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Wednesday, November 28, 2012
USHHS. Office of Minority Health. Resources.
HEROES BEHIND THE BADGE - PREMIER SCREENING. Saturday, December 1, 2012
The FBI MD/DE Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association, Operation P.U.L.S.E, and National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is sponsoring:
HEROES BEHIND THE BADGE - PREMIER SCREENING.
Heroes Behind The Badge is a documentary film featuring some of the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line and survived, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This inspiring documentary will change the way we look at the men and women of law enforcement and highlight the unselfish acts of bravery they commit each day in the line of duty.
A premier screening will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2012. The screening is open to everyone. Tickets are available for $15.00 and can be purchased online. Please use this link to purchase tickets: https://hbtb-baltimore.ticketbud.com/heroes-behind-the-badge-baltimores-premier-screening. You will need a PayPal account. If you do not have a PayPal account, you can create one at the time of purchase. All tickets purchased online will be mailed to the address entered at the time of sale. An email will be sent that confirms your purchase that includes “printable mock” tickets. Only the tickets mailed to the purchaser will be accepted at the door.
Heroes Behind The Badge is a documentary film featuring some of the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line and survived, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This inspiring documentary will change the way we look at the men and women of law enforcement and highlight the unselfish acts of bravery they commit each day in the line of duty.
A premier screening will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2012. The screening is open to everyone. Tickets are available for $15.00 and can be purchased online. Please use this link to purchase tickets: https://hbtb-baltimore.ticketbud.com/heroes-behind-the-badge-baltimores-premier-screening. You will need a PayPal account. If you do not have a PayPal account, you can create one at the time of purchase. All tickets purchased online will be mailed to the address entered at the time of sale. An email will be sent that confirms your purchase that includes “printable mock” tickets. Only the tickets mailed to the purchaser will be accepted at the door.
You may also mail checks/money orders (payable to Operation P.U.L.S.E.) to 530 E. 22nd street Baltimore , Maryland 21218.
For more information:
Movie Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMJCOEOGYgg
Website: http://www.heroesbehindthebadge.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/heroesbehindthebadge
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heroesbtb
Movie Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMJCOEOGYgg
Website: http://www.heroesbehindthebadge.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/heroesbehindthebadge
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heroesbtb
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Webinar: Critical Infrastructure: Water Sector Mutual Aid
Water Sector Mutual Aid
How the WARN Program Facilitates Rapid Response and Recovery of Water Systems
November 28, 2012 -- 12:00 Noon Eastern
EMForum.org is pleased to host a one hour presentation and interactive discussion Wednesday, November 28, 2012, beginning at 12:00 Noon Eastern time (please convert to your local time). Our topic will be WARN, an intrastate network of water and wastewater utilities that share resources with one another during emergencies. Most recently, WARN was activated for Hurricane Sandy. Our guests will include John Whitler, Environmental Protection Specialist with the EPA's Water Security Division and Kevin Morley, Security and Preparedness Program Manager for the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
Is your organization interested in becoming an EIIP Partner? Click here to review our Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles and access the Memorandum of Partnership.
How the WARN Program Facilitates Rapid Response and Recovery of Water Systems
November 28, 2012 -- 12:00 Noon Eastern
EMForum.org is pleased to host a one hour presentation and interactive discussion Wednesday, November 28, 2012, beginning at 12:00 Noon Eastern time (please convert to your local time). Our topic will be WARN, an intrastate network of water and wastewater utilities that share resources with one another during emergencies. Most recently, WARN was activated for Hurricane Sandy. Our guests will include John Whitler, Environmental Protection Specialist with the EPA's Water Security Division and Kevin Morley, Security and Preparedness Program Manager for the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
Please make plans to join us, and see the Background Page for links to related resources and participant Instructions. On the day of the program, use the Webinar Login link not more than 30 minutes before the scheduled time. The password is attend. As always, please feel free to extend this invitation to your colleagues, especially those responsible for water and waste water facilities.
In partnership with Jacksonville State University, EIIP offers CEUs for attending EMForum.org Webinars. See http://www.emforum.org/CEUs.htm for details.
Is your organization interested in becoming an EIIP Partner? Click here to review our Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles and access the Memorandum of Partnership.
This educational opportunity is provided by the Emergency Information Infrastructure Project (EIIP).
Use the link below to cancel or update your subscription, or contact asebring@emforum.org for assistance.
Holiday Travel Precautions and Recommendations
National Domestic Preparedness Coalition Global Center for Threat, Risk, and Vulnerability
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS BULLETIN
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Subject: Holiday Travel Safety
Brief: NDPCI member Cpl. Marcus Camacho FCPP, FCP Orange County Sheriff’s Office, passed along the following information regarding holiday travel. The brief provides simple precautions and recommendations to make holiday travel safe. This information can be passed along across agencies and can be provided directly to the community. The NDPCI Staff wishes all of our members a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Holiday Travel Precautions and Recommendations
2. Lock your vehicle. During the holiday period there are increased incidents of stolen valuables. These items may include GPS, cell phones, loose change, and compact discs to name a few; due to unsecured vehicles.
3. Do not announce on your email auto response that you are on vacation with the dates you are leaving or returning. This includes both work and personal emails. If you must leave an auto response reply it should contain as little information as possible. Example: I am currently away and periodically checking my emails. If you need an immediate response, please contact Jane Doe at 407-555-5555.
4. Set your vehicle alarm if you have one.This may be an excellent time to review the code for any vehicles that are equipped with “LoJack" systems.
5. Do not announce to the whole community that you will be gone on vacation. This would include by word of mouth, voice mail and social networking sites (Facebook, My Space, Twitter, etc). Only let a few select and trusted friends or family members know so they can check your home for you.
6. Do not update your travel plans on social networking sites. Example: We are having a blast in the islands ... we go snorkeling tomorrow. Wishing you were here. See you in two weeks.
7. Turn down the ringer on your phone so it can't be heard from the outside.
8. Periodically retrieve your home messages so your voice mail does not get full. This could be another indicator you are not home.
9. Do a maintenance check of your alarm system prior to your departure. Make sure the alarm company has updated contact information to include how to reach you as well as a trusted friend or relative in the area.
10. Contact your local law enforcement agency to notify them that you will be out of town. Many offer house check services.
11. Stop all deliveries to include parcel packages and newspaper delivery.
12. Have a trusted neighbor or friend do the following:
a. Park a spare vehicle in your driveway while you are away.
b. The first preference is to have your mail stopped. The second option is to have a friend/neighbor check and retrieve your mail.
c. Place trash in front of your home on trash day and then remove the receptacle.
d. Periodic walks and inspections around your home.
e. Pick up any newspaper deliveries. (The preference is to have it stopped)
f. Check the front door for unsolicited fliers, bills and parcel packages left at your front door. Have them remove these items.
13. Place interior/outdoor lights, televisions and radios on timers. Make sure your lights are timed for appropriate hours.
14. Unplug your garage door opener and lock the rails from the inside.
15. Inspect your home prior to departure and make sure all windows and doors are locked and secure. This should also include storage areas.
16. Make sure you secure outdoor items such as bicycles, toys, outdoor grill, etc.
17. Unplug all appliances to include TV, stereos, computers, toasters, and microwave ovens to prevent damage during electrical storms.
18. Make sure the last person out of the house locks the door. Then make a check of the outside to make sure everything is secure.
If you are interested in safety tips while you are traveling (car, plane, hotel, theme parks) you can go to our website at http://www.ocso.com/ and go to Tourist Tips (left side tab). These tips are designed for area travelers but many can be used anywhere.
Safe Traveler Program: If you are traveling outside of the country we recommend you visit http://travel.state.gov! Please check for travel advisory or warnings for that specific country or region you will visit on your vacation. It will provide information on the status of that area.
We also highly recommend that you register your visit abroad with the nearest consulate or embassy at Smart Traveler.
The consulate or embassy can get a hold of you in an emergency, assist you if you are injured or the victim of a crime or alert you to changes in the country or area status.
Avoid those delays and that confusion at the airport. Know Before You Go! Prior to air travel please visit: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/ .
Make sure you view the top 10 traveler tips from DHLS prior to travel.
Other things to consider while traveling:
1. Always let a trusted family member know your travel plans. This would include departure and arrival times whether you travel by car, plane or any other form. If your plans change or get delayed, let someone know.
2. Also remember that what may be customary to you may be an insult in another country. Please take the time to learn about the culture and area you will visit.
3. Always check with your health insurance to see if you are covered in the country you are visiting. You may need to consider some type of travel insurance.
4. Always check with your auto insurance carrier to see if you are covered in another state or country for auto accidents and what insurance coverage may or may not be available. You may need to consider some type of additional insurance. Also check with your credit card provider for alternatives on insurance.
5. Always check to see if needed prescriptions are available. Be aware that other travel destinations may use a different measuring system. Check with your physician on alternatives.
6. WARNING: The use of substitute medication in another country that is not recognized by the FDA or other medical organizations may cause adverse effects to include death. Always check with your physician.
7. Be aware that some medications prescribed in the U.S. may not be legal in other countries and some medications prescribed in other countries may not be legal or recognized in the U.S.
8. Avoid "Bill Shock." Always check with your cell phone provider to see what coverage, if any, may be received in another state or country and what charges may apply. This would include text messaging, Internet use, etc. Some options may include a phone card, pre-paid cell phone, or a temporary rental at your arrival destination. If you truly want to stay or need to be in touch, many companies offer satellite or cell phones that may be rented.
9. Always check with your credit card company or bank to make sure your card will work in a foreign country. Refrain from using the debit option in another country.
10. When making a purchase out of state or out of country, always check with the retailer on returns, refunds or exchanges. It is best to shop at a recognized national or international chain or at a business that has a clear policy on returns, refunds or exchanges.
11. Unsolicited Fliers at your hotel: A major hotel chain will never leave any unsolicited material under your room door without the official hotel name or logo. Many unsolicited material will usually be a food product not endorsed by the hotel. Many times unsolicited material left under your room door is a scam. For recommendations on dining in the area you visit, always check with the front desk or concierge.
When you arrive home:
1. Notify your law enforcement agency that you are home.
2. Resume your mail, paper delivery, and subscriptions.
3. Inspect your home both interior and exterior for any possible criminal activity or acts.
4. Plug in your garage door but , ensure that you have removed all external locking devices.
5. Immediately inspect all billing statements to ensure their accuracy.
Panel Discussion: Wednesday, Nov. 28th DHS: Past, Present, and Future
Department of Homeland Security at 10: Past, Present, and Future
Department of Homeland Security at 10: Past, Present, and Future
On November 25, 2002, then President George W. Bush signed the Homeland Security Act, which established the Department of Homeland Security and called for the largest federal government reorganization since the creation of the Department of Defense in 1947. On Wednesday, November 28, join the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy and the Open Society Foundations for a panel discussion covering a decade of DHS accomplishments, failures, and controversies, as well as suggested national security policies looking forward.
Speakers:
- Stephen Vladeck, Associate Dean & Professor of Law at American University, Washington College of Law (moderator)
- Michael German, Senior Policy Counsel, ACLU
- Seth Grossman, Deputy General Counsel, DHS
- Jamil Jaffer, Senior Counsel, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
- Wendy Patten, Senior Policy Analyst, Open Society Foundations
Date: November 28, 2012
Time: 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location OSI-Washington, D.C.
Speakers: Michael German, Seth Grossman, Jamil Jaffer, Wendy Patten, and Stephen Vladeck
Sponsored by Open Society Institute–Washington, D.C.
In Partnership with American Constitution Society for Law and Policy
Contact Info Vee Campbell, venus.campbell@opensocietyfoundations.org, 202-721-5600
Webinars: Faith and Community Leaders for Nov-Dec 2012
REMINDER - Webinars This Week
HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
November 2012 Webinars
The HHS Partnership Center continues to host a series of webinars for faith and community leaders. All webinars are open to the public and include a question and answer session where you can ask HHS staff any questions you may have. We also encourage you to submit questions you would like to have answered on the webinars to ACA101@hhs.gov.
To participate in one of the webinars, please select your preferred topic from the list below and submit the necessary information. After registering you will receive an e-mail confirmation containing information about joining the webinar. Please contact us at ACA101@hhs.gov if you have registration problems.
All of the webinars are closed to the press.
November 27th at 2:00 p.m. ET
A presentation on the main provisions in the Affordable Care Act and how to access care in your community.
November 28th at 11:00 a.m. ET
An introduction to the HHS Office of Civil Rights. The Office of Civil Rights will share information about what their office does, how they can help faith and community leaders and will answer questions.
November 29th at 12:30 p.m. ET
A tour of the www.HealthCare.gov website, including how to access private and public insurance in your community; when parts of the law are going into effect; and how to access care if you don’t have insurance.
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You are invited to a Let’s Move! Webinar/Conference Call for faith and community leaders on Thursday, November 29th at 2:00 pm ET
Make Your Community a Source of Health and Wellness
Join this Let’s Move Faith and Communities webinar to learn about the role of faith and community organizations as catalysts for health and wellness, and hear from faith leaders as they share how they have successfully established programs for healthy living in their communities.
Sue Heitmuller, Manager of Health Ministry and Community Benefits for Adventist HealthCare, will offer thoughts on the important role of health in faith settings and provide an overview on how to develop health leadership in your community. The presentation will be followed by a Question & Answer session.
Thursday, November 29th, 2012
2:00 PM Eastern
2:00 PM Eastern
(1:00 PM Central, 12:00 PM Mountain, 11:00 AM Pacific)
Click here and select the November 29th webinar to reserve a spot for this Let’s Move Faith and Communities event
SAVE THE DATE: Our next Let's Move Faith and Communities webinar/call will be held on January 31st, 2013 at 2 pm ET. Join us to learn how to provide families with the information, support, and food they need to develop or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Hear about how Catholic Charities West Virginia transformed their food pantry into a source of health and wellness for their community.
The Preparedness Message Isn’t Reaching the Public
The Preparedness Message Isn’t Reaching the Public
By: Jim McKay on November 12, 2012
Americans have a false sense of security when it comes to disasters, and should they become victims, most haven’t taken steps to help themselves during the first few days after one strikes.
The message is to have a kit, be aware of potential emergencies and have a family plan. The problem is that it’s generally based on fear, according to some emergency management professionals. But to some, being prepared takes a backseat because they’ve never experienced a catastrophe.
“A mind-alerting event has not taken place in their lives to drive them to take some preparedness actions,” said Will Allen, retired colonel and CEO of consulting firm W. Allen Enterprises. He said most people don’t see preparedness as an important issue because of how it’s presented. “It has a lot to do with people’s experiences, their culture and awareness. Maybe our local government hasn’t made it an important issue to them.”
Jones said the “have-a-kit, be aware” message is OK, but the way it’s conveyed is problematic. “It’s threat-based, top down, put forth by agencies whose mission, mindset and muscles are around disaster response, not preparedness,” she said. “There’s a different way to leverage resources in a community than to tell everybody, ‘You need to have this, otherwise horrible stuff is going to happen to you.’”
The message is more like a “branding campaign” for the agencies, Jones said, and tying preparedness to specific threats like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and terrorism is telling 90 percent of the population not to worry. “There’s a ton of research that shows that threat-based messaging and showing the horrible pictures of the collapsed buildings and the floating dead bodies does not help you prepare, but stops you from preparing because it triggers the overwhelm factor.”
The proper message isn’t tied to having a kit but to developing resilience every day.
The consensus is that many families don’t have an emergency kit. “We say, ‘You need to get a kit that has food, water, a radio, flashlight.’ The list goes on and on,” said
Dallas Emergency Management Director Kevin Oden. “Well, those costs really add up and most people can’t do that.” He said it’s better to ask people to prepare over time by bringing home extra water or nonperishable food when possible. And the best kits are not ones that were purchased whole but the ones built from supplies families use regularly and will use during a crisis.
Illustration by Tom McKeith
Experts say either the preparedness message isn’t getting across, or the wrong message is being sent.
In a recent survey conducted by the Ad Council, 17 percent of respondents said they were very prepared for an emergency situation, which means they have a kit and a plan to sustain themselves during the first few days of a disaster. In the same survey, however, just 23 percent of respondents said they have a plan to communicate with family members if there is no cellphone service.
But this figure is considered inflated by some who say the percentage of prepared citizens is dreadful. “Oftentimes you’ll get a survey saying 6 percent of the public is prepared,” said Ana-Marie Jones, executive director of the nonprofit organization Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters (CARD). “That’s nothing to write home about if you consider 4 percent of the population is Mormon and they prepare without being told to do so by the U.S. government.”
Jones said the methods for reaching the public leave a lot to be desired. “No private company would invest billions of dollars putting a message out that had such dismal returns,” she said. “You just would never do it.”
Jones took part in an event this summer, called Awareness to Action: A Workshop on Motivating the Public to Prepare, hosted by FEMA and the American Red Cross. The two-day event invited 85 preparedness experts from across the country to discuss how to engage the public with preparedness. Jones said the majority of attendees agreed that the message is flawed.
“The highlight of the two days was [FEMA Administrator] Craig Fugate coming to the meeting and being honest in saying we have to acknowledge that we haven’t moved the preparedness needle,” Jones said. “When the highest person in FEMA acknowledges that it has not been a success, it gives me hope.”
In a recent survey conducted by the Ad Council, 17 percent of respondents said they were very prepared for an emergency situation, which means they have a kit and a plan to sustain themselves during the first few days of a disaster. In the same survey, however, just 23 percent of respondents said they have a plan to communicate with family members if there is no cellphone service.
But this figure is considered inflated by some who say the percentage of prepared citizens is dreadful. “Oftentimes you’ll get a survey saying 6 percent of the public is prepared,” said Ana-Marie Jones, executive director of the nonprofit organization Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters (CARD). “That’s nothing to write home about if you consider 4 percent of the population is Mormon and they prepare without being told to do so by the U.S. government.”
Jones said the methods for reaching the public leave a lot to be desired. “No private company would invest billions of dollars putting a message out that had such dismal returns,” she said. “You just would never do it.”
Jones took part in an event this summer, called Awareness to Action: A Workshop on Motivating the Public to Prepare, hosted by FEMA and the American Red Cross. The two-day event invited 85 preparedness experts from across the country to discuss how to engage the public with preparedness. Jones said the majority of attendees agreed that the message is flawed.
“The highlight of the two days was [FEMA Administrator] Craig Fugate coming to the meeting and being honest in saying we have to acknowledge that we haven’t moved the preparedness needle,” Jones said. “When the highest person in FEMA acknowledges that it has not been a success, it gives me hope.”
A Negative Message
The message is to have a kit, be aware of potential emergencies and have a family plan. The problem is that it’s generally based on fear, according to some emergency management professionals. But to some, being prepared takes a backseat because they’ve never experienced a catastrophe.
“A mind-alerting event has not taken place in their lives to drive them to take some preparedness actions,” said Will Allen, retired colonel and CEO of consulting firm W. Allen Enterprises. He said most people don’t see preparedness as an important issue because of how it’s presented. “It has a lot to do with people’s experiences, their culture and awareness. Maybe our local government hasn’t made it an important issue to them.”
Jones said the “have-a-kit, be aware” message is OK, but the way it’s conveyed is problematic. “It’s threat-based, top down, put forth by agencies whose mission, mindset and muscles are around disaster response, not preparedness,” she said. “There’s a different way to leverage resources in a community than to tell everybody, ‘You need to have this, otherwise horrible stuff is going to happen to you.’”
The message is more like a “branding campaign” for the agencies, Jones said, and tying preparedness to specific threats like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and terrorism is telling 90 percent of the population not to worry. “There’s a ton of research that shows that threat-based messaging and showing the horrible pictures of the collapsed buildings and the floating dead bodies does not help you prepare, but stops you from preparing because it triggers the overwhelm factor.”
The proper message isn’t tied to having a kit but to developing resilience every day.
The consensus is that many families don’t have an emergency kit. “We say, ‘You need to get a kit that has food, water, a radio, flashlight.’ The list goes on and on,” said
Dallas Emergency Management Director Kevin Oden. “Well, those costs really add up and most people can’t do that.” He said it’s better to ask people to prepare over time by bringing home extra water or nonperishable food when possible. And the best kits are not ones that were purchased whole but the ones built from supplies families use regularly and will use during a crisis.
Even that is difficult for those who struggle daily to take care of their basic needs. “If I didn’t eat this morning, that’s real,” Allen said. “I’m supposed to be prepared for something that may or may not happen? I haven’t even thought that far ahead. It’s going to require a different effort.”
Allen said getting people to purchase items they might need in an emergency will take incentives. “I need to eat; I need shoes, so come at me with some way I can get that, such as a Target coupon. Something like that would be a lot less costly than some of the actions we have to take after an event.”
Jones agreed, saying citizens will prioritize what’s valuable to them right now. “That’s always the way it will be. You’re never going to get people to prioritize the earthquake, flood or act of terrorism over their daily needs.”
Jones stressed that citizens are much likelier to develop resilience by focusing on things that could help during a disaster and every day, like a cellphone.
“If I told you to put aside your computer until you need it for a disaster, by the time you needed it you wouldn’t be familiar with it,” Jones said. “That’s exactly what happens with our disaster stuff. You’d have a better shot with a cellphone.”
She said people should program the names and phone numbers of their neighbors, employees and relatives into their cellphones. “If you don’t have resources like food and kits, maybe somebody else does,” Jones said. “Maybe you’ve got other resources. Maybe you’re the guy with the power tools or the big backyard where everybody can meet.”
Oden said it’s important for citizens not to think of disaster preparedness as a one-time deal. “If you’re building preparedness over a long period, it’s in your head and you’re more likely to take additional steps to be prepared than if you bought a kit and put it in a closet.”
Jones and Allen echoed that sentiment. “Anything that you can build into your everyday muscle is much more likely to serve you in a crisis,” Jones said.
“Resilience is about getting better over time,” Allen added.
Emergency managers shouldn’t pass up an opportunity to educate residents on becoming prepared, however they shouldn’t expect dramatic results. Local community groups that residents identify with and trust are best to push out the preparedness messages.
Community organizations, churches, schools, businesses and the like are better positioned in the community to deliver a more resonating message.
“People need to hear the message from people they believe in,” said Jones. “If you want people who are affiliated with religious groups to get the message, they’ll get the message when that religious organization threads it into a way they speak.”
In addition, community groups are the only way to reach certain segments of society, such as non-English speaking residents who may not trust government. That will become more significant in the next 15 to 20 years as the Hispanic and Asian-American population is estimated to grow by 18 percent, Oden said.
“If we as government can’t either linguistically or culturally connect to groups of people, a level of trust is hard to get,” he said. “Take for instance our outdoor warning sirens that we use for severe weather. People who are non-English speaking are going to have a harder time getting the message of what warning sirens really mean to them.”
Citizens tend to be somewhat passé toward government warnings, as evidenced by some of the response to a Federal Signal survey, which suggested that most people need to be able to validate a warning from another source. In the survey, 23 percent said they’d need to hear about local property damage before they became concerned. “The sense that bad things happen to other people is a real concern,” said John Von Thaden, general manager for alerting and notification systems at Federal Signal.
Allen said getting people to purchase items they might need in an emergency will take incentives. “I need to eat; I need shoes, so come at me with some way I can get that, such as a Target coupon. Something like that would be a lot less costly than some of the actions we have to take after an event.”
Jones agreed, saying citizens will prioritize what’s valuable to them right now. “That’s always the way it will be. You’re never going to get people to prioritize the earthquake, flood or act of terrorism over their daily needs.”
Jones stressed that citizens are much likelier to develop resilience by focusing on things that could help during a disaster and every day, like a cellphone.
“If I told you to put aside your computer until you need it for a disaster, by the time you needed it you wouldn’t be familiar with it,” Jones said. “That’s exactly what happens with our disaster stuff. You’d have a better shot with a cellphone.”
She said people should program the names and phone numbers of their neighbors, employees and relatives into their cellphones. “If you don’t have resources like food and kits, maybe somebody else does,” Jones said. “Maybe you’ve got other resources. Maybe you’re the guy with the power tools or the big backyard where everybody can meet.”
Oden said it’s important for citizens not to think of disaster preparedness as a one-time deal. “If you’re building preparedness over a long period, it’s in your head and you’re more likely to take additional steps to be prepared than if you bought a kit and put it in a closet.”
Jones and Allen echoed that sentiment. “Anything that you can build into your everyday muscle is much more likely to serve you in a crisis,” Jones said.
“Resilience is about getting better over time,” Allen added.
Community Affiliations
Emergency managers shouldn’t pass up an opportunity to educate residents on becoming prepared, however they shouldn’t expect dramatic results. Local community groups that residents identify with and trust are best to push out the preparedness messages.
Community organizations, churches, schools, businesses and the like are better positioned in the community to deliver a more resonating message.
“People need to hear the message from people they believe in,” said Jones. “If you want people who are affiliated with religious groups to get the message, they’ll get the message when that religious organization threads it into a way they speak.”
In addition, community groups are the only way to reach certain segments of society, such as non-English speaking residents who may not trust government. That will become more significant in the next 15 to 20 years as the Hispanic and Asian-American population is estimated to grow by 18 percent, Oden said.
“If we as government can’t either linguistically or culturally connect to groups of people, a level of trust is hard to get,” he said. “Take for instance our outdoor warning sirens that we use for severe weather. People who are non-English speaking are going to have a harder time getting the message of what warning sirens really mean to them.”
Citizens tend to be somewhat passé toward government warnings, as evidenced by some of the response to a Federal Signal survey, which suggested that most people need to be able to validate a warning from another source. In the survey, 23 percent said they’d need to hear about local property damage before they became concerned. “The sense that bad things happen to other people is a real concern,” said John Von Thaden, general manager for alerting and notification systems at Federal Signal.
That’s where community groups can help. Von Thaden said there are big differences in the way some emergency managers coordinate with local organizations and communities, but it’s important for emergency managers to do it. “It’s a piece that emergency managers are looking for,” he said. “It continues to grow as a role they play.”
Allen used the military as an example of an organization having a captive audience. He said that when top brass wanted something known, they presented it to a controlled audience in multiple ways.
There are a couple of lessons there, and one is that people listen to and heed a message from organizations that have their direct attention. People need messages in different forms, and they need it from trusted sources, like churches, schools and employers.
“What you should do is seek out groups and community leaders, be it community centers or churches,” Oden said. “People are much more connected today to groups of like interests than ever before, and if we as emergency managers are focusing on the leaders of those groups, then they can pass the preparedness message down to citizens.”
Another approach is to penetrate schools. Jones said schools could start teaching about disaster preparedness as early as preschool. Two- to 3-year-olds can learn to crawl to a safe spot and know by color codes which areas are safe. A green-colored carpet under a table could signify safety, and kids would learn to be safe, not scared.
Social media also is a tool for communities to use for preparedness. “Facebook is way more resilient than most local governments,” Jones said. “I’m located in Oakland, Calif., and I can promise you after the next catastrophic earthquake, Facebook will be more resilient than my city. It’s little things like that spread across a community, more than it is big government-mandated interventions that work.”
There are commonalities between the gaps in both preparedness and the public’s response to alerts, as evidenced by the previously cited Federal Signal study statistics. “I think it speaks to the fact that many Americans have been complacent,” Von Thaden said. Just as telling everyone to buy a kit is ineffective, using one message or method for alerting is ignoring portions of the population.
The key to reaching different population segments is to diversify the methods for alert notifications because preferences for alerts vary greatly among individuals. “Often it can be age or regionally related in terms of their experiences, and that can be anything from looking for text messages, a phone call or traditional messaging through radio and television,” Von Thaden said.
He said a layered approach to notification is necessary and includes a mode for residents to validate the initial warning. Part of the hesitation of citizens is a disconnection with local emergency management strategies. For example, 71 percent of respondents in the Federal Signal survey didn’t know if their community had a personal alerting and notification solution.
Von Thaden reiterated that emergency managers who partner with local community organizations do better in terms of having the public’s ear.
He said putting the decision of how to receive alerts in the hands of the recipients by offering multiple options is important. It’s a form of empowerment that a successful preparedness program should include.
“If we’re building a system of empowerment, we’re building preparedness,” Oden said. “Anytime someone feels empowered, they are always going to be more likely to pursue
something. It’s just human nature.”
Allen used the military as an example of an organization having a captive audience. He said that when top brass wanted something known, they presented it to a controlled audience in multiple ways.
There are a couple of lessons there, and one is that people listen to and heed a message from organizations that have their direct attention. People need messages in different forms, and they need it from trusted sources, like churches, schools and employers.
“What you should do is seek out groups and community leaders, be it community centers or churches,” Oden said. “People are much more connected today to groups of like interests than ever before, and if we as emergency managers are focusing on the leaders of those groups, then they can pass the preparedness message down to citizens.”
Another approach is to penetrate schools. Jones said schools could start teaching about disaster preparedness as early as preschool. Two- to 3-year-olds can learn to crawl to a safe spot and know by color codes which areas are safe. A green-colored carpet under a table could signify safety, and kids would learn to be safe, not scared.
Social media also is a tool for communities to use for preparedness. “Facebook is way more resilient than most local governments,” Jones said. “I’m located in Oakland, Calif., and I can promise you after the next catastrophic earthquake, Facebook will be more resilient than my city. It’s little things like that spread across a community, more than it is big government-mandated interventions that work.”
Diverse Approach
There are commonalities between the gaps in both preparedness and the public’s response to alerts, as evidenced by the previously cited Federal Signal study statistics. “I think it speaks to the fact that many Americans have been complacent,” Von Thaden said. Just as telling everyone to buy a kit is ineffective, using one message or method for alerting is ignoring portions of the population. The key to reaching different population segments is to diversify the methods for alert notifications because preferences for alerts vary greatly among individuals. “Often it can be age or regionally related in terms of their experiences, and that can be anything from looking for text messages, a phone call or traditional messaging through radio and television,” Von Thaden said.
He said a layered approach to notification is necessary and includes a mode for residents to validate the initial warning. Part of the hesitation of citizens is a disconnection with local emergency management strategies. For example, 71 percent of respondents in the Federal Signal survey didn’t know if their community had a personal alerting and notification solution.
Von Thaden reiterated that emergency managers who partner with local community organizations do better in terms of having the public’s ear.
He said putting the decision of how to receive alerts in the hands of the recipients by offering multiple options is important. It’s a form of empowerment that a successful preparedness program should include.
“If we’re building a system of empowerment, we’re building preparedness,” Oden said. “Anytime someone feels empowered, they are always going to be more likely to pursue
something. It’s just human nature.”
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