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Mass Casualty and Emergency Response: Do you know the Code?
Melissa Roberson, DCJS Critical Incident Response Coordinator
Mary Vail Ware, MSW
Director, CICF
Context
Since 2001, Virginia has been challenged with the Pentagon Attack, Appalachian School of Law Shooting, Sniper Attacks, Anthrax Attacks, Virginia Tech shootings, etc.
Nationally, there have been 179 school shooting incidents in the 13 years between Columbine (4/99) and Sandy Hook (12/2012).
The Code….
The plan shall include a provision that the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund shall be contacted immediately to deploy assistance in the event of an emergency as defined in the emergency response plan when there are victims as defined in § 19.2-11.01. The Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund shall be the lead coordinating agencies for those individuals determined to be victims, and the plan shall also contain current contact
information for both agencies.
Why plan for a Family Assistance Center (FAC)?
Family members of individuals at the event location will begin to flock to the scene
Well meaning (and not so well meaning) individuals will go to scene
Convergence of people can impact investigation, perhaps endanger others
Need a place to verify who belongs, and to provide services and information
Manage interaction between victims, responders, and press
When might you want to have an FAC?
Small incidents or large—make it scalable Whenever more than one family group is
impacted by an incident When press may be involved When those impacted might need additional
services from multiple providers-create “one stop” assistance
Establishing a Family Assistance Center
Location Press Security Check-In process Staff credentials
http://www.vaemergency.gov/em/plans
EOC Spontaneous
volunteers and donations
Agencies Involved
Agencies Involved at Virginia Tech FAC
Virginia Department of Social Services (ESF 6)
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Virginia CICF American Red Cross Mental Health Agencies Chaplains/Ministers
Rep from Funeral Director’s Association
Rep from Medical Examiner’s Office
Massage Therapists Therapy Dogs University Staff Law Enforcement Victim/Witness Staff Medical/Rescue Squad
What does family assistance provide?
For Families Information Consistency Way to manage expectations Place/people to get answers Safety (from public and
media) Move through grief process Reduces stress/anxiety
For Industry/Government “The right thing to do” Humanitarian/ethical Provide consistent message Manage expectations for
public Public image
– Source NTSB
What doesn’t family assistanceprovide?
“Closure”– Step in the grief/recovery process– “Resiliency”
All the answers– Factual information when available/allowable– Information on process when no factual information available
Support for all needs Elimination of legal actions
– Source NTSB
Family AssistanceFamily Member Concerns
Short Term Where is my loved one? Where are their belongings? Who is in charge? Where will I get information? Can I visit the accident site? How did this happen? Provision of services – Where do I get…?
Long term How/where will I get information? What happens next? How can I prevent this from happening again? Memorial and anniversaries Provision of services – Where do I get…?
– Source NTSB
Best Practices
Pre-designate team and required training for members
Ensure that all on site are “credentialed” in some way, assign someone to this task
Immediate response defines the event for victims & public
Prepare for press—shield families Rely on experts in the field-victims taking care of
victims is not a good model, crime or no Ensure that assistance efforts have clear
leadership with decision making authority Plan consistent communication opportunities
Best Practices
Avoid the term “reunification” Hold daily meetings of responders to debrief
and find solutions Policy around social media communication Immediately prepare for influx and money and
donations—prepare a donation message Do not resist the urge to do what’s “right” If you don’t know something or have
something—ask! VOAD is a great resource.
Best Practices
If crime victims do not have their needs met in the immediate aftermath of the event, they will seek to have them met in other ways
Individuals who are not experienced with victims of crime should not provide direct service
Families should have a safe place to gather to receive services and information
If possible, victims should be paired with a trained and experienced advocate in order to meet requirements of Virginia Code §19.2-11.01
Responses can be scalable, think of resources in the community that might help with a FAC, or just a gathering room.
Care for the Caregivers
Plan and exercise aftermath of worst case scenario First responders cannot provide ongoing service
without relief Working in teams is critical Debriefing and support services are not a luxury,
they are a necessity “Taking care of our own” is never a good plan,
wounded serving wounded is not constructive for either party
Take it easy on yourself and colleagues
Fund Facts
Created by 1977 Virginia General Assembly Housed in the Virginia Workers
Compensation Commission Pays out-of-pocket expenses for innocent
victims of violent crimes Allowable expenses include: funeral costs,
out of pocket medical bills, transportation, lost wages, moving expenses, etc.
Funded by court fees, restitution, and VOCA
CICF Role in Mass Casualty Crime Incidents
Respond to Family Assistance Center Provide financial assistance to victims and families
for medical bills, funeral expenses, etc. Coordinate with other funding agencies to ensure
resources are maximized Utilize local victim witness assistance programs to
work with families Provide technical assistance and support to
institutional victim
DCJS – Victims Services
Provides funding to support 114 victim/witness programs throughout Virginia
Coordinates and deploys Virginia’s Victim Assistance Team, consisting of 165 individuals that have received basic training of which 23 have also received advanced training from NOVA, to assist localities after mass casualty criminal incidents training,
Conducts crisis response team training and maintains database of credentialed responders
Report a Campus or Local Emergency (per Code Sections 23-9.2:9 and 44-146.18) Call 804-840-4276 or www.dcjs.virginia.gov ; 804-367-1018 or [email protected]
DCJS Role in Mass Casualty Incidents
Coordinate victim advocate response Respond to Family Assistance Center (ESF6) Ensure victims and family members are
aware of the FAC and services available to them
Assign victim advocates to assist victims/family members
Local Victim/Witness Programs
What are they?
Where are they located?
Routine services provided by programs
Routine Services Provided by Local Victim/Witness Programs
Case Status Restitution Protection Dispositions Compensation Assistance Emergency Assistance Victim Impact Statements
Crisis Intervention Intercession CJS Explanation Short Term Counseling Courtroom Tours Accompaniment to CJ
Meetings and Court Hearings
Victim Advocates Role in a Mass Tragedy
Types of services provided Local advocates and statewide support Comp Staff and Victim Advocates working
together “Companioning” What worked well in past events
Local Victim Advocates
Can quickly access community resources Interface with local agencies Cut through “red tape” Expedite delivery of services to victims Medical Care and HIPPA
Incorporating Victim Advocates in Crisis Plans
Establish relationships Understand each others roles Training and Exercises Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency
Operations Plan – Family Assistance Center Policy
Final Thoughts
Identify your non-traditional resources (victim advocates, child day care centers, restaurants)
Think about possible gathering places Plan ahead, make a scalable FAC part of your response to any
disaster Include the creation of an FAC in your exercises Determine how you might plan to offer continuing support to
both the community and responders after the advent of a “worst-case-scenario”
Contact Information
Mary Vail WareDirectorCriminal Injuries Compensation FundP. O. Box 26927, Richmond, VA 23261804-367-1018 or [email protected]
Melissa RobersonCritical Incident Response CoordinatorVirginia Department of Criminal Justice Services1100 Bank Street, Richmond, VA 23219804-225-3456 or [email protected]
