POD Training for Emergency Response in a Disaster

POD Training for Emergency Response

PODs are actually 96 gallon garbage cans. In this case, they were filled with basic safety rescue gear and first aid.

Dan Bennett of the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services did a POD training at the Moss Beach Substation March 21st, 2018. Local San Mateo County Sheriff Office search and rescue and CERT volunteers attended.

It was part of a larger coastside emergency exercise. Pescadero set up a Red Cross Shelter. The HMB Airport ran communication exercises. It was rainy, windy and cold so the POD team did not do the full exercise. Next time we will get PODS off the boats at the boat ramp, to the harbor parking lot for distribution. PODs can be delivered by truck (usually), boat or plane.

Points of Distribution, or PODS, are centralized locations where the public picks up life sustaining commodities and important documentation following a disaster or emergency.

Common Distribution Methods

MOBILE DELIVERY is a method that utilizes vehicles to drive into an affected area and provide commodities at different drop locations, where the need is identified. This type of distribution is common is rural areas and where roads are damaged.

DIRECT DELIVERY coordinates with a specific location, such as a shelter, feeding site, or hospital for the delivery of specific items and quantities. These commodities could be food, water, comfort kits, etc. Direct deliveries are usually larger in size and more specific in commodity type than what is delivered through mobile delivery.

POINTS OF DISTRIBUTION are centralized points where supplies are delivered and the public travels to the site to pick up the commodities.

Roles and Responsibilities for the EOC (Emergency Operations Center)

The EOC determines the location and type of POD to be implemented. This is determined by:

Organizational Structure

population density
public need
resources needed, versus available
available space and infrastructure to set up a POD

Logistics for the EOC to consider:

workers may not be covered for workers compensation or liability
may not have the resources to supply the pod
may not have the capability to communicate or access the pod
may decide not to utilize pods as a form of public commodity distribution
this may cause false expectations or false hopes from surrounding citizens and residents

Operations for the EOC to consider:

Selecting pod staff and locations
Registering pod workers DSW
Providing pod training
Supplying pods
Demobilizing pods
Conducting pod reset

EOC designates:

resources for each pod type of distributed commodity
amount of distributed commodity
pod material handling equipment
activates a pod

Pod Manager Checklist

team members arrived at POD site
site hazard assessment complete
communications established with EOC
inspect pod kit
determine the location of the supply loading and vehicle lines (consider volunteer pedestrian safety)
establish the Portapotty location
established the dumpster location
establish the break area location
set up traffic cones around the vehicle line
ensure supply trucks can enter and exit safely
assign staffing positions
distribute PPE
conduct a safety briefing
determine signage locations
receive Porta potty‘s new line receive dumpster
receive pallet jack
receive first aid supply
notify EOC that the pod is ready for opening
put up signage
open pod
notify the EOC that the pod is open