Federal, State, and Local Overview: The Process When Disaster Strikes

Presentation to:

Basic Healthcare Emergency Management Course

Objectives

Upon lesson completion, you should be able to:

Discuss the process of disaster response at various levels

Understand for what the Stafford Act allows Understand the Disaster Declaration process Describe the National Response Framework Understand Emergency Support Functions

Local-Level Response

• All disasters are local; response begins locally

• Communication with coalition, regional and state partners should be early in response for: • situational awareness

• possible needed resources

• Multi-Agency Coordination through Georgia’s 14 Coalitions

• Coalitions assist local emergency management and ESF-8 with activities related to healthcare disaster operations

• Mutual aid agreements are invoked based on scope and need

Regional-Level Response

State-Level Response

Assists localities in response and

in communications with cross-border partners and with the federal government

Georgia Emergency Management Act of 1981

Subject to the direction and control of the Governor, the GEMA Director shall:

• be responsible for the program of emergency management and homeland security in the state

• coordinate emergency management activities of all agencies/organizations within the state, and

• serve as a liaison with other states and the federal government.

Federal-Level Response

The Governor is the only one who can request the President to declare

a locale a “disaster area,” freeing up money and resources

from the federal government.

Stafford Act

• Designed to bring a systematic method to provide federal assistance for state and local governments

• History: – 1988 U.S. federal law amending the

1974 Disaster Relief Act – Amended by the Disaster Mitigation

Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act in 2006

Stafford Act

• Allows a Presidential Disaster Declaration of an emergency, triggering financial and physical assistance through FEMA

• Most of the Stafford Act provisions are administered by the Department of Homeland Security (rather than the FEMA Director)

• FEMA is responsible for coordinating government-wide relief efforts – The National Response Framework

(NRF) includes the contributions of 28 federal agencies and non- governmental organizations, such as the American Red Cross

• Stafford Act assistance is provided through funds appropriated to the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF)

Stafford Act

Stafford Act Actions

Pre-Declaration Commitments: Defense emergency Fire suppression Pre-declaration activities

Declarations: Major disaster declaration Emergency declaration

Three types of commitments may be made under Stafford Act before a catastrophe occurs:

Defense emergency Fire suppression Pre-declaration activities

Commitments BEFORE a catastrophe

Commitments BEFORE a catastrophe

Defense Emergency At the Governor’s request, the President enacts the DoD to commit essential resources for emergency work vital to preserve life and property:

– in “the immediate aftermath of an incident” – that may result in the declaration of a major

disaster or emergency

The statute does not define the term “incident”

Fire Suppression • Requires a gubernatorial

request be submitted while an uncontrolled fire is burning

• Supplemental assistance in the form of:

– Grants – Equipment – Personnel – Supplies

Commitments BEFORE a catastrophe

Pre-declaration Activities When human health and safety is threatened,

the Secretary of DHS may pre-position employees and supplies

- Pre-positioning of supplies and resources has been inferred

Commitments BEFORE a catastrophe

Major Disaster Declaration

Major disaster is defined as: any natural catastrophe or

regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion in any part of the U.S. which

in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this Act to supplement the efforts and available resources

of states, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship,

or suffering caused thereby.

Declarations

Emergency Declaration

Emergency is defined as: Any occasion or instance for which,

in the determination of the President, federal assistance is needed to supplement

state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and

safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the U.S.

Declarations

State Requirements for Requesting Presidential Declaration

State Governor can request presidential declaration after: Local Emergency Declaration – made by local elected official State of Emergency Declaration – made by Governor

• Request MUST include: Certification of implementation of the State Emergency Operation Plan Description of how the disaster caused needs beyond capabilities A description of State/local resources already committed Preliminary estimates Federal assistance needed Certification of compliance with cost-sharing requirements

Federal aid supplements, and does NOT replace, state and local resources

FEMA-Declared Disasters in Georgia

National Response Framework (NRF): An Overview

The Framework:

• presents guiding principles to help ALL partners prepare for and provide a unified national response

• builds upon the National Incident Management System (NIMS)

• fosters partnerships at all levels of government and with nongovernmental organizations and the private sector

National Response Framework: Five Key Principles

• Engaged partnership

• Tiered response

• Scalable, flexible and adaptable operational capabilities

• Unity of effort through unified command

• Readiness to act

National Response Framework

• Integrates under a larger National Strategy for Homeland Security

• Goals of National Strategy - Prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks - Respond to and recover from incidents

which occur - Strengthen foundation to ensure long-term

success

National Response Framework

Consists of: • 15 Emergency Support

Functions (ESFs) • Incident and

Support Annexes • Partner Guides

Emergency Support Functions (ESF)

An ESF is a mechanism that consolidates multiple agencies that perform similar or like functions into a single, cohesive unit to allow for the better management of emergency response functions

ESFs EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

1-Transportation — DOT, DPS 9-Search and Rescue — GEMA

2-Communications — GEMA 10-Oil and Hazardous Materials Response — DNR,GEMA

3-Public Works and Engineering — DNR, DOT

11-Agriculture and Natural Resources — GDA, DNR

4-Firefighting — GFC 12-Energy — GDA, PSC

5-Emergency Management — GEMA 13-Public Safety and Security — DPS, GBI, OCA

6-Mass Care, Housing and Human Services — DHS, ARC (DPH has support role)

14-Long Term Community Recovery — GEMA

7-Logistics Management and Resource Support — DOAS

15-External Affairs — GEMA, office of the Governor

8-Public Health and Medical Services — DPH

ESF-6: Mass Care, Housing and Human Services

The scope of the Mass Care ESF is to provide a coordinated approach

for collection, analysis and dissemination of information in order to facilitate the overall provision of services and resources during

an emergency or disaster

ESF 6: Mass Care, Housing and Human Services

ESF-6: Mass Care, Housing and Human Services ESF 6: Lead Agencies

• Department of Human Services • American Red Cross

(primary volunteer organization responsibility)

• Department of Public Health (has support role)

ESF 6 has four primary functions: 1. Mass Care 2. Emergency Assistance 3. Housing 4. Human Services

ESF 6: Mass Care, Housing and Human Services

ESF 6: Mass Care, Housing and Human Services

Includes: • Sheltering • Feeding • Providing first aid at

designated sites • Emergency Food Stamps

and Disaster Welfare Inquiry (DWI) • Reuniting families and informing family members

outside the disaster area

The purpose of the ESF-8 is to: • coordinate and/or deliver medical,

environmental health, rehabilitation and mental health services

• facilitate and/or seek private resources

• supplement disrupted or overburdened service delivery personnel and resources to relieve suffering and/or trauma of victims

ESF-8: Public Health and Medical Services

ESF-6: Mass Care, Housing and Human Services ESF 8: Lead Agency

Department of Public Health

ESF-8: Public Health and Medical Services

• The function of medical care does not correspond to any unique ESF, however, it is addressed within ESF-8

• This function includes: - Emergency Medical Services (EMS) - Specialized medical care - Doctors, nurses, supplies, hospitals, clinics,

facilities, etc.

• The function of monitoring environmental health does not correspond to any unique ESF, however, it is also addressed within ESF-8

• This function includes: – staffing, supplies and equipment essential to: prevent communicable diseases and

contamination of food and water, and develop and monitor health information

ESF-8: Public Health and Medical Services

The functions of Crisis Counseling, Grief Assistance and Rehabilitation Services do not correspond to any unique ESF; however, they are also addressed

within ESF-8, Health and Medical Services

ESF-8: Public Health and Medical Services

Summary Review Levels of Disaster Response

• Local Regional State Federal

Stafford Act • Authorizes the president to direct ANY federal resource for assistance

Disaster Declaration Process • Local and state requirements

National Response Framework (NRF) • Provides for coordination and lead roles among federal agencies • Outlines plans, scenarios, and tools

Emergency Support Functions • Single cohesive unit for better management of emergency response

functions • Groups ESF-6 and ESF-8

Conclusion: Putting it All Together • Disaster happens…response begins locally

– When overwhelmed, the state is contacted

• When the Governor realizes that the state needs more help and can certify it has met all criteria, Presidential assistance can be requested

LOCAL REGIONAL STATE FEDERAL

Basic Healthcare Emergency Management Course

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