The LPF was developed by NLM for possible future use by BHEPP during emergencies in the National Capitol Region. BHEPP was established to improve community disaster preparedness and response in Bethesda, Maryland and includes the National Naval Medical Center, the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, and Suburban Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine. Multi-agency exercises identified a need for a tool to help reunify families during a crisis, in particular as disaster victims are brought to medical facilities for care.
The LPF system is designed to allow first responders to submit photographs and descriptive information about disaster victims (name (if known), age group, gender, status, and location) to a Web site that other family members can search to locate loved ones. The system has been designed to share data with other lost-person finder systems, including the system established by Google, but it provides additional functionality not available in these other systems, including the capability to upload photographs from camera-equipped cell phones and to search by information other than name.
As the Director, National Library of Medicine (NLM), I submit this request for emergency clearance of the information collection for the Bethesda Hospitals Emergency Preparedness Partnership (BHEPP) Lost Person Finder (LPF). Development of the LPF system has been greatly accelerated to enable its use in the US Government's ongoing efforts to respond to the recent earthquake in Haiti. As such, I have determined, in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.13, that the collection of the information for the Lost Person Finder:
a) is needed prior to the expiration of time periods established under 5 CFR 1320;
b) is consistent with the mission of the agency;
c) is needed to respond to circumstances that could not be foreseen; and
d) the agency cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures because the use of the normal clearance procedures could result in significant harm to the public or the program.
US Code:
42 USC 241
Name of Law: Public Health Service Act
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.