The National Mass Care Strategy provides a unified approach to the delivery of mass care services by establishing common goals, fostering inclusive collaborative planning and identifying resource needs to build the national mass care capacity engaging the whole community including under-served and vulnerable populations. The National Mass Care Strategy focuses on:
Sheltering
The operation of emergency shelters helps communities provide a safe and secure place for individuals and families to stay before, during, and/or after a disaster.
Distribution of Emergency Supplies
Bulk Distribution workers provide items essential to basic survival, health, and sanitation as quickly and equitably as possible to individuals affected by a disaster. The items provided meet the specific, urgent needs of the disaster-affected community.
Reunification Support
The reunification function provides human and technological resources to reconnect individuals as quickly as possible following a disaster or incident.
Mass Evacuee Support
The provision of life-sustaining services and resources to disaster survivors/evacuees and their Household Pets, Service Animals, and Assistance Animals (HPSA) during mass evacuation incidents.
Household Pets, Service Animals and Assistance Animals
The coordination and support for the rescue, transportation, shelter, reunification, essential needs, and care of Household Pets, Service Animals, and Assistance Animals (HPSA) during preparedness and response and recovery operations.
Accessibility and Inclusive Resources
The provision of services and resources to people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.
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FEMA National Advisory Council Lists Subcommittees for 2024, Including “Planning for Animal Wellness Working Group”
The FEMA National Advisory Council has established “Planning for Animal Wellness Working Group,” a subcommittee formed in response to the Planning for Animal Wellness Act (PAW Act). This subcommittee will aim to assess current policies for animal welfare in disasters regarding sheltering and evacuation and provide the FEMA Administrator with consensus recommendations. For more information: FEMA National Advisory Council FEMA
Commonly Used Pet Items (CUPI)
Introducing Commonly Used Pet Items (CUPI), a planning and procurement tool for pet shelters. This list supports disaster pet shelters with essentials like food, food related items, kennels/crates/cages, handling/safety items for pet sheltering. Check it out in the Household Pets, Service Animals, and Assistance Animals page.
Sheltering Sensory Items
A new fact sheet is listed under Accessible and Inclusive Resources. This document provides information and resources on sensory items to help reduce stress or overstimulation during times of a disaster. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may show sensory sensitivities, demonstrating either over-or under-reactivity to particular lights, smells, sounds, tastes, and/or touch/motion. This can be exacerbated for some children and adults