Community Preparedness: Engaging Consulates &
NPOs/NGOs to Improve Disaster Response
Elisa Estrada, MPA
Office of Emergency Preparedness & Response, NYC
DOHMH
Local Communities Chosen
Earthquake in January 2010 - Haiti
Earthquake in February 2010 - Chile
Floods in July-August 2010 - Pakistan
Respondents’ Roles During Disasters
Consulates Daily operations Emergencies
Update expatriates on latest developments Give press conferences
Respondents’ Roles During Disasters
NPOs/NGOs – MSF, Amnesty Intl’, etc. Prepare containers Coordinate support Provide counseling Give referrals
Common Barriers to Disaster Response
Space Containers in ports Hospital policies
regarding patient information
Barriers to Disaster Response
Containers in ports Backlog Bureaucracy Political environment “not a known organization”
Barriers to Disaster Response
Hospitals policies regarding patient information Experience in London Concerns about a disaster in NYC
Most useful & practical Experience
Unity Support, coordination, cooperation, speed Non-paid overtime
Most useful & practical Experience
Family Assistance Center (FAC) > 10 fatalities Agencies and NPOs/NGOs involved NYPD operations Rapid return Up-to-date information Daily briefings Ask questions
Summary & Recommendations: Opportunities for Local Government Involvement
Inform all consulates on FAC services OEM, OCME, DOHMH
Sponsor a conference Consulate/NGOs
Potential to re-direct stockpile supplies Rotation
Opportunities for OEPR
Acknowledgements Dale McShine, MS Christopher Godfrey, PhD Haitian, Chilean & Pakistani
Consulates Gabriela Mistral Foundation Chile Club Haitian American Nurses
Association Haitian Americans United
for Progress Pakistani American
Pharmaceutical Association