WTC Records Folder 0128 Disaster Information General label, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Responding to Terrorism Victims - Oklahoma City and Beyond Page 4 of 10

fund would pay for expenses that are not reimbursable by the state crime victim compensation program and federal assistance funds.

Discussion The Oklahoma state legislature enabled the Oklahoma Crime Victim Compensation program to accept public and private donations to create a special fund to provide compensation and assistance to the bombing victims and surviving family members. The program was also given the flexibility to pay lost wages and cover grief counseling for family members of the victims. The creation of this special fund enabled the Oklahoma Crime Victim Compensation program to help victims with expenses not traditionally covered by the program. Policymakers should determine in advance if legislation is required to establish a special find, what kinds of additional expenses will be covered by the fund, how much funding should be held in reserve, and what financial resources are available to support special fund efforts.

Recommendation 8

Agencies serving victims should work together to develop protocols for recruiting, screening, training, and supporting volunteers who work with terrorism victims and their families.

Discussion To avoid confusion and conflict in the aftermath of a large-scale terrorism incident, guidelines should be developed ahead of time that determine which volunteers will be utilized, minimal qualifications and training of volunteers, and volunteer documentation. Qualified mental health professionals should be teamed with victim advocates and present at all sites serving terrorism victims. Because a terrorism event may include the elements of a large-scale disaster and criminal victimization, greater efforts should be made to link ARC staff and volunteers with victim assistance professionals and volunteers. Each brings critical areas of knowledge and expertise to the victim response. OVC should host a series of regional training events that bring together victim assistance professionals and other professionals and volunteers working in disaster relief.

Recommendation 9

States should ensure that their citizens who become victims of terrorism while traveling outside the borders of the United States are eligible for crime victim compensation and services, and the unique needs of these victims should be considered in deciding what crime-related expenses are allowable.

Discussion A crime that occurs in a foreign country often presents unique challenges to victims and victims' families or can exacerbate situations typically faced by most victims. These factors may include the cost of emergency overseas travel for families to go to the victim or for the victim to return home, emergency medical costs in countries where payment is expected instead of insurance, the cost of transporting bodies, legal assistance in a foreign country, and the cost of traveling

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/respterrorism/chap9l trnl 9/29/01

NYC-WTC 000137335