# Presentation: 704800

## NDMS EVACUATIONS AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

## RED CROSS BASICS	

**Red Cross was chartered by Congress in 1905 to provide relief to disaster victims domestically and internationally.**
**Under the National Response Plan (NRP), the Red Cross serves as the Primary Agency for Mass Care under ESF6– **_**coordinating**_** the provision of food, shelter, emergency first aid, disaster welfare information, and bulk distribution of emergency relief items for the federal government to overwhelmed state and local entities providing mass care services.**
**The Red Cross also serves as a Support Agency to the Department of Health and Human Services under ESF8 which does not include providing mass care services**

## Red Cross Katrina/Rita Response

|  | Hurricane Andrew | 2004 Hurricanes | Hurricanes Katrina & Rita 
(as of 11/02/05) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Overnight Stays in Shelters | n/a | 519,000* | 3,409,327 |
| Meals and snacks served | 5,672,303 | 16,642,370 | 49,445,979 |
| Family assistance cases opened | 68,252 | 73,779 | 1,407,075*
 |
| Total workers | 14,788 | 34,771 | 211,438 |
| Total cost | $81,000,000 | $127,800,000 | $2,300,000,000* |

## Coordination of NDMS Evac.

**NATIONAL: Red Cross National Headquarters received information from the Department of Veterans Affairs on the destination of evacuation flights.  **
**REGIONAL: Red Cross HQ shared this information with Red Cross Regional Service Areas.**
**STATE: Regional Service Areas shared this information with local Red Cross chapters.**
**LOCAL: Chapters coordinated with local governments and public health to provide shelter for accompanying non-sick persons due to them being displaced by a major natural disaster**

## Repatriation: Perspective

**Patient Administration**
**Need to clearly identify the caregiver who will be accompanying the patient**
**Need to have a clear understanding of all participating partners;  their roles and expectations prior to activation of patient movement.**
**Identify medical conditions prior to their arrival.**
**Have a well organized and functioning reception center at arrival point**
**Have all partners present at the reception center and involved in final disposition of evacuees**

## Repatriation: Perspective

**Cont....**
**Public health must have well developed protocols in place for managing and supporting shelter operations.  **_***This was a unique situation and Red Cross participation is not a given for all situations.***_
**Have identified Point of Contacts (POCs) for all partner agencies both local and federal to support on-going  concerns and issues that develop.**
**Support state and local Department of Health programs that will enable them to assume appropriate roles.**

## Repatriation:  Perspective

**Repatriation**
**Establish a cleaner, more simplified step-by-step process for repatriating evacuees.**
**Bring all partners together for initial teleconference briefing when repatriation is ready to commence.**
**Enhance a higher level of trust between partners assigned to the process.**

## For Further Information:

**Carol Hall**
- Manager, Homeland Security & Federal Operations
- American Red Cross (National HQs)
- (202) 303-8376 or _[hallca@usa.redcross.org](mailto:hallca@usa.redcross.org)_
**Julie Gunlock**
- Senior Representative, Federal Operations
- American Red Cross (National HQs)
- (202) 303-8376 or _[hallca@usa.redcross.org](mailto:hallca@usa.redcross.org)_
**Glen Lockwood**
- Chapter Solutions Manager, Service Area 2
- American Red Cross
- (509)-735-1913, _[LockwoodG@usa.redcross.org](mailto:LockwoodG@usa.redcross.org)_