Tue Dec 08, 1998 01:01:38 PM Avagene Moore:Welcome to the December 8, 1998 Round Table discussion! ... Avagene Moore:We are pleased to have one of our Partners leading the discussion today --- the American Red Cross of Puerto Rica with Gilberto Guevaro, our EIIP Point of Contact. ... Avagene Moore:With Gil today is Frank Dobek from the Department of Education who has been in charge of mass feeding since the disaster of Hurrican Georges in Puerto Rica. ... Avagene Moore:Welcome gentlemen! .... Avagene Moore:This will be an informal session today. Gilberto and Frank will tell us about their recent experiences and bring us up to date on the recovery underway. Once they are through, we will open the floor for Q&A. Gil. Gilberto Guevara:Glad to be here.. Frank Dobek:good to be here Gilberto Guevara:The response is still open for us... 87 shelters with 3,434 people in shelters. Frank Dobek:we have provided up to now 2303129 meals Avagene Moore:Gil and Frank. Refresh our memory -- when did Hurricane Georges hit the area? Frank Dobek:we have 90 feeding sites Gilberto Guevara:September 21 , landfall Gilberto Guevara:It affected all 78 municiplaities, crossed the entire island Gilberto Guevara:3.8 million people afftected. 20,000 lost their homes with 48,000 suffering major damage. Frank Dobek:school luch program is at the moment providing meals at remaning Frank Dobek:shelters Avagene Moore:How much longer will people be in shelters and require mass feeding? Frank Dobek:6 months or more Gilberto Guevara:The Dept. of Housing is looking at relocating families in semi-permanent facilities. Gilberto Guevara:The government will build 50,000 homes. 10k a year for the next 5 years. Avagene Moore:I imagine there is a lot of assistance in your country. What are the worst needs? Gilberto Guevara:Not a country yet, although plebsicite on 12/13 is resoliving issue. Gilberto Guevara:Many immediate needs, still bedding, roofing and some permanent housing. David Crews:How much staff does it take to run 87 shelters and 90 feeding sites? Gilberto Guevara:Yes, we are ready for questions. Avagene Moore:If you have a question of Gil and/or Frank, please input a question mark (?) and wait for recognition. This way we won't be falling all over ourselves and we can make sure your question is answered. Avagene Moore:I believe David input a question, Gil. Amy Sebring:? Gilberto Guevara:No less than 300 shelter managers. Avagene Moore:Amy, your question please. Amy Sebring:There was a remarkably low number of deaths in P.R., especially when compared to Haiti ... Amy Sebring:how do you account and do you think your mitigation efforts this year made a difference? Gilberto Guevara:Yes, preparation works. Education, education... Kevin Farrell:? Frank Dobek:it takes aprox 450 employees to support mision of feeding in shelters Gilberto Guevara:Hardening of facilities will help sustain damage to low numbers. Go ahead Kevin. Avagene Moore:Kevin, you are next, please. Kevin Farrell:How about emergency services? Fire, police, EMS, 911 services? Amy Sebring:? David Crews:? Joe Olivo:? Gilberto Guevara:Good response from them. Many resources there. Avagene Moore:Amy. Amy Sebring:Are your partnerships formed earlier helping in the recovery? Gilberto Guevara:Go ahead Joe. Kevin Farrell:? Joe Olivo:How long before utilities (elec, water, telephone) wereavailable Gilberto Guevara:Yes Amy. But many are Continental Based and get here late. Avagene Moore:(Gil, we have a couple of questions prior to Joe's. Let's not skip anyone please.) Gilberto Guevara:A week in the major areas, with over 50% in 60 days. still working at reinstallations now. Avagene Moore:David Crews, you are next. David Crews:Can you consolidate feeding and sheltering to reduce manpower requirmenents? Gilberto Guevara:SOrry, my screen is behind displaying messages.. Gilberto Guevara:Have already consolidated 3 times. Continue to do it. but resources are scares i.e., facilities and support services. Avagene Moore:Kevin, your question please. David Crews:87 divided by the 3700 plus averages only 40 per shelter. Kevin Farrell:I should have been more specific.... I'm sure emergency services were affected, but are they operational again, and to what extent. Frank Dobek:goverment have implemented recovery plans very effectively in utilities for the island Gilberto Guevara:This is an island 100 milees by 40 miles, with 78 distinct political divisions. David Crews:? Gilberto Guevara:It is not always cost effective to conslolidate nor socilally or politically cirrect. Avagene Moore:Gil, do you see Kevin's restated question about emergency services operational status? Gilberto Guevara:Fire services were not used to the max. Police has surged with DEA and other drug interdiction money, so many resources there and well staffed. Avagene Moore:David. David Crews:What kind of mutual aid agreements exist between the 78 political divisions? Amy Sebring:? Gilberto Guevara:No MOU needed since central government coodinates and controls many asstes. State Civil Defense cooridnates. Avagene Moore:Amy, please. Amy Sebring:Do you feel that the highly visible tragedy in Central America from Mitch is having an impact on P.R.? Gilberto Guevara:No. Except the highly successfull fubndraisievents have Central Amreican flocking to PR to ask for support. Avagene Moore:Other questions of Gil and Frank? Amy Sebring:? Avagene Moore:Amy. Amy Sebring:Have you had any specific lessons learned from this event Gil? Gilberto Guevara:Yes. The government response was well planned. Lacked resources to do the job in some instances. David Crews:? Gilberto Guevara:Not being land locked makes transportation of goods expensive and difficult. Gilberto Guevara:Not being land locked makes transportation of goods expensive and difficult. Avagene Moore:David. David Crews:Have you been working with FEMA? Joe Olivo:? Gilberto Guevara:For example to transport 1,200 cots the cots was 300,000 usd. Frank Dobek:do to prior planning by cd the population of the island responded very well to the event Gilberto Guevara:Yes, I am part of the ERT-A. and the ESF-6 David Crews:Great! Avagene Moore:There is a DFO set up, isn't there, Gil and Frank? Gilberto Guevara:ERT-A Emergency Response Team - Advanced, ESF - Emeregency Sypport Function -6 Mass Care. Gilberto Guevara:ERT-A Emergency Response Team - Advanced, ESF - Emeregency Sypport Function -6 Mass Care. Avagene Moore:DFO=Disaster Field Office Avagene Moore:Joe, your question. Joe Olivo:Were there any mobilization exercises prior to the hurricane other than CD Gilberto Guevara:Yes, we are sitting in the DFO now. Frank Dobek:yes there was a simulation David Crews:Gil, I work for FEMA as ESF-5 thats why I asked. David Crews:ESF-5 = Information & Planning Amy Sebring:? Gilberto Guevara:Does anybody know a site to look up Prof. Gray's new predictions?. Avagene Moore:Amy. Amy Sebring:Do you have any kind of Community Emergency Response program, was it used, was it effective? Avagene Moore:I don't at the moment, Gil. Amy Sebring:(I will check Gil) Gilberto Guevara:No formal Community Response Program but iinformal networks that the Mayors direct and control. Amy Sebring:http://typhoon.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/ Avagene Moore:Gil and Frank: You have extensive housing needs .... Avagene Moore:and you mentioned temporary housing (mobile homes?) ... Avagene Moore:will mitigation be part of your strategy for long-term rebuilding of homes and businesses? Gilberto Guevara:Yes, and I can say I personnally suffered. Not fun. Now I am involved with insurance that does not want to pay. Avagene Moore:How big a role will mitigation play in rebuilding? Gilberto Guevara:15% of two billion...will build a lot of homes. Amy Sebring:? Gilberto Guevara:We still need to have the FIRMS - Flood Insurance Rate Maps updated.. Avagene Moore:But will the homes be built stronger and better able to withstand the next hurricane? Isabel McCurdy:? Gilberto Guevara:The code will be the US code. Most of the construction being promoted is cement. Concern is for locationin non flood areas. Avagene Moore:Amy, your question. Amy Sebring:Has your local media been helpful, cooperative? Gilberto Guevara:Isabel. Isabel McCurdy:Gil, given your personal experience, what lessons can you share? Avagene Moore:(Amy first and then Isabel.) Gilberto Guevara:Isabel. Avagene Moore:Gil, Amy asked if your local media has been helpful and cooperative. Gilberto Guevara:Perhaps more than the usual. The only detected problem was their desire to go and help directly without coordiantion with relief agencies. Gilberto Guevara:Prepare yourself and neighbors. My damage was caused by my neighbors' lawn furniture Avagene Moore:Frank, do you have your own personal lessons learned? Gilberto Guevara:We also need to look at the way the insurance industry has managed to lobby for tehir policies. Many instances of being counterproductive and not client oriented. Avagene Moore:Frank, do you have something to add to Gil's comments? Frank Dobek:good communications with dessition maker Avagene Moore:That one has been learned over and over again, Frank. A good one. Amy Sebring:? Avagene Moore:Amy. Amy Sebring:Did you work closely with local CD, and do you think that has improved? Made a difference? Frank Dobek:that my boss understands my fuctions as an emergency coordinator Frank Dobek:yews i represent education iin cd David Crews:Frank, what agency do you work for? Frank Dobek:cd law needs to be updated Frank Dobek:department of educatio Isabel McCurdy:? David Crews:Do they have oversite of CD? David Crews:oversite=oversight! Frank Dobek:cd oversees de emergency program Frank Dobek:CD is executive agency for the Governor Avagene Moore:Isabel, your question, please. Amy Sebring:? Isabel McCurdy:Frank, can you give an example of a CD law that needs to be updated? Gilberto Guevara:Experiencing phone line problems. Amy Sebring:(never mind Ava, that was my question also) Jean Littlefield:Hi,,,,,missed it,,,sorry Spent 5 weeks in Ponce Avagene Moore:We are ready to wrap up for today .... Avagene Moore:Gil and Frank, thank you for your time and sharing your disaster experience with us. .... Avagene Moore:Thanks to our audience also.... Kevin Farrell: Jean Littlefield:Are most of you Red Cross? Isabel McCurdy: David Crews:Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule. DFO work is very demanding! Avagene Moore:If I may, would like to tell you what's coming up in the Virtual Forum. ... (No all disciplines, Jean.) ... Gilberto Guevara:Our thanks for the audience.. This was a rehersal for us for the Hurricane Conference in Orlando. Avagene Moore:Tomorrow in the Virtual Forum .... Avagene Moore:12:00 Noon EDT ... Amy Sebring:EST Avagene Moore:Kay Goss, CEM, Associate Director of FEMA Preparedness Directorate (thanks Amy) ... Avagene Moore:will address FEMA Avagene Moore:FEMA's outreach to states and locals on Y2K issues..... Avagene Moore:Thursday, you are invited to join us at 8 PM EST for an informal Mutual Aid -- bring your problems, issues and concerns related to emergency management. We will discuss. ... Avagene Moore:Next week, join us on Wednesday December 16 for our EIIP Gift Catalogue session. We hope to have a special guest from the North Pole with us and we will have suggestions for your last minute shopping. Should be a fun way to end 1998 in the Virtual Forum! Amy Sebring:If you have not yet sent in a gift idea ... Amy Sebring:please send to asebring@emforum.org Avagene Moore:Gil and Frank, you did a great job today. Thank you so much.