The Role of the I

1
The Role of the I R/A in Disaster Preparedness,
Response and Recovery

• Alliance for Aging
• Elder Helpline

2
Disaster Preparedness

• Disaster Coordinator maintains contact
  information on all staff, including I R/A, in
  the event of a disaster and the need to deploy
  staff.
• Elder Helpline assists the Miami-Dade County
  Office of Emergency Management - Emergency
  Operations Center (EOC) with updating the Special
  Needs Registry.
• Send callers Hurricane/Disaster Preparedness
  Guides (English and Spanish and Creole).

3
Disaster Preparedness (contd)

• Identify alternative site for staff to report to
  and provide assistance from that location if
  needed.
  
• Enter into mutual agreements with other Elder
  Helplines to assist in post disaster services.

4
Disaster Response

• Disaster Coordinator notifies Elder Helpline of
  developing events and suggest protective
  actions.
  
• Elder Helpline staff inform callers of developing
  events and recommend protective actions for the
  callers to take (e.g. review personal plan and
  supplies, report to a certain shelter).

5
Disaster Response (contd)

• Elder Helpline staff prepare own systems,
  including making sure they have copies of manual
  Resource Directories and Intake Forms for
  post-event activities if needed.
• Assist with staffing the Volunteer Organizations
  Active in Disaster (VOAD) phone at the Emergency
  Operations Center (EOC) during the event.
  

6
Disaster Recovery

• Call down staff to assess needs and
  availability.
  
• Employ agreement with other Elder Helplines in
  other counties to take calls if needed.
  
• Return to Elder Helpline or pre-identified
  alternative site for incoming calls.
  

7
Disaster Recovery (contd)

• Provide information, referral and assistance to
  consumers related to the disaster.
  
• Disaster Coordinator continuously updates the
  Elder Helpline of any recovery issues that should
  be shared with callers (e.g. availability of
  resources, application process and deadlines,
  locations and hours of disaster recovery
  centers).

8
Disaster Recovery (contd)

• Disaster Coordinator may assign Elder Helpline
  Staff to Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to work
  with consumers in the field (using laptop or
  manual resource directory and intake forms).
• Report findings to the Disaster Coordinator.
• Door-to-door assessments and assistance could be
  required of Elder Helpline staff.

9
Prior Activations

• Hurricane Georges used staff to update the
  Special Needs Registry, inform consumers/providers
  , damage assessment and response.
  

• Floods of 2000 prepared aging
• service network and consumers
• as events developed, staff
• disaster recovery centers and
• conducted door-to-door
• assessment and assistance.

10
Prior Activations (contd)

• 9-11 responded to scared and nervous callers by
  providing emotional support.
  
• Cold Weather Activation Purchased and
  coordinated provision of emergency blankets to at
  risk elders.
  

11
Prior Activations (contd)

• Liberty City Tornado Responded to callers
  requesting information and referral and immediate
  and long-term assistance.