tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25095573278070504462024-02-06T19:12:23.662-08:00Dave’s reflections on Disaster PreparednessA blog for people who aren't trained in Emergency Management.@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-92154605463558356242019-03-21T15:31:00.000-07:002019-03-21T15:31:35.650-07:00We still live in areas with hazards, nothings changed<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I have been retired from Emergency Management for almost a year; I have done some public speaking on disaster preparedness as a community service and find how surprising it is that people still are not preparing for disaster. A couple of things have made me think harder about this and why it’s different for me (and maybe you). Someone posted a question on twitter last week, and it was this. “<i>Nurses and phlebotomists spend time looking at veins to draw blood from, and when off duty can’t help but notice people’s veins; what can’t you not notice?”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well for me it’s, hazards of where and how we live. I can’t not look at a high rise (or mid-rise) in an earthquake area and not think “uo – oh”. Or a low-lying home near a river and not think, “wonder if they are prepared for flooding”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The second thing that gave moments for pause was this; I walk most every day for exercise; while walking I normally listen to NPR or a podcast. I just finished a 9 episode podcast called “<a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/674580962/the-big-one-your-survival-guide">The Big One – Your Survival Guide</a>”. It was produced by KPCC Public Radio of LA; I highly recommend this well done and thought-provoking piece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many things were fascinating and I learned some new things, but the most fascinating thing to me (the thing I could not, not see) was one of the last episodes the whole crew talked candidly with each other (as we listened) about how they had spent months researching, interviewing experts and recording these episodes and most of them had not made headway in preparing for the Big One, even though they knew they lived on the San Andres Fault. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is what I walked away with is:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>People can’t focus on the Big one, because unlike a Hurricane we don’t know when it will arrive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Delivering bad news doesn’t work; we need to show people the benefit of preparing (see #1).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Optimism is bad; it causes the brain to underestimate bad things and overestimate good things. Think win lottery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Going forward I will try to remember those points as I talk to people, but I still need to help people be prepared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next week I am talking to a group of HOA board presidents who live in buildings on Alki. I can’t not see the hazards of their buildings. Small Sea Wall, Sandy Soil, Hill Side behind them, one way out… Sigh</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">disasterdave</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBbjiuKvhpUSQs_TzOvo70HzBmyeHmtl-ZUpA0bsnCXPNSnm4yUkhVrluoKW-iJEB7xr7UdkOef-cN_AnByIfUIqw9JF92K5RsFHl1_v9JiRgHZ9bN_46P6gLqj0brXjjZaXG_jV97K8/s1600/Qhw2%252Bsi5TuSZ5GVhvyHdIQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBbjiuKvhpUSQs_TzOvo70HzBmyeHmtl-ZUpA0bsnCXPNSnm4yUkhVrluoKW-iJEB7xr7UdkOef-cN_AnByIfUIqw9JF92K5RsFHl1_v9JiRgHZ9bN_46P6gLqj0brXjjZaXG_jV97K8/s200/Qhw2%252Bsi5TuSZ5GVhvyHdIQ.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I really never thought I would write a blog post on forest fire smoke
for Seattle, but here we are just finishing up 3 days of dense smoke hundreds
of miles from the fires and this morning they are predicting more dense smoke
starting Monday from the <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180823122252.htm" target="_blank">56 fires in British Columbia</a> to our north.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well did we learn anything during the last smoke event? </span></div>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, we learned that only an N95 mask will protect you from
the particulates and that the stores have run out.<span> </span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">We learned how uncomfortable it is in our apartments on a 91
degree day with all the windows shut.</span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">We learned how to make a MacGyver <a href="https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+make+a+air+filter+with+a+box+fan&docid=608052910729398460&mid=D275FADD906CBCF5E663D275FADD906CBCF5E663&view=detail&FORM=VIREHT" target="_blank">air filter</a> with a box fan
for around 30 bucks; but the stores are out of them.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So a few things to do during the calm before the next Smoke
Storm:</span></div>
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</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Go to the hardware store and get a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=n95+mask&sprefix=N95%2Caps%2C465&crid=3MWVJQOKYK57F" target="_blank">box of N95 Masks</a> while
they are in stock, or if you have<span> </span>a
Prime account order today and they will be here tomorrow</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Get yourself a box fan and a filter to filter your air</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Try to adjust your schedule so you don’t spend time
exercising or doing lots of out door things. Remember it’s not just smelly, it
has <a href="https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=smoke.index" target="_blank">small particles</a> that you don’t want lodged in your lungs.<span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And here from Washington State Department of Health are a
bunch of other <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/SmokeFromFires" target="_blank">good tips</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Guess I’ll start getting ready for next week too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What to write about next, falling stars?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Disasterdave </span></div>
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</style>@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-52845882165715329442017-09-03T16:26:00.002-07:002017-09-03T16:26:25.933-07:00Unregistered Volunteers - Maybe not<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you have read any of my writings on volunteer management, you will take away that I am strongly in favor of organized disaster response volunteer efforts. My feeling is that Spontaneous Unregistered Volunteers (SUV's in the biz) are dangerous to themselves and the operation (kind of like my feelings on unsolicited donations, but that's a different blog post). In 2012 coming out of a response in Malaysia I wrote this about <a href="https://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2015/02/lessons-from-deployment-people-want-to.html" target="_blank">People want to help . </a> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As I watch & listen to things unfolding in Texas (Its not just about Houston) following Hurricane Harvey, I have been thinking maybe <strike>we</strike> I need to update my definition of SUV's.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Case in point- <a href="http://www.salon.com/2017/09/03/cajun-navy-rescuers-in-hurricane-harvey-show-vital-role-of-volunteer-boats_partner/" target="_blank">The Cajun Navy</a> - they came out of Katrina response, Citizens with boats. It seems no special organization or response structure, but boy did they make a difference, and virtually no one tried to turn them away. I spent several days on <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/videos/tech/2017/09/01/zello-app-emerges-lifesaver-during-hurricane-harvey/105163662/" target="_blank">Zello</a> listening to them operate. They not only brought boats, but they also brought "dispatchers". And I was amazed, proud and happy they were there saving lives. Listening to their professionalism and drive often brought me tears as I listened to them drop people off and ask for an other rescue. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, maybe we still have spontaneous unregistered volunteers, people with no plan but to help; and a third group - Informal Ad-hoc Volunteers IAV? But with no office or 501c3 how to write them into your plan? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe you write a space in your plan for them? I don't know, now that I have seen a successful operation by a not organization? I need to think of a way to account for this and utilize, support and help them help us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Good work Cajun Navy </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Disaster Dave </span>@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-53512058587958748382016-08-28T14:02:00.005-07:002016-08-28T14:02:57.557-07:00Guest blog post<span style="font-size: large;">One of the things I prepare for and hope not ot use when I Deploy for ShelterBox is first aid skills. Below is a link to a very good succinct First aid primer. It doesn't replace taking a good back country first aid class (in fact it makes that point). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So whether you go to disasters, spend time in the back country or just around town, having some first aid skills (and kit) is a must.</span><br />
<br /><h1 class="title-large">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.fix.com/blog/first-aid-in-the-wilderness/" target="_blank">Wilderness First Aid - Be Prepared Before Venturing to the Backcountry</a></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Cheers, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Disaster Dave</span><br />
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<br />@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-45159115488854108892016-07-03T14:57:00.001-07:002016-07-03T14:57:24.351-07:00Reflections on Cascadia Rising<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8BqFJ3iJwXnGdXGj9bYSEi2_G1uqpz6qRZbtgiyQsdaY9H9AlSOcTxqh2xa4GHPMdfFGZSuUWcgTW6vrD2Qypg3Ru5H9gJe0qOz68RmBFopatr2vG27lTycWHeg9eO6K7wlzPnbYuOo/s1600/4th-of-july-quotes-images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8BqFJ3iJwXnGdXGj9bYSEi2_G1uqpz6qRZbtgiyQsdaY9H9AlSOcTxqh2xa4GHPMdfFGZSuUWcgTW6vrD2Qypg3Ru5H9gJe0qOz68RmBFopatr2vG27lTycWHeg9eO6K7wlzPnbYuOo/s320/4th-of-july-quotes-images.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well its almost the 4th of July, kids are out of school, everyone is enjoying upcoming vacations and here Cascadia Rising is over. All of the articles written about what it really meant for a Cascadia event have been forgotten. Like this one <span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-mega-quake-is-coming" target="_blank">The Most Devastating Quake In US History Is Headed for Portland</a> And who could forget this scary article.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one" target="_blank"> The Really Big One</a> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">But with the event for those of us who "played" in it, it was apparent that we (individuals, neighborhoods, cities) will be on our own for a bit of time. So lets not forget the fact that we do live in a seismic area and we do need to take some responsibility for protecting our family and ourselves. A couple of my previous articles might jump start you or get you to finish up the planning you started.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2011/07/neighbors-as-responders.html" target="_blank">neighbors-as-responders</a> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2015/03/build-your-own-emergency-kit-updated.html" target="_blank">build-your-own-emergency-kit-updated</a> </span></b></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></b></span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enjoy the 4th of July </span></span></h2>
<h2 itemprop="headline">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Disaster Dave</span></span></h2>
@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-38436389047306196342015-06-28T10:29:00.000-07:002015-06-28T10:29:43.717-07:00Vacation Preparedness<span style="font-size: large;">Something I have written about before is preparedness for vacation, but in the light of the <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/tunisia-hotel-attack-recap-after-5957576" target="_blank">Tunisia attack </a>we need to plan for an egress in case of danger. Its not the first thing you think about on vacation, but in light of how things seem to be going its not a bad way to think, not dwell on or stay home, but to consider.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my friends & classmates from the <a href="http://www.emergencymanagementacademy.org/" target="_blank">Emergency Management Academy</a> is an Emergency Manager named <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/gregory-santa-maria/70/865/291" target="_blank">Greg Santa Maria</a> who recently posted on his Facebook about something he teaches called "the Greg Minute". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In his own words Greg writes "<i>When I teach Active Shooter classes, I encourage the attendees to
practice the "Greg Minute". I ask them to set a random alarm on their
phone that's during waking hours. Every day when the alarm goes off,
wherever they are, they should spend 30 seconds considering their escape
route should a shooter begin firing a weapon. The second 30 seconds is
spent considering an alternate escape because the first is not viable.</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> I get so many positive responses from that one small, but priceless piece of advice. It takes a minute a day to save your life."</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I think this piece of advice could provide you with peace of mind in unfamiliar areas, but I am willing to compromise with you if you may not want an alarm going off everyday of your vacation. You should take some time to look at your surroundings when you arrive someplace new and think "what would I do if..."</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lets be safe out there and enjoy our vacation</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">DisasterDave</span><br />
<br />@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-16834552348770640942015-03-07T08:48:00.001-08:002015-07-26T07:07:43.563-07:00Build your own Emergency Kit - updated<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9Yd5lKHeYdhdQ6xujrrQJLmvypupYinn6CZKfz4OYoNGEcV1cdCdGu9TP8x_EHWVzH7O5wBlUxceNC5wGYfyf2pEvxPyQ8tePsihJXJuCzhzoY7W8dNMEQ_NATSjX2mrJqVX7TI20jE/s1600/disaster_preparedness_kit_DIY_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9Yd5lKHeYdhdQ6xujrrQJLmvypupYinn6CZKfz4OYoNGEcV1cdCdGu9TP8x_EHWVzH7O5wBlUxceNC5wGYfyf2pEvxPyQ8tePsihJXJuCzhzoY7W8dNMEQ_NATSjX2mrJqVX7TI20jE/s1600/disaster_preparedness_kit_DIY_1.jpg" width="200" /></a> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By now you have read the NY Times Article or read a story about the NY Times article. Then of course this happened: <a data-id="" href="http://gizmodo.com/earthquake-kits-selling-like-hotcakes-after-terrifying-1719856304">Earthquake Kits Selling Like Hotcakes After Terrifying <i>New Yorker</i> Story</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> If these are flying off shelves as part of a complete planning process by people great! If they are going where I think they are (closets, basements) then its a failure; it will take more than a prepacked kit for you to <a href="http://makeitthrough.org/" target="_blank">make it through</a> a catastrophic event.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not a fan of buying an emergency kit; it typically will be thrown in a corner and forgotten, besides who wants to eat wood chips and drink 10 year old water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kits need to be packed piece by piece by the person so it reflects their needs and desires - mine has chocolate and a wine bottle opener !</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead of buying a kit, make one; here are there sites I recommend, there are others:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Survival-Kit-Checklist">http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Survival-Kit-Checklist</a> nice printable list to start from</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit">http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit</a> The Red Cross the experts</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit">http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit</a> because I guess we have to include the feds.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and then start answering some hard questions:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where will you go with your kit? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if you are at work and your kit is at home? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where will you meet your family or friends after the quake? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't be scared , just get prepared</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Disasterdave</span></span><br />
<br />@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-30880970169936655702015-02-15T11:10:00.002-08:002015-02-15T11:10:43.200-08:00Lessons from Deployment - People want to help<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was deployed by Shelter Box to respond to
massive flooding in Malaysia for three weeks; when I return I always do a lessons learned for my
department. They are often not lessons we can utilize in Public Health but still important in the larger Emergency Management community. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two of those lessons have
been bouncing around in my head along with Reading Patrick Meier’s book <a href="http://www.digital-humanitarians.com/">Digital Humanitarians</a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. <a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2015/02/lessons-from-deployment-locals-are.html" target="_blank">Local’s are important to the mission</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. People want to help, they just need direction</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>No matter what you plan for “People
want to help”</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">T<i>he local government was overwhelmed so this is not meant to be critical of them; this is a cautionary lesson we can learn from.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
saw a terrible amount of waste and un-controlled giving in Malaysia. We utilized a government center in the affected
area to store our tents and moved them in and out daily as we worked through
the affected communities. In that center
were piles (not stacks) of liter water bottles, rice, soap and many other
things. And after two weeks those piles were still there; maybe they had a plan
for distribution, but I didn’t see one.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o_Kx_IlO0FqLrLGDJj3tRADICJudR1ZTPa7MLU3ZOZAktx76wgazvq4MC_pJTUHhXRkjmnPAdQ4Q0Ya9ZJM-mJTdC_t2bamvHs6fMPsAB8__spnpoYJEhIoikpPGspKySrVyUEfgbOQ/s1600/IMG_3575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o_Kx_IlO0FqLrLGDJj3tRADICJudR1ZTPa7MLU3ZOZAktx76wgazvq4MC_pJTUHhXRkjmnPAdQ4Q0Ya9ZJM-mJTdC_t2bamvHs6fMPsAB8__spnpoYJEhIoikpPGspKySrVyUEfgbOQ/s1600/IMG_3575.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The other area was in the village of <a href="http://www.maplandia.com/malaysia/kelantan/manik-urai/">Manik Urai</a> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">one of the most heavily affected community's. While we were moving through the community putting up tents with the help of
our local volunteer force, there was a stream of cars going through the village
(mostly on the one or two main streets) handing out <i>*stuff</i>. Many of them were truly wanting to help, many
were just disaster tourist there to drop off a few things and look around and get a
selfie. While it is great to see the
people (many who drove as far as nine hours) helping, it was unbalanced and
disruptive to the organized aid. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I
watched people hand out items to those on the main streets, often the people
would put the item in their tent or ruin of their home and get more; sadly for
the people not on their front yard or on a side street they were missed.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So
what can we do to fix this before it happens?</b> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well
first have a plan, think about what might be needed if disaster X strikes. Part
of that plan is to tell well wishers from the outside (or the affected) communities,
what you need and where to bring it.
Don’t allow people to drive through a damaged area and look or drop
things off. Set up a drop off point and
then have a volunteer force trained (in the moment) go in in marked vehicle and
distribute things as quickly as possible; for the affected time is precious.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">CHECKLIST:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Written list of what you might need for disaster type X</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">List of where you will post need-Facebook, Bulletin boards (virtual and real) (and who/how it will
happen)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Brief write up of a team make up:</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">o<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Type person</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">o<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Job skills & duties</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">o<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Requirements (drivers license, calm personality,
focus)</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<ul><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>Shifts they would work</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A volunteer team trained in advance how to implement
this plan! They could be from one of your already registered group.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is
it hard to work in the future? Yes, but its harder to fix things after - insert here (flood, fires, earthquakes, Hurricanes, Tornadoes)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But
don’t do Nothing…</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Disasterdave</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>
</div>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> * Stuff - water, food, clothes, Koran's, Women's hygiene, CASH, books for kids.</span></span></i>@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-72058066468547458162015-02-15T11:09:00.001-08:002015-02-15T11:11:31.519-08:00Lessons from Deployment - Locals are important to the mission<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In January I was deployed by Shelter Box to respond to
<a href="http://time.com/3648001/floods-malaysia-thailand/" target="_blank">massive flooding in Malaysia</a>
for three weeks; when I return I always do a lessons learned for my
department. They are often not lessons we can utilize in Public Health
but still important in the larger Emergency Management community.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two of those lessons have
been bouncing around in my head along with reading Patrick Meier’s book <a href="http://www.digital-humanitarians.com/">Digital Humanitarians</a> </span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Locals are important to the mission</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2015/02/lessons-from-deployment-people-want-to.html" target="_blank">People want to help, they just need direction</a> </span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No matter what, “locals are important
to the success of the mission”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
volunteer in a situation where after a usually long plane ride I am dropped
into someone else’s disaster with a teammate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And in a very short amount of time we accomplish some amazing
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is because we realize as an
organization we can’t do anything substantial without local help. So lets bring this
closer to home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></span><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVRNcIHz8IctPQC8dNcvewsQxEVBPqqP-E_v3qDA2bqhA8BK1nRiWDNOPqMvSW5YhctbuvRSHHH_D3lVsTxFkoOEmHDervusDBkeL0i539B6ZiF_RFydGuF-zVeOLrlvLz9CQpqds1XQ/s1600/IMG_3665_2.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVRNcIHz8IctPQC8dNcvewsQxEVBPqqP-E_v3qDA2bqhA8BK1nRiWDNOPqMvSW5YhctbuvRSHHH_D3lVsTxFkoOEmHDervusDBkeL0i539B6ZiF_RFydGuF-zVeOLrlvLz9CQpqds1XQ/s1600/IMG_3665_2.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SJDTWPVGNOAroKzYfTeU5qR-KAUbYwClLdj0MeFfsqGiinLJLkQhQ8jce7wFOxIDzWzOGIF8oKgJM_Nj9M0dRgEbDsydKii5O_ud15lVzPzoH2QKtr_MOZz6fLdR8IdXD1Kan6i_vfU/s1600/IMG_3387.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SJDTWPVGNOAroKzYfTeU5qR-KAUbYwClLdj0MeFfsqGiinLJLkQhQ8jce7wFOxIDzWzOGIF8oKgJM_Nj9M0dRgEbDsydKii5O_ud15lVzPzoH2QKtr_MOZz6fLdR8IdXD1Kan6i_vfU/s1600/IMG_3387.jpg" height="150" title="" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my recent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>deployment to Malaysia I had a couple of</span></span> interpreters I worked with, they were both great; but I realized beyond the language, they knew the
people. They would tell me when they thought someone was not being truthful, or needed help
but weren’t identified, or taught me about the culture. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You may live in the affected
community, but you probably don’t speak all the languages of the affected
population and you don’t understand from their point of view (economic,
religious, etc.) how this disaster is affecting them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I recently saw a National Guard recruiting
poster in the airport that showed 2 Guardsmen comforting a woman and the bubble
above one soldiers head said “She lives 5 miles from here”. That was a
powerful message to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to utilize the local spontaneous volunteer where we can, realizing they are going to come.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No
matter what I respond to in the future (Even if I speak the language) I will
employ a volunteer guide. Someone from the affected community, but not of the affected
population. Someone who can help me find my way to help those in need.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Checklist</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Understand your population and make contacts there</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't be afraid to ask that population for help (I know you are there to help them, but you need them to do that)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Decide how you will activate, badge, give access to</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How will you make sure you aren't showing favoritism to that person in the community? It could hurt their standing</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How do you make sure they aren't taking advantage of you in the situation? It could hurt your standing</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Remember the disaster happens to our/their community - connect and do the best you can. Locals are important.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Disasterdave</span></span></div>
@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-85096784894275443802014-12-19T15:46:00.001-08:002014-12-19T15:46:32.926-08:00The 7 rules for protecting your valuables BEFORE disaster strikes<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> This is not an endorsement of the </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">company that authored <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzxUBXBo_vD9Zttex9BwdHaTZwNKoDPsgaRpYmvODTDskD6gNieZNRxsVbkMmYQKdjimiqrQNdY6Bmd9aNrMq2dlnlGKs6CmeJA9j9gPDpZRa20RzSDQ0q4vyF_6iBUyjWbKVa0rhOEo/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzxUBXBo_vD9Zttex9BwdHaTZwNKoDPsgaRpYmvODTDskD6gNieZNRxsVbkMmYQKdjimiqrQNdY6Bmd9aNrMq2dlnlGKs6CmeJA9j9gPDpZRa20RzSDQ0q4vyF_6iBUyjWbKVa0rhOEo/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flood Damaged home in Serbia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
the article at the link below, but an endorsement of doing some serious planning for the loss of your home. I know no one likes to think their home may burn down but they do. In 2013 the <a href="http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fires-in-the-us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NFPA documented 1,240,000 house fires</a>. Or that a quake or other natural disaster may make your home uninhabitable.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>Document your goods</u> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can remember in the 70's inventorying my household goods before they were shipped to Europe, it was boring, and a hard slog. Writing down serial numbers, colors, etc.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But today all you need is your smart phone and a note pad.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So this holiday season </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">make it a fun opportunity,</span></span> grab a loved one, a glass of eggnog, your smart phone and go on a hunt to document your valuables. Focus on Art work, collections, Jewelry, electronics. (Don't forget to take a picture of any notes you made- serial numbers, Cost, etc.) Snap away, then upload to a website (Yahoo, MSN, DropBox) something that will survive if your house doesn't. I wrote back in 2011 about using the web to store valuable documents, and the same goes for pictures of your valuables. You can <a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2011/07/can-you-find-all-your-important.html" target="_blank">review it here</a> and <a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2011/10/recoverydo-it-now.html" target="_blank">another one here</a>. I either own the internet or think its a good idea :) </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So here is the article, get started. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 7 rules for protecting your valuables BEFORE disaster strikes <a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-expanded-url="http://tinyurl.com/q8a2tmp" dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/rIxeK9mmax" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://tinyurl.com/q8a2tmp"><span class="invisible">http://</span><span class="js-display-url">tinyurl.com/q8a2tmp</span></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="js-display-url">Happy Holidays<br /> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="js-display-url"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">disaster_dave</span></span><br /> </span>@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-34688087658969085512014-11-02T08:13:00.001-08:002014-11-02T08:13:21.860-08:00All Hazard<span style="font-size: large;">Often times you will hear Emergency Management in your communities talk about "All Hazard Planning", what you may not hear is the words "Risk Based". While the planning process lays out who does what in a disaster, we do want begin planning for the most likely and build our planning effort towards less likely events.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So as you and your family, friends look at what to prepare for start with this nice i<a href="http://www.homeownersinsurance.org/natural-disasters/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nfo-graph</a> from <a href="http://homeownersinsurance.org/">Homeownersinsurance.org</a>. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: large;">Also take some time to chat with your insurance agent about your coverage. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Back to the info-graph, find your state, look at the hazards for that state and start from their. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I live in Washington State and it list forest fire, but I live in the city of Seattle so that is not a high concern for my family (but what about smoke?, What if you are on vacation on the other side of the mountain during fire season?) All good questions, that should inform your preparedness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As a bonus here is <a href="http://www.fema.gov/pdf/plan/slg101.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FEMA's State and Local Guide (SLG) 101 Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Sunday</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Disaster_Dave </span><br />
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<br />@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-12682829103116366972014-09-28T08:53:00.003-07:002014-09-28T08:53:56.824-07:00L.A. Prepares for the Big Quake Amid the Questions of When and How Large - Is your city prepared<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> My promise in the beginning was not to use scare tactics and to try to make things bite sized for you to prepare for disasters in <a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2011/06/where-to-start.html" target="_blank">Where to Start</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This week I read with interest how Los Angeles has begun to look at the pieces in the public forum so their citizens understand it. They have been planning for a long time, but articles like this one show you the citizen the types of things they are worried about and planning for.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.digitalcommunities.com/articles/LA-Prepares-for-the-Big-Quake-Amid-the-Questions-of-When-and-How-Large.html" target="_blank">LA Prepares for the Big Quake Amid Questions of When and How Large</a> Its long (more than 30 seconds) but worth the time to read it all.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why do I think its important citizens read this? Really two reasons: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Honestly, most of what we do in emergency management is not recognized by the public as it seldom produces perceptible results to the public in the short term. But it does produce things that may save lives in the long term. Pay attention to the discussions of water and transport in the article. Pay attention as your government makes budget cuts, if the Emergency Managers are on that cut list you WILL have a harder time surviving and recovering from a catastrophic event. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 2. If you read this piece and pay attention to the main points they are making you can look at your planning and say okay I need to do a little more in that category, and that one looks good for now. But you are conscience of the need, and that makes it more focused.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And if you read this and think, okay I have put this off long enough- awesome. <a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2012/07/disasters-are-never-easy.html" target="_blank">Start here</a> and dig in, a little at a time, planning takes time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Good Planning</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Disaster_Dave</span></span><br />
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@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-65983316740670723222014-09-14T09:02:00.000-07:002014-09-14T13:35:56.131-07:00You've lost that preparedness feeling (sung to the tune of "You've lost that loving feeling")<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why do we constantly talk about preparedness? I know some people may tire of it, but its necessary. Why? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well we do not have it as part of our memory and or we think it can't happen to us. Lets look at two examples; one of a group who survived not because they had a back pack by the front door (a good idea though) but because they recognized the danger as it had been passed down and another group that didn't follow their traditions. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In 2004 the Tsunami in the Indian ocean killed over 230,000 people in multiple places, but one island had zero deaths or casualties. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sea-gypsies-saw-signs-in-the-waves/" target="_blank">The Andaman Islands inhabited by the Mokens (Sea Gypsy's)</a>. When rescuers arrived they found them safely atop a hill! Their culture had passed down stories that when the great water receded it would flood the land. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And in 2009 the earthquake that hit L'Aquila that killed 309 people and pretty much destroyed every home. This is a case where the scientist were convicted of sending a message that..."<a href="http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/features/lessons-from-the-laquila-earthquake/2007742.fullarticle" target="_blank">i</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">nterfered with the local “earthquake culture”, a set of entrenched habits and reactions such as, for example, that of spending the night outdoors after the occurrence of medium shocks.</a>" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So what does your culture or habits in our modern wired always on society tell you to survive and thrive after a disaster? I'm not sure, but surveys seem to say we aren't prepared for the hazards we face. A <a href="https://s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/dam-production/uploads/20130726-1859-25045-4408/2009_citizencorps_nationalsurvey_findings_ss.pdf" target="_blank">2009 survey</a> showed 57% reported making some plans, but only 44% had a household plan where to go and and what to do (think like a Moken).</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So we keep repeating the message and asking you to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And now you probably want to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTvU3BELZEo" target="_blank">hear the song</a> here </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Disaster Dave </span></span></span><br />
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<br />@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-24249105379832951812014-08-24T08:47:00.003-07:002014-08-24T08:47:45.060-07:00The headline says it all<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This morning Napa and SF were awakened by an Earthquake, and the headline read</span><br />
<div class="m-entry__title" data-remote-admin-entry-id="5826298" data-remote-headline-edit="title" data-remote-headline-promo-headine="A 6.0 magnitude earthquake just hit the Bay Area">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"<a href="http://www.vox.com/2014/8/24/6062257/earthquake-san-francisco-bay-area-napa" target="_blank">The Bay Area just got hit with its largest earthquake in 25 years</a>".</span></span></div>
<div class="m-entry__title" data-remote-admin-entry-id="5826298" data-remote-headline-edit="title" data-remote-headline-promo-headine="A 6.0 magnitude earthquake just hit the Bay Area">
<br /></div>
<div class="m-entry__title" data-remote-admin-entry-id="5826298" data-remote-headline-edit="title" data-remote-headline-promo-headine="A 6.0 magnitude earthquake just hit the Bay Area">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So why is that important? I often hear people say things like "Earthquakes happen on a longer schedule, it may not happen in my lifetime". Excuse me, I would like to point out that twice in 25 years is a pretty short life. So for those of us in a seismic area, can we all just change our posture a little and understand that it could happen in our lifetime (pretty sure I have at least 25 more years).</span></span></div>
<div class="m-entry__title" data-remote-admin-entry-id="5826298" data-remote-headline-edit="title" data-remote-headline-promo-headine="A 6.0 magnitude earthquake just hit the Bay Area">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="m-entry__title" data-remote-admin-entry-id="5826298" data-remote-headline-edit="title" data-remote-headline-promo-headine="A 6.0 magnitude earthquake just hit the Bay Area">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And for the rest of America and the world, Hurricanes, Cyclones, Tornadoes, house fires, forest fires, ice storms, power outages (I know I left some out) don't really have a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_time_scale" target="_blank">geological clock</a> " so you need to prepare too.</span></span></div>
<div class="m-entry__title" data-remote-admin-entry-id="5826298" data-remote-headline-edit="title" data-remote-headline-promo-headine="A 6.0 magnitude earthquake just hit the Bay Area">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So where to start, if you aren't a reader of mine here are some links to posts I have written on planning and preparation. </span></span></div>
<div class="m-entry__title" data-remote-admin-entry-id="5826298" data-remote-headline-edit="title" data-remote-headline-promo-headine="A 6.0 magnitude earthquake just hit the Bay Area">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2011/07/northwest-quake-where-will-you-be.html" target="_blank">Northwest Quake - where will you be</a> </span></div>
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2011/07/can-you-find-all-your-important.html" target="_blank">Can you find all your important documents...</a></span>
</div>
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2011/06/mitigation.html" target="_blank">MITIGATION</a></span></div>
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-size: large;">and my most recent post<a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2014/08/its-about-investment.html" target="_blank"> Its about an investment...<span>...In your family's well being.</span></a></span></div>
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Don't do everything today, but get started. tick,tick tick.</span></span></div>
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">DisasterDave </span></span></div>
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@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-30944233258925191472014-08-03T10:04:00.001-07:002014-08-03T10:04:52.316-07:00Its about an investment...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SQ_5gZZglfqQkT3PJz-n9FtmwwP29UMHStiKtHEuR5sCjCmRgYXZEaC9L7LSquR3_PibxyKh3dzE_d19OQcjk5-f_y-2lR83CqlBA9b4gJvrSLlRVix5MaklQQZhWr22bBFMNoboZLM/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SQ_5gZZglfqQkT3PJz-n9FtmwwP29UMHStiKtHEuR5sCjCmRgYXZEaC9L7LSquR3_PibxyKh3dzE_d19OQcjk5-f_y-2lR83CqlBA9b4gJvrSLlRVix5MaklQQZhWr22bBFMNoboZLM/s1600/Image.jpg" height="200" width="183" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...In your family's well being.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">According to the <a href="https://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/homeland-security-since-911/" target="_blank">National Priorities Project</a> we have spent somewhere north of $767,000,000,000 on Homeland security since 2001and sadly we really don't know what it has bought us. But this isn't about what we did or did not get, this is about how much have you spent since 2001 (or this year) on making sure your family is ready for <strike>The Apocalypse</strike> (just kidding). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But really are you ready for the next storm season? Check <a href="http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/winter_wx.shtml" target="_blank">here</a> in September for the forecast for this winter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you have an evacuation plan in case there is a <a href="http://www.nwccweb.us/information/firemap.aspx" target="_blank">forest fire</a>? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you have water stored? Why store water, that's silly, there is water in my tap. Did you see <a href="http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/toledo-parts-of-monroe-county-under-do-not-drink-water-advisory/27278530" target="_blank">Toledo's water warnings</a> ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So look at your local grocery and watch for sales on bottled water and stock up on a couple of cases per person (and don't forget Fido he drinks water too) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Put away a few cans of Dinty Moore beef stew & bags of rice </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Get trained in <a href="http://www.nols.edu/wmi/courses/wildfirstaid.shtml" target="_blank">Wilderness First Aid</a> Usually available through REI.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Take some time this summer and prepare just a few steps. You will be glad you did... when something happens and you have made an investment and are prepared. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy dog Days of August </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">DisasterDave </span><br />
<img height="183" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.fchatzigianis.com/.a/6a00d8341d883053ef01a73d9926cd970d-800wi" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /><br />
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<br />@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-90630633713014781702014-07-05T13:47:00.000-07:002014-07-05T13:47:46.980-07:00Recovery is a Long Road...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE196ECfUCzYDcH1KJlZyIFv6XHdYxbae9wXwKs5r9h2X-D_O0HTMbegGLh8w7nwAY-GniyqdpvDzTzf2aJ9dODVxmpYL7A4zyT3okt0oqLolSFIAIdMz-sirV3Ri4rY8cM6SaxLPIpY/s1600/Transportation+Safety+Board+of+Canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE196ECfUCzYDcH1KJlZyIFv6XHdYxbae9wXwKs5r9h2X-D_O0HTMbegGLh8w7nwAY-GniyqdpvDzTzf2aJ9dODVxmpYL7A4zyT3okt0oqLolSFIAIdMz-sirV3Ri4rY8cM6SaxLPIpY/s1600/Transportation+Safety+Board+of+Canada.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span><a href="http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/rail/2013/R13D0054/R13D0054.asp">Transportation Safety Board of Canada</a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I came across a story this weekend on the <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/quebec-town-still-recovering-train-disaster-145321948.html%20%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">train wreck in </a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://news.yahoo.com/quebec-town-still-recovering-train-disaster-145321948.html%20%E2%80%A6" target="_blank"></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://news.yahoo.com/quebec-town-still-recovering-train-disaster-145321948.html%20%E2%80%A6" target="_blank">Quebec Canada</a> and was struck by two things. First that it had been a year since that happened, and what a horrible disaster, a town literally blown off the map. And the second thing was in the story they mentioned that they were getting ready to commemorate the event but "Many townspeople aren't ready for it."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So in our short attention span world of 30 second sound bite news and expecting your coffee order in seconds, how long do you think it will take you & your community to recover from whatever disaster that could befall it? Whether it is something like a tornado, earthquake or tornado or even a train derailment in the dark of night, how will you recover? And what will you do when the one year anniversary comes and you still aren't whole? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some things to think about: </span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When was the last time you reviewed your insurance with your agent? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is his/her name & phone number?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where is your policy? Is it some place safe in case your house is affected (that's what the policy is for, right, so why keep it in the house)?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How will your family reconnect if separated?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if you can't reenter your neighborhood for days? Weeks? Ever?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does your local government have a plan to help the city recover? </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />So not a panic point, just take the extra time this weekend to think about these questions. And please don't dismiss this as "it can't happen here", these communities and others are still in recovery:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-disaster-recovery-20140620-story.html#page=1" target="_blank">Sandy recovery</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/05/20/recovery-and-remembrance-a-year-after-the-moore-okla-tornado/" target="_blank">Moore Oklahoma recovery</a></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/quebec-town-still-recovering-train-disaster-145321948.html" target="_blank">Quebec</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Disaster Dave</span></span>@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-53937058902849677282014-04-04T17:37:00.001-07:002014-07-05T13:22:06.653-07:00Its times like this that things look different<span style="font-size: large;">For those of us in the Seattle area it has been a long two weeks, with the slide in Oso Washington touching all of us in some way. But once we step back from the response and take a day off and look at our beautiful area, I tend to take the beauty at face value, but under the beautiful hillside is... Don't get me wrong your local public servants in emergency management take this personally, we spend our time trying to educate you and our elected officials to the dangers in our beautiful state.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The things that make our state and region beautiful are some of the same things that can in the least make life hard or even kill you. A fellow emergency manager, Eric Holdeman wrote a great piece this week on why you won't listen entitled <a href="http://crosscut.com/2014/03/31/op-ed/119386/oso-mudslide-living-risk-emergency-management/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Living with Risk: but don't you love the views</a> . You should read it and decide which one you are.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know there hasn't been a major earthquake here in your life time, but your life time is not the measuring stick of when a quake will strike, but it could end your life. Sorry I digress.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lets just assume you fall into one of the categories in Eric's article and be done with it. So if you are determined to live on the side of a hill, or a few feet from the ocean, or in a high rise, at least do a few things to up the odds <u>in case you are wrong</u>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Look for things you can do to minimize danger.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You live on or under a hillside:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Pay attention to the weather - more rain = more chance of a slide</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Get involved in the community make sure the politicians are aware that you are aware</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Seek a professional on putting plants that will hold the ground and drink water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">do some <a href="http://crosscut.com/2014/03/28/technology/119388/washington-mudslide-disaster-response-apps/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">internet research</a> on your home area</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">You live on the ocean/sound:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Have an emergency radio turned on and turned up loud</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://earthweb.ess.washington.edu/tsunami/general/warning/warning.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn about Tsunamis</a> and what your danger level is</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Pay attention to <a href="http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">King Tides</a> tables</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"> You live on a river:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Have an emergency radio turned on and turned up loud</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Learn about the <a href="https://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/landing_pages/landing0000_1.jsp?cid=Search_GoogleAdwords_FloodMapsRisks_c_g_b_flood%20map" target="_blank">threat</a> to your home</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Search for your <a href="http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/PWApp/SWM/floodwarn/" target="_blank">county name flood warning</a> and save that site</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because it can happen here</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">prayers for those lost in Oso and their families</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">disaster_dave </span><br />
<br />@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-38610482941216780352014-03-09T13:56:00.001-07:002014-03-09T13:56:16.632-07:00Three Years since 3-11<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have written a couple of posts, and done several presentations on lessons learned from my time spent responding to <a href="http://westseattleblog.com/2014/03/west-seattleite-still-working-to-help-philippines-typhoon-victims-four-months-later/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Typhoon Yolonda in the Philippines</a>; there were some good reinforced learning points for us. If you want to see a disaster (and recovery) that is more in line with what we in the Northwest will experience you need to look no further than the Earthquake and Tsunami Japan suffered just three years ago.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This morning the Seattle Times ran a good piece on where Japan is <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2023084236_japanrecoveryxml.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">three years after the Tsunami</a>. Why just the Tsunami, because the quake really didn't on its own do much damage, the Tsunami on the other hand caught their planners off guard, and many perished, and many more were displaced as their homes near the water were destroyed. Read the article in the hyperlink above, I'll wait for you here! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So what have we done here? Lots of planning, exercises and thought has gone into what we will have to deal with. And much more needs to happen, but the bigger question is what have you as individuals done to prepare? If you have read any of my other blog posts you know I believe in the individual being prepared. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Recovery WILL take a long time. I talk a lot about the things we take for granted in our daily life, look <a href="http://seattletimes.com/ABPub/zoom/html/2023084295.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see how long it will take to get basic utilities back. Seriously, 1-3 years for our major roadways.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The problem we in Emergency Management have selling this as a REAL event to the general public is, well ...apathy coupled "with it hasn't happened since 1700 and it won't happen". But what if it does and you haven't done anything? Not only will you feel stupid, you may also cause you or your family to suffer more than they had to.</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How big was the Tsunami compared to say "<a href="http://seattletimes.com/ABPub/zoom/html/2023084294.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hammering Man</a>" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">disaster_dave</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://crew.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CREW </a>- a great site for resources and explanations </span><br />
<br />
<br />@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-51661032239824302672014-02-09T09:16:00.000-08:002014-02-09T09:16:00.036-08:00What if your disaster gets out classed (or people forget)What happens if you are in the process of recovering from your disaster and a larger (more sexy) disaster occurs?<br />
<br />
I was in the Philippines recently deployed as a volunteer response team member for <a href="http://www.shelterbox.org/news_global.php?id=1241" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ShelterBox</a>. I was assigned a mission to do follow up from the Bohol 7.1 earthquake, which got upstaged by Typhoon Yolanda. The Philippines largest Earthquake in 23 years upstaged by the strongest Typhoon ever.<br />
Many of the people of Bohol that I talked with felt that after only three weeks the aid agencies left for the bigger (sexier) disaster. <br />
<br />
In defense of the aid agencies the death toll was 200 vs 6000+ dead and they didn't leave, they moved appropriate (in most cases) assets to the bigger event.<br />
<br />
So how do you keep the focus on your disaster? Maybe you can't; but you can prepare to do what you can.<br />
<br />
Have a plan before it happens, have the players ready to begin recovery as soon as something happens.<br />
Have the political players in the loop early to keep the focus on your event.<br />
Have your Public Affairs folks working to keep getting the message out, covering the local response angle.<br />
<br />
Try this test. Write down places and events that are disasters right now. Then go to one of the international aid groups and see where they are? What are they doing? Did you realize that happened? Was on going? People were suffering?<br />
<br />
Now imagine that is your disaster and most people have forgotten about it?<br />
<br />
DisasterDave<br />
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<br />
@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-89498595427097323732014-02-01T16:24:00.001-08:002014-02-01T16:24:26.036-08:00Life goes on around you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrUvXqCu-oZa3rZ1keb3utwZV9C3Xu_JuWWyl_lmK5yLU9M7dBAYIMs2GcjQ5Wp65n3eC6uD5d37ZjPlyIQ2z7I0h6SS8etWyObD4l6wCJUGWXIQC5r6bpW6rrAyZsHGPvgzJxHFsDb8/s1600/Bohol+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrUvXqCu-oZa3rZ1keb3utwZV9C3Xu_JuWWyl_lmK5yLU9M7dBAYIMs2GcjQ5Wp65n3eC6uD5d37ZjPlyIQ2z7I0h6SS8etWyObD4l6wCJUGWXIQC5r6bpW6rrAyZsHGPvgzJxHFsDb8/s1600/Bohol+035.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Destroyed home in Loon, Bohol</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I returned from the
Philippines last Saturday and have been thinking about what to share, <br />
and there are a couple of things of interest for this blog. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">My past disaster experiences
have been in the immediate aftermath of the event. But for this
deployment we are two months on from the event and in a different case 3 months
on. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">When I arrived in Cebu it was
apparent that this was not a disaster area. I left and went to Bohol
Island with my partner to do follow up on the 7.1 Earthquake in October(3
months on). We checked into our hotel in the main city, no cracks, no
damage to see. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But 1.5 hours up the road it
was a different story. Buildings down, bridges down, large landslides, it was a
mess. As we worked through the disaster area verifying there were still
people in need, I kept seeing people along the main road digging a trench by
hand. Finally I asked someone what part of the recovery that was; oddly
enough it was a project to bring high speed Internet to Loon (city we worked
in) that had started before the quake. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This popped up again when I
was working in the port to clear our containers through customs and the
port. They were back to business as usual; we were still in disaster
mode. <b>All around us life was getting back to normal.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So what happens when you are
still working on your disaster and life 10-40 miles away is normal? Some things
to think about:</span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t let them forget you
are still working on recovery, don’t rub their face in it, but do let them
know things aren’t back to normal </span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do ask for help; I did at
the port I told the people helping me I was bring in aid for their
countrymen, it did move things along (I still had to pay, but it moved
along). </span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Report out on what has
been done and what is left to do. (If you are following <a href="http://www.shelterboxusa.org/news_global.php?id=1235"><span style="color: blue;">ShelterBox</span></a> you will see we do that on a
regular basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We plan to be
working in the Philippines until April on this disaster, we need to remind
people it happened and 6,000 + people lost heir lives and millions lost
homes and businesses).</span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">That’s all for now</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s not over till you say it
is</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Disasterdave</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-81532339027547861652014-01-05T08:57:00.001-08:002014-01-05T08:57:57.070-08:00It's an hour after a disaster; do you know where your children are?<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In November 2013 FEMA in partnership with Department of Health & Human Service and the Red Cross and several other organizations released <a href="http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/85559" target="_blank"><u>Post Disaster Reunification of Children: A Nationwide Approach.</u></a></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This document listed lots of roles (responsibility's) for local, State, Federal governments and Non Profit partners in caring for and reuniting children with their families after a disaster. They did not assign any "roles" to the parents. The intent of the document is to make sure everything is done to accomplish that, but it starts with you the parent. You don't have to read it, but if you wish you can find it at the hyperlink above. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having had unaccompanied minors show up at a shelter is not a good feeling, it is a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. So what can you do so the government doesn't have to do anything or at least make their job easier.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Have a <a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2012/11/make-plan-redux.html" target="_blank">family disaster plan</a>. I have written about this before and it is where everything starts. As the report points out, not only have a plan but "child reunification cards" a simple card with contact info (including an out of area contact) and places to meet.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Talk to your child care facility and/or schools. What are their plans? Ask to see them? Make sure ALL of your contact info is on file with the school/child care facility. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Know your children's friends family's (an extension of <a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2013/11/know-thy-neighbor.html" target="_blank">know your neighbors</a>). </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. What is your local emergency managements plan for reunification? Remember the "roles" I talked about? Ask some questions.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. Do you have a medical care waiver signed at your son's school or child care facility? </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Read up on <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/special/emergency/index.html" target="_blank">HIPAA</a> and <a href="http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html" target="_blank">FERPA</a> so you are informed, both of these are designed to protect privacy but are often misquoted and/or misunderstood. </span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. Always heed warnings from local emergency managers or the weatherman. Make sure everyone leaves home prepared as possible for the day. This may not seem like part of the plan, but it is!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">7. And of course please do <a href="http://disaster-dave.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-disaster.html" target="_blank">talk to your children</a> (and spouse, parents, etc) about disasters and the planning you have taken to make sure everyone is safe.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is one New Years item to take care of soonest.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DisasterDave </span></span>@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-51734895714551977962013-11-27T17:12:00.001-08:002013-11-27T17:12:21.659-08:00Know Thy Neighbor<span style="font-size: large;">It has been awhile since I posted in this blog, I thought maybe I had talked it out; but after the Philippines double disaster (Earthquake followed by a super Typhoon) I started to think more about total disaster. What would I really do if things were completely destroyed to the point that we could not get a functioning city back in weeks. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A lot of the stories coming out of the Philippines are about neighbor helping neighbor, it made me think would that happen here? And then I saw this article and thought "maybe not" <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2013/11/26/study-seattle-is-one-of-loneliest-cities-in-u-s/#12834103=29&18417101=10" target="_blank">"Seattle is one of the loneliest cities"</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If we won't even talk to each other in the market/bar/public transit, how will you fare in a disaster, having to introduce yourself to your neighbor you have lived next to for years to ask for help. Do you know if your neighbor(s) have health concerns? In firmed? Have latch key kids? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Do your neighbors know about you? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A book that explores that questions is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Wave-Autopsy-Disaster-Illinois/dp/0226443221" target="_blank">Heat Wave by Eric Klinenberg</a> where he delves into the high rate of deaths in a massive heatwave in Chicago in 1995 that killed over 700 people. Many died alone because they didn't have family or know anyone who would check on them. A sad story of people alone. So again I ask do you know your neighbors? Would someone check on you in a heatwave or power outage? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="entry_title">
<span style="font-size: large;">And just one more story <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/18/being-sociable-could-save-your-life-in-a-disaster/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Being sociable could save your life in a disaster</span></a></span></div>
<div class="entry_title">
<br /></div>
<div class="entry_title">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Make it a point this holiday season to meet your neighbors (its a great excuse) they may look at you like you want something, but give it a shot, say hi, lend a hand. Don't do nothing, what if your neighbor is a doctor or better yet prepper.</span></span></div>
<div class="entry_title">
<br /></div>
<div class="entry_title">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Happy Holiday</span></span></div>
<div class="entry_title">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks for reading</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Disaster Dave </span></span></div>
@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-66508224587511757192013-07-13T05:55:00.000-07:002013-07-13T05:55:11.697-07:00You can't prepare for everything?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiun-JFdNVQtMZ2sa3lCjSEUFo8Bghuq7nLFY7VmBPq9PyAkXUupkgpUdqvR3CrU2WsUwwDeTJt32pXh0QTmcvY3CvhkoRj4YLwX5318vIRhz57NspbPggTOp5ox9v9HIS66tvNZTlfI/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiun-JFdNVQtMZ2sa3lCjSEUFo8Bghuq7nLFY7VmBPq9PyAkXUupkgpUdqvR3CrU2WsUwwDeTJt32pXh0QTmcvY3CvhkoRj4YLwX5318vIRhz57NspbPggTOp5ox9v9HIS66tvNZTlfI/s200/IMG_0031.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div>
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That's the bad news; the good news is you don't have to. I recently visited an area that suffered a strike by a tornado to do a damage assessment for ShelterBox and thought to myself how do I equate what happened here to my home (Seattle)?</div>
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In the strictest sense I can't; we don't have tornadoes, so thats one thing I don't need to prepare for. I don't need a safe room in my home or a tornado shelter. But what do I need? Are there things from a tornado area that could apply to me and my family? And what doesn't?<br />
<br />
Well first having a plan. Ask yourself the "what ifs"? Where to start? Start small, don't go for the end of the world scenario, you'll freeze. <br />
So for me in Seattle an easy start is a wind storm that knocks out power; something we are susceptible too. So if the power goes out in the winter how long can we stay in our place?<br />
<br />
Well for us a good bit, we have a gas fire place and gas stove. So will my gas fire place light without electricity? Yup, I turned off the power to my place and tried to turn it on and TADA, it worked. Same with the stove and oven. So that's two check marks Heat & Cooking. But what don't I have? Well my hot water is electric, so that's a problem. <br />
Solutions = Shower at work? The YMCA?<br />
What about the food in my refrigerator? Yes that will be a problem if the power is out more than a few hours. Well our wind storms are in the winter, so I can go outside with a cooler for a while, but eventually that will fail.<br />
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So today while its sunny, pick one disaster and talk it through with your family. <br />
Make a Plan.<br />
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<i>The picture is one I took in Oklahoma of the remains of someones home. </i><br />
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Disaster_Dave@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-44649088843114820482013-05-12T08:39:00.000-07:002013-05-12T08:39:10.549-07:00Cookies never suck
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The title stems from a conversation I had a couple of years ago with like-minded
Emergency Managers from around the world enrolled in the <a href="http://www.emergencymanagementacademy.org/">Emergency Management Academy</a>.
An endeavor that had me read a large volume of emergency management books over
the course of a year, along with being involved in great conversations weekly with my fellow Fellows.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The gist of the conversation was appreciation of the people running the
disaster response and recovery. Not the first responders (who you should
thank) but the Emergency Management Team behind the scenes coordinating the
response, who almost never get thanked in a public way. So as you go into
your next disaster; regardless of whether it is a tornado, hurricane, quake or
mass shooting remember there is a man or woman behind the curtain. They
do everything from coordinating the response, to helping move things along in
the recovery phase. And if they did everything right your disaster
experience was probably better than it would have been without their daily
planning.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So search out the location of your local Emergency management office, bake
some cookies and deliver them to the EOC with your thanks.<span> </span>You will make some tired emergency managers
day, because cookies never suck.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Disasterdave</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<br />@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2509557327807050446.post-26598811495397249432013-03-30T09:07:00.000-07:002013-03-30T09:07:26.678-07:00What does the Vulnerable Population look like?<div class="Body1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">It is important
to understand that to be young or old, a woman or a person with a disability or
HIV does not, of itself, make a person vulnerable or at increased risk. Rather,
it is the interplay of factors that does so...</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> (<a href="http://www.sphereproject.org/handbook/">The Sphere Project- Humanitarian
Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response</a>)</span> </i></div>
<div class="Body1" style="line-height: 150%;">
</div>
<div class="Body1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: large; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I find I am often in conversations about how to serve
people after a disaster and I hear planners talk about vulnerable populations;
I wonder through what lens they are quantifying that population? </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: large; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">In most cases it is often new immigrants, people with
obvious disabilities and the poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
those are the usual suspects as the movie line goes, I believe it is important
realize being from one of those categories is not what makes you vulnerable, it
is the addition (or subtraction) of something.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="Body1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: large; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Our daily lives are fairly comfortable by most means in the
first world, but when something happens like Sandy, it quickly can become a 3rd
world working area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the
subtraction of electricity, and easy access to the grocer, doctor and other
support systems we depend on, someone who isn't<span style="font-size: large;"> in our <span style="font-size: large;">plan as a <span style="font-size: large;">vulnerable Population</span></span></span> can quickly become vulnerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="Body1" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: large; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">As you look at your community whether you are a Emergency
Manager, a CERT leader, an MRC member or ant neighborhood program, look deeper
than the pre identified "Vulnerable Pop" look at the family with a
single parent, look at the older couple down the street who walk their dog, and
seem to get along pretty well for their age, look at the new comer who just
moved here and doesn't have connections to the community yet. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Look at the UN
definition above and as you view <u>your population</u> through that lens ask
yourself " If that person (family) lost one of the following - power for a
week, or access to the grocery store, drug store, or clean water or anything we
take for granted would they become <u>vulnerable?</u>"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the answer is yes, you have some more
planning and teaching to do.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">disaster_dave </span></div>
@disaster_davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16196389419336906615noreply@blogger.com0