NON-TRADITIONAL SHELTER DESIGN AND LAYOUT

PROTOCOLS FOR OPENING NON-TRADITIONAL SHELTER

1. 
   Activation of an NTS ConOps, at the direction of the [Emergency Manager], is the responsibility of the Mass Care Branch Director.
   

The IC will provide estimates of the potential number of evacuees who may need to be sheltered, as well as provide rationale for its use.

The EOC will advise the requesting entity of the location and information regarding its use (e.g., estimated time to opening, access).

111.Once an activation order has been received by the EOC MC Branch, the MC Branch Director will consult with the Shelter Operations Unit.

112.The MC Branch Director and Shelter Operations Unit will work in concert with the [primary agency responsible for MC] to determine which site will be used as an NTS. If possible, coordination will also be conducted with a Mega-Shelter Assistance Team member to determine the feasibility of the site. ¹⁰

Decision to Open NTS—State Level

1. 
   If the State or another jurisdiction makes a request of the [Jurisdiction] to open an NTS to host evacuees from a disaster-impacted area outside the [Jurisdiction], the appropriate jurisdiction’s representative will communicate that request to the [Jurisdiction’s Emergency Manager]. The [Jurisdiction’s Emergency Manager] will make the determination if the [Jurisdiction] is willing and able to host an evacuee population.
   
2. 
   The process for making the decision to activate NTS operations will then be the same as the above local process.
   

1. 
   A speed-to-scale analysis will be conducted prior to opening an NTS to determine availability of resources (material and human). The following will be determined:
   

External (non-local) resource availability, quantity, and estimated time of arrival for a scaled operation.

Resource requirements versus availability to determine the scalable timeframes for opening and supporting an NTS.

NTS Inspection

1. 
   General Considerations for Shelter Inspection
   

• 
  The NTS Incident Commander or his/her designee will conduct a preliminary assessment before opening an NTS in coordination with standard protocols and accompanied by support agencies (e.g., fire marshal, Public Health) and the site’s owner/ management. This inspection may be conducted with a representative of the Logistics Management and Resource Support Branch.
  

If a mega-shelter’s structural integrity is in question due to possible damage, the [Damage Assessment Unit] at the EOC will facilitate a structural inspection and assessment of the building prior to occupancy.

114.Additional Considerations for an Open Space Shelter

If the integrity of an open space shelter is in question as a result of the incident/event, the [Damage Assessment Unit] will facilitate an environmental inspection and assessment prior to occupancy.

Special care will be taken to inspect power, water, and other utility resources if critical infrastructure has been impacted by the incident/event, or if there is a risk for secondary hazards that may impact the infrastructure supporting the NTS.

If significant construction is needed to make an NTS habitable, a safety inspection after construction is concluded will be conducted by the Safety Officer.

115.Site Safety Plan

A Site Safety Plan will be completed by the Site Safety Officer and coordinated with the [responsible EOC Branch] to ensure the safety of people within an NTS. The Site Safety Plan will be forwarded to the EOC Planning Section Chief and may be incorporated into the Incident Action Plan.

1. 
   The EOC Operations Section will advise all appropriate NTS support functions of the activation of an NTS, with site-specific information. All functions will coordinate staffing requirements and resources with EOC Operations Section and the NTS Unified Command.
   

117.All NTS staff will be briefed on their roles and responsibilities in providing assistance to people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. This information will include:

The support and care they are authorized to provide according to their training and credentials

How to request support from on-site personal assistance providers