DSS ESF-6 Training Requirements for Emergency Personnel I. Purpose The Department of Social Services (DSS) has the primary responsibility for coordinating mass care, housing and human services during emergencies and disasters. DSS must coordinate with the Governor s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), the ESF-6 primary and supporting agencies and parish and local governments in order to address the non-medical mass care, housing and human services needs of victims of natural and technological disasters. The purpose of this training overview is to outline the training requirements for all persons working in various roles and positions for ESF-6 during emergencies and disasters. II. Mission To ensure that all persons working before, during and/or after the declaration of an emergency and/or disaster are fully trained and capable of supporting DSS ESF-6 in providing mass care, housing and human services during emergencies and disasters; to ensure the state is positioned to continue to access federal emergency management grant funds due to compliance with federal emergency management training requirements for personnel. III. General Course Overview DSS Personal Preparedness Plan Training (see Attachment) All emergency personnel working toward DSS ESF-6 s mission during emergencies and disasters are responsible for developing a Personal Disaster Emergency Preparedness Plan to ensure availability to participate in emergency preparedness, response and recovery operations as outlined in DSS Emergency Preparedness Policy 1-02 (see Attachment). DSS Shelter Training (see Attachment) This course describes the roles and responsibilities of DSS in carrying out the emergency functions of mass care, housing and human services during emergencies and disasters. It references DSS policies 1-02 and 4-10 (see Attachments), which are policies
that outline topics that are relevant to personnel during emergencies and disasters. This course also includes information regarding how citizens obtain shelter access, shelter operations, shelter locations, human reactions to emergencies, employee guidelines for self-care and emergency resource information. This course is required for all persons who will work for ESF-6 in any capacity during emergencies and disasters. Information for DSS Shelter Training can be obtained by contacting the DSS ESF-6 Emergency Preparedness Coordinator/Assistant Coordinators and/or Program Managers. FEMA Independent Study Courses FEMA provides courses in Emergency Management for independent study and certification. The purpose of the FEMA Courses is to familiarize emergency personnel with the organizational structure of National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS), which provides a consistent nation-wide standard for emergency management for all government, private sector and other organizations during an emergency. IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS-100) This course introduces the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS). This course will familiarize students with applications for ICS, the major ICS functions and their primary responsibilities, ICS organizational units, ICS span of control, the major incident facilities and the function of each, what an Incident Action Plan is and how it is used at an incident, and the common responsibilities associated with incident assignments. IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (ICS- 200) This course is designed to enable personnel to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS-200 provides training on and resources for personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within the ICS. IS- 100 is a pre-requisite to the IS-200 course. The training is comprised of information regarding leadership and management, delegation of authority, management by objectives, functional areas and positions, briefings, organizational flexibility, and transfer of command.
IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction This course introduces the principles of the National Incident Management System. Upon completion, students will be able to do the following: describe the key concepts and principles underlying NIMS, identify the benefits of using ICS as the national incident management model, describe when it is appropriate to institute an Area Command, describe when it is appropriate to institute a Multiagency Coordination System, describe the benefits of using a Joint Information System (JIS) for public information, identify the ways in which NIMS affects preparedness, describe how NIMS affects the way resources are managed, describe the advantages of common communication and information management systems, explain how NIMS influences technology and technology systems, and describe the purpose of the NIMS Integration Center. IS-800 National Response Plan (NRP), An Introduction This course is an introduction to the National Response Plan, including the concept of operations upon which the plan is built, roles and responsibilities of the key players, and the organizational structures used to manage these resources. Students will learn to describe the purpose of the NRP, locate information within the NRP, describe the responsibilities of entities as specified in the NRP, identify the organizational structure used for NRP coordination, describe the field-level organizations and teams activated under the NRP and identify the incident management activities addressed by the NRP. IS - 300 Intermediate ICS or equivalent This is a classroom course to be made available in the near future. IS - 400 Advanced ICS or equivalent This is a classroom course to be made available in the near future. NOTE: The independent study courses are offered on-line through the FEMA Emergency Management Institute Training Program. http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/
After logging in to the website, Click on Our Courses. Next, click on FEMA Independent Study Program. Scroll down to click on the appropriate course title and follow the instructions from there. You may complete the course at your own pace. You may stop at any time, but the chapter will restart at the beginning each time. There are several small quizzes during the review and a test at the end of each chapter. You will complete one final test at the end of the course, which you must pass or you will have to retake the test. Upon successfully passing the course exam, FEMA will send you an E-mail certificate and confirmation. FEMA will send a paper certificate in the mail within a few weeks. When online courses are completed and certification is obtained, individuals must forward a copy of the FEMA certificate for each completed course to the Safety Officer for his/her agency. American Red Cross Shelter Training The American Red Cross (ARC) has shelter operations trainings available that are relevant to DSS Shelter Operations. Safety managers in each area must contact the local ARC representative to schedule an instructor to come and teach the classes to a group of employees or to obtain information to direct employees to take the training at the local ARC office. This training is optional but is recommended for employees who will work in shelters. IV. Requirements specific to role/function Certain levels of personnel have different training requirements. The training requirements for all personnel are listed on the ESF-6 Training Matrix (see Attachment). All Staff All emergency personnel working toward DSS ESF-6 s mission during emergencies and disasters are responsible for developing a Personal Disaster Emergency Preparedness Plan to ensure availability to participate in emergency preparedness, response and recovery operations as outlined in DSS Emergency Preparedness Policy 1-02. Emergency personnel will need to secure their homes and make arrangements for dependent family members as part of the
personal preparedness plan prior to reporting to an assigned work location. These plans should be updated regularly or whenever circumstances change to ensure the employee and his/her family s personal safety. Shelter Support/Operations Staff This includes staff assigned to work at Critical Transportation Needs Shelters (CTNS), Medical Special Needs Shelters (MSNS), parish Offices of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), Unique Population Shelters (UPS), Parish Pick-Up Points (PPP), Transportation Transfer Points (TTP), Temporary Medical Needs Operation Staging Areas (TMOSA), American Red Cross (ARC) Shelters, Faith-Based General Population Shelters, Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC), Emergency Food Stamp offices, and the Joint Field Office (JFO). Staff s training requirements include IS100, IS700, and DSS Shelter Training. Shelter Management Staff This includes staff assigned as Lead Area Managers (LAM), Assistant LAM, Facility Service Coordinators, Human Services Coordinators, Patient Services Coordinators, Logistics Coordinators, Planning Coordinators, and Finance/Administrative Coordinators who will work in any of the facilities previously listed under Shelter Support/Operations Staff. Staff s training requirements include IS100, IS200, IS700, IS800, IS300, IS400, DSS Shelter Training, and optional American Red Cross (ARC) training. Executive Staff This includes Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Press Secretaries, Division Directors, Assistant Secretaries, and LRS Directors. Staff s training requirements include IS100, IS200, IS700, IS800, IS300, IS400, DSS Shelter Training, and optional American Red Cross (ARC) training. Emergency Management Staff This includes staff assigned to the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC), DSS ESF-6 Operations Cell and others on the DSS Emergency Preparedness/Management team. Staff s training
requirements include IS100, IS200, IS700, IS800, IS300, IS400, and DSS Shelter Training. Office Support Staff This includes state office and field staff assigned to remain at offices to maintain continuity of services and daily operations during emergencies and disasters. Staff s training requirements include IS100, IS700, and DSS Shelter Training. V. Deadlines for Completion of Training DSS Personal Preparedness Plan Training and DSS Shelter Training need to be completed as soon as possible. The initial deadline was June 16 th, 2006. All IS100, IS200, IS700 and IS800 courses MUST be completed by September 30 th, 2006. IS300 and IS400 must be completed by September 30 th, 2007. ARC Trainings are optional and should be taken as soon as possible. VI. Course Completion Each Safety Officer will maintain a record of completion of courses for the personnel within his/her agency. Personnel will be instructed to send a copy of the completion certification for each course to the agency s Safety Officer. VII. Attachments DSS Personal Preparedness Plan Training DSS Shelter Training DSS Policy 1-02 DSS Policy 4-10 ESF-6 Training Matrix