503 Disaster Services

Original Approval Date: June 15, 2005
Revision Effective: January 20, 2026
 
The Tri-County Board shall develop and maintain a Plan for responding to disasters affecting Miami, Darke, and Shelby Counties, and for assisting disaster responses in regional Board areas when requested. The purpose of the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services Disaster Behavioral Health Plan (the Plan) is to guide an effective behavioral health response to disasters affecting Miami, Darke, and Shelby counties by providing a clear framework for operations and coordination.
The Plan shall outline how the Tri-County Board will support behavioral health needs during all phases of a disaster. Its primary audience is the Board, providing a structure to align efforts and support informed and timely decision-making. The Plan shall also serve as a guiding resource for community agencies that may coordinate with the Board in addressing the behavioral health needs of affected populations.
The Plan shall address preparedness, response, and recovery activities that support the behavioral health of individuals and communities affected by natural and man-made disasters. It shall define the role of the Tri-County Board, who is responsible for ensuring a coordinated behavioral health response within Miami, Darke, and Shelby counties during all phases of a disaster.
The Plan is intended for use by the Board and its contracted providers, and by community agencies including but not limited to Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs), law enforcement agencies, schools, and health care providers that may coordinate with the Board or contribute to a behavioral health response during a disaster. Additionally, the Plan promotes transparency and public awareness by outlining how behavioral health needs will be addressed during disasters.
The Plan shall adopt an all-hazards approach, meaning it is applicable across a wide range of disasters. It applies in any situation where a behavioral health response is requested by an agency leading the disaster response, such as an EMA, law enforcement agency, a school, or a behavioral health coordinator (BHC) from another Board area, county or region.
 The following assumptions shall be made in the development and maintenance of the Plan:
  • Disasters may affect one or more geographic areas and may extend beyond the borders of the Tri-County catchment area.
  • Disasters may have cascading effects that may require their own unique approaches for response and recovery.
  • Disasters are distinct, but they all have common elements that can be effectively managed through the Plan.
  • Isolated incidents may be managed with existing behavioral health and first responder resources; incidents that exceed the capacity of local resources will require activation of the Plan.
  • Although care has been taken to provide direction for response activities, it is impossible to account for all contingencies. The leadership at the Tri-County Board must rely on their best judgment when the Plan does not directly address a particular issue.
  • The Tri-County Board will make every reasonable effort to support contracted service providers to make resources available and accessible to people throughout the county.
The Plan shall define the roles of the Response Team, including but not limited to:
  • Disaster Response Lead agency (including but not limited to county EMA, law enforcement agency, or county health department);
  • Disaster Behavioral Health Coordinator and a Secondary Coordinator;
  • A designation for who shall be included in the Disaster Response Team;
  • A Spokesperson and Secondary Spokesperson to provide information to the general public; and
  • Other roles as determined to be necessary or useful for an effective Disaster Response.
The Plan should be reviewed by Board staff annually, or as known changes to contacts or offices occur. Revisions to the Plan and supporting files do not require formal Board action, except where those revisions would require a change to Board policy. The file location of the Disaster Behavioral Health Response Plan shall be indicated on the footer of the Plan document or documents. The filename of the document or documents shall include the year of review or revision. Paper copies of the Plan shall be kept in:
  • A fire- and flood-safe location;
  • The office of the Executive Director;
  • The offices of the Disaster Behavioral Health Coordinator and a Secondary Coordinator;
  • The offices of the Spokesperson and Secondary Spokesperson.
Paper copies may be kept by any other Board staff as directed by the Executive Director. Electronic backups shall be kept in secure manner to be accessible in the event of power outage. Electronic copies of the Plan shall be distributed to the Executive Director or Designee of the Board’s contracted clinical services provider agencies and the Crisis Services provider. Electronic copies of the Plan may be provided to County EMA Directors, 911 Communication Centers, or other relevant agencies.

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