how you can help if disaster strikes weston

What If…?

How You Can Help

if Disaster Strikes Weston

Presented by the Weston Emergency Reserve Corps, Weston Board of Health,

and Preparedness Specialty Services

WERCWeston Emergency Reserve Corps

• The Region 4A Medical Reserve Corps - Weston Branch was created by the Weston Board of Health in 2006, its development guided by Wendy Diotalevi and Liisa Jackson.

• In 2007, the branch adopted the working title Weston Emergency Reserve Corps (WERC) to reflect the breadth of its mission: to strengthen the town’s public health infrastructure and improve emergency preparedness. It does this by arranging for the coordination, training, and mobilization of medical and non-medical volunteers to be able to support disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery, emergency medical assistance, and public health outreach.

WERC Executive Committee

WERC’s Greatest Hits• Area Deployments, incl. 2008 Ice Storm• Flu Clinic Facilitation• MYCHIP Child ID Program with Masons• Family Emergency Prep Kit Father’s Day Sale• Local Sheltering Assistance during Storms & Other

Power Outages• Town-wide Emergency Planning Support• Neighbor Brigade Collaboration• Training & Drill Participation (e.g., Natick Labs)

What can happen in Weston?

Possible Disasters

• Ice Storms• Snow Storm• Hurricane• Floods• Tornados• Water supply

contaminated

• Tanker truck turnover• Terrorist event• Infectious disease

outbreak• Bio-terrorism• People fleeing from

Boston to Weston

MRC 101

Liisa Jackson President of Preparedness Specialty

Services

MRC 101- Basics

What is the MRC?NEIGHBOR HELPING NEIGHBOR

Who should join?ANYONE and EVERYONE

What are MRC Volunteer requirements?INTEREST AND DESIRE TO HELP

What is the Role of the MRC?SUPPLEMENT FIRST RESPONDERS

MRC 101- STRUCTURE

State Citizen Corps CouncilsState Citizen Corps Councils

Tribal / Local Citizen CorpsTribal / Local Citizen Corps CouncilsCouncils

American Public

DHS / EPR / FEMA

Promoting a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility

National Citizen Corps CouncilNational Citizen Corps Council Corporate SupportCorporate Support

Charter Federal PartnersCharter Federal Partners

AffiliatePrograms

DOJ / NSA DOJ / IACP DHS / State & Local DHHS / OSG

http://www.nationalservice.org/

MRC 101- Liability

• Federal Volunteer Protection Act (42U.S.C.§14501 et seq)

– immunity from liability for negligence for people who volunteer for a government entity or a non-profit organization

• Good Samaritan Laws (state laws)

– protect health care workers from liability when they render emergency care or treatment. Coverage depends on there being an emergency

• Massachusetts Tort Claims Act (M.G.L. c. 258) – Public employees are protected from liability for negligent acts

or omissions if they acted within the scope of their employment

MRC 101- Liability

• State Emergency Declarations: During a large scale emergency, there will most likely be special legislation or Executive Orders to help assure volunteers that they will have liability protection, but not likely Workman’s Compensation Insurance

• There is NO Workers’ Compensation protection in most situations for MRC volunteers.

IMPORTANT to REMEMBER

MRC 101- Core Competencies

1. Personal Protection Protocols (PPP)

2. Personal/Family Protection Plan

3. Chain of Command

4. Role of MRC in emergencies

5. MRC Communication protocols

6. Mental/Behavioral Health

7. Volunteer Activation and De-Activation

8. Personal Limitation Awareness

MRC 101- Core Competency 1

Personal Protection Protocols (PPP)Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

Take care of yourself first

Ask for appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) training

Know the proper way to put on and take off masks, gloves and goggles. (Generally masks go on first and

come off last.)


Personal / Family Protection Planning

What to have in your:

HEAD

HANDS

HOME



Prepare yourself first!

Family Emergency Plans

Child Care Plans

Caring Networks of friends and family

Be a good neighbor

Learn about local emergency plans

Volunteer to help



“Go Kit” that includes family health and financial information, emergency radio, flashlight, snacks, space blankets, supplies and funds to provide basic support for you and your family (including pets) for several days if you must leave home



Emergency Supplies to last 3 to 12 weeks

Weekly – add canned/paper goods to pantry/under bed

be sure to address specific family needs /pets

Rotate your supplies as needed


Chain of Command

Governor

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

City or Town Chief Elected Official (CEO)

City or Town Emergency Management Director (EMD)

Incident Commander or Unified Command


Chain of Command - Incident Command System

IncidentCommander

Public InformationOfficer

SafetyOfficer

FinanceAdministration

LogisticsPlanningOperations

LiaisonOfficer


Chain of Command – ICS Staff

•Incident CommanderUnified Command

•Public Information Officerprovides communications/ public information

services•Safety Officer

responsible for Responder safety only•Liaison Officer

coordinates with other Responder Agencies•Intelligence Officer

responsible for coordinating sensitive information


Chain of Command – ICS Staff

•Operations Section Chief

in charge of the actual response•Planning Section Chief

in charge of planning for the next operational

periods•Logistics Section Chief

in charge of obtaining needed men and supplies

•Finance/Administrative Section Chief

in charge of expenses and keeping records


Chain of Command - ICS

Unity of Command – one leader Modular – expands and contracts as neededLife Safety Code: 1st- responders must protect themselves/other responders

Then protect lives of victimsThen control the IncidentFinally, protect property and the environment

Span of Control – each person is in charge of no more than 5 to 7

people and reports to only 1 person.Use of Common Terminology – for positions, procedures and equipment


Chain of Command – ICS Management Operating Procedure

Establish Command

Ensure Responder Safety

Assess Incident Priorities

Determine Operational Objectives

Develop and Implement an Incident Action Plan (IAP)


MRC Role in Emergencies

Provide support and assistance to Incident Commander

Volunteers will be assigned duties and task as the IC or Section Chiefs decide

CBRNE Emergencies [All hazards approach]possible evacuation and surge support for

Chemical - Biological – Radiological – Nuclear – Explosive - Natural Disasters

MRC 101- Core Competency

MRC Role in Emergencies- Stages

1. Planning/Preparation

• Update the strategic and operational plans

• MRC units should be advocates and partners in the planning for All Hazards



2. Response• Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

• Control the Incident – MRC Roles• Provide a community reservoir of trained,

credentialed volunteers

• Staff Emergency Dispensing Sites (EDS)

• Staff Influenza Specialty Care Units (ISCU)

• Support Local Board of Health (LBOH)

• Support Sheltering Efforts



3. Recovery• Bring things back to normal

MRC may have a role in this phase

4. Mitigation• Reduce the effects of an emergency by reducing the

number of people and places that will be affected.

MRC Units and members should be community advocates for mitigation work.


MRC Communication Protocols

Never talk to the media while deployed unless authorized by the Incident Commander.

When authorized to speak to anyone:“Be right Be first Be credible”

Never say “NO COMMENT.” DO Say, “How can I get back to you with that information?”



Know the communication protocols at the scene and follow them exactly

Learn radio and other communication protocols

before using communication equipment

Take time to communicate calmly, clearly and completely

with everyone, especially your team members If uncertain, ask for clarification



Accurate, timely and complete communications are the most difficult part

of an emergency response

Remember:


Mental Behavioral Health

Critical Incident Stress Happens to responders as well as victims

Stress is normalStress is a normal person’s normal reaction to an

abnormal situation Exercise

•Take care of yourself, take breaks, eat right, •Stress can often lead to substance abuse (food, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, etc.). Don’t use “a little something to take the edge off”


Mental Behavioral Health - Behavioral Health First Aid

Take additional trainings

Be calm, considerate and compassionateGiving someone a drink of water can be important and

just what they need

Never tell a victim that you know just how they feelAcknowledge their problems and when possible, give them something constructive to do

Be aware that in a serious crisis, all affected people take in, process, and act on information differently. It is normal to see behavioral extremes and have difficulty communicating


MRC Volunteer Activation/De-Activation Procedures

Activation procedures – Volunteers requested by State, Board of

Health, Emergency Management Director, or Hospitals

– Volunteers contacted by phone, email, text or through MA Responds

Keep your contact info up-to-date

To learn more about preparedness go to: www.ready.gov

http://www.ready.gov/



Report when and where instructed NEVER self deploy

Ask about getting through security and parking

Carry proper photo I.D., including a current MRC Badge if available

Bring along some basic supplies clothing, food and water - in case supplies are

limited



ALWAYS sign-in with the Volunteer Coordinator at the Command Post or Staging Areasafety, available resources, record-keeping

Know who you report to and follow instructionsyou could be assigned any jobno matter what it is, it is important and needs doing

Always sign-out with the Volunteer Coordinator

before you leave or go off duty safety, record keeping and resource management


Personal Limitation Awareness

Know your physical and emotional limits– don’t become part of the problem

Know your training limits – stay within scope of training/skills – just-in-time training provided – for critical tasks – necessary to protect yourself and others

If you are unsure, ask

Remember, you are responsible for protecting yourself first and then others

Breaking newsThis Super Storm of 2014 has brought widespread

devastation to all of New England during the last 24 hours. The freezing rain has coated trees, power lines and roads

with ice causing wide spread power outages, downed trees and dangerous driving conditions.

http://www2.mp3raid.com/search/download-mp3/6577041/news_report_sound_effects.html

MRC Sheltering Scenarios

Get to know everyone in your group

Read your scenario

Discuss how you would handle this situation [5 minutes]

Choose a spokesperson

There is no “right” or “wrong” answer

How would we help?

• Provide sheltering

• Provide basic medical care

• Provide warming and charging stations

• Provide food and water

• Provide accurate information

• Provide resources to recovery

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

Possible Disasters

• Ice Storms• Snow Storm• Hurricane• Floods• Tornados• Water supply

contaminated

• Tanker truck turnover• Terrorist event• Bio-terrorism• Infectious disease

outbreak• People fleeing from

Boston to Weston

MRC 101

Thank you very much for your time!Liisa Jackson

President of Preparedness Specialty Serviceshttp://preparednessspecialtyservices.org/

[email protected]# 774-278-0059

http://preparednessspecialtyservices.org/

mailto:[email protected]

how you can help if disaster strikes weston

Health & Medicine