Why Don't They Call?

EMC053 - ACCEPTANCE TAKES TIME

Originally published, 11 Nov, 1996

It takes time to accomplish the approaches described in our bulletins and papers. Much of it is, of necessity, confined to those unpaid professionals who work in government agencies. I am not addressing volunteers who serve non-governmental agencies on an infrequent basis. The ARES mission of health and welfare traffic, for instance, does take a lot of people who serve VERY infrequently. They are separate and distinct from the type of unpaid employee who works in government, especially in an on-going capacity, albeit unpaid. Note that I studiously avoid the word “volunteer” because the majority of urban governments simply don’t like volunteers. That’s because they may never have had the pleasure of working with the type I am talking about.

Appearance is invariably the first step. I know it sounds trite (and even inflammatory to some) but it is a fact of life; most officials are too tactful to say it —- so I will:

If you don’t look like us, if you don’t talk like us, if you you don’t act like us, and if you don’t perform like us —- you are not one of us. Thou shalt not pass.”

To this a potential volunteer may reply, “Fine. You want me to be or do that? Pay me!” Our reply is, in essence, “I understand your feeling. However, our people don’t do that because they HAVE to — but because they WANT to.” This puts the shoe back on their foot to back out gracefully.

Some may call this a hard line approach. We call it a real world, practical approach. Once you let your employees (paid and volunteer) know what is the mission and standards of performance, service, appearance, behavior, etc., they know exactly where they stand and what is expected. This should be carefully crafted and stated right up front before anyone is hired or signed on. It saves a lot of grief down the line. I have seen all too often government managers report that their volunteer program(s) failed. In analyzing the reasons, the most common is their reluctance to state up front and in writing what are the expectations of the government (or business, etc.).

Convergent Volunteers

EMC035 – Convergent Volunteers

Originally published: July 8, 1996

Convergent volunteers are unsolicited volunteers who spontaneously offer help following an incident, emergency or disaster. They ask to be used when the need exists and expect to return home when their work is done. They may never show up again, or alternately, may come back in response to the next disaster. They do not expect to be paid.

How agencies utilize convergent volunteers will vary. Many turn them away enmass as they are not setup to handle them. Others may use then out of sheer necessity. Some may have a program set up.

To the volunteer it is difficult for them to understand why they may be turned away when they think that their skills can be of immediate use. For example, after an earthquake people with a backhoe or a crane may show up offering their services without charge to move fallen structures. When turned away they often get very upset as they seldom are told why.

There are several valid reasons.

1. 
   

   No program in place to handle them in the proper manner to protect both the volunteer and the agency.

   
   


2. 
   

   Legal constraints unique to an agency or jurisdiction such as states where there are specific response agencies stated in the law.

   
   


3. 
   

   Inability to handle the situation at the time.

   
   


4. 
   

   Lack of training in agency needs, protocol and such factors.

   
   

In communications, Amateur Radio operators who show up at an agency without having been requested (or authorized under an existing plan, such as ACS or RACES) are convergent volunteers. It is not infrequent that these “self dispatched” Amateurs have caused significant problems and caused agencies to discontinue the use of any volunteers. A better way is to become part of an pre-trained emergency communications unit, which provides for recognition and familiarity with agency protocol and its need.

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The Region 8 office of FEMA just posted the above pictured tweet.

Is 72 hours long enough anymore? I guess it depends on the size and impact of the incident.

Ask the residents of New Orleans during Katrina, or Staten Island during Sandy, if 72 hours of supplies were adequate.

Every government preparedness agency, on any level, along with most nonprofit preparedness groups, have preached “72 hours” for a long time.

Maybe it’s time to change. Instead of having a stock “72 hour kit,” take a look at the agencies in your area and build a kit that will sustain you until you expect help to arrive. Huh? Look at the agencies and their capabilities. Do you think help will arrive swiftly?

What are the most likely disaster scenarios to occur in your area? Have they happened in the past? If so, how long did it take for roads to open up, stores to have groceries, gas stations to work, etc?

Look at the results of previous incidents, and plan around those.  If the average “back to sustainable levels” response time is 2 weeks, you better have supplies on hand to last that long.

In a recent Twitter conversation with a emergency preparedness professional located in Oklahoma, he had this to say: “WHAT is YOUR plan? If your insurance, FEMA, Red Cross, Salvation Army, NVOAD group, neighbor, Uncle, Mother, Sister, Brother, does not show for three days, what will you do?”

FEMA is telling us, by way of messages similar to the above pictured Tweet, to be ready to survive on your own for a while.  In nice-nice words, they are saying that you’re on your own for at least 72 hours after an incident.

Looking at the size and scope of major disasters recently, maybe 72 hours isn’t long enough.  Maybe 2 weeks also isn’t long enough.

Plan to survive, but also remember that if you need to evacuate, how much of your stash can you take with you?

Check out a blog posting by Lloyd, KC5FM, who commented on this subject a couple of weeks ago: KC5FM Blog

Do YOU have a plan? Do you know what to do?

The Region 8 office of FEMA just posted the above pictured tweet.

Is 72 hours long enough anymore? I guess it depends on the size and impact of the incident.

Ask the residents of New Orleans during Katrina, or Staten Island during Sandy, if 72 hours of supplies were adequate.

Every government preparedness agency, on any level, along with most nonprofit preparedness groups, have preached “72 hours” for a long time.

Maybe it’s time to change. Instead of having a stock “72 hour kit,” take a look at the agencies in your area and build a kit that will sustain you until you expect help to arrive. Huh? Look at the agencies and their capabilities. Do you think help will arrive swiftly?

What are the most likely disaster scenarios to occur in your area? Have they happened in the past? If so, how long did it take for roads to open up, stores to have groceries, gas stations to work, etc?

Look at the results of previous incidents, and plan around those.  If the average “back to sustainable levels” response time is 2 weeks, you better have supplies on hand to last that long.

In a recent Twitter conversation with a emergency preparedness professional located in Oklahoma, he had this to say: “WHAT is YOUR plan? If your insurance, FEMA, Red Cross, Salvation Army, NVOAD group, neighbor, Uncle, Mother, Sister, Brother, does not show for three days, what will you do?”

FEMA is telling us, by way of messages similar to the above pictured Tweet, to be ready to survive on your own for a while.  In nice-nice words, they are saying that you’re on your own for at least 72 hours after an incident.

Looking at the size and scope of major disasters recently, maybe 72 hours isn’t long enough.  Maybe 2 weeks also isn’t long enough.

Plan to survive, but also remember that if you need to evacuate, how much of your stash can you take with you?

Check out a blog posting by Lloyd, KC5FM, who commented on this subject a couple of weeks ago: KC5FM Blog

Do YOU have a plan? Do you know what to do?

FEMA's Here! Are we saved?

There seems to be a major misunderstanding of how Emergency/Disaster Response works.

During Hurricane Katrina, the media blasted FEMA for not immediately getting involved.  During Superstorm/Frankenstorm/Hurricane/Whatever Sandy, FEMA was first on the scene, for better or worse.

So, what’s the problem? The problem is that FEMA is NOT a First Response agency.  FEMA is the last level in a Disaster Relief pyramid.  Primary responsibility lies with your local Emergency Managers, at the City/township level. When their resources are overwhelmed, the County/Parish is supposed to step in.

Once those assets/resources are committed, the next step is State Emergency Management, and finally FEMA.

Unfortunately, politics being what they are, people have become accustomed to expecting all things from the Federal level of government.  During Katrina, FEMA waited until requested by the State, and caught media hell for it.

During Sandy, FEMA leaped right onto the front lines. It’s too early to tell if this was a good idea or not.

Because of reliance on FEMA to solve all problems, local Emergency Management agencies don’t develop disaster plans for their own resources anymore.  Why throw all of your assets at a disaster when you can just whistle up FEMA and they’ll throw their resources at the problem for you?

While having virtually unlimited resources to throw at a situation might be a good thing, do you really want the Federal Government micro-managing your disaster response, right down to the street level?

EMC002 - An Incident or Disaster?

EMC002 - An Incident or Disaster? Posted Spring 1996.

An incident is defined as an occurance or event (either human or natural caused) requiring action by emergency response personnel to prevent or minimize loss of life or damage to property and/or natural resources.

Incident characteristics include:

• usually of a short duration (hours or days)


• primary command decisions made at the incident scene


• strategy, tactics and resource assignments determined on scene


• usually a local emergency will not be declared and a local EOC may not be activated


• a single event (however, there can be more than a single incident; i.e., multiple incidents)


• with a defined geographical area


• will use local resources; but mutual aid may be involved


• may be only one or a few agencies involved (i.e., fire)


• ordinary threat to life and property - limited population and geographic area

A disaster is defined as a sudden calamitous emergency event bringing great damage, loss or destruction. Disasters may occur with little or no advance warning, e.g., an earthquake, or a flash flood, or they may develop from one or more incidents; e.g., a major brush fire.

Distinguishing characteristics include:

• generally affects a widespread population and geographic area


• will last over a substantial time period (days to weeks)


• local goverment will proclaim an emergency (as may other levels, such as state/federal)


• Emergency Operations Centers are activated to provide central overall coordination of jurisdiction assets, department and incident support functions and initial recovery coordination


• single or multiple event (can have many separate incidents associated with it)


• resource demand is beyond local capabilities and extensive outside aid/support is needed


• many agencies and jurisdications involved, including multiple layers of government


• extra-ordinary threat to life and property

Emergency Preparedness Planning For Pets

All too often when a disaster strikes, our four-legged friends are left to fend for themselves and sometimes end up lost, injured or killed. The best way to avoid this tragic scenario is to have a well-thought-out disaster plan that includes Fido, so you know where to go and what to take. 

For many, pets are more than just animals—they are a part of the family. As members of your family, they should be included in your emergency planning process. Make sure your disaster plan addresses what you will do when an emergency requires you to leave your home, leave your pet at home, or prevents you from returning home. A few simple steps to ensure your pet’s safety can go a long way when disaster strikes.

YOU NEED A PET PLAN! 

Emergency Preparedness Planning For Pets