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| Main, Forms |
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| Emergency Rest Center Program
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| What is the Emergency Rest Center (ERC) Program?
The Emergency Rest Center (ERC) Program is a partnership between the Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiative (MOFI), and faith- and community-based facilities around the City of Philadelphia.
Emergency Rest Centers are locations made available to residents for a temporary place of refuge in times of emergency. This program intends to establish a series of ERCs throughout all seven Police Divisions of the City.
A variety of incidents could require the activation of ERCs throughout all, or parts, of the City of Philadelphia. Like other large metropolitan areas, Philadelphia must have the capabilities to evacuate large masses of people and assist them during such evacuations. Additionally, ERCs may be activated as support for localized, small-scale emergencies within Philadelphia neighborhoods. |
What does it take to become and ERC?
An Emergency Rest Center is a self-sustaining, accessible facility that allows for timely activation. In times of emergency, ERCs provide the following:
- A temporary place of refuge at locations that best accommodate evacuees’ needs, including:
- along evacuation routes, which are easily accessible by foot or public transit, and
- within locations considered to be neighborhood “centers”, including major churches and community center
- Assistance in the initial phases of an emergency or evacuation by providing basic provisions, including:
- a place to rest,
- basic first aid and hydration supplies, and
- a means of communication for evacuees.
Emergency Rest Center's are not designed to become a sleeping facility or a source of meals.
As a participant in this program, your ERC will be operated by you and volunteers from your community. Your Center would be responsible for recruiting and maintaining volunteers to serve as the Emergency Rest Center staff.
In order to prepare your Center to handle evacuees, all ERC staff will participate in an Office of Emergency Management training session. This training session will detail:
- The role of an ERC;
- When a facility would be activated as an ERC;
- Volunteer protocol when an ERC is activated;
- Deactivation of an ERC; and
- Follow-up procedures in the event that an ERC is activated
OEM will also provide ERC facilities with updates in training as needed.
Interested in Participating in the ERC Program?
Do you think that your organization would like to participate in the Emergency Rest Center Program? If so, please fill out the ERC Participation Form.
Contact UsIf you have any questions regarding the Emergency Rest Center Program, please contact Noelle Foizen, OEM’s Volunteer Management Coordinator, at noelle.foizen@phila.gov, or (215) 683-3252.
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