Shelter Positions: Incident Command System, Roles and Responsibilities

1. Shelter Positions:Incident Command System,Roles and Responsibilities

2. Unit 2: Shelter Positions Scope Statement • ICS for the overall incident • ICS as it relates to the shelter • Roles and responsibilities of the shelter staff and volunteers

3. ICS To work effectively as part of a response • Must know • Understand • Adhere to

4. FEMA Course http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp • IS-100.b Introduction to Incident Command System • IS-200.b ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents • IS-700.a National Incident Management System (NIMS) • IS-800.b National Response Framework -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • IS-10.a Animals in Disaster: Awareness and Preparedness • IS-11.a Animals in Disaster: Community Planning • IS-111.a Livestock in Disaster

5. Benefits of ICS • Organized system • Roles • Responsibility • Span of control • Dynamic management system • Increase or decrease positions

6. Benefits of ICS • Prioritized response checklist • Ensures accountability of position functions • Documentation • Accountability • Cost recovery • Common language

7. ICS Structure

8. ICS Structure • Organizational chart helps facilitate communication • Chain of command • Promotes effective communication • Span of control • Number of people, resources and tasks that can be effectively managed • 7:1 and 5:1 • 2:1 - boat rescue operations

9. Animal Operations Structure

10. Animal Operations Structure • Under the overall operations section • Animal search and rescue • Set-up and operation of the animal shelter • Supervisors communicate with director and each other • Animal needs • Incoming animals • Restock of supplies and equipment

11. Animal Operations Structure Animal Branch Director Oversees all operations with animals being rescued and housed Work closely with other members of animal ops Oversees shelter and field supervisors

12. Shelter Operations Structure

13. Animal Operations Structure Shelter Supervisor • Overall leader in shelter • Reports to Animal Branch Director • Works closely with Field Supervisor • Responsible for the planning and daily operations • Consults with key members of the leadership team • Veterinarian

14. Shelter Leadership Safety Officer Shelter scene safety Safety for all people and animals Works closely with Shelter Supervisor

15. Shelter Leadership Logistics • Procures resources • Equipment • Food & water • Volunteers • Works with Shelter Supervisor

16. Shelter Leadership Team Leads • Provide leadership based on span of control • Animal Intake • Dog Unit • Cat Unit • Veterinarian • Help manage volunteers

17. Roles and Responsibilities • Emergency sheltering is unique • Not like the local animal shelter • Disaster event • Mass numbers of animals arriving at once • Various groups of people helping

18. Roles and Responsibilities • Specific roles are assigned by leadership • Veterinarian • Animal handler • Cage cleaner • Paperwork • Everyone needs to be screened and credentialed

19. Roles and Responsibilities Shelter Supervisor Plans shelter layout Assigns jobs Establishes daily procedures Day-to-day happenings Point of contact for emergencies, concerns, etc Reports to animal operations director

20. Roles and Responsibilities Veterinarian Emergency shelter medicine is not like an office practice, or even shelter medicine.

21. Roles and Responsibilities Veterinarian • Key member of the leadership team • Assists with shelter layout • Triages • Provides immediate care

22. Roles and Responsibilities Considerations for Veterinarian • Intake routine • Vaccinations? • Maintains care • Sends out for advanced care • Vet hospital or emergency care facility • Assistance • Vet tech • Shelter workers

23. Roles and Responsibilities Animal Intake Processor Clear & consistent handwriting Familiar with paperwork People skills

24. Roles and Responsibilities Animal Intake Paperwork • Triplicate • Detailed description of the animals • Identifiable markings • Unique animal identification number

25. Roles and Responsibilities Animal ID Number • Intake paperwork • ID band around the animal’s neck • ID band on the owner’s wrist • Co-location • Providing care at temporary shelter • Daily observation sheet

26. Roles and Responsibilities Master Log • Keep track of every animal • Masterlist of all animals • Master database • Animals location • Head count • Daily care • Medical care • Shelter map w/ animal locations

27. Roles and Responsibilities Work Teams - Dog Designated by shelter supervisor Daily care routines posted Work same area with same animals

28. Roles and Responsibilities Work Teams - Dog • Teams of two • Animal handler • Cage cleaner • Teams of three or more • Multiple Animal handlers • Cage cleaner • Rotate roles

29. Roles and Responsibilities Animal Handler Place slip lead on dog Remove dog from cage Walk to and around exercise area Clean up the dog’s feces Ensure dog is returned to the proper cage

30. Roles and Responsibilities Animal Handler Keep dogs separate unless family unit Watch smaller dogs or puppies in an exercise pen Maintain control of the dog not leash trained

31. Roles and Responsibilities Cage Cleaner • Spot clean or remove floor to clean • Spic-n-Span (label recommendations for dilution) • Quaternary solution, such as Kennel-Sol • Bleach (1:32 solution)

32. Roles and Responsibilities Cage Cleaner 10 minutes of contact Rinse it off Clean bowls Thoroughly dry floor

33. Roles and Responsibilities Work Teams - Cat Designated by shelter supervisor Daily care routines posted Work same area with same animals

34. Roles and Responsibilities Work Teams - Cat • Teams of two • Clean the cage and litter pan • Clean bowls and refresh • Both watch the cat in the cage

35. Roles and Responsibilities Handler/Cleaner • Spot cleaning • Team keeps the cat from escaping the cage • Full Clean • Remove cat from cage • Place in a clean vari-kennel or cage

36. Roles and Responsibilities Cage Cleaner • Remove litter clumps and feces • Dump out the litter pan and refill • As needed • Spot clean cage floor • Bedding • Remove soiled • Leave clean to reduce stress

37. Roles and Responsibilities Cage Cleaner • No Phenols (Lysol, Pine-Sol) • Highly toxic • Spray-clean the cage floor with a disinfectant • Spic-n-Span (label recommendations for dilution) • Quaternary solution • Wipe off with clean paper towels

38. Roles and Responsibilities Cage Cleaner Completely dry Give fresh, clean water Fresh, clean food

39. Roles and Responsibilities Volunteers • Valuable resource and biggest challenge • Both trained and convergent volunteers • Skilled and unskilled • Volunteers under age 18?

40. Volunteer Intake Trained Volunteers: Part of a national, state or local response team Screened and paperwork processed in advance Trained in the Incident Command System (ICS)

41. Volunteer Intake Trained Volunteers: • Clear identification • Uniform shirts • Colored vests • Colored armbands • Name tag or other credentialing ID

42. Volunteer Intake Convergent Volunteers: • Public wanting to help • Decided in advance whether to take • Screening process • Not recommended in a seizure case or a co-location shelter

43. Convergent Volunteer Disadvantages: • Untrained/unskilled • ICS • Mass numbers • Security Advantages: Live in the community May have skills needed Additional resources

44. Convergent Volunteer • Jobs not with the animals or proprietary information • Shadowed a trained volunteer and cleared • Proper identification • Different-colored vest • Nametag or other credentialing ID

45. Daily Check-in/Checkout Establish a Procedure • Daily sign-in and sign out • Tracks volunteer hours for reimbursement • Credentialing • First-time orientation

46. Volunteer Forms Volunteer Intake/Liability Volunteer Agreement Photo Release

47. Volunteer Ratios Factors to Consider: Number of animals & species Skills & efficiency Shelter type & working conditions Socialization of animals

48. Volunteer Ratios 15 per 300 minimum if: Trained workers Experienced in emergency sheltering Good animal handling skills Well socialized animals

49. Volunteer Ratios As factors change, needs change Fearful/aggressive animals = more time so more people Large number of dogs needing to be walked = more people Less skilled workers = more people Don’t be shorthanded Routines become set = fewer people

50. Questions?