pets.

4. Temporary shelter for persons may be in buses, which can provide short term heated spaces until more suitable shelter can be arranged.

V. RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Joint Primary Agencies-Pierce County Departments

1. Emergency Management

a. coordinate with the ARC-TPC Chapter and other county departments which provide basic human needs.

b. identify appropriate sites for Disaster Application Centers, subject to FEMA approval.

c. support shelter operations upon request.

d. support and coordinate with the AM.

2. Community and Human Services

a. responsible for the care and housing of their assigned clients.

b. coordinate with the DEM and provider agencies for mass care needs and problems not addressed by the ARC-TPC Chapter or other human service agencies.

c. provide for the identification and preservation of essential records.

d. coordinate with contractors providing crisis intervention services.

e. lead department in the assessment of human needs after a disaster.

f. act as the lead agency for the coordination of long term shelter needs.

B. Support Agencies

1. Pierce County Departments

a. Facilities Management

assist with the identification and acquiring of long term shelter space.

b. Parks and Recreation

provide county park facilities, equipment and manpower to support shelter operations.

c. Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

establish and monitor emergency environmental health standards for public shelters and/or congregate care facilities.

d. Sheriff's Chaplaincy

1. provide chaplaincy services in accordance with established protocol among other religious bodies throughout Pierce County.

2. provide critical incident stress defusing and debriefing capability.

3. provide personnel to the EOC, when requested.

2. Pierce Transit

Provide expedient shelter (buses).

3. School Districts

By agreement with the ARC, provide school facilities for shelter and feeding.

4. Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society

Provide limited emergency care and shelter for pets whose owner(s) is housed in a public shelters.

5. Volunteer Organizations

a. American Red Cross

1. primary provider and coordinator of emergency service function of feeding, sheltering, distribution of bulk supplies, disaster welfare inquiry, and emergency assistance to families.

2. provide mobile canteen service to both victims and emergency services workers.

3. provide personnel to EOC when requested.

b. Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County

1. provide a forum to assist individuals with special disaster needs.

2. provide assistance for the dissemination of emergency public information.

3. provide personnel to the EOC, when requested.

VI. REFERENCES

None

VII. DEFINITIONS AND TERMS

None

VIII. TABS

None