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Home My Public Portal AboutAmerican Red Cross AgmtJOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT Between PALM BEACH COUNTY CHAPTER of the AMERICAN RED CROSS and the Town of Gulf Stream , STATE OF FLORIDA RELATING TO NATURAL DISASTERS 1. PURPOSE This operating arrangement describes the respective responsibilities and roles of the Palm beach County Chapter of the American Red Cross (hereinafter referred to as ARC) and the Town of Gulf Stream State of Florida in preparedness plans and operations for natural disaster emergency services. Through collaboration, the resources of the ARC and the Town of are brought to bear for the relief of persons affected by natural d sasters or other emergencies. 11. RESPONSIBILITIES IN NATURAL DISASTERS A. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS The Act of Congress constituting the Red Cross Charter required the Red Cross to undertake relief activities for the purpose of mitigating suffering caused by disaster and obligates the Red Cross to develop and carry out measures to prevent such suffering. Public Law 93-288 in no way affects the legal status nor restricts the authority and purposes of the American Red Cross as set forth in that ACT. In carrying out the purposes of Public Law 93-288, and Sec. 303, (b), (3), or subsequent disaster legislation, Federal, State, or local government may, by contract or otherwise, accept and utilize the services and facilities of the Red Cross, or may render through the Red Cross any assistance authorized by that Act, such as medicines, food, and other consumable supplies or emergency assistance. Aid to disaster victims is not dependent upon a Presidential declaration of a major disaster, but is provided regardless of the size of that catastrophe or the number of people involved through a program of disaster preparedness and relief by ARC Chapters, Divisions, and areas throughout the country, and provides disaster victims with food, clothing, shelter, first aid, and supplementary medical, nursing, and hospital care and meets other urgent, immediate needs. This help may be provided on the basis of mass care in shelters and at feeding stations and aid stations and also provides food and first aid services for emergency workers. The Red Cross provides blood and blood products for disaster victims, and handles inquiries from concerned individuals outside the disaster area. Help for disaster victims may also be provided on an individual family basis, with funds or purchase orders issued to families for food, clothing, medical care, health items, essential household furnishings, urgently needed occupa- tional supplies and equipment, emergency rentals for housing, transportation and temporary minor repairs to homes so that they can be reoccupied. The Red Cross will assist in providing information about Federal and other resources available for additional assistance to disaster victims and will refer families to such resources. The Red Cross will assist families in assembling needed information for applicants for such aid and will help them in processing their applications if the families ask for such assistance. When there is no Presidential Declaration of a major disaster, or when such declaration has been made but a family is not eligible for government benefits, Red Cross assistance also may include other recovery needs in addition to the emergency help already given. In such cases, the need for help will be determined by an individual casework process. All Red Cross disaster aid is on a grant basis, with no request for or expectation of repayment. necause aaministrative responsibility and financial control the Red Cross requires that all funds utilized by-It—in ext be expended in accordance with its established policies. . B. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Operating responsibilities remain with those agencies which are normally charged by law with such responsibilities. These responsibilities include: A. Maintenance or restoration of normal government services and facilities. B. Extension or augmentation of certain normal government services when such extension or augmentation is consistent or compatible with such normal community services. These services include: (1) Warning and evacuation (2) Search and rescue (3) Police and fire protection (4) Emergency medical, public health, and sanitation. (5) Identification and disposition of the dead, including operation of temporary morgues. (6) Institutional care for the sick, aged, and orphaned. (7) Damage survey and assessment. (8) Engineering and public works. (9) Designation of hazardous structures and areas. (10) Debris removal from public property. (11) Public welfare. (12) Utilities. (13) Supply,.transportation, and communications. (14) Manpower. (15) Immediate notification to all departments and agencies providing assistance when a disaster is imninent or occurring. (16) Coordination and determination of priorities in allocation and use of available local resources and requests for support through other government or private agency channels. C. Page 3 1. The Red Crone unually will have on-going working relation- ships for disaster preparedness and relief with State and local governments. Beaause the Red Cross responds immediately following a disaster's occurrence, the organization will often be operational before a Presidential Declaration of a major disaster is made and will be working with the State and local governments before a Federal Coordinating Officer of Federal Disaster Assistance Administration is designated. While the Red Cross will keep the Federal Coordinating Officer fully informed as to the working arrangements in- volved in a specific disaster situation, the ARC will continue its direct relationships with the State and local governments. 2. FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTA14CE ADMINISTRATION CENTERS (FDAA) The Red Cross will provide appropriate volunteers and/or staff to give direct service to disaster victims at all FDAA Disaster Assistance Centers when they are established. However, if the Red Cross has opened disaster service centers in the Disaster area prior to a Presidential Declaration and/or.prior to the opening of FDAA Centers, the Red Cross will continue to operate as many of its separate centers as necessary unless facilities and convenience to disaster victims are adequate in the FDAA Center to accomodate the number of Red Cross relief personnel and disaster victims involved. 111. COOPERATION AND COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC AUTHORITIES The Red Cross cooperates with all Federal, State, and local agencies who have any responsibility for rendering disaster relief assistance to disaster victims. The Red Cross is willing to accept commissions from governments and coordinate its relief effort with designated agencies. This may include acting as an agent for governmental units under mutually agreed-upon conditions. Page 4 SIO" TORY Town of Gulf Stream Mayor ARC Chapter Chairman Date approved v - Date approved (2 Board Board Chairman / ARC Chapter an, er -' Date approved Date approved COMMISSIONERS William F Koch, Jr, Mayor Joel Hunler. Vice Mayor Alan L Armour Rabaul J. Diaam, Brian Malllm TOWN OF GULF STREAM PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA March 14, 1983 Mr. Robert E. Oberfelder Disaster Specialist American Red Cross Palm Beach County Chapter P. O. Box 870 825 Fern Street West Palm Beach, Florida 33402 Dear Mr. Oberfelder, Thank you for your letter of March 11, 1983. We have not received your letter of January 19, 1983 with the accompanying Joint Operating Agreement and would app- reciate it if you would send us a copy of same. We look forward to working with you and if there are any further questions please feel free to contact me at the above address. Sincerely, �LLLYLC� t�Gr.CY//d Lc>i Nancy Adams Assistant Toon Clerk MAIL ADDRESS 246 SEA ROAD GULF STREAM, FLORIDA 17444 TEL.: GULF STREAM 276-5116 Town Manager WILLIAM E. GWYNN Depuly Town Clerk BARBARA GWYNN Chief of Police JAMES GREER American Red Cross March 11, 1983 Honorable William F. Koch, Mayor Town of Gulf Stream 246 Sea Road Gulf Stream, FI. 33444 Dear Mayor Koch: Palm Beach County Chapter P.O. Box H70 825 Fern Seer West Palm Beach, Fla. 33,102 (305)833-7711 South Cnun y Service Center Spanish River Plaza — Bay # 32 500 Fast Spanish River Boulevard Boca Raton, Florida 33431 13051368-6622 We have been wondering why we have not heard from you regarding our letter of January 19th, with the accompanying Joint Operating Agreement between your municipality and the Red Cross. If further information is needed or you have any questions, please feel free to call us. If there are no questions, we would greatly apprec- iate your giving this your attention in order that we may have our disaster planning formulated well in advance of the next hurricane season. You can reach me or Jerry Krinn, our Disaster Services Director, at the Red Cross, 833-7711, should you wish to arrange a meeting with us. I look forward to hearing from you shortly. Sincerely, P61pl. Robert E. Oberfelder Disaster Specialist 14;,,