Disaster Preparation for Communities
Brian Kayes
The City of Brandon NotebookApril 2011
Community Development
Long term planning Inclusiveness Integration into the big picture for your
community Support by community members Actions that benefit your community
Frank, Flo & Anne Smith. (1999). The community development handbook: A tool to build community capacity. Ottawa, Ontario: Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada.
Need a Goal
Having a disaster resilient community is the desired outcome of our activities.
Resilience
The capacity to adapt to stress from hazards and the ability to recover quickly from their impacts.
Henstra, Dan, Kovacs, Paul, McBean, Gordon, Sweeting, Rob. (2004). Background paper on disaster resilient cities. Ottawa. Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, Infrastructure Canada.
Resilience
To have the necessary pieces in place to rebound as quickly as possible after an event.
Ronan, Kevin R., Johnston, David M., (2005) Promoting community resilience in disasters: the role for schools, youth and families. Springer
Resilience
Physical and psychosocial preparation helps a community better respond and recover from a disaster.
Lindell, M. K., and Whitney, D. J. (2000). Correlates of Household Seismic
Hazard Adjustment Adoption. Risk Analysis, 20 (1), 13-24.
Essential Elements for Building Community Resilience1. Connectedness2. Participation3. Roles & Responsibility4. Support & Nurturance5. Skill Building6. Resources
Gurwitch, R. H., Pfefferbaum, B., Montgomery, J. M., Klomp, R. W., & Reissman, D. B. (2007). Building community resilience for children and families. Oklahoma City: Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Essential Elements for Building Community Resilience
1. Connectedness - The degree to which people feel a part of the community.– Shared history– Shared understanding of local hazards – Shared desire to be prepared.
Possible Natural Hazards
Flooding Drought Extreme Heat Extreme Wind Tornadoes Wildland fire
Extreme Cold Blizzards Heavy Snowfall Ice Storms Heavy Rain Pandemic
Possible Technological Hazards
Hazardous Materials release
Extreme Air Pollution Explosion/Fire Road emergencies Rail emergencies Air emergencies Low radioactive
uranium ore Water Utility failure
Waste Water Utility failure
Natural Gas failure Electrical failure Building/Structure
collapse Dam failure Communication
System failure
Possible Human Caused Hazards
Civil unrest War Arson Hostage taking Labour unrest Business interruption Food shortage Cyber attack
Eco terrorism Biological terrorism Chemical terrorism Resource shortage Nuclear terrorism Radiological
terrorism Economic collapse
Essential Elements for Building Community Resilience1. Connectedness2. Participation3. Roles & Responsibility4. Support & Nurturance5. Skill Building6. Resources
Gurwitch, R. H., Pfefferbaum, B., Montgomery, J. M., Klomp, R. W., & Reissman, D. B. (2007). Building community resilience for children and families. Oklahoma City: Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Essential Elements for Building Community Resilience2. Participation - Opportunities for residents
to participate in the activities of the community
- Leaders encourage involvement - Believe their contributions are valued- Personalize the benefit of being involved
Essential Elements for Building Community Resilience1. Connectedness2. Participation3. Roles & Responsibility4. Support & Nurturance5. Skill Building6. Resources
Gurwitch, R. H., Pfefferbaum, B., Montgomery, J. M., Klomp, R. W., & Reissman, D. B. (2007). Building community resilience for children and families. Oklahoma City: Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Essential Elements for Building Community Resilience
3. Roles & Responsibility – Need to be understood before an incident
- Responsibilities of community leaders & organizations
- Structure of a community response
- What families can do
- Community exercises
3. Roles & Responsibility What Families can do
Family roles Home Parents Children An increased sense of preparedness may
help reduce worry and anxiety in a disaster
Essential Elements for Building Community Resilience1. Connectedness2. Participation3. Roles & Responsibility4. Support & Nurturance5. Skill Building6. Resources
Gurwitch, R. H., Pfefferbaum, B., Montgomery, J. M., Klomp, R. W., & Reissman, D. B. (2007). Building community resilience for children and families. Oklahoma City: Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
4. Support & Nurturance
Resilience is enhanced when community members feel supported and nurtured by others.
Gurwitch, R. H., Pfefferbaum, B., Montgomery, J. M., Klomp, R. W., & Reissman, D. B. (2007). Building community resilience for children and families. Oklahoma City: Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Support & Nurturance
Support & Nurturance is possible when people can:– Express concerns and ideas
– Provide feedback to leaders
– See concerns addressed by actions
– Recognition for community work
Essential Elements for Building Community Resilience1. Connectedness2. Participation3. Roles & Responsibility4. Support & Nurturance5. Skill Building6. Resources
Gurwitch, R. H., Pfefferbaum, B., Montgomery, J. M., Klomp, R. W., & Reissman, D. B. (2007). Building community resilience for children and families. Oklahoma City: Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Essential Elements for Building Community Resilience1. Connectedness2. Participation3. Roles & Responsibility4. Support & Nurturance5. Skill Building6. Resources
Gurwitch, R. H., Pfefferbaum, B., Montgomery, J. M., Klomp, R. W., & Reissman, D. B. (2007). Building community resilience for children and families. Oklahoma City: Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
6. ResourcesHuman and Social
Community resources include:– Community Preparedness Team– First responders– Professionals – educational, health, legal, financial– Community leadership– Faith-based– Cultural leaders– Service organizations– Business professionals– Unions– Mutual aid relationships– Workforce
Community Resilience Worksheet What has this exercise revealed to you?
Crafting Goals and Objectives
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.”
» Lewis Carroll
John Tenniel 1865
“The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo."
Goals and Objectives
Goal Objectives Action plan
Goals
One overall goal.
– To Have a Disaster Resilient Community
Goals versus Objectives GOAL
Goal
Something that you want to have
Important on its own
Are the end
OBJECTIVE Goal but specifically
stated
Something you complete to achieve your goal
Important in that they serve a purpose to reaching the goal
Are the means
Goals (Objectives)
Stated in a positive way Measurable Obtainable Written
Action Plan
More detail Step by step Time bound What is to be accomplished and by when?
Goal
To have a disaster resilient community.
Goal: To Have a Disaster Resilient Community Objective #1 To understand our community’s shared
disaster history.Action Plan
A. Research our historyB. Write our storyC. Share our story with the greater community
Objective #1 Action Plan
Research our history– A. By June 15, 2011 gather data from:
• Community history books
• Family histories
• Media archives
• Interviews
Objective #1 Action Plan
Research our history– B. By September 15, 2011:
• Compile list of events
• Complete brief written description of each event
Objective #1 Action Plan
– C. By October 15, 2010:• Include this information as part of the Public
Information Program– Post list on community web site
– Provide written stories to media
– Provide media with list of people to interview
– Purchase advertising
Public Information Strategy
1. Determine that you want to initiate a program
2. Determine your leadership and membership
3. Identify the diversified public within your community
Public Information Strategy
4. Determine the scope of the program
5. Determine the type and level of information and knowledge to be disseminated
6. Identify potential public information program partners (active partners)
Public Information Strategy
7. Develop a detailed Public Information Program Plan
8. Determine appropriate public education methods
9. Hold media launch for significant program milestones
Public Information Strategy
10. Determine the desired level of awareness and knowledge of the public as a result of campaign
11. Measure the effectiveness of your campaign
Objective #1 Action Plan
Research our history– D. By November 15, 2011:
• Involve the community with the,
“Have We Forgotten Anything?” campaign
Disaster Resilient Community
Community Development principles:
• Long term planning
• Inclusiveness
• Integration into the big picture for your community
• Support by community members
• Actions that benefit your community
Frank, Flo & Anne Smith. (1999). The community development handbook: A tool to build community capacity. Ottawa, Ontario: Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada.