Author Tim Riecker, The Contrarian Emergency Manager

The National Preparedness Report: Community Perspective

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The National Preparedness Report (NPR) was published by the US Department of Homeland Security at the end of March.  It is a requirement of PPD-8  and is intended to provide an annual report summarizing the nation’s progress on various preparedness measures as they are identified through the core capabilities.  The data for the NPR is derived from state preparedness reports where the states self assess their confidence and progress in each of these core capabilities.  While the results shown in the report are reflective of a national snap-shot, they may or may not be reflective of the state of preparedness in any given community around the nation.  That said, reviewing the NPR provides a good opportunity to consider the state of preparedness in your own community.

As the chairperson of the VOAD in my area, I wanted to share the information contained in the NPR with our member agencies and organizations but wanted to target specific capabilities and data points to show direct relevance to our collective mission.  This was fairly easy to do since the core capabilities largely define many of the objectives we want to achieve or sustain through our partnerships.  Below are some of the core capabilities I chose to share with our membership.  These are relevant in every community across the nation.  How does your community rate?

Community Resilience

The NPR identifies this as a strength that continues to trend upward nationally.  This is a core capability directly related to the formation of VOADs and other similar groups.  It is defined as ‘…engaging with whole community partners… to strengthen community preparedness.’    This type of community engagement is a proven advantage not only in theUS, but across the globe.  The more organizations and people that can be reached result in better preparedness for the community.  Unfortunately, despite the national push we’ve experienced for the formation of entities such as VOAD and Citizen Corps, the vast majority of communities across the nation don’t have them in place.   Does yours?  If not, why not?

Fatality Management

Identified by the NPR as an area that still needs improvement despite progress.  Likely because this capability is very comprehensive – body recovery, victim identification, coordination with state and local authorities for temporary mortuaries, sharing information with mass care services (a task handled by many community organizations) for the purposes of reunifying family members and caregivers with missing persons/remains, and proving counseling services to the bereaved (another heavy task for community organizations).  A mass fatality incident also represents the worst case scenario for communities and is difficult to pull together a comprehensive plan for.  Given this, there exists a huge planning gap for fatality management.  It is a capability that must be planned for and thoroughly exercised.  There are a number of resources found on both the open internet as well as LLS to aid in planning.  Consider reaching out to communities that have been unfortunate enough to deal with a mass fatality incident – they usually assemble a model plan based upon their lessons learned.

Mass Care Services

The NPR states that ‘Public and private partners providing mass care have the resources to support feeding and hydration needs of survivors following a catastrophic event, but distribution of these resources presents challenges.’  All the more reason to strengthen our private partnerships and strive for strong private sector participation with emergency management preparedness efforts and with community groups such as VOAD and Citizen Corps.

Public and Private Sector Resources

Similar to the statements made in the NPR on Mass Care Services, whole community stakeholders have a demonstrated ability to provide for commodities such as meals, water, generators, blankets, cots, medical equipment and medications, as the NPR states.  Most communities certainly have the right private sector resources (big box stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.) to accomplish this but it still require the formation and maintenance of strong partnerships between government and non government organizations to determine needs, obtain the resources, and distribute them to the public.  Consider memorandums of understanding with private sector partners and engage them and their employees in your planning efforts.

Economic Recovery

If area farms, business, and industry can’t get back on their feet, the community can’t recover.  The NPR identifies some progress in this area.  Concepts of COOP are catching on and are being reinforced in various industry standards (the ISO just released their updated preparedness standards).   There is a great opportunity for partnership, outreach, and education of the private sector in terms of preparedness activities.  Additionally, while government is often times resistant to provide direct assistance to private entities, the benefits of getting a community grocery store cleaned up or access to a generator so they can re-open has a major impact on the community recovering.  Remember, the private sector has a lot at stake in the event of a disaster… it impacts their business facilities and operations, supply lines, employees, and customers.  Community partnerships will benefit them as well.

Housing

Perhaps the largest shortfall nationally.  It seems that no one has the capabilities to deal with long-term housing issues.  While Federal assistance is sometimes available, we must keep in mind that all disasters begin and end locally… so the care of the community is left to community organizations in the end.

Further information on PPD8 and the NPR can be found at http://www.fema.gov/prepared/ppd8.shtm.

 

Tim Riecker

Learning from Cuba – Building a Culture of Preparedness

Tim Riecker, The Contrarian Emergency Manager 1 Comment

With the official start of hurricane season next week, there have been a number of articles reflecting on past hurricanes, hurricane preparedness, and similar topics.  One particular article mentioned a report written just a few years ago by Oxfam – an international confederation of organizations centered on human rights with a goal of ending poverty which includes the response to emergencies.  Despite having been in Emergency Management for fifteen years, I’ve never read much on Cuba – only cringed when a hurricane would hit them head-on, thinking that a third-world nation didn’t stand a chance.  It turns out that my assumptions couldn’t be more wrong.

The full report from Oxfam can be found at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/research-publications/cuba-weathering-the-storm/.  It’s titled ‘Weathering the Storm: Lessons in Risk Reduction from Cuba’.  Structurally, their model is reminiscent of our old Civil Defense model where citizens were recruited for the roles of wardens in their neighborhoods.  These wardens reported to a government person who coordinated efforts for the  community.  Cuba uses this model very successfully.  The ‘wardens’ are responsible for spreading information and  conducting local drills in coordination with whole-government efforts.  The  wardens know their neighborhoods.  They know who might need special assistance in the  event of an evacuation.  The results are staggering.  The report cites that in the seven years between 1996 and 2002, six major hurricanes struck Cuba, yet only 16 people died as a result.  Compare this with hurricane Isabel which hit the mid-Atlantic  US in September 2003.  It was directly responsible for 22 deaths.

The report provides information on planning efforts, communication, education and awareness beginning  with small children, and – like it or not – a political commitment in the nation to protect its people from disasters.  In the end, I feel the most significant factor is the culture of preparedness and community which exists amongst the people.  It is perhaps the most valuable lesson to be learned and quite likely the most difficult to transfer.  Not impossible, though.

There are localized efforts all around our nation for community preparedness.  These efforts need to be encouraged, both in concept and financially, by Federal and state governments alike.  It all starts with individuals, as individuals make a community.  Every person out there can make a difference.  There are volunteer opportunities in every community.  Volunteer Match can help you to identify opportunities that fit your interests and skills.  Or perhaps you have a favorite organization, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army or your local fire department.  Chances are that your church has involvement in disaster preparedness and response efforts, such as Lutheran Disaster Response or Catholic Charities.  It all starts with you.  Then your family.  Then it spreads to your friends and your neighbors.  Then to your community.  Make a difference!

The motto of my consulting firm, Emergency Preparedness Solutions, LLC, is ‘Be proactive and be prepared’.  It’s a challenge to everyone to be involved.  At the very least make sure that you and your family are prepared, but please consider donating some of your time to a local organization and help build a culture of preparedness.

-T. Riecker

Reinvention 101

Tim Riecker, The Contrarian Emergency Manager 2 Comments

I recently read an article posted on entrepreneur.com (originally posted on secondact.com) about Robert Downey Jr.’s life recovery and re-emergence into super-stardom.  http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223546  It’s a good read for those of you who might need a little inspiration in life.

First I want to mention that I am a huge fan of Robert Downey Jr.  As Nik told me after seeing The Avengers on opening night – it is the greatest superhero movie ever made.  I’m a huge fan of the Iron Man movies and he has done wonders with Sherlock Holmes.  Despite the difference of time period, the two characters – Tony Stark and Sherlock Holmes – are amazingly similar.  Inventive, arrogant, successful… geniuses, essentially.

Back to the article – It’s amazing what Robert Downey Jr. has been able to do in turning his life around.  One thing is for certain, he hasn’t done it on his own.  He has had help.  No person can overcome what he has without it.  That’s not a poke at him – it’s the reality of being human.  It takes a village, as they say.  A strong network of support – friends, family, colleagues – can help any person overcome adversity.  This help can come in many forms – emotional support, self-worth (it’s a part of emotional support, but so significant it deserves its own mention), financial support, professional opportunities, and more.

His success has overcome his mistakes.  Some people have forgotten about his mistakes, which I’m sure is fine with him.  Other people are overlooking his mistakes, seeing the better man he is now.  That might be the perspective that he actually prefers.  I’d be interested to know.

I’ve made mistakes in life, just like anyone else.  I’ve learned the five lessons described in the article – largely without even knowing it.  Once I read this article the realization of it all struck me.  I’ve accomplished a lot.  That has given me a great boost to continue on and forge ahead.  It’s also made me realize, once again, the value of the people in my life.  The list is nearly endless, so instead of an Academy Award speech, I’ll just say ‘Thanks’.

-Tim Riecker