Assisting Public Personnel In the Disaster Environment Helene Wetherington, CEM, AICP Assistant Director Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management
Policy Options Employee Assistance Programs Supporting Physical Needs Shelter and Care of Dependents Psychological Counseling Programs Financial Assistance Staff Augmentations Training
What is a Disaster An event beyond local response capability Types: Natural: Hurricane, Flood, Drought, Tornado Manmade/Technological: hazardous materials, Radiological, Weapons of Mass Destruction Magnitude & Severity
Who Responds to Disasters? Fire Rescue Law Enforcement Public Work Personnel Transportation Communication Mass Care Resources Support / Finance Health and Medical Food / Water Energy Public Information Volunteer and Donations Animal Care and Control
Local Government Emergency Management Organization Executive Policy Group Infrastructure Services County Engineer Human Services Director Community Svc Emergency Services Fire Chief Recovery Director PBZ ESF 1,2,3,7,12 ESF 6,8,11,15,17 ESF 4,9,10,16 Recovery Functions
Why Assist Employees Employees are Victims with Short-term and Longterm impacts: Homeless Substance Abuse Home Violence Divorce Rates Suicide Continuity of Government Community Recovery
Employee Family Disaster Plans Prepare Personal Plan Evacuation Home Preparation (timing) Children / Elder Dependents Pets Medical Needs (medications, doctors) Insurance Documents / Others Family Contact Point Disaster Response Supplies (personal, transport, communication)
Vulnerable Employee Subgroups Victims of Multiple Disasters Pregnant Women Mental Health Patients Level of Visual / Emotional Exposure: Grotesque Scene Dead Bodies
Organizational Planning Assigned Roles and Responsibilities Daily / Emergency Job Descriptions Working Hours, Shifts Financial compensation / Compensation Training Program Employee Survey: Children, Marital Status, physical condition, home type and location Legal implications (sunshine laws, third party, privacy coding)
Meeting Physical Needs of Impacted Employees Employees and Family Members Food Shelter / Long-term Housing Coral Gables leased hotel Medical Assistance Day Care / Elder Care Additional Leave Public Clean up Crews Equity to the Community Issues
Psychological, Emotional, Physical Impacts Physical Injury / Contamination Stress: fatigue,headache, Psychological / Impacts: Depression Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Substance Abuse Violence Emotional Impacts: Denial, fear, anger, hostility, guilt, shame, fear, aloneness, panic.
Psychological Counseling Programs for Employees Short-term vs. Long-term counseling Validate emotions, Recognize signs and symptoms Voluntary vs. Compulsory Assistance Target subgroups Multiple disaster victims Grotesque Environment / Dead Bodies Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Resources American Red Cross Crises Counseling
Financial Assistance Programs Financial Assistance: FEMA Assistance Retrofit Grants for safer homes Assistance Filing Insurance Claims Assist with contractor fraud claims
Augmenting Staff Resources Position Depth (3 layers) / Trained Pre-identify key positions Document duties Mutual Aid Agreements Local / state / Neighbor Counties Reservist Pools Contractors FEMA Reimbursement Temporary Employees Emergency hiring policies
Prepare for Change / Flexibility: Mission Organization Roles (Non essential staff) Collective Behavior, Stress in the community Recognizing personal stress Coping Skills Training
Bibliographical References Baker, E. J. Baker, Michelle Bardo J. Baum, Gatchel & Schaeffer Baum, Fleming, Israel & O keeffee Bolin, R. Brown,D. Carr, L Dougal, Hyman, Hayward, McFeeley, & Baum Drabek & Stephenson Dynes Elliot, V. Formichelli Gwyndaff & Batho Haskins& Kleiner Havenaar & Brink Heitkamp Kreps, G. Lingner & Nalbandian mclaughlin Mushkatel & Weschler North & Weaver Saleh, M Sanchex, J. Shalev, A. Shelby & Tredinnick Skotnick, A. Siegel, G. Williams, Batho & Russell
Existing Research Existing Research: Mental Health / Psychological Impacts Emergency Management Organizations Future Research Efforts: Long-term Effects Benefits of Assistance Efforts Variable Impacts from Different Disasters