MFHQ Security Identification Badges

Security Identification Badges will be issued and controlled by Security.

All staff and visitors will be issued Site-Specific Access Badges. EXCEPTION: Key Command Staff, designated by the Medical Examiner, will be issued FULL ACCESS Badges.

Full Access Badges should be limited to Key Command Staff such as those listed here:

• Medical Examiner
• Public Information Officer
• Director of Resource Management
• Director of Operations
• State Coordinator Officer
• Federal Coordinator Officer
• National Transportation Safety Board Officer
• Mental Health Officer
• Mental Health Administrator
• Chaplaincy Administrator
• Security Administrator
• Workplace Safety Coordinator
• Red Cross Administration Officer

All staff assigned to the Mass Fatalities Headquarters, Emergency Operations Center, Staff Processing Center, Disaster Site, Morgue Site, and Family Assistance Center will be issued Badges by Staff Processing Center Security.

Visitors to the Disaster Site, Morgue Site, Staff Processing Center, and Mass Fatalities Operation Headquarters will be issued Visitor Badges by Site Security.

All family members and visitors to the Family Assistance Center will be issued Badges by Family Assistance Center Security.

Security Staff at each site will maintain an Identification Badge Register that will be used to track the issuance of all Badges.

Any staff or visitor representing a specific disaster relief organization shall also display the Identification Badge of that organization.

Prior to the admittance of any staff or visitor to a site, Security will confirm the identity of the Badge holder with some form of picture identification, such as a driver's license.

Any individual discovered at a site without the proper Security Badge will be physically escorted to Site Security. If the individual is or should be authorized to be admitted to the site, the appropriate pass will be issued.

Any individual discovered at a site without authorization shall be detained by Site Security and surrendered over to local law enforcement.

Health Services

Physical hardships encountered during a mass fatalities incident response can be overwhelming for staff, regardless of workers' physical health in ordinary circumstances. At least one Health Services Staff member must be on call at all times to serve as a consultant to Site Officers and Function Administrators regarding health issues and to monitor the health and well-being of the disaster Staff, survivors, and family members. Health Services Staff shall screen all workers before they are sent to an assignment Site to ensure each worker's ability to handle the physical and emotional stress of the assigned function.

Although specific protocol and procedures will be determined by the Health Services Administrator, Health Services Staff are responsible for fulfilling the following duties:

• Provide health screening for all incoming staff during staff processing
• Provide emergency health care for staff, survivors, and family members by being available at all times by pager, cellular telephone, radio, or other communications device
• Assist in the evaluation, consultation and follow-up of all injuries and illnesses of staff, survivors, and family members during the mass fatalities incident response
• Inform Workplace Safety Coordinator of all illnesses and environmental conditions that may affect the general health of staff
• Serve as resources for Site Officers and Function Administrators regarding health issues
• Establish contacts with local physicians, dentists, and urgent care providers, and develop a resource list which is available to all staff
• Educate staff to prevent adverse physical effects caused by demands of providing disaster services

Public Information Procedures

The media has the legal right to cover disasters and provides an excellent resource to assist family members in learning the facts surrounding the incident. In previous disasters, the majority of representatives of the media have shown consideration for the well-being of the victims and their family members. In a few instances, however, members of the media have violated that trust. In a mass fatalities incident, it becomes extremely important that a balance be achieved between the rights of the media and the rights of family members and the disaster operation.

In order to achieve this balance, Mass Fatalities Operation Officials should provide the media with opportunities to cover the incident, timely updates of information, and access to family members if a family requests a meeting with the media.