1. Mass Casualty and Emergency Response: Do you know the Code?
Melissa Roberson, DCJS Critical Incident Response Coordinator
Mary Vail Ware, MSW
Director, CICF

2. Context
Since 2001, Virginia has been challenged with the Pentagon Attack, Appalachian School of Law Shooting, Sniper Attacks, Anthrax Attacks, Virginia Tech shootings, etc.
Nationally, there have been 179 school shooting incidents in the 13 years between Columbine (4/99) and Sandy Hook (12/2012).

3. The Code….
The plan shall include a provision that the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund shall be contacted immediately to deploy assistance in the event of an emergency as defined in the emergency response plan when there are victims as defined in § The Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund shall be the lead coordinating agencies for those individuals determined to be victims, and the plan shall also contain current contact information for both agencies.

4. Why plan for a Family Assistance Center (FAC)?
Family members of individuals at the event location will begin to flock to the scene
Well meaning (and not so well meaning) individuals will go to scene
Convergence of people can impact investigation, perhaps endanger others
Need a place to verify who belongs, and to provide services and information
Manage interaction between victims, responders, and press

5. When might you want to have an FAC?
Small incidents or large—make it scalable
Whenever more than one family group is impacted by an incident
When press may be involved
When those impacted might need additional services from multiple providers-create “one stop” assistance

6. Establishing a Family Assistance Center
Location
Press
Security
Check-In process
Staff credentials
EOC
Spontaneous volunteers and donations
Agencies Involved

7. Agencies Involved at Virginia Tech FAC
Virginia Department of Social Services (ESF 6)
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Virginia CICF
American Red Cross
Mental Health Agencies
Chaplains/Ministers
Rep from Funeral Director’s Association
Rep from Medical Examiner’s Office
Massage Therapists
Therapy Dogs
University Staff
Law Enforcement
Victim/Witness Staff
Medical/Rescue Squad

8. What does family assistance provide?
For Families
Information
Consistency
Way to manage expectations
Place/people to get answers
Safety (from public and
media)
Move through grief process
Reduces stress/anxiety
For Industry/Government
“The right thing to do”
Humanitarian/ethical
Provide consistent message
Manage expectations for
public
Public image
Source NTSB

9. What doesn’t family assistance provide?
“Closure”
– Step in the grief/recovery process
– “Resiliency”
All the answers
– Factual information when available/allowable
– Information on process when no factual information available
Support for all needs
Elimination of legal actions
Source NTSB

10. Family Assistance Family Member Concerns
Short Term
Where is my loved one?
Where are their belongings?
Who is in charge?
Where will I get information?
Can I visit the accident site?
How did this happen?
Provision of services
– Where do I get…?
Long term
How/where will I get information?
What happens next?
How can I prevent this from happening again?
Memorial and anniversaries
Provision of services
– Where do I get…?
Source NTSB

11. Best Practices
Pre-designate team and required training for members
Ensure that all on site are “credentialed” in some way, assign someone to this task
Immediate response defines the event for victims & public
Prepare for press—shield families
Rely on experts in the field-victims taking care of victims is not a good model, crime or no
Ensure that assistance efforts have clear leadership with decision making authority
Plan consistent communication opportunities

12. Best Practices Avoid the term “reunification”
Hold daily meetings of responders to debrief and find solutions
Policy around social media communication
Immediately prepare for influx and money and donations—prepare a donation message
Do not resist the urge to do what’s “right”
If you don’t know something or have something—ask! VOAD is a great resource.

13. Best Practices
If crime victims do not have their needs met in the immediate aftermath of the event, they will seek to have them met in other ways
Individuals who are not experienced with victims of crime should not provide direct service
Families should have a safe place to gather to receive services and information
If possible, victims should be paired with a trained and experienced advocate in order to meet requirements of Virginia Code §
Responses can be scalable, think of resources in the community that might help with a FAC, or just a gathering room.

14. Care for the Caregivers
Plan and exercise aftermath of worst case scenario
First responders cannot provide ongoing service without relief
Working in teams is critical
Debriefing and support services are not a luxury, they are a necessity
“Taking care of our own” is never a good plan, wounded serving wounded is not constructive for either party
Take it easy on yourself and colleagues

15. Fund Facts Created by 1977 Virginia General Assembly
Housed in the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission
Pays out-of-pocket expenses for innocent victims of violent crimes
Allowable expenses include: funeral costs, out of pocket medical bills, transportation, lost wages, moving expenses, etc.
Funded by court fees, restitution, and VOCA

16. CICF Role in Mass Casualty Crime Incidents
Respond to Family Assistance Center
Provide financial assistance to victims and families for medical bills, funeral expenses, etc.
Coordinate with other funding agencies to ensure resources are maximized
Utilize local victim witness assistance programs to work with families
Provide technical assistance and support to institutional victim

17. DCJS – Victims Services
Provides funding to support 114 victim/witness programs throughout Virginia
Coordinates and deploys Virginia’s Victim Assistance Team, consisting of 165 individuals that have received basic training of which 23 have also received advanced training from NOVA, to assist localities after mass casualty criminal incidents training,
Conducts crisis response team training and maintains database of credentialed responders
Report a Campus or Local Emergency (per Code Sections :9 and ) Call or ; or

18. DCJS Role in Mass Casualty Incidents
Coordinate victim advocate response
Respond to Family Assistance Center (ESF6)
Ensure victims and family members are aware of the FAC and services available to them
Assign victim advocates to assist victims/family members

19. Local Victim/Witness Programs
What are they?
Where are they located?
Routine services provided by programs

21. Routine Services Provided by Local Victim/Witness Programs
Case Status
Restitution
Protection
Dispositions
Compensation Assistance
Emergency Assistance
Victim Impact Statements
Crisis Intervention
Intercession
CJS Explanation
Short Term Counseling
Courtroom Tours
Accompaniment to CJ Meetings and Court Hearings

22. Victim Advocates Role in a Mass Tragedy
Types of services provided
Local advocates and statewide support
Comp Staff and Victim Advocates working together
“Companioning”
What worked well in past events

23. Local Victim Advocates
Can quickly access community resources
Interface with local agencies
Cut through “red tape”
Expedite delivery of services to victims
Medical Care and HIPPA

24. Incorporating Victim Advocates in Crisis Plans
Establish relationships
Understand each others roles
Training and Exercises
Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan – Family Assistance Center Policy

25. Final Thoughts
Identify your non-traditional resources (victim advocates, child day care centers, restaurants)
Think about possible gathering places
Plan ahead, make a scalable FAC part of your response to any disaster
Include the creation of an FAC in your exercises
Determine how you might plan to offer continuing support to both the community and responders after the advent of a “worst-case-scenario”

26. Contact Information
Mary Vail Ware
Director
Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund
P. O. Box 26927, Richmond, VA 23261 or
Melissa Roberson
Critical Incident Response Coordinator
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
1100 Bank Street, Richmond, VA or