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2014/11/05 Riverside, County American Red Cross Memorandum of Understanding Between The Riverside County Chapter of the American Red Cross and The City of Menifee, California Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Menifee and American Red Cross I. Purpose The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") is to define a working relationship between The [Local Field Office] American Red Cross (hereinafter "Red Cross" or "ARC") and the City of Menifee, a municipal corporation (hereinafter "City of Menifee"), in preparing for and responding to disasters. This MOU provides the broad framework for cooperation and support between the Red Cross and the City of Menifee in assisting individuals and families who have been impacted by disaster and providing other humanitarian services. II. Parties A. City of Menifee The City of Menifee is a municipal Director corporation formed under the laws of the State of California. B. American Red Cross 1. Services for people affected by disasters Founded in 1881, the American Red Cross is the nation's premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral and impartial humanitarian care, the American Red Cross is the community-based organization that mobilizes people to aid victims of disasters with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering. The Red Cross provides disaster services without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship or veteran status. It follows the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Red Cross is closely integrated into community response efforts, including the efforts of federal, state and local government and non- government organizations. Our goal is to work with all partners to lead a well-integrated, effective and efficient response to every disaster. The Red Cross provides disaster services pursuant to its Bylaws and other internal policies and procedures as well as its Congressional Charter (USC 36 §300101-300111). In the Charter, Congress authorized the Red Cross "to carry out a system of national and international relief in time of peace, and apply that system in mitigating the suffering caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry out measures for preventing those calamities." Following a disaster, whether natural or human-made, the Red Cross will provide some or all of the following services: Food, Shelter and Emergency Supplies During a disaster, our first priority is to ensure that people have a safe place to stay, food, and emergency supplies. Red Cross works with government and community partners to open shelters City of Menifee and American Red Cross November 5,2014 2 Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Menifee and American Red Cross where residents will find comfort with a hot meal, recovery information, and a place to rest. For emergency workers and people returning to their homes, the Red Cross mobilizes emergency response vehicles from which disaster workers distribute food, water, and essential clean-up items that might not be immediately available in the community Welfare Information Disasters often disrupt regular communication channels and can separate families. Through the Red Cross' nationwide network of chapters, family members may request welfare information regarding their loved ones. The Red Cross "Safe and Well" Web site enables people within a disaster area to let their families and friends outside of the affected region know that they are all right. Clients register on Safe and Well at www.redeross.org/safeaiidwell . During large-scale disasters, individuals without internet access can call 1-800-RED-CROSS to register. Client Casework and Recovery Planning and Assistance Red Cross provides individual client services through casework to people with disaster-related needs, with particular attention to those who have experienced significant damage or loss of their homes. This casework process helps the worker to assess the client's immediate needs, and connect the client with items, which may include and referrals to local resources and/or financial assistance to meet those needs. The caseworker also engages the client in a brief planning process which can help identify action steps for the client to follow in the first few days or weeks after a disaster. Red Cross caseworkers protect client confidentiality and work closely with other organizations and groups to ensure clients have access to all available resources. Disaster Health and Mental Health Services After an emergency, injuries can ensue, essential prescription medicines lost, and the shock and stress of sudden loss can overwhelm a person's normal coping skills. The Red Cross deploys licensed health and mental health professionals who are trained and equipped to provide assistance at the time of a disaster. Disaster health services professionals can provide emergency first aid and medical assessment, triage and replacement of emergency medications with item distribution, financial assistance or referrals to community partners. Disaster mental health professionals provide mental health assessments, crisis intervention and a sympathetic ear to those in need. 2. Services related to the National Response Framework The American Red Cross is a co-lead for the mass care component of Emergency Support Function 96 of the National Response Framework. In this role, the Red Cross engages in a variety of activities to support states in their planning, coordinating and executing of mass care programs and strategies. The Red Cross also takes a leadership role in working with other non- governmental organizations and private companies that provide services during a disaster. 3. Oreanization The American Red Cross is a single corporation, chartered by the United States Congress to provide humanitarian services. Its national headquarters, located in Washington, D.C., is responsible for implementing policies and procedures that govern Red Cross activities and provides administrative and technical oversight and guidance to the chartered units, which City of Menefee and American Red Cross November 5,2014 2 Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Menifee and American Red Cross include chapters and blood services regions. Each chapter has certain authority and responsibility for carrying out Red Cross disaster preparedness and response activities, delivering local Red Cross services, and meeting corporate obligations within the territorial jurisdiction assigned to it. Each chapter is familiar with the hazards of the locality and surveys local resources for personnel, equipment, supplies, transportation, emergency communications, and facilities available for disaster relief. The chapter also formulates cooperative plans and procedures with local government agencies and private organizations for relief activities should a disaster occur. Through its nationwide organization, the Red Cross coordinates its total resources for use in large disasters. In order to provide these services, the Red Cross may call on the Federal, state or local government for assistance when voluntary contributions are not sufficient to meet community needs. IIl. Cooperative Actions The Red Cross and the City of Menifee will use best efforts to coordinate their respective disaster relief activities to maximize services to the community and avoid duplication of efforts in the following ways: 1. Maintain close coordination, liaison, and support at all levels with conferences, meetings, and other means of communication. Include a representative of the other party in appropriate committees, planning groups and task forces formed to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and other emergencies. Develop joint Standard Operating Procedures for notification of disaster and emergency situations. 2. During disasters and emergencies, keep each other informed of the human needs created by the events and the services they are providing. Share current data regarding disasters, to include statistical information, historical information, emerging needs and trends, damage assessments, among others, and disaster declarations, and service delivery. 3. During a disaster or emergency situation the Red Cross will, as appropriate at the request of the City of Menifee, provide liaison personnel to the City of Menifee Emergency Operations Center and any corresponding counties under the authority of the City of Menifee. The City of Menifee will provide work space and, whenever possible, other required support, such as a computer, e-mail access and a designated phone line for the Red Cross liaison personnel assigned to the Emergency Operations Centers. 4. The City of Menifee will support the Red Cross in the use of the American Red Cross National Shelter System (NSS) and the Red Cross will coordinate shelter information sharing and reporting with the City of Menifee. 5. The City of Menifee will facilitate the Red Cross's use of county and state-owned facilities for shelters and service delivery sites wherever possible. The terms and conditions of such use will be set forth in a separate agreement. 6. Work together to develop plans and secure resources to facilitate delivery of services to people with disabilities and/or functional and access needs during a disaster. City of Menifee and American Red Cross November 5,2014 2 Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Menifee and American Red Cross 7. Actively participate in reviewing and carrying out responsibilities outlined in the local emergency operations plans. 8. During the time of disaster and readiness, keep the public informed of the parties' cooperative efforts through the public information offices of the Red Cross and the City of Menifee. 9. The City of Menifee recognizes that the Red Cross is dependent upon voluntary public financial donations and will encourage residents to support Red Cross disaster relief with financial contributions. In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, the City of Menifee will support the Red Cross and work together, as appropriate, to acquire necessary resources and identify funding sources that increase Local Emergency Management and Red Cross capacity to respond to disasters and emergencies. 10. Advocate for programs and public policy/decisions, when appropriate, designed to mitigate disaster damage and loss of life in the City of Menifee. 11. Encourage City of Menifee residents to support the needs of hospital patients with blood donations when appropriate. 12. Actively seek to determine other areas, projects, and services within the Red Cross and the City of Menifee where cooperation and support will be mutually beneficial with jointly defined goals and objectives. 13. Use or display the name, emblem, or trademarks of the American Red Cross or the City of Menifee only in the case of defined projects and only with the prior express written consent of the other organization. 14. Make training, educational and other developmental opportunities available to the other party's personnel and explore joint training and exercises. Encourage all staff and volunteers to engage in training, exercises, and disaster response activities, as appropriate 15. Explore opportunities for collaboration to provide community, family, and citizen disaster preparedness within the City of Menifee. 16. Allow the use of each other's facilities, as available and if agreed upon in writing, for the purpose of preparedness training, meetings and response and recovery activities. 17. Widely distribute this MOU within the Red Cross' and the City of Menifee departments and administrative offices and urge full cooperation. Examples of additional Cooperative Actions (as applicable): City of Menifee and American Red Cross November 5, 2014 2 Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Menifee and American Red Cross • Lead/Establish/Coordinate/Operate Kay Cineseros Senior Center the City of Menifee in response to a disaster. • The ARC will support the City of Menifee in integrating the efforts of the non- governmental organizations (NGOs)that provide mass care services during response operations. • The ARC will assist in the City of Menifee response to emergencies and disasters with responsibilities in support of Emergency Support Function (ESF) 6, 8, etc. • The ARC will, as appropriate, at the request of the City of Menifee Agency assist the City of Menifee mass care lead agency in mass care planning and response coordination with other non-govermnental organizations (NGOs). • Jointly develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) that standardize recurring tasks and responsibilities for each Emergency Support Function the ARC is identified in the City of Menifee] Disaster Response Plan as a support agency. • Jointly develop plans, protocols and procedures to maximize sharing and utilization of nursing staff at ARC shelters and other City of Menifee emergency sites. VIII. Periodic Review The parties will, on an annual basis, on or around the anniversary date of this MOU,jointly evaluate their progress in implementing this MOU and revise and develop new plans or goals as appropriate. IX. Term and Termination. This MOU is effective as of November 5, 2014 . It expires on November 5, 2019. Six months prior to expiration, the parties will meet to review the progress and success of the cooperative effort. In connection with such review, the parties may decide to extend this MOU for an additional period not exceeding five years, and if so shall confirm this in a signed writing. This MOU may be terminated by written notification from either party to the other at any time and for any reason or for no reason. X. Miscellaneous This MOU does not create a partnership or a joint venture and does not create any financial commitments from one party to the other. Neither party has the authority to bind the other to any obligation. It is not intended that this MOU be enforceable as a matter of law in any court or dispute resolution forum. The sole remedy for non-performance under this MOU shall be termination, with no damages or penalty. City of Menifee and American Red Cross November 5,2014 2 Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Menifee and American Red Cross Signature page follows. CITY OF N E AMERICAN R D C OSS G Scott A. Mann, Mayor Debbie Lea y,. ks as-fio�z ��Grc�✓� Attest: Kathy Bennett, City Clerk Approved as to Form: Je y etching, City rney City of Menifee and American Red Cross November 5,2014 2