Dialogue During Disaster

Perth-Andover EMO Experience

4 Key Phases

- Event Preplanning - Committee Members Training, Tabletops, etc.

- Actual Event/Disaster- Internal, External, use of Media, etc.

- Recovery- Physical and Emotional

- Lessons learned and EMO plan updating- Ongoing improvement

EMO in our Community

Flooding

• 1976 78.20 m

• 1987 79.30m

• 1993 78.70m

• 2012 80.52m

• + 3 Voluntary Evacuations

• Forest Fire

Organizations

• 14 Fire Departments• RCMP• Hospital• DNR• DOT• Manor• Council• Media• Administration• Red Cross• Cooks

• Ambulance• Municipal Staff• Brunway• Commercial Vehicle Unit• Samaritan’s Purse• EMO• Environment• Public Health• Service Clubs• Victims Committee• 100’s of Volunteers

Cost to Community

• Loss of Businesses and Jobs

• Property Owners loss of Equity

• Property Damage Losses

• Loss of Tax Base

• Loss of Utility Revenue – Light, Water, and Sewer

• People have moved out of community

• Stress & Health Related Issues

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION

A) INTERNAL

B) PARTNER AGENCIES

C) PUBLIC

D) MEDIA

E) FINAL EVENT REVIEW AND EMO PLAN UPDATING

Dialogue During Disaster

INTERNAL

o EMO Committee – Must be clear & open discussion, pause for

regular updates.

o Importance of Documentation

o Methods of Communication – phone, cell phones, radio, emails

Dialogue During Disaster

PARTNER AGENCIES

o Not just relying on our EMO plan but also various Government

Agencies

• Hospital, Schools, Manor, Ambulance, etc.

• Events are opportunities to improve plans

Dialogue During Disaster

PUBLIC

Various methods – News Media, door to door visits, siren, emails,

Social Media

Must be flexible – Time of Day, Importance of Notice,

Staff/Volunteer levels, online ability

Dialogue During Disaster

MEDIA

Great for Getting Message Out

Restrictions with existing media cycles, availability during

evenings and weekends, etc..

Important Relationship – Messaging & Support

Dialogue During Disaster

FINAL EVENT REVIEW AND EMO PLAN UPDATING

What we did great in 2012

o Security of Evacuated area

o Property Visits During Events

o Media

o Coordinating Volunteers – Samaritan's Purse

Areas to improve

o Timeline for Voluntary and Mandatory Evacuations

o Pre Event Communication

o Difficulty addressing Emotional Issues

o Security During Evacuation – too many Tourist!