Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! Amy Sebring, my partner/associate, and I are pleased to see you in our audience today. I am sure more folks will come in (like our good friend, Roger!) Avagene Moore: Today we are discussing the "Disaster Contractors Network: An Innovative Partnership for Disaster Recovery." Avagene Moore: If you have not read the background page, please do so after our session. You may want to check out the DCN Web site as well http://www.dcnonline.org/home.cfm . Avagene Moore: For the benefit of any first-timers, we will begin today's session with a formal presentation followed by an opportunity for your questions. Avagene Moore: We will provide further instructions on the protocol for asking questions or commenting just before we begin the Q&A section. However, it is wise to jot down your questions or comments as we go along. Avagene Moore: Please do not send private messages to our speakers or the moderator, as we will be busy with the presentation. If you need assistance, you may send a private message to Amy Sebring. Avagene Moore: The transcript of today's session will be available late this afternoon -- just check back on our home page. Avagene Moore: Now, it is my pleasure to introduce our speakers for today's session. Avagene Moore: Janet Dilling is no stranger to the EIIP Virtual Forum; she was one of our first presenters and the first to present a paper in the Virtual Library. She has been with us on many other occasions as a speaker and an audience participant. Avagene Moore: Janet is the Director of the Florida Public Affairs Center (FPAC) as well as the Center for Disaster Risk Policy at Florida State University (FSU). Janet has over 20 years experience in government and emergency management. Avagene Moore: We are also pleased to have Audrey Heffron with us today. Audrey is the Director of Business Operations and a member of the research faculty at the FPAC and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy. Avagene Moore: Audrey currenty teaches classes on Terrorism at the Askew School of Public Administration at Florida State University. Avagene Moore: Audrey currenty teaches classes on Terrorism at the Askew School of Public Administration at Florida State University Avagene Moore: You will find more complete biographical information on both of our speakers on the background page. For our session today, they are presenting in duo-fashion and will both be available for your questions following the presentation. Avagene Moore: Welcome, Janet and Audrey! We thank you for sharing with the EIIP Virtual Forum. I now turn the floor over to you, please. Janet Dilling: Thank you Avagene. Audrey Heffron: Thanks Avagene. We are happy to be here. Janet Dilling: Yes, and especially to talk about the Disaster Contractors Network or "DCN" Janet Dilling: This innovative and unique partnership makes the management of construction needs and services after a disaster… Janet Dilling: a significant part of Florida's emergency management system. Audrey Heffron: The DCN is an unprecedented partnership between… Audrey Heffron: All of the major builders associations in the state of Florida,… Audrey Heffron: The Department of Community Affairs and Department of Business and Professinal Regulation within the state of Florida,… Audrey Heffron: FEMA, Region IV, and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy and Florida Public Affairs Center here at FSU. Janet Dilling: We believe the construction industry is a valuable resource to government and citizens in a disaster… Janet Dilling: – one frankly I think we in emergency management have been slow to tap. Audrey Heffron: The DCN is a statewide network that will both provide disaster information Audrey Heffron: and train the local associations of these major contractor organizations in disaster management issues. Janet Dilling: The DCN is a vehicle for helping contractors maximize their impact… Janet Dilling: First, prior to a disaster in encouraging businesses and homeowners to employ mitigation measures Janet Dilling: and then, post- disaster, when they can both help prevent secondary damage and assist their customers in building back better. Audrey Heffron: We think this is one of the first attempts anywhere in the U.S. to coordinate contractor associations through their existing state and local networks. Audrey Heffron: What we are really trying to do here is to Audrey Heffron: Develop a "disaster smart" contractor Audrey Heffron: And establish a training and information medium for contractors regarding mitigation and disaster operations. Janet Dilling: We are also trying to provide a medium of direct dialogue between contractors and government during disaster response and recovery and Janet Dilling: To provide identification and support of critical needs and resources to the contractor during disaster events. Audrey Heffron: Basically the DCN is serving as a conduit between Federal, State, local, regulatory agency, building associations, and the contractor community. Janet Dilling: Audrey mentioned earlier all of the participating partners in the DCN Janet Dilling: DCA and FEMA provide the funding and operational support Janet Dilling: all the major state contractor associations provide the link with the state's contractors Janet Dilling: and our center provides technical support and project development. Audrey Heffron: Upon activation during a disaster the DCN Specialist, a specially trained FEMA DAE Reservist becomes the central player gathering information from the field, Audrey Heffron: posting it on the DCN VEOC (Virtual Emergency Operations Center) and Audrey Heffron: Serving as an outreach resource to the field. Janet Dilling: A great deal of the "intelligence" from the field will come from the Local Contractor Associations Executives. Janet Dilling: They are the DCN Specialist's direct link to the contractor in the post-disaster period. Audrey Heffron: The DCN Specialist is activated by FEMA, Region IV, Audrey Heffron: initially to staff the State Emergency Operations Center's Recovery Room in the State EOC, later moving to the Disaster Field Office when established. Audrey Heffron: Additional DCN Specialists may coordinate mitigation activities to administer and deliver DCN initiatives in a field operation setting, Audrey Heffron: i.e., DFO, Mobile Mitigation Assistance Vehicles (MMAV) and Mobile Mitigation Assistance Clinics (MMAC) and Special Events. Janet Dilling: A key aspect of the DCN is the DCN web site. Janet Dilling: During a disaster situation the newly enhanced Virtual Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) Janet Dilling: links contractors to the state's disaster response system in order to better coordinate the management of construction needs and services. Janet Dilling: The VEOC allows individual contractors to go online to post critical needs as well as available resources in a post disaster environment. Janet Dilling: You can see the VEOC at: http://www.dcnonline.org/veoc/index.cfm Janet Dilling: Of course, the DCN is not activated right now, so there is no information posted. Janet Dilling: There is a vendor database of building materials and labor from all across the state as well. Janet Dilling: I think there are over 5000 records now in that database. Janet Dilling: Is that right Audrey? Audrey Heffron: Yes, Janet, I think the count is closer to 5800. Audrey Heffron: The DCN website is also designed to provide the contractor with the information and training necessary to operate effectively in a pre- and post-disaster environment. Audrey Heffron: The website can be used as an information clearinghouse to identify needs and resources to the contracting community after a disaster. Audrey Heffron: In addition, the DCN Website is a window into an online training center designed especially for contractors in disaster related subjects. Janet Dilling: Among the topics covered in DCN's online training are preparedness, doing business in a disaster environment. Janet Dilling: victim and homeowner behavior, and post-impact mitigation techniques, Janet Dilling: Training also focuses on recovery after a storm, including victim assistance programs, Janet Dilling: insurance, repair and rehabilitation best practices, and year- round mitigation activities and incentives. Janet Dilling: So, before a disaster, DCN is a resource site, after a disaster, it is there to support the contractor in contributing to the response and recovery effort. Audrey Heffron: This concludes our formal remarks. Audrey Heffron: We are now available for any questions. We turn the floor back to our moderator, Avagene. Avagene Moore: Thank you very much, Janet and Audrey. I am sure the audience has questions for you. Avagene Moore: Our protocol for audience questions is to enter a question mark ? to indicate you wish to ask a question or make a comment. Lloyd Colston: ? Avagene Moore: Then go ahead and compose your question or comment to have it ready, but do NOT hit your Enter key or click on the Send button until you are recognized by name. Please WAIT your turn. Avagene Moore: We will take questions in the order the question marks are sent to the screen. One question at at time please. If you have a follow up, please get back in line with another ? - courtesy is the order of the day. Claire Rubin: ? Avagene Moore: We are ready to begin now. Please input a question mark (?) at any time. Jennifer Vuitel: ? Avagene Moore: Lloyd, you are first. Input your question when ready, please. Avagene Moore: The first question takes a few moments. Lloyd Colston: Good morning, ladies. I got here a little late. If I understand this correctly, there is a database of vendors who specialise in disaster construction. Is there any liability to the local government for using this database? What if a vendor messes up? Avagene Moore: Janet, do you want to address this one? Roger Fritzel: ? Audrey Heffron: The database is of all Florida suppliers of material and labor for building Janet Dilling: There is a disclaimer on the site which indicates there is no check on the quality of the vendors Janet Dilling: The DCN Specialist will also monitor the site for appropriateness. Audrey Heffron: The venors were identified through association lists and tax lists - is is by no means exclusive, nore are they "disaster approved" - it is just a list of resources Avagene Moore: Claire, your question, please. Claire Rubin: Is the system operating fully and when did it start? Janet Dilling: It has been in development as a concept for a couple of years, but is fully operational now. Janet Dilling: As you know Floirda is very disaster prone, Audrey Heffron: We have not yet had the chance to fully activate because Florida has not had any major declarations in the past few year - just low level disasters with SBA only Janet Dilling: We are in conversations now with FEMA, Region IV to reconsider the criteria for activation. Avagene Moore: Jennifer, your question, please. Jennifer Vuitel: How have you marketed (informed contractors) of the plan? Janet Dilling: I anticipate we will be activating for lesser declarations Janet Dilling: We have advertised in all of the residential and commercial contractor association publications Audrey Heffron: We also attend all the major construction fairs and have volunteered to attend and present at any smaller events. Avagene Moore: (Input your ? if you have a question for Janet and Audrey, please.) Janet Dilling: It is a challenge to get to everyone though. Avagene Moore: Roger, you are up next, please. Roger Fritzel: You mention builders' associations, in addition to contractors. What are some examples of associations belonging to DCN? Janet Dilling: There are also brochures developed for contractor on the DCN. You can see an example on the website. Amy Sebring: ? Janet Dilling: It is long list, Audrey is typing. Audrey Heffron: The florida Home Builders Association, The Associated General COntactors, The Associated Builders and Contractors... Audrey Heffron: and the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Accociation. Audrey Heffron: we've also been working with associations like "women in Construction" and other smaller accocs. Avagene Moore: Amy, your question, please. Amy Sebring: Audrey, do you envision this as a model for other states, or do you hope to go national at some point in the future? Jennifer Vuitel: ? Avagene Moore: ? Audrey Heffron: We, and FEMA, would like to take the model regional, then perhaps national. It sounds terrible to say but I wish we could activate it the DCN in Florida... Audrey Heffron: that is why we're re-talking the activation criteria with FEMA - maybe we can get something done for these small declarations. Janet Dilling: Yes, we are chomping at the bit. Avagene Moore: Jennifer, next, please. Jennifer Vuitel: Are there any incentives for the contactors to join the DCN? Amy Sebring: ? Avagene Moore: (Please input a ? if you have a question.) Roger Fritzel: ? Audrey Heffron: We also performing outreach to homeowners on things they should be aware of when hiring a contractor... Audrey Heffron: Part of that is checking licensure, and knowing what their rights are... Audrey Heffron: becasue that outreach is under the DCN we tell homeowners they can ask if the contractor they are working with is aware of the DCN. Janet Dilling: There is no incentive other than free online learning, and the PR that goes with being concerned about disaster resistence and the homeowners protection Avagene Moore: Although you have not had a disaster to test this network, what kind of reaction and support are you getting from local governments and EM Directors about the concept? Janet Dilling: We also are working with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to award CEU credits for the online learning Janet Dilling: The reception from everyone has been great. It is another way to outreach to the private sector community and bring them in as a partner. Audrey Heffron: Everone wants to protect their citizens from the type of duplicitous contracting practices that ocurred after Andrew. Avagene Moore: Amy, your question now, please. Amy Sebring: Are debris removal and hazardous materials contractors also involved with the network? Janet Dilling: Again, the contractor is the first person a victim often see after a disaster or at least right after the insurance rep. Janet Dilling: It is open to everyone, I am not sure we have anyone from Hazmat yet. Avagene Moore: Roger, please. Roger Fritzel: Does DCN's online training address business continuity practices for the contractors and vendors themselves? Audrey Heffron: Absolutely! They can't work in the disaster envirn. if their own buisness is in jeopardy... Audrey Heffron: a few of the modules talk about what they need to do to be prepared and what they can expect post disaster. Isabel McCurdy: ? Amy Sebring: ? Avagene Moore: Isabel, your question, please. Any other questions for Audrey and / or Janet? Isabel McCurdy: Is there any set criteria for contractors to belong to DCN? Lloyd Colston: ? Audrey Heffron: No, except we heavily emphasise the Florida contratcors licensure. Avagene Moore: Amy, please. Amy Sebring: How key has been the participation of Florida's Dept. of Community Affairs/Emergency Management Agency in support of this effort? Janet Dilling: They have been very supportive. We went to them with the concept and they provided financial backing to get the DCN off the drawing books. Avagene Moore: Lloyd, you are next, sir. Lloyd Colston: What kind of feedback from the Citizens have you had on DCN? I noticed that the public information at http://www.dcnonline.org/veoc/homeowners.cfm looks very much like FEMA's