Transcript Strong Local Partnerships: The Keys to Success Workshop Wrap-up

Workshop Wrap-up
Strong Local Partnerships:
The Keys to Success
62nd Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference
Tropical Cyclone Operations and Research: Priorities for the
Future
3-7 March 2008
Denise Stephenson Hawk, Ph.D.
Associate Director, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Director, Societal-Environmental Research and Education Laboratory
Session 11
Strong Local Partnerships:
The Keys to Success
Moderator: Dr. Denise Stephenson Hawk, NCAR
Associate Director and Director of SERE Laboratory
Panelists:
Ms. Cathy Haynes, Director, Charleston County Emergency
Preparedness Division
Mr. Walt Dickerson, Director, Mobile County Emergency
Management Agency
Mr. Michael Emlaw, Meteorologist-in-Charge, NWS Weather
Forecast Office, Charleston, SC
Dr. Betty Hearn Morrow, Professor Emeritus, Florida
International University, Consulting Sociologist
Ms. Naomi Moye, Hazards Communications Consultant
Mr. Ronald Glaser, Sandia National Laboratories, Program
Manager, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System
Guiding Questions
When should disaster
preparation begin?
How is the disaster
message transmitted to
the public?
How is the message
received by the public?
What actions are taken
after the message is
received?
Message Should Define…
 Nature of the Hazard
 Perceived Likelihood as a Threat Uncertainty
 Chain of Command for Safety and
Recovery
 Information that People Can Use
to Make Decisions
• Visual
• Oral
• Written
• Personal
• Universal
Lessons Taught
are Not
Necessarily
Lessons
Learned
Lessons Taught…
 Prepare months/years before the storm
 Identify vulnerable populations
 Registry
 Service Organizations
 Messages constructed should be:
•
•
•
•
Simple
Concrete
Relevant
Viable
 Messages should reach all people
•
•
•
•
•
Language Barriers
Disabilities
Economic Constraints
Literacy Concerns
Middle Managers
Lessons Learned…
 Empower People to Act
 Make Sure it Matters…Can You
Convince People that Action is
Better than Inaction?
 Be Specific…Offer Concrete
Steps that are Actually Possible!
 Follow Through, and Remember
that Leaving Home is only the
First Step…
Lessons Learned…
 All emergencies are local
 Convene Pre-hurricane
public talks designed to
define actions
 Prepare citizens to act in
advance of hazard, e.g.,
develop Community
Emergency Response Teams
 Sequester local elected
leaders and ensure that they
understand the plan of
action
Partnerships are KEY
 Local Emergency Managers
 Lead hazard response and
recovery
 Responsible for the safety and
security of the public
 Chains of Command – Local,
state, regional and federal
 Neighborhood Associations
 Media should be an ally – Build
cooperative relationships early
 Residents in hazard zones rely
upon leadership they trust
Decision Support Tools that
WORK
 Cable TV Overrides to
Disseminate Messages
 Integrated Public Alert
and Warning System
(IPAWS)
 Connect CTY
 211 Information System
 StormReady Program
Clearly Define
Responsibilities of
all Stakeholders:
Scientists, Public,
Media, Local, State,
Regional, Federal
PLAN EARLY
Information Flow is
Vital
Messages must be
simple and
actionable
PLAN EARLY
Societal Resilience
Depends on
Building
Interdependence
along with
Independence
PLAN EARLY
PARTNERSHIPS THAT
WORK ARE KEY
THANK YOU