Functional Assessment Service Team (FAST)
When Wisconsin residents are displaced from their homes during a disaster and find it necessary to stay in a community emergency shelter, it is essential that community officials, responders, and shelter managers be prepared to provide service and reasonable accommodations to all shelter residents, including those with disabilities, access and functional needs.
Supporting shelter residents with access and functional needs requires proper planning pre-incident and proper coordination during the incident.
FAST identify and support people with access and functional needs when they enter the reception center or shelter to help meet their needs to safely stay there.
If interested in future training, technical assistance, or have other questions, contact John Longo, State FAST Coordinator at John.Longo@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Wisconsin FAST
The Department of Health Services is leading a statewide initiative to identify, recruit, and train state, regional, and local FAST in support of local and tribal government in sheltering people who have been displaced from their homes during a disaster. Local FAST teams are currently being developed in counties statewide.
A FAST is a team of two to eight trained members that:
- May be requested by response staff when it becomes evident that people displaced from their homes may have access or functional needs.
- Evaluates the needs that people may have and determines whether they can be supported within the reception center or shelter.
- Helps response staff distinguish people who have access and functional needs from those who have medical needs.
- Understands behavioral health; physical disabilities; chronic health conditions; and has local community knowledge of languages, culture, and of available resources.
Resources
FAST training
Additional resources can be found on the Office of Preparedness and Emergency Health Care: Trainings webpage.
If interested in future training, technical assistance or have other questions, contact your local FAST team, or John Longo, State FAST Coordinator at John.Longo@dhs.wisconsin.gov.