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Learning From The Past and Planning For The Future
MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT August 23, 2002 "Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan." - Tom Landry
Short Subjects
LINKS Mental Health Moment Online CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
Seventh World Congress
on Stress, Trauma & Coping,
"Crisis Intervention in Baltimore, MD
a Changing World"
February 12-16, 2003
Call For Papers:
http://www.icisf.org/cfp.pdf Deadline: September 3, 2002
Proposal Form:
http://www.icisf.org/ presentation%20proposal%20form.docFifth Annual Innovations in Disaster Psychology Conference
"Psychosocial Reactions to Terrorist Attacks"
Sept. 29-Oct 1
Location: Radisson Hotel
Rapid City, South Dakota
4th World Congress on Stress
September 12-15, 2002
Edinburgh, Scotland
UNITED KINGDOM
Contact: Northern Networking Ltd
1 Tennant Avenue
College Milton South
East Kilbride, Glasgow G74 5NA
Scotland, UK
Tel: 44 (0) 1355 244966
Fax: 44 (0) 1355 249959
E-mail:
stress@
glasconf.demon.co.ukTENTH ANNUAL
SANTA FE SYMPOSIA
nine different weekend symposia
on a variety of mental
health topics.
October 11-27, 2002
Faculty includes:
Institute for Meditation &
Psychotherapy: Bill O'Hanlon,
Donald Meichenbaum,
Peter Tanguay and others.
For more information
and a brochure, contact:
New England
Educational Institute
92 Elm Street APA502
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Tel: (413) 499-1489
Fax (413) 499-6584
E-mail: educate@neei.org; Web: www.neei.orgCOMING:
Basic and Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management Workshops
November 22-23, 2002
Casper, WY
Co-sponsored by:
Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health InstituteAnd Snowy Range A.S.I.S.T. CISM Team"Religious Aspects of Domestic Violence" November 24, 2002
Casper, WY
co-sponsored by:
Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health InstituteAnd The Governor's Domestic Violence Elimination (DoVE) Council
RESEARCH REVEALS HOW CELLS PROTECT AGAINST STRESS
Stress happens, and over the eons all species of living things have evolved all sorts of ways to cope. Penn State's Sarah Assmann, the University's Waller Professor of Plant Biology, is leading research which has revealed that organisms as diverse as humans and plants share a common set of stress-protection maneuvers that are choreographed by the metabolic machinery in their cells. "We have shown, in more detail than was known before, the chain of cellular events that begins with an environmental stress and ends with an organism's protective response to that stress," Assmann says. "We also have discovered some previously unknown steps in that process." Among the team's discoveries is that one cellular-processing step that originally was discovered in human cells also occurs in plant cells. "A human autoimmune disease and a disorder associated with breast cancer are known to result from a defect in this process, " adds Assmann. This research will be published in the August 15 issue of the journal Nature. For more on this story, go to http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/Assmann8-2002-2.htm
RETIREMENT TREND: HUSBANDS EXPECT TO WORK LONGER
The decision to retire is increasingly becoming a family decision, but husbands maintain a stronger attachment to the work force than wives, researchers say. Using data from the 1992 Health and Retirement Study, Mark Hayward, professor of sociology at Penn State, and Amy Mehraban Pienta of the University of Florida, studied a sample of 1,818 married or cohabiting couples between the ages of 51 and 61. They recently published their results in the Journal of Gerontology. Husbands report a much higher probability of working full time after ages 62 and 65 than do wives. For husbands, age and health are the main factors leading toward early retirement expectations, says Hayward, but these factors have a lesser effect on wives' early retirement expectations. For the full story by William Harnish, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2002/retiredecision.html
FEMA Funds Authorized For South Dakota's Battle Creek Fire
The Battle Creek fire burning in Pennington County is the latest to qualify for fire assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Donation Brings School Supplies to Afghan Children
America’s Fund for Afghan Children (AFAC) has partnered with the Academy for Educational Development (AED) to provide Afghan children with school and hygiene supplies.
Red Cross Volunteer Revisits Guam Battlefields
One World War II veteran returned to Guam to assist in the Red Cross disaster relief effort after Typhoon Chata’an swept through the island on July 5.
NEWS ARTICLES ONLINE Scientists Discover Way to Detect, Combat Anthrax
How safe is the United States a year after Sept. 11? Experts recommend continued vigilance.
Sept. 11 families file 100 trillion dollar suit, claiming Sudan, Saudis, financed attack.
Flight of Saudi funds from US raises concern.
International:
Saudi Bankers Deny Funding Terror.
CUBA - GUANTANAMO BAY - Four terror suspects try to commit suicide in Guantanamo jail cells.
ITALY - Italian leftist terror group Red Brigades has only about 30 members left, official says.
JERUSALEM - Cabinet Approves Smallpox Vaccination for 15,000 Rescue Workers.
AFGHANISTAN - Afghan Forces Kill Man Who Threatened American Troops Near Kandahar Air Base.
JAKARTA - International terrorists possibly involved in explosions in Jakarta.
ROME - Italy Authorities Warned of Possible Attacks on Religious Ceremonies.
IRAN - Iran army says it is preparing in case of U.S. attack.
INDIA - Bomb kills police in Assam.
PHILLIPINES - Muslim extremists behead two captives in Philippines.
ISRAEL - Israel arrests five accused of bomb attacks.
GERMANY - German army stockpiles smallpox vaccine as precaution against bioterrorism.
SOME ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS OF DISASTERS
Local Government
The local level of emergency management is made up of the staff of cities and counties. County staff are responsible for unincorporated areas within counties. They may also function in a coordinating role in a local emergency or state of emergency. Local ordinances and resolutions establish local responsibilities for emergency management. Each local program fits into the state emergency management organization. Local government has the primary responsibility for emergency response. This holds even when the event overwhelms local government's capacity for effective response and the state is called upon for assistance (Drabek and Hoetmer, 1991).
There is a wide diversity in the manner in which local governments carry out emergency service functions. In most small cities, emergency management is the responsibility of an individual who performs the function as part of another job, such as city manager or fire chief. In counties, the responsibility is usually given to a full- or part-time emergency manager. Larger cities or counties are more likely to have a dedicated emergency management department with a small staff. The department may be an independent unit, or may be embedded in another unit, such as the fire department. Given the wide variation in political and organizational realities among local governments, there is not any standard design for local emergency management structure.
The responsibilities of local emergency management include:
1. Identify all hazards that may pose a major threat to the jurisdiction, and develop hazard mitigation plans and programs to eliminate or reduce potential hazards.2. Develop maps of areas within the jurisdiction that may be subject to disasters, for example, geologic hazards, flood plains, dam failure inundation areas.
3. Work cooperatively with government and community organizations to develop and maintain up-to-date emergency plans that are consistent with the state plan and mutual aid agreements.
4. Coordinate with industry to develop industrial emergency plans and capabilities in support of local government plans.
5. Develop a training program for emergency response personnel, and an exercise program to test response capabilities.
6. Develop a public education program.
7. Develop and maintain emergency communication systems, including a system to alert key public officials and warn the public in the event of an emergency. Establish an emergency public information system.
8. Develop plans for meeting all conditions that could constitute a local emergency. Inventory personnel and material resources from government and private sector sources that would be available in an emergency. Identify and work with local officials to correct resource deficiencies.
9. Develop and supply an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as a site for direction and control operations during an emergency.
10. Establish and maintain a shelter and reception and care system.
11. Develop continuity of government procedures and systems.
12. Assist in the establishment of mutual aid or cooperative assistance agreements to provide needed services, equipment, or other resources in case of an emergency.
13. Provide the county or state Office of Emergency Services (OES) with estimates of the severity and extent of damage resulting from a disaster, including dollar value of both public and private damage sustained as well as estimates of resource costs required to alleviate the situation.
14. Secure technical and financial assistance available to local jurisdiction through state and federal programs.
State Government
State government plays a pivotal role in emergency management. It is in a position to determine the emergency needs and capabilities of its political sub-divisions. Additionally, it channels state and federal resources to local governments. This includes training, technical assistance, and operational support in an emergency.
The authority and the responsibility for emergency management at the state level belong to the governor or his/her designee. State laws vary. However, the governor is typically given the powers or options to do the following (Drabek and Hoetmer, 1991):
1. Suspend state statutes, rules and regulations.Day-to-day emergency management responsibilities are generally delegated by the governor to a lead agency in the state. This is usually called the Office of Emergency Services. Various other state agencies are mandated to carry out assigned activities related to mitigating the effects of an emergency and to cooperate with each other and other political sub-divisions in providing assistance.2. Procure materials and facilities without regard to limitations of existing law.
3. Direct evacuations.
4. Control entrance to and exit from disaster areas.
5. Authorize release of emergency funds.
6. Activate emergency contingency funds and reallocate state agency budgets for emergency work.
7. Issue state or area emergency declarations and invoke appropriate state response actions.
8. Apply for and monitor federal disaster and emergency assistance.
Drabek and Hoetmer (1991) list the responsibilities of the state Office of Emergency Services as follows:
1. Prepare and maintain a comprehensive state emergency plan and emergency management program.When disasters exceed the ability of the local governments to respond effectively, the state Office of Emergency Services activates functions that are essential to a coordinated response in support of the local jurisdiction (Drabek and Hoetmer, 1991). The specific emergency support functions provided by the state in support of local governments may include the following (California Basic Emergency Plan, 1989):2. Assign emergency functions to various state agencies, and coordinate the activities of the agencies in developing the state emergency plan.
3. Ensure that all personnel assigned specific responsibilities in support of the state plan are adequately trained and prepared to assume those responsibilities.
4. Support and facilitate local government preparedness efforts, to ensure that disasters are handled at the lowest government level; write standards and requirements for county and municipal plans; and review and maintain a file of current plans; and review and maintain a file of current plans that are developed or updated under those standards.
5. Oversee the damage assessment process following emergencies.
6. Administer and coordinate state resources providing assistance requested by the county or affected area, and request federal disaster assistance, if warranted.
7. Administer the state mutual aid system, with regional or state staff assisting local emergency operations at the request of local coordinators.
8. Maintain mutual aid agreements with adjoining states.
1. Management of emergency operations: coordination, direction, and control of emergency operations, usually at a State Operations Center (SOC) managed by the state Office of Emergency Services (OES) director or designee; communications; alert, warning, notification of people in threatened areas; and situation reporting and damage analysis.Federal Government2. Fire and rescue operations: fire suppression, fire safety, and search and rescue.
3. Law enforcement and traffic control: enforcement of laws regarding evacuation, traffic control, access control.
4. Emergency medical services: care and treatment for the ill and injured.
5. Public health services: public health and sanitation.
6. Coroner operations: collection, identification and protection of the remains of deceased persons.
7. Care and shelter operations: care for the basic needs of evacuees and disaster service workers; registration of all homeless, displaced, injured, and sick people; and shelter and care to displaced survivors and disaster service workers through emergency congregate care centers.
8. Movement operations: movement of people from threatened or hazardous areas.
9. Rescue operations: search and rescue.
10. Construction and engineering operations: maintenance or repair of roads, structures, or other public areas.
11. Resources and support operations: provision of personnel, equipment, food, fuel, transportation, and utilities to support operations.
12. Emergency public information: rapid distribution of emergency instruction and accurate information to the public during emergencies.
13. Technological services response: technological response to hazardous material incidents; advice to the public of protective measures.
14. Radiological protection: radiological response, including monitoring radiation levels in the environment, determining measures to minimize personal exposure, and identification and management of fallout shelters.
The basic role of the Federal Government in emergency management is to protect life and property in a disaster and to assist state and local gevernments in the recovery process.
By executive order, the President has assigned emergency preparedness and operating responsibilities to certain federal agencies. Overall responsibility is assigned to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Assignments are based on each agency's regular functions and capabilities. Federal emergency management includes the administration of natural disaster relief programs and civil defense plans and programs.
In 1988, Public Law 93-288 was amended by Public Law 100-707 and re-titled as the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The Stafford Act provides the authority for the Federal Government to provide assistance to save lives and to protect public health and safety and property as the result of natural disasters and other incidents for which federal response assistance is required. Crisis counseling for victims of presidentially declared disasters is one of the assistance programs authorized under the Stafford Act.
The Federal government recognizes local and state governments as being in charge of emergency response operations. Federal assistance under the provisions of the Stafford Act is supplemental to state efforts. The President is authorized under the Stafford Act to declare a "major disaster" or "emergency" for an area affected by a disaster. This is done in response to a request by the governor of the affected state, when state and local resources are inadequate to respond effectively and to undertake recovery. Once a presidential declaration has been made, FEMA may direct any federal agency to help state and local governments directly.
Red Cross Roles and Responsibilities in Disasters
A Congressional charter in 1905 mandated the American Red Cross to help meet human needs created by disasters. This mandate was re-affirmed by Congress in the Disaster Relief Acts of 1970 and 1974 (as amended, 1988) and in the published regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and a statement of understanding between FEMA and the American Red Cross in 1982. Therefore, the Red Cross role in disasters is a legal mandate that it has neither the authority nor the right to surrender (American Red Cross, 1982). The Red Cross receives no government funding for its services. It relies solely on voluntary contributions. Additionally, local government responsibilities and mandates are not superseded by Red Cross authority. The Red Cross is responsible for providing congregate and individual care in coordination with local government and private agencies.
Voluntary Agency Responses in Disasters
Many volunteer organizations provide a response to disasters. These responses are not mandated by law. However, many individual organizations include disaster response in their charters. Many voluntary groups are members of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). Additionally, existing local groups, such as volunteer centers, may take on specific responses to a local disaster. Spontaneous "grass roots" groups may also sometimes emerge to tackle unique situations for which no organization has responsibility. Mental health should be alert to and familiar with voluntary groups' response in disasters. These groups often provide human services that are not otherwise available to survivors.
The following list illustrates other voluntary groups and private sector organizations that may be involved in disaster responses:
************************************************************************************************* Private hospitals* Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, other health professionals
* Mental health professionals and agencies
* Professional associations
* Suicide prevention hotlines
* Private ambulance companies
* American Hospital Association
* American Psychological Association
* Private vendors of health supplies
* National Association of Funeral Directors
* Poison control centers
* Veterinarians
* American Humane Society
* Volunteer search and rescue teams
* Civil Air Patrol
* Explorer Search and Rescue
* Manufacturing plant fire departments
* National Ski Patrol
* Rescue Dog Association
* Amateur radio organizations
* Commercial radio and television stations
* Private hazardous spill cleanup companies
* Chemical Manufacturers' Association
* Railroad, airline, maritime, trucking, pipeline, petroleum, mining, or chemical firms
* American Society of Civil Engineers
* National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers
* National Association of Home Builders
* Private building contractors
* Heavy equipment owners and operators
* Labor unions
* AFL-CIO Department of Community Services
* Private utility companies
* Private colleges and universities
* Childcare providers
* National Restaurant Association
* Private restaurants and food vendors
* Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
* American Legion
* Service clubs
* League of United Latin Americn Citizens
* National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
REFERENCES American Red Cross (1982). Disaster services regulations and procedures: Authority and legal status of Red Cross disaster services (ARC 3001).
California department of Mental Health (1989). Mental health disaster plan. Sacramento, CA.
Drabek, T.E. and Hoetmer, G.J. (Eds.) (1991). Emergency management: Principles and practice for local government. Washington, DC: International City Management Association.
To search for books on disasters and disaster mental
health topics, agencies responding in disasters, organizations,
crisis intervention, disasters and crises, and related
topics and purchase them online, go to the following url:
https://www.angelfire.com/biz/odochartaigh/searchbooks.html
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Contact your local Mental Health Center or
check the yellow pages for counselors, psychologists,
therapists, and other Mental health Professionals in
your area for further information.
**********************************************************************
George W. Doherty
O'Dochartaigh Associates
Box 786
Laramie, WY 82073-0786
MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT Online: https://www.angelfire.com/biz3/news
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