FEMA Qualification System - FQS

Ready Seniors! Workshop

Albany, NY

June 11, 2019

Welcome & Introduction

Name

Title

Agency

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Purpose

The purpose of this workshop is to provide participants with an

opportunity to exchange best practices and evaluate potential

solutions to challenges likely to be faced during a major disaster

that impacts the critical services participants provide to the senior

citizen populations

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Objectives

Objective 1. Examine and improve the processes that senior care providers

perform during pre-disaster operations to provide for continuity of services to

our senior populations.

Objective 2. Discuss the actions of senior care providers during power outage

or similar events with the expectation of enhancing services for our senior

populations.

Objective 3. Inspire and encourage senior service providers to empower their

clients by being conduits of preparedness messaging for senior populations

and their families to empower them to be better prepared for disasters.

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FEMA Qualification System - FQS

Ready Seniors! Continuity & Preparedness Basics

FEMA Region 2

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Continuity of Operations –

Why is it important?

March 13, 2018

Continuity of Operations

• Continuity of Operations is essential for your facility to be able to continue to perform their essential functions before, during and after disasters or incidents that threaten to or disrupt normal operations.

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Continuity Planning Objectives

• Ensure continued performance of essential functions

• Identify alternative facilities / transportation

• Ensure succession of key leadership

• Provide assistance to your staff and patients

• Reduce/mitigate disruptions to operations

• Protect essential assets – Equipment/Records

• Achieve timely recovery/reconstitution

• Maintain TT&E program for validation

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Elements of a Viable Continuity Program

10 primary elements:

• Essential functions

• Orders of succession

• Delegations of authority

• Continuity facilities

• Continuity communications

• Essential records management

• Human resources

• Tests, training, and exercises

• Devolution of control and direction

• Reconstitution operations

Continuity is not new….

• Continuity elements you may already be familiar with…

Mutual aid

Data back-up / recovery

Communications planning

Employee alerts and

notifications

Emergency Operations Plans

Chain of Command

When to use COOP…

• Any emergency that impacts your agency’s facilities or abilities to provide its essential functions:

Weather emergencies

Flooding

Power Outages

Terror attacks

Civil disturbances

Others?

Localized acts of nature

Accidents

Technical hazards or

attack-related emergencies

Fires

Hazardous materials

incidents

Continuity Planning

Considerations

COOP plans must:

• Be capable of implementation anytime, with and without warning.

• Provide full operational capability for essential functions not later than 12 hours after activation.

• Be capable of sustaining operations for up to 30 days.

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Why do I need a COOP plan?

Training Websites

• FEMA Continuity of Operations (COOP) Programs:

http://www.fema.gov/government/coop/index.shtm

• FEMA Training/EMI Independent Study (IS) Program:

http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/

Contact Information

FEMA Region II

Devin Kerins

Community Preparedness Officer

FEMA Region II

Devin.kerins@fema.dhs.gov

202-579-5160

Questions?

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FEMA Qualification System - FQS

Ready Seniors! Preparedness Planning For Senior Populations

Administration for Community Living

FEMA Qualification System - FQS

Ready Seniors! Tabletop Exercise

FEMA Region 2

Discussion Guidelines

• This is an open, low-stress, no-fault environment. Varying viewpoints, even disagreements, are expected

• Base your responses on the current plans and capabilities of your organization

• Decisions are not precedent setting; consider different approaches and suggest improvements

• Issue identification is not as valuable as suggestions and recommended actions that could improve response efforts; problem-solving efforts should be the focus

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Artificialities & Assumptions

• The exercise is conducted in a no-fault learning environment wherein capabilities, plans, systems, and processes will be evaluated

• The exercise scenario is plausible, and events occur as they are presented

• All players receive information at the same time

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Scenario Module One

Pre-Storm

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January 4

The National Weather Service has issued a

Winter Storm Warning for much of the New

York and New Jersey area. With this

warning, it is anticipated that heavy snow,

ice, and wind are likely to begin within the

next 24-48 hours. The storm is predicted to

bring a range of 5” to 24” of snow in many

areas. To make matters worse, the storm is

expected to be followed by a prolonged

period of freezing temperatures. It is feared

that this may cause disruptions in both

transportation and power to the area.

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Key Issues

• Major snowstorm anticipated.

• Storm to be followed by prolonged freezing temperatures.

• Storm likely to disrupt power and transportation

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Group Discussion

45 minutes of discussion

Select someone to brief back to the

Plenary

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Break

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Scenario Module Two

Post Storm Response &

Recovery

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January 7, One Hour Later

Snow totals were higher than expected in many areas, with

some areas receiving over 30” of snow. Snow drifts

created piles that were even higher, trapping many

residents in their homes. Public works departments are

working diligently to plow main roads, but the majority

of side streets have still not been cleared.

The Governors in both New York and New Jersey have

issued States of Emergency, and are limiting travel on

roads to “essential” personnel.

The drop in temperature has created icy conditions,

making it even more difficult to clear snow. Power

outages are becoming more frequent, with an estimated

1,000,000 customers without power throughout the

region. It is unknown at this time how long these

outages will last as freezing temperatures have

damaged transmission lines and are slowing the

response of power crews. 27

Key Issues

• Heavy snow has been experienced, disrupting

transportation and trapping many residents in their

homes.

• Travel is limited to “essential” personnel.

• Power outages are being experienced with no

current projection on when power will be restored.

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Group Discussion

45 minutes of discussion

Select someone to brief back to the

Plenary

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Hot Wash

Within your groups, identify:

• Three Best Practices

• Three Top Areas for Improvement

• Topics you would like to see in future workshops or webinars

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