When the incident is the result of a biological attack or accident at a particular site, there may be a need to set up one or more Community Reception Centers (CRCs) to address the mass care needs of incident survivors and their family members, as well as the community at large, and to act as hubs for information sharing. In such instances, establishing a CRC(s) as soon as possible during the incident is critical to meeting the needs of survivors and their families quickly. As with any intentional incident, planners should be aware that places which hold mass gatherings following the incident may become targets for a secondary attack, including hospitals and reception centers.
Depending on the biological agent involved in the incident, CRC operations may need to be modified with various infection prevention and control measures as discussed earlier in this section for evacuation and sheltering. When the biological agent is contagious, CRCs are most likely to become virtual through call centers or hotlines to reduce the threat to those providing services as well as reduce the spread. While feeding operations would typically occur at CRCs, the transmissibility of the biological agent should be considered prior to initiating feeding operations at CRCs after an intentional attack or accidental release.
What Will You Need to Know?
- See What Will You Need to Know? section above for evacuation and sheltering. Many also apply to CRCs.
- What are the reunification plans of daycare centers, schools, businesses, and other organizations in your area?