CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More

Crisis & Emergency Services

    Results: 19

  • 911 Services (1)
    JR-6000

    911 Services

    JR-6000

    Programs that operate a telephone response service staffed by trained personnel who assess requests for emergency assistance and dispatch the appropriate emergency response agency (law enforcement, fire, paramedics/EMTs or ambulance services, the latter per a contract with the municipality).
  • COVID-19 Control (11)
    JP-1500.1700-150

    COVID-19 Control

    JP-1500.1700-150

    Programs that attempt to control the occurrence and spread of the virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in 2019 that causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, which probably originally emerged from an animal source but has spread from person-to-person in many locales as well as to other countries around the world and has been identified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. SARS, another coronavirus that emerged to infect people, came from civet cats, while MERS (the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), another coronavirus that emerged to infect people, came from camels. Symptoms of the current infection include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Those most at risk from the virus are older adults and people with preexisting health conditions. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets. There is no evidence of transmission of the virus associated with imported goods. Strategies for controlling the spread of the virus include testing individuals who have had contact with people with active cases, tracing people who have had contact with people who have tested positively or have contracted the virus, quarantining individuals who have the illness and, in areas that have experienced community transmission, asking residents to engage in social distancing (avoiding large parties, sporting events and other venues where large crowds typically gather). Local authorities may ask that special events like conferences, festivals and concerts be cancelled or rescheduled or may ban large gatherings altogether, for example having sports events take place without on-site spectators.
  • Crisis Intervention (4)
    RP-1500

    Crisis Intervention

    RP-1500

    Programs that provide immediate assistance for people who are in acute emotional distress; who are or perceive themselves to be in life-threatening situations; who are a danger to themselves or to others; or who are hysterical, frightened or otherwise unable to cope with a problem that requires immediate action. The objective of crisis intervention is to defuse the critical nature of the situation, ensure the person's safety, and return the individual to a state of equilibrium in which he or she is capable of identifying and seeking solutions to the problem.
  • Disaster Preparedness (1)
    TH-1700

    Disaster Preparedness

    TH-1700

    Activities, programs and systems developed prior to an emergency that support community readiness and resiliency assessment; development and testing of disaster plans; training of staff in plan implementation; establishment of collaborative arrangements with other services; provision of suitable warning systems; identification, procurement and/or collection of the facilities, equipment, supplies and trained personnel that will be necessary for responding to an emergency; and development and dissemination of information and/or training about how individuals and organizations can prepare for a major disaster or large-scale emergency that disrupts the normal functioning of a community.
  • Disaster Relief Services (4)
    TH-2600

    Disaster Relief Services

    TH-2600

    Programs that facilitate the exchange of information and/or provide short-term assistance, usually in the form of food, clothing, blankets, temporary shelter, furnishings, small appliances or temporary financial aid, for people who have suffered injuries or incurred losses due to a major disaster or large-scale emergency that disrupts the normal functioning of a community. The objective of disaster relief is to help individuals sustain their lives during the immediate aftermath of the event. NOTE: "Disaster Relief" is a category of services utilized by community human services agencies involved in disaster work. Government organizations do not recognize disaster relief as a formal part of the disaster cycle. Most of the services classified as disaster relief are considered by government to be part of disaster recovery and a few (e.g., disaster welfare inquiries) are categorized as disaster response.
  • Domestic Violence Shelters (2)
    BH-1800.1500-100

    Domestic Violence Shelters

    BH-1800.1500-100

    Programs that provide temporary emergency shelter for individuals, primarily women, who have experienced domestic violence/abuse, and for their children. Such facilities usually provide in-house individual, group and family counseling and the full range of secondary services related to domestic violence including referral to appropriate resources. Also included are similar facilities for battered men and those that can accommodate both men and women, where they are available.
  • Emergency Medical Transportation (1)
    LD-1500

    Emergency Medical Transportation

    LD-1500

    Programs that provide rapid transportation to health care facilities for accident victims and acutely ill or injured individuals who need immediate medical intervention both on the scene and en route.
  • Emergency Room Care (1)
    LD-1700

    Emergency Room Care

    LD-1700

    Hospitals and other health care facilities that provide 24-hour diagnostic and treatment services for people who have acute, life-threatening injuries or severe illnesses.
  • Emergency Shelter (1)
    BH-1800

    Emergency Shelter

    BH-1800

    Programs that provide a temporary or transitional place to stay for newcomers, people who are in crisis, or homeless individuals in the community.
  • Environmental Hazards Reporting (1)
    JP-6500.2000

    Environmental Hazards Reporting

    JP-6500.2000

    Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that people who are involved in or witness to an environmental emergency can use to file a report with the proper authorities. An environmental emergency is a situation that poses an immediate threat to public health or the environment resulting from the release or potential release of oil, hazardous chemicals or radioactive materials into the air, land or water. Environmental emergencies may include: oil or chemical spills onto soil or into surface water, groundwater, or storm drains and sanitary sewers; leaking or reacting drums of known or unknown chemical or hazardous waste; leaking underground storage tanks; fires involving tires, PCBs, pesticides or other chemicals; accidents involving the transportation of chemicals, oil or other petroleum products; improper disposal or handling of asbestos, and biomedical, radioactive or hazardous waste; and mercury spills.
  • Fire Services (1)
    JR-1900

    Fire Services

    JR-1900

    Programs that are responsible for preventing, investigating, controlling and extinguishing fires. Activities include fire safety education, firefighting, investigating the causes of suspicious fires, maintaining equipment and trained firefighters necessary for a quick and efficient response to fires when they occur, and enforcing fire codes which protect lives and property from fires and explosions arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, or from conditions hazardous to life and property in the use or occupancy of buildings or other premises.
  • Fire Stations (1)
    JR-1950

    Fire Stations

    JR-1950

    Locations throughout the community which house fire equipment and personnel.
  • In Person Crisis Intervention (3)
    RP-1500.3300

    In Person Crisis Intervention

    RP-1500.3300

    Programs that provide an opportunity for people who are emotionally distressed and/or for their significant others to meet face-to-face with someone who has been trained to assess and resolve the immediate crisis, if possible, and to link the person with appropriate resources for ongoing assistance.
  • Information and Referral (3)
    TJ-3000

    Information and Referral

    TJ-3000

    Programs whose primary purpose is to maintain information about human service resources in the community and to link people who need assistance with appropriate service providers and/or to supply descriptive information about the agencies or organizations which offer services. The information and referral process involves establishing contact with the individual, assessing the individual's long and short-term needs, identifying resources to meet those needs, providing a referral to identified resources, and, where appropriate, following up to ensure that the individual's needs have been met.
  • Poison Control (1)
    LH-2700.6500

    Poison Control

    LH-2700.6500

    Programs that provide emergency information, usually on a 24-hour basis, for medical personnel or others who may need to take immediate corrective action to treat an individual who has been poisoned or to prevent such an occurrence.
  • Safety Advisories (1)
    JR-8000

    Safety Advisories

    JR-8000

    Programs that issue bulletins to update the public about road or weather conditions, warn them of imminent threats to public health or which otherwise inform them of environmental conditions that are potential safety hazards for people in the immediate area.
  • Substance Use Disorder Intervention Programs (4)
    RX-8470.8400

    Substance Use Disorder Intervention Programs

    RX-8470.8400

    Programs that work with the families and friends and others who are concerned with the excessive use of alcohol and/or use of other drugs by someone they love with the objective of helping those individuals create a crisis in the life of the person as the first step in helping them to recognize that they have a substance use disorder and accept treatment. The program offers a guided process during which groups of concerned others express their feelings about the effects of the problem on their own lives; develop the strength and objectivity to confront the one they love; plan and rehearse an intervention strategy where the individual is confronted with his or her behavior and the consequences of refusing to seek treatment; confirm a treatment plan including financial arrangements and bed availability; establish a date and time for the intervention; and carry out the intervention with the hope that the person will accept treatment.
  • Suicide Prevention Hotlines (3)
    RP-1500.1400-800

    Suicide Prevention Hotlines

    RP-1500.1400-800

    Programs that provide immediate assistance for individuals who are having suicidal feelings with the objective of helping them explore alternatives to self-harm or self-destruction. Included are local, accredited hotlines, countywide and statewide programs, programs offered by local nonprofit organizations and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of more than 180 local crisis centers. Suicide prevention workers establish and maintain contact with the individual while identifying and clarifying the focal problem, evaluate the suicidal potential, assess the individual's strengths and resources, and mobilize available resources including paramedic or police intervention and emergency psychiatric care as needed. These programs can also help individuals who are worried about the potentially suicidal behavior of another with the objective of helping them identify warning signs and provide options for seeking further help. Hotline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has designated 988 as the three digit dialing code that will replace or supplement the existing toll free number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The deadline for implementation by all voice service providers is set for July 16, 2022.
  • Suicide Prevention Programs (7)
    RR-5150.5000-800

    Suicide Prevention Programs

    RR-5150.5000-800

    Programs that attempt to reduce the incidence of suicide through a variety of educational interventions which have the objective of exploring alternatives to self-harm or self-destruction. Suicide prevention programs help people understand the nature of the problem; the risk factors and warning signs; and sources for treatment and support. Included are prevention programs that address specific target populations as well as those that are intended to reach the community at large. Delivery formats may include printed materials, videos or websites that address the subject and presentations in schools and agencies and to family groups.