Utilizing Volunteers In Pandemic Exercise

HOW LOCAL VOLUNTEER CENTERS SUPPORT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,

RESPONSE & RECOVERY

EXERCISE SUPPORT REGIONAL DISASTER PLANNING

TRAINING

Volunteer & Donations Management

MARYLAND EMERGENCY

OPERATIONS PLAN

Maryland ESF 15, NCR RESF 16, Annex of Emergency Response Framework

UASI MEMBER(NCR, Baltimore Area)

Support Citizen Corps Programs, VOAD & Local Organizations

Pre-Affiliate Volunteers

Recruit Volunteers for Exercises, Drills and Trainings

Communication with local residents

Included in Local Plan

Operation of VolunteerMobilization center/Volunteer Reception Center, if requested by Emergency Manager

Provide training for Managers of Volunteers

Resource Available to the Local Emergency manager

CITY of LAUREL, MD

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS

GOALS and OBJECTIVES

To Familiarize Volunteers and Staff with the various stages of a pandemic and how to assess and mitigate the effects of a pandemic in the City.

To test the City’s response plan for Pandemics.

To educate staff and volunteers in what a pandemic is and what agencies become involved in the assessment, response and mitigation phases of a pandemic.

To familiarize staff with Points of Distribution (POD’s) and how they are delivered and how a POD center operates.

To educate the public in pandemics and what measures the City will take to assist in response and mitigation efforts.

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS

CITY of LAUREL, MD

CITY of LAUREL, MD

June 17th – 08:00 hrs. (real time) WHO Stage 6, US Stage 5 Level III opening of the City’s EOC communicate with Prince George’s County Health Department to establish coordination for mitigation efforts in the City.

June 18th – 14:00 hrs. (real time) Level IV opening of the City’s EOC to coordinate mitigation activities. As part of the exercise the City will exercise all means of communications available to the City i.e. conventional radio, interoperability systems, cellular and satellite phones and amateur radio systems. Coordination with Prince George’s County depends on our ability to communicate with their EOC.

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS

CITY of LAUREL, MD

June 18th – 16:00 hrs. (real time) full callout of City Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to conduct windshield assessment of communities in the City and to help prepare for distribution of antivirals. All CERT members will report to a staging area for “Just in time training”.

Windshield Survey Utilized pre-distributed window message placards placed by residents participating in the exercise.

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS

CITY of LAUREL, MD

Two CERT members and One Amateur Radio Operator rode with Police patrol cars equipped with wireless, Internet access, GIS enabled Hand Held PDA’s that were used to collect data that in turn was wirelessly transmitted to the CDC and the City EOC

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS

AREAS SURVEYED

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS

CITY of LAUREL, MD

The information collected at the City EOC was used to print out labels that were fixed to door hangers that were used to distribute anti-virals to the residents affected.

While the windshield survey was conducted additional CERT members staffed a POD site to label and bag the antivirals.

During the windshield survey portion of the exercise the POD CERT members received training on the use of personal protective equipment (demonstration only no PPE’s suits were actually be used in the exercise).

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS

CITY of LAUREL, MD

June 18th 16:30 hrs. CERT members left to conduct windshield survey.

June 18th – 18:00 hrs. CERT members assigned to distribute antivirals were dispatched via Public Works vehicles to distribute the meds based on information provided by survey participants.

June 18th – 19:30 hrs. All CERT members and staff met at City Hall to conduct debriefing.

June 18th – 20:00 hrs. Event was closed all participants are dismissed.

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS

CITY of LAUREL, MD

THANK YOU!QUESTIONS?

USING VOLUNTEERS IN PANDEMIC OPERATIONS