TAIRS Conference 2013

DISASTER!: The Importance of Partners & I&R

PreparednessWhile we are all committed to lending a hand to those in

need, assistance may be delayed in times of disaster.

• Meet with your family. Meet with your co-workers.

• Prepare and plan for how to respond to emergencies most likely to happen where we live, learn, work and play.

AIRS Standard 20, Quality Indicator 4

I&R specialists understand the government emergency response service delivery system, the types of

services people typically need following a disaster, the organizations that generally provide them, the types of organizations that may be closed or otherwise unable

to deliver services due to the emergency, atypical services people may need to access, and the structure

and contents of the disaster database and/or other approved sources of disaster-related information.

Grass roots collaboration leads to trust, strong relationships and a more

prepared and resilient community.

Partners

“Partnership is an active step beyond networking. The primary focus of a network is to share

information. The focus of a partnership is to take joint action — to do something, and to do it

better by working together.”

Partners…

• Understanding value-added partnerships

• Expectations & Commitments

• True collaboration is hard.

• Relationship Management.

• Communication

• Honesty

• Information Sharing

• Strategic Planning

Know Your Partners

Understanding the Dynamics of Emergency Management

• Local government is ultimately responsible for directing, controlling, and responding to the communities needs

• Disaster Focus of Emergency Management – Threefold

• Stabilize the incident

• Protect, life property and the environment

• Establish the system by which the government responds to disaster at the local, regional, state, tribal or federal levels

Value of Engaging VOAD (and other community groups) Right

After a Disaster

• Supports the Whole Community response approach

• Collaborative & coordinated response effort

• Critical avenue for helping identify and providing unmet needs to the community.

• Can help guide spontaneous organization wanting to provide services.

• Awareness

Solid partnerships lead to…

• Consistent messaging

• Joint planning

• Integration into formal plans

• Trust and credibility

Effective Information Management = Situation Awareness

With information from I&R agencies needed for:

• Operational response and planning for recovery

• Decision making

• Identify potential or existing problems.

• Identify existing trends and unmet needs.

• Identify what planning, coordination and needs to occur.

• Analyze information and other data to determine impact of service delivery needs and capabilities.

Immediate/Short Term

• Mass Care feeding, sheltering, and clothing

• Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Care

• Debris Removal

• Repair, Rebuild

• Volunteer Coordination

• Financial Assistance

• Donation Management including: Warehouse space, Coordination, Distribution

• “Pop-Up” service delivery providers

Long Term Recovery• Case management services

• Mental health services

• Mortgage assistance

• Moisture control services and removal of mold and mildew

• Rental assistance and or temporary lodging

• Repair to household systems, such as electric, plumbing, heating and cooling

• Payment of medical expenses not covered by insurance or other sources of reimbursement

• Purchase or provision of clothing and shoes

• Purchase or provision of essential furniture, including beds/mattresses, dressers, etc.

LTR…• Purchase or provision of essential appliances, including

refrigerators, freezers, stoves, air conditioners, washers, dryers, microwaves, etc.

• Purchase or provision of essential computer equipment necessary for children’s school or operation of home-based income-producing activity.

• Purchase or provision of essential items for children, such as school supplies, bicycles and sports equipment.

• Purchase or provision of essential used automobile necessary for medical transportation, work, school transportation or home-based income-producing activity.

• Purchase or provision of essential equipment for home-based income-producing activity.

• Utility assistance

In any crisis, the ability to retrieve accurate information quickly is critical

to assessing and responding to the situation…

For those responding and those affected!!

Erika RobertsExternal Relations/Information & Planning Program Manager

Emergency Services - American Red Cross North Texas Region 

Serving 111 counties from the Texas Panhandle to Texarkana(817) 253-2050 - KF5NGGErika.Roberts@redcross.org