Attachment No. 1 To Report No. SS HALTON REGION FIRST RESPONSE PROTOCOL Halton Region Social & Community Services Department

Transcription

1 Attachment No. 1 To Report No. SS HALTON REGION FIRST RESPONSE PROTOCOL Halton Region Social & Community Services Department Completion Date: September 2006 Revision Date: October 2008

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 3 PART I: DISPLACEMENT OF HALTON RESIDENTS... 4 INTRODUCTION... 4 LEVEL 0 INCIDENT RESPONSE... 5 LEVEL 1 INCIDENT RESPONSE... 5 Emergency Lodging... 5 Emergency Feeding... 5 Emergency Clothing... 6 Family Reunification... 6 Personal Services... 6 LEVEL 2 INCIDENT RESPONSE... 6 Emergency Lodging... 7 Emergency Feeding... 7 Emergency Clothing... 7 Family Reunification... 8 Personal Services... 8 Establishing a Reception Centre... 8 LEVEL 3 INCIDENT RESPONSE... 8 PART II NON HALTON RESIDENTS REQUIRING ASSISTANCE... 9 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PETS REQUESTS FOR RED CROSS ASSISTANCE... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. FUND RAISING REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES MEDIA... 10

3 EMERGENCY SOCIAL SERVICES FIRST RESPONSE PROTOCOL FOR HALTON REGION Executive Summary The purpose of this protocol is to set out the means by which short term, temporary assistance is provided to a small number of individuals in Halton Region who are forced to leave, or denied access to, their homes because of an emergency. This assistance, hereafter referred to as Emergency Social Services, means the following: 1. Emergency Lodging arranging for safe, temporary lodging for homeless or evacuated people 2. Emergency Feeding providing food or meals to those persons without food or food preparation facilities 3. Emergency Clothing supplying clothing or emergency covering until regular sources of supply are available 4. Family Reunification (Registration and Inquiry) assisting in the reunification of families, collecting information, and answering inquiries regarding the condition and whereabouts of missing individuals 5. Personal Services providing the initial reception of disaster survivors or evacuees arriving at Reception Centres, informing them of immediate emergency help available, offering temporary care for unattended children and dependant elderly, assisting with the temporary care of residents from special care facilities, providing or arranging for the provision of financial and or material assistance, and offering immediate and long-term emotional support to individuals with personal problems and needs created or aggravated by a disaster Part I of this protocol addresses the provision of Emergency Social Services to Halton Region residents who are displaced from their homes because of a small scale, localized event that has impacted a small number of people (i.e. natural hazard, flood, fire, gas leak, police evacuation, explosion, unplanned utility disruption or public health concern). Part II of this protocol addresses the provision of Emergency Social Services to individuals from other regions, municipalities outside of Halton, provinces or countries seeking temporary or permanent residence within Halton Region as a result of a natural or human caused disaster, severe societal disruption or insurgency in their region, province or country of origin. This protocol supplements the Halton Region Evacuation Centre Plan in order to address the coordinated provision of emergency social services to smaller numbers of people.

4 PART I: DISPLACEMENT OF HALTON RESIDENTS Introduction Upon determination that a situation exists that will result in a protracted displacement of one or more Halton residents from their home(s), the On-Scene Commander from the Halton Regional Police Service, Halton Emergency Medical Services or Local Municipal Fire Service (On-Scene Commander) will request that a bus (or buses) from the appropriate Local Municipal transit service or transit company be made available in order to provide short term shelter, if required. If people are displaced from their homes for any period of time, the On-Scene Commander will ensure immediate notification of the Halton Region Social & Community Services Department by contacting Access Halton (24 hours/day, seven days/week). Access Halton will be provided with the following information: 1. On-Scene Commander name and contact information 2. Location of the situation 3. Cause of the situation (flood, fire, gas leak, police evacuation) 4. Approximate number of individuals impacted and scope of the incident 5. Anticipated duration of the situation Access Halton will provide immediate notification to the Social & Community Services Department as follows: Monday Friday 0830hrs to 1630hrs: ext (press 0 for immediate assistance is phone is not answered) Weekends, statutory holidays, Monday Fridays 1630hrs to 0830hrs: contact the Oncall Supervisor/Manger for Social & Community Services as set out in the after hours notification protocol for Access Halton. The Social & Community Services personnel who receives notification of any incident involving the displacement of individuals from their homes will immediately notify the Halton Branches of the Canadian Red Cross by contacting (24 hours/day, seven days/week). Social & Community Services will coordinate the provision of Emergency Social Services with the Red Cross. The Social & Community Services personnel who receives notification of any incident pursuant to this protocol will also contact the Director of Housing to determine if the affected property is part of the Halton Community Housing Corporation or if it falls under the jurisdiction of another housing provider in Halton Region. For the purposes of this protocol, incidents are categorized as follows: Level 0 Incident Displaced individuals or families will be able to return to their residences within two hours and/or displaced individuals or families have adequate resources and options for lodging, food, and clothing. Emergency Social Services are not required.

5 Level 1 Incident An individual(s) or family(ies) is(are) displaced because of an incident impacting one or more single dwelling residences. Emergency Social Services are required. Level 2 Incident - Several individuals or families are displaced because of an incident impacting a multiple dwelling residence. Emergency Social Services are required. Level 3 Incident - Several individuals or families are displaced because of a community wide evacuation requiring activation of the Halton Region Evacuation Plan. Level 0 Incident Response No immediate action required. Level 1 Incident Response The On-Scene Commander will obtain the names and contact information of the affected individuals. The Red Cross volunteers will attend the incident site and identify themselves to the On- Scene Commander and provide assistance as needed. The Red Cross volunteers will conduct an initial needs assessment for the impacted individuals. Red Cross volunteers, at all times, will be readily identifiable by wearing Red Cross vests and displaying Red Cross photo identification. Emergency Lodging The Red Cross will secure the most appropriate emergency accommodations (i.e. kitchenette facilities in the event of a protracted displacement). Halton Region will assume all costs associated with this lodging. The Red Cross volunteers will facilitate transportation, via taxi services, or other available means, to the temporary lodging facility if required. Halton Region will assume all costs associated with this transportation. Red Cross volunteers will not transport any individuals impacted by the emergency in personal or Red Cross vehicles. Emergency Feeding The Red Cross may provide restaurant or grocery vouchers once a needs assessment has been completed to determine the extent of assistance required. Red Cross will provide and pay for this assistance for a maximum period of 72 hours or until the next business day. Halton Region will reimburse the Red Cross for these expenses. After the initial 72 hours of the displacement, or on the next business day, Halton Region will assume responsibility for the provision of Emergency Feeding. The Social & Community Services Department will issue food vouchers until eligibility for social/financial assistance has been assessed and issued. Where displaced individuals will access hotel/motel restaurants, the Region will provide a daily per person meal allowance of $25. Should this not be adequate, the Social & Community Services Department will negotiate the difference with the hotel/motel involved.

6 Emergency Clothing During the initial 72 hours of the displacement, or until the next business day, the Red Cross may provide clothing and/or laundry vouchers once a needs assessment has been completed to determine the extent of assistance required. The Red Cross may also provide male/female or child/infant comfort kits that include basic necessities such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, diapers, wet naps, etc., for all displaced individuals if required. Halton Region will reimburse the Red Cross for these expenses. After the initial 72 hours of the displacement, or on the next business day, the Social & Community Services Department will assume responsibility for the provision of emergency clothing or laundering assistance. The Social & Community Services Department will use existing community resources for clothing and laundering until eligibility for social/financial assistance has been assessed and issued. Family Reunification The Red Cross will attend the selected hotel/motel(s) and provide Family Reunification (Registration and Inquiry) Services as required. Personal Services and Medication The Social & Community Services Department will coordinate the support and placement of any person(s) with special care needs with the On-Call Client Services Manager for the appropriate Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) as follows: Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills: Mississauga-Halton CCAC In-take Case Manager (Monday to Friday hrs)* *On-call service is available to address urgent client needs. Burlington: Hamilton-Niagara-Haldimand-Brant CCAC In-take Case Manager (Monday to Friday hrs) The Red Cross will provide vouchers for medications as required by displaced individuals and will facilitate the acquisition of said medications. Halton Region will reimburse the Red Cross for these expenses. Alternatively, the Social & Community Services Department will utilize other S&CS resources (i.e. drug cards) to facilitate the acquisition of required medications. Level 2 Incident Response The Social & Community Services personnel notified of a Level 2 incident will immediately notify the Social & Community Services Commissioner (Commissioner). The Commissioner will advise the Halton Region Chief Administrative Officer as soon as practicable. The Red Cross volunteers attending the incident scene will conduct an initial needs assessment for the impacted individuals at a location determined in coordination with the On-Scene Commander.

7 Red Cross volunteers, at all times, will be readily identifiable by wearing Red Cross vests and displaying Red Cross photo identification. Emergency Lodging The Red Cross will secure the most appropriate emergency accommodations (i.e. kitchenette facilities in the event of a protracted displacement). Priority will be given to securing hotel/motel accommodations for as many displaced individuals and families as possible. In the event that adequate hotel/motel facilities cannot be secured, the Commissioner will authorize the establishment of an emergency reception centre (reference below: Establishing an Emergency Reception Centre). The Red Cross will coordinate the provision of emergency lodging. Wherever feasible, hotel/motel accommodations will be used, even if this means finding accommodation outside of the Region of Halton (i.e. Hamilton or Region of Peel). Halton Region will assume all costs associated with this lodging. Emergency Feeding The Red Cross may provide food vouchers once a needs assessment has been completed to determine the extent of assistance required. Red Cross will provide this assistance for a maximum period of 72 hours, or until the next business day. Halton Region will reimburse the Red Cross for these expenses. After the initial 72 hours of the displacement, or on the next business day, Halton Region will assume responsibility for the provision of Emergency Feeding. The Social & Community Services Department will issue food vouchers until eligibility for social/financial assistance has been assessed and issued. Where displaced individuals will access hotel/motel restaurants, the Region will provide a daily per person meal allowance of $25. Should this not be adequate, the Social & Community Services Department will negotiate the difference with the hotel/motel involved. Emergency Clothing During the initial 72 hours of the displacement, or until the next business day, the Red Cross may provide clothing and/or laundry vouchers once a needs assessment has been completed to determine the extent of assistance required. The Red Cross may also provide male/female or child/infant comfort kits that include basic necessities such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, diapers, wet naps, etc., for all displaced individuals if required. Halton Region will reimburse the Red Cross for these expenses. After the initial 72 hours of the displacement, or on the next business day, the Social & Community Services Department will assume responsibility for the provision of emergency clothing or laundering assistance. The Social & Community Services Department will use existing community resources for clothing and laundering until eligibility for social/financial assistance has been assessed and issued.

8 Family Reunification The Red Cross will attend the selected hotel/motel(s) and provide Family Reunification (Registration and Inquiry) Services as per Red Cross standard operating procedures. Personal Services and Medications The Social & Community Services Department will coordinate the support and placement of any person(s) with special care needs with the On-Call Client Services Manager for the appropriate Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) as follows: Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills: Mississauga-Halton CCAC In-take Case Manager (Monday to Friday hrs)* *On-call service is available to address urgent client needs. Burlington: Hamilton-Niagara-Haldimand-Brant CCAC In-take Case Manager (Monday to Friday hrs) The Red Cross will provide vouchers for medications as required by displaced individuals and will facilitate the acquisition of said medications. Halton Region will reimburse the Red Cross for these expenses. Alternatively, the Social & Community Services Department will utilize other S&CS resources (i.e. drug cards) to facilitate the acquisition of required medications. Establishing a Reception Centre If inadequate motel/hotel accommodations are available, the Commissioner will request that the Canadian Red Cross establish a reception centre at a facility (i.e. school, recreation centre) determined by the Commissioner, in consultation with the On-Scene Commander. The Red Cross volunteers will coordinate transportation to the emergency reception centre. The Region will assume all operating costs associated with establishing and maintaining the reception centre. In the event that operation of the reception centre is required for a protracted or overnight period, requiring the provision of sleeping accommodations and full meal feeding services, the Commissioner will recommend to the appropriate Local Municipal or Regional officials that an official state of emergency be declared for the purposes of activating the Region of Halton Evacuation Plan. Level 3 Incident Response Refer to the Region of Halton Evacuation Centre Plan.

9 PART II NON HALTON RESIDENTS REQUIRING ASSISTANCE Natural or human caused disasters, severe societal disruption, or insurgency may result in the influx of non-residents to the Region of Halton who may require emergency social services. All requests for assistance for these individuals will be directed to the Commissioner at The Commissioner will coordinate with the Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Canadian Red Cross Halton Branches, regarding the arrival of displaced individuals from outside the Region of Halton. The Commissioner will advise the Halton Region Chief Administrative Officer as soon as practicable.

10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Pets In the event the selected hotel/motel(s) will not permit pets, the Ontario Works Supervisor and the Red Cross will ensure there is coordination for the temporary placement of pets with the following agencies: Oakville/Milton Oakville and District Humane Society Burlington Animal Shelter Halton Hills Upper Credit Humane Society Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals The Region will assume the costs associated with pet-care. Fund Raising Any funds directed to the Red Cross in response to an appeal to address a personal or community disaster will be directed to a general fund to support small scale disasters. Although donations such as canned food, clothing, or any other products are well intentioned, the Red Cross will not accept such items. The Red Cross will redirect said donations to the appropriate community agency. Reimbursement of Expenses The Red Cross will forward all expenses subject to reimbursement to the Commissioner. Media All media inquiries regarding the provision of Emergency Social Services in Halton Region will be directed to the Commissioner. Should the Commissioner be unavailable, inquiries will be directed to the Halton Region Director of Community Relations at

11 DISTRIBUTION Adelina Urbanski, Commissioner, Social & Community Services, Halton Region Tanja Schlabitz, Director Intervention & Business Services, Halton Region Douglas Bartholomew-Saunders, Director Income & Employment Services, Halton Region Ruth Gray Beauchamp, Manager of Quality Assurance and Compliance, Income & Employment Services, Halton Region Susan Lazzer, Manager of Employment Services, Income & Employment Services, Halton Region Carolyn Schoenfeld, Manager of Income Services, Income & Employment Services, Halton Region Jeremy Young, Supervisor, Income Services Supervisor, Income & Employment Services, Halton Region Dan Vanderburg, Supervisor, Income Services Supervisor, Income & Employment Services, Halton Region Maggie Pensa, Manager of Special Projects, Intervention & Business Services, Halton Region Peter Van Sickle, Supervisor of Business Services, Intervention & Business Services, Halton Region Constance Donner, Manager of Coordinated Intervention Services, Intervention & Business Services, Halton Region Judy Green, Supervisor of Coordinated Intervention Services, Intervention & Business Services, Halton Region John Pereira, Operations Manager, Emergency Medical Services, Halton Region Ron MacMaster, Manager, Access Halton, Halton Region Nick Buczynsky, Community Emergency Management Coordinator, Halton Region Brian Ellsworth, Fire Chief, Town of Milton Steve Thurlow, Fire Chief, City of Burlington Harry Oliveri, Deputy Fire Chief, Town of Halton Hills Robert Sumak, Deputy Fire Chief, Town of Oakville Insp. Ivan L Ortye, Halton Regional Police Service Azima Vasaria, Canadian Red Cross Karen Charles, Canadian Red Cross

12 Jutta Schafler Argao, Director, Performance Management and Accountability, Mississauga- Halton Community Care Access Centre Barabara Busing, Senior Director, Client Services, Hamilton-Niagara-Haldimand-Brant Community Care Access Centre Kate MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Johanne Golder, Executive Director, Oakville & District Humane Society David Lake, Animal Control Supervisor, Burlington Animal Shelter Upper Credit Humane Society Adoption Information Mailbox