FORT RUCKER, Ala. (May 14, 2015) -- In the immediate aftermath of a natural or manmade disaster, chaos reigns, and oftentimes Soldiers, Family members and civilian employees get caught up in the maelstrom.
In an effort to cut through that chaos to ensure its people are accounted for and cared for, the Army created the Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System, said Gus Norvel, human resources specialist and manager of ADPAAS for Fort Rucker's Directorate of Human Resources.
"ADPAAS plays two parts -- it's an accountability system and it's also a needs assessment system," Norvel said, adding that while leaders and units need to account for their people, the Web-based system also helps them see the needs of their people affected by a disaster.
"You may have a Soldier (affected by a disaster) who requires assistance -- transportation, food, money, clean water, a place to stay, etc.," he said. "The Soldier, family member or Army civilian reports that in the system, and it's shot up to the top and comes back as a case file -- and it stays open until the need is met."
The chain of command monitors that Soldier's status until he is back with the unit, Norvel said, adding that needs may change throughout the event, such as water today, meals-ready-to-eat tomorrow, a ride home the next day.
ADPAAS is a user-friendly website that arose in the wake of Hurricane Katrina when the Department of Defense experienced difficulties in accounting for its people, he added.
DOD mandated that all services create a way to track and help its people when disaster strikes. The Army created ADPAAS in 2008 as a valuable tool for leaders who must make tough, and often quick, decisions following an emergency, Norvel said. The data in the system allows commanders to access personnel status to facilitate the delivery of essential services to the areas of critical need.
"If an emergency or disaster occurs, the Secretary of Defense may issue a directive for all personnel to report on their status to their respective service," he said. "Army personnel will be directed to report their status either to their unit, directly to the ADPAAS website or through an Army contact center."
While ADPAAS has proven to be an effective tool for Army leadership and Soldiers in disasters, such as the Japan earthquake in 2011, the Boston Marathon bombing and Colorado wildfires in 2013, the system is only as good as the information that goes into it, Norvel said.
"It is very important that Soldiers, family members and civilian employees make sure their family information is updated in the ADPAAS system," he said. "If you get married, get divorced, have children or PCS, make sure to update the information. While the responsibility lies with commanders to make sure all of their folks are accounted for and all the information is updated -- it's the individual's responsibility to make sure it is done. Soldiers shouldn't think their unit is doing it -- it's the Soldier's responsibility."
And ADPAAS makes that responsibility easy to meet, Norvel said.
"It's a good system," he said. "I was in the Army for 25 years and I remember how we had to account for personnel -- manually, with pencils. Its user friendly, so don't be afraid to get in there and use it. The more you go into it, the more comfortable you'll be with it.
"There may be people out there who aren't that comfortable with computers and they may shy away from the system, but, really, it doesn't take much to use this," he continued. "It is self-explanatory -- hit one button and it takes you right into the system to update your information."
For more on ADPAAS and to verify personal information is correct, visit https://adpaas.army.mil, or call the ADPAAS information line at 1-800-833-6622 or Norvel at 255-1533.
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