Virtual Family Assistance Center (FAC) Exercise

     We are just over a week away from the virtual Family Assistance Center (FAC) Exercise and there is still plenty of time to register. The exercise will take place via Zoom on April 8, 2021 from 8:30am-2pm. This virtual discussion will include multiple breakout sessions focused on specific aspects of a FAC in Santa Barbara County.  Please use the link below to register yourself and any members of your organization who would like to participate. The link, may be shared with partner agencies who may have a role or responsibility within a FAC (ex: event venue, school district, emotional and faith based support, transportation, cultural awareness, etc.).

This event will be facilitated by Tara Hughes, President and Principal Consultant for Invicta Crisis Solutions, who is a subject matter expert in mass casualty incident response. Tara will present valuable lessons learned in her experiences, including considerations for the various types of centers that may be needed, how to form effective partnerships, who should have authority, and much more. In between short presentations, the participants will be split into breakout sessions to discuss an incident scenario and what the response might look like here in Santa Barbara County.

This exercise is an important step for testing and updating FAC-related planning documents and best practices here in Santa Barbara County. Following the exercise, Tara Hughes will incorporate discussed topics and lessons learned in the breakout sessions into an after action report and improvement planning document so that we can continue to prepare for future FAC needs and operations in Santa Barbara County.

As an agency with an important role in local disaster-related community wellness, we hope you will join us for this important and formative opportunity. Participants include local, state, and federal government partners as well as nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. Agencies are invited to include any partner agency that may have a role or responsibility to a FAC in Santa Barbara County, however this event is not open to the public.  

Please use this link to RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-assistance-center-discussion-and-exercise-tickets-146489531131

A Zoom participation link will be sent to all who have responded 24 hours in advance of the exercise. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email or on my cell at 805.319.5137.