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Final Report - MRC National-level Response Activities

March 13, 2006

In this Report:

Executive Summary
Background
MRC Unit Activities: Regions I–V
MRC Unit Activities: Regions VI–X
Case Study: Tracking Volunteer Hours
MRC National-level Response Activities
MRC Program Office Communications
MRC Program Office Operations
Initial Lessons Learned and Recommendations
Summary: MRC Unit Leader Survey
Summary: MRC Volunteer Survey

Most Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) response and recovery assignments were delegated by local and state channels, and this is how the MRC program was designed to operate. Although there were opportunities for MRC volunteers to leave their local jurisdictions to help in the affected areas, all MRC leaders were encouraged to ensure that local needs were met prior to making any decisions for national-level deployments. MRC leaders were asked to coordinate with all local and state response partners to ensure they were aware of MRC activities and any potential activation plans at the time.

ARC Mission	HHS Mission
Sheltering operations.	Special needs shelters, hospitals and/or clinic-based medical operation, strike teams, etc.
Licensed volunteers only provide basic health services. Non-licensed volunteers fulfill various sheltering roles.	Licensed volunteers practice in the scope of their discipline. Non-licensed volunteers fulfill various support roles.

The MRC program was built on a partnership with the American Red Cross (ARC), initiated during the 2004 hurricane season. Prior to Hurricane Katrina’s landfall, the ARC disaster operations staff requested MRC support for their sheltering operations (which they predicted would be extensive and longstanding). Policies and processes were developed to identify, assign, and activate MRC members who were willing, able, and authorized to respond to this mission. ARC provided transportation, logistical support, and supervision for the deployed MRC members who provided support for ARC health services and mental health and shelter operations. By the end of September 2005, the MRC Liaison Desk at the ARC Disaster Operations Center received more than 700 applications. Approximately 400 of these applicants were deployed or approved for travel. Recruitment for this mission ended at the beginning of October 2005.

Members from more than 80 MRC units applied for the national mission to support ARC operations and to help victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. However, the strong partnership between the MRC and ARC worked at the national and state levels, as evidenced in the MRC Unit Activity sections of this report (MRC Unit Activities, Regions I–V and MRC Unit Activities, Regions VI–X).

MRC members also participated in response activities outside of their local jurisdiction through a mission to support U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) response and recovery efforts. The first Federal activation of MRC volunteers occurred on September 15, 2005, when HHS needed staffing support for three special needs shelters in Louisiana. More than 50 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, mental health professionals, safety officers, and others were needed to complete this mission. MRC volunteers from Oklahoma and Pennsylvania met the challenge and filled the roster. Subsequent mission assignments allowed MRC members to fill positions in a Community Health Center and health clinics on cruise ships housing evacuees in Mississippi and perform health assessments in Texas. Almost 200 volunteers from 25 MRC units were activated by HHS.

Last Updated on 8/11/2006