Amy Sebring: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum Round Table! Amy Sebring: For the benefit of our first-timers, when you see a blue Web address, you can click on it and the referenced Web page should appear in a browser window. Amy Sebring: After the first one, the browser window may not automatically come to the top, so you may need to bring it forward by clicking on a button at the status bar at the bottom of your screen. Amy Sebring: Right before we begin the discussion portion I will review how to submit questions/comments Amy Sebring: If you have been with us for the last few sessions, we have been featuring our EIIP Partners during these Round Tables and you may remember that IAEM has been hosting one round table per month. Amy Sebring: We had decided that it might be a good idea to ask some of our other founding partners to do likewise, and we are in the process of setting that up now. Amy Sebring: One of our stalwart founders has been FEMA, and since the early days of the EIIP, the Community and Family Preparedness program has been involved with the EIIP. Amy Sebring: Mr. Ralph Swisher is the program director at FEMA, and for some time, we have been discussing with him how we can use our capability to help support his program, without duplicating information already provided by fema.gov, or other sources. Amy Sebring: We wanted to try to assist him, however we wanted to be in a position to do a good job in this area, and both Avagene and myself are already overloaded! Amy Sebring: We have come up with a solution which we think has a very good chance of being successful, and today we are going to talk about what we have in mind, what we hope to do, and to get your input in this area. Amy Sebring: First, it is my pleasure to re-introduce Kellye Junchaya who is online with us today. You may remember that Kellye is the author of "They Laughed at Noah: Preparing for Natural Disasters." Amy Sebring: If you missed the session she presented for us in January, please check http://www.emforum.org/vlibrary/990120.htm at your convenience. Amy Sebring: Kellye is going to be working with the EIIP to take charge of this area as the EIIP Community Education Coordinator, and we are pleased to welcome her back. Kellye Junchaya: Hi everyone! Kellye Junchaya: I am really excited about working with the CFP program Kellye Junchaya: For those of you who don't know me, I am a Bio- engineer from Arizona State University... Kellye Junchaya: I got interested in natural disasters back in 1988 when I was evacuated from my Kellye Junchaya: home in TX when hurricane Gilbert entered the Gulf... Kellye Junchaya: I recently wrote a book called, "They Laughed At Noah: Kellye Junchaya: I decided to write the book when I noticed how busy the stores Kellye Junchaya: are the day before a storm... Kellye Junchaya: I hope that all of you will contribute your talents and areas of ... Kellye Junchaya: expertise by participating in the email discussions and joining in the efforts of the CFP program. Amy Sebring: Thank you Kellye. These are some of the elements we are announcing today: Amy Sebring: First, as soon as I get her trained to be a Moderator, Kellye will host a Round Table session once per month on community education issues. We hope you will continue to join us for those. Amy Sebring: Next month, we will have a Round Table session with one of our other EIIP partners on a school preparedness program, under development for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, tentatively scheduled for May 11. Amy Sebring: Is that right Ava on the date? Avagene Moore: Will have to check, Amy. Amy Sebring: Second, we have just established a mailing list at the address cfp@emforum.org. This is a discussion list, and Kellye will also host and moderate that discussion. Amy Sebring: You can now subscribe to the list by either selecting Mail Lists off the Quick Picks on our home page or by going to: http://www.speccomm.com: 81/guest/RemoteListSummary/CommunityPrep Amy Sebring: We are particularly interested in using this list to share ideas developed in one community or program with others, and to keep the motivation going! Amy Sebring: Third we also have a BBS Style Discussion Group which is available, and you can actually access the board from the chat menu above. Amy Sebring: Another service we have been involved in for some time, has been the distribution of a newsletter called "ACT NOW Preparedness Update." This summary of CFP activity has been coming out on an occasional basis ... Amy Sebring: and we hope Kellye will be able to provide assistance for it to come out on a regular basis, hopefully once per month. Amy Sebring: The Act Now Updates are distributed via a dedicated purpose mailing list, (which is NOT a discussion list), but you can subscribe in the same manner, or go directly to ... Amy Sebring: http://www.speccomm.com: 81/guest/RemoteListSummary/actnow Amy Sebring: We also have the previous updates posted on the Website, and you can access from http://www.emforum.org/vlibrary/actnow.htm Amy Sebring: And finally, we hope to provide some support to the Community and Family Preparedness conference that will be held at EMI (Emergency Management Institute), June 8-11. Amy Sebring: Today, we are going to present some information regarding the upcoming conference planning, and then we would like to open up the session for your input regarding ideas and issues in community education. Amy Sebring: You may also remember that we attempted to do a Live From session from the conference last year, but were somewhat unsuccessful due to connection problems from EMI. Amy Sebring: However, we did go on to have a good discussion that day on community preparedness and outreach. With the exception of Kellye's presentation, that is the last time we have focused on this area. Amy Sebring: That session was June 11, and the text transcript is available for display from our Transcripts list. Amy Sebring: We also have a copy of the follow-up conference report in our Virtual Library. See http://www.emforum.org/vlibrary/cfpcnf.htm which includes some useful ideas. Amy Sebring: Avagene was at the conference last year, and she is going to share her overall impressions and information about applying to attend this year's conference. Avagene please. Avagene Moore: Thank you, Amy. It was a pleasure to attend the CFP Conference last year and tell the workshop attendees about the EIIP Virtual Forum. As result, some of those people have participated with us and a few have become formal Partners. ... Avagene Moore: The CFP theme this year, "Living Disaster Preparedness," reflects the overall conference objectives: To reach the public in ways that bring them beyond mere awareness, to actually doing things that will make them significantly better prepared and protected against disasters. ... Avagene Moore: The CFP Conference brings together a good number of people who have responsibility for disaster public education. Some are new in their positions and others are veterans of many years. The group includes regional staff as well as local and hopes to expand the public education network through new partnerships. ... Avagene Moore: The CFP Conference is by invitation only. However, States nominate participants through the FEMA Regional offices. Nominations include basic contact information and what the nominee is doing in the field of disaster public education. ... Avagene Moore: If you are interested in attending, contact your state emergency management office or contact Ralph Swisher, CFP, FEMA (202-646-3561). ... Avagene Moore: FEMA will probably have more applications than they can accommodate. Approximately 100 participants will be selected to attend. Many will be asked to lead the various workshops --- this is a working conference. I was struck last year by the creative efforts and campaigns ongoing around the country --- these people do fine work! ... Avagene Moore: Back to you, Amy. Amy Sebring: Thanks Ava... Amy Sebring: This year the conference theme will be "Living Disaster Preparedness" emphasizing the ongoing, continuous nature of disaster preparedness each day in communities nationwide. Amy Sebring: The keynote address will be given by Dennis Mileti, Director of the Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, and will discuss the implications for public information from the recently completed Second Assessment of Disaster Research ... Amy Sebring: including aspects of preparedness and prevention messages and emergency warning issues. Amy Sebring: Another major feature will be work done by the USDA Extension Service, including the National Disaster Education Coalition's "Talking About Disasters: Guide for Standard Messages," and an extensive variety of resource materials. Amy Sebring: If you were not aware that some of the state agricultural extension services have become involved with disaster education, see the "Extension Agent's Handbook for Emergency Preparation and Response," which is available online via Amy Sebring: http://archnt2.tamu.edu/dbilbo/Taex%20Emergency/handbook/Handbook.ht m Amy Sebring: The conference will be formatted this year with concurrent workshops in addition to the plenary sessions. The workshop themes are still being developed, and your input would be welcomed, however three areas are being highlighted this year: Amy Sebring: Expanding the disaster public education network, children and disaster, and incorporating more mitigation into disaster preparedness materials. Amy Sebring: The workshop processes are supposed to produce something, or help get acquainted with the process for doing something, that participants can go back home and apply to main activities, new or established ones. Amy Sebring: As Avagene mentioned, for further information write to Ralph.Swisher@fema.gov. Be somewhat patient in waiting for a reply as FEMA has just changed over its email system, and Ralph is still learning how to use it! Amy Sebring: Now, what we would like to do is open up the discussion regarding ideas on how we can use the Virtual Forum capabilities in the area of Community Education, topics that you feel need addressing, or other ideas you may have. Amy Sebring: I had jotted down a few themes, in addition to the schools preparedness I mentioned earlier, including nursing/retirement homes, mobile home parks, small business, and hazard specific information. Amy Sebring: Please enter a question mark (?) to indicate you wish to be recognized, go ahead and compose your comment, but wait for recognition before hitting the enter key or clicking on Send. Amy Sebring: I see Frannie Winslow has just joined us ... Amy Sebring: welcome Fran ... Amy Sebring: we were just going over the CFP conference plans ... Amy Sebring: and have opened up the floor for input ... Amy Sebring: what areas or topics do you feel need focus in your community? Anybody's thoughts? Kellye Junchaya: ? Frannie Winslow: ? Amy Sebring: Kellye, please. David Crews: ? Kellye Junchaya: I would like to know from others what they are doing specifically to make the public aware of potential hazards. Amy Sebring: Frannie please. Amy Sebring: (break it up if it is too long Frannie) Frannie Winslow: I had sent Avagene and Ralph some ideas earlier...our Apartments Owners Guide project was a partnership between the City, CDBG and the state university. The content has application in earthquake and wind areas, but the concept of partnerships could be applied anywhere. We are also working on the terrorism issue, and have ideas for non-Nunn-Lugar communities in how they can prepare. Also, we are working on Y2K public information. Amy Sebring: Is there info on the Web regarding the Guide you mention Frannie? Frannie Winslow: We did have on our Website, but we lost our webmaster, so now I am not sure. The Guide is to encourage multi- family home owners to retrofit their soft story structures. Amy Sebring: Thanks. Amy Sebring: David please. Frannie Winslow: It includes a self-test/quiz based evaluation and some engineering information. David Crews: Educational facilities/assets as an community emergency planning resources Stephen Apatow: we have developed a family information guide with a focus on CFP resources such as the your family disaster plan & supplies kit guidelines Amy Sebring: Is there info available online Stephen? Stephen Apatow: thank you, Ralph has mentioned your name also Avagene Stephen Apatow: http://www.humanitarian.net/guide.html Amy Sebring: Thanks Stephen. Amy Sebring: David, would you like to elaborate ... Amy Sebring: I know our friend Rick Tobin has been working on some outreach TO universities for their own preparedness in California. David Crews: I used computer systems of a community college (portable computer lab) as well as preplan facilities for shelters. Frannie Winslow: ? Amy Sebring: Yes, I suspect coordination for all phases with those types of resources would be a good idea. Amy Sebring: Frannie please. Frannie Winslow: San Jose State has a major on-campus preparedness program, including CERT's, and annual drills. Amy Sebring: Yes, there seems to be more and more interest in the CERT approach ... Amy Sebring: (Community Emergency Response Teams) David Crews: ? Amy Sebring: Does anyone know of any targeted outreach to small business? Amy Sebring: Go ahead please David. Frannie Winslow: ? David Crews: Colleges and Universities have plant maintenance that rivals public and civil engineering in city government. Amy Sebring: Frannie please. Stephen Apatow: We helped network information last wee for Kay Goss regarding the USDA/FEMA Y2K Video Conference Isabel McCurdy: ? Frannie Winslow: Southern California's emergency managers have two major efforts: one to retail businesses in malls, and another called ESP that promotes using one preparedness action per month. This goes to small and large businesses. Amy Sebring: That sounds very interesting Fran. Hope you find a new Webmaster soon! David Crews: ? Amy Sebring: Isabel please. Isabel McCurdy: What is USDA? Amy Sebring: US Dept. of Agriculture Amy Sebring: sorry Stephen Apatow: United States Department of Agriculture: this is the release: http://www.humanitarian.net/fema_kg.html Amy Sebring: Thanks Stephen was just going to ask you! Amy Sebring: David please. David Crews: Colleges and universities also are involved in creating public policy in their Public Administration Courses. Also more colleges are going to conduct EM training (re: Higher Ed Project) Amy Sebring: Stephen, did you get to participate in that video conference? Stephen Apatow: Just helped with the communications to the county extension offices and media networks Stephen Apatow: I didn't have a sat link Amy Sebring: I hope they got a lot of participants. Amy Sebring: Frannie, did you go to the CFP conference last year? Amy Sebring: or did anybody else? Amy Sebring: I didn't mention, but they will also be giving out their second annual awards at the conference. Stephen Apatow: ? Avagene Moore: ? Amy Sebring: Stephen please. Frannie Winslow: I went last in 1996, I believe. For the last two years I have been tied up with the terrorism program. The year I attended we heard a lot about CERT, and the people from Massachusetts used their Explorer Scouts who spoke. I did a display of our multi-lingual material. I really enjoyed it, and hope to return sometime. Amy Sebring: Thanks Frannie. Amy Sebring: Stephen? Frannie Winslow: ? Stephen Apatow: What are any of your programs doing to reach the household level in your preparedness education initiatives Amy Sebring: Is that a question for our audience Stephen? Stephen Apatow: yes Amy Sebring: Good, do we have any response? Frannie Winslow: ? Amy Sebring: While we are thinking .... Avagene please. Then we will get to Frannie. Avagene Moore: To everyone today: the CFP folks are doing a wonderful job. We all know how important it is to get information out to individual families and homeowners. Do the programs to small businesses and industries include taking preparedness tips home to the family? How successful is that part of the program? Avagene Moore: Think my question is along the same line as Stephen's. Amy Sebring: Great. Frannie please. Frannie Winslow: 1. Details in the award program. Frannie Winslow: 2. We do displays in libraries, community centers, distributions through schools and PTA's. Frannie Winslow: 3. We provide "get your family prepared" information to all our businesses. We tell them that business recovery is only possible if the employees come back to help. Amy Sebring: done Frannie? Frannie Winslow: yes Amy Sebring: ok, thanks ... Amy Sebring: when I was working for the city ... Amy Sebring: I tried to expand what we were doing in this area ... Amy Sebring: we always got asked to present programs to a variety of organizations ... Amy Sebring: around the beginning of hurricane season ... Amy Sebring: and while it was a good way to bring a message personally ... Amy Sebring: it did not seem terribly cost effective to me ... Amy Sebring: considering the limited number of people it reached, although we did try to get media involved as well. David Crews: ? Amy Sebring: Are there more cost effective ways of getting the message out? Amy Sebring: David please. Amy Sebring: More folks are using the Web which I think is a good way, IF folks go look for it. David Crews: Another issue is the multi-lingual make up of a community. I also used brochures in Spanish as well as English. AK Miller: ? Amy Sebring: Yes, David, Frannie also mentioned bilingual material... Amy Sebring: and that is a significant factor here in deep South Texas also. Amy Sebring: AK please. Amy Sebring: (I should have said multilingual. How many languages Fran?) AK Miller: When I was with the County we developed a All Hazard Handbook which was paid for via advertising and sent to every resident.. AK Miller: now it is also on the web at www.pcema.com Amy Sebring: Thanks AK, another good resource. David Crews: Census data is a good place to find information on language requirements for various communities. AK Miller: we have between 1000- and 3000 hits a week and half are local Stephen Apatow: We put together the pdf files for Ralph, believe I received a number of them from you Fran http://www.humanitarian.net/pdf.html Amy Sebring: Yes, there are also a couple of CD's from FEMA with outreach material on them, but am not sure about current availability. Amy Sebring: One of the things we may need to get Kellye working on is finding these various resources ... Amy Sebring: and doing some kind of directory possibly ... Amy Sebring: although that would be a big task! Kellye Junchaya: I was thinking the same thing! Avagene Moore: (Good idea, Amy and Kellye.) Amy Sebring: Any last comments? Kellye Junchaya: These are great ideas and I hope everyone will continue to contribute through the email list! Amy Sebring: If not, let's go to Ava for upcoming events real quick. David Crews: Kellye, there are a lot of these resources (URLs) on EM Gold! that you can "mine" out of the library. Avagene Moore: Just a moment, having troubles... Amy Sebring: ok, stalling Kellye Junchaya: OK. I'll have a look David. Thanks. Avagene Moore: Tomorrow Weds 4/07, 1: 00 PM EDT... Avagene Moore: Anita Kellogg will present a paper in the Virtual Library ( I lost the title just now)... Kellye Junchaya: Don't you mean 12 PM EDT? Amy Sebring: Yes, it is at 12: 00 Avagene Moore: Yes, sorry about that. Quick Response Report #111. Avagene Moore: Next week, Jan Nickerson (here with us today, will do the Round Table. She will be talking about her card gam on Y2K. I have the game, it is neat. Don't want to miss that session on Tuesday, April 13, 1: 00 PM EDT. ... Avagene Moore: Wednesday, April 14, 12: 00 Noon EDT, Dr. Donald A. Wilhite, Professor and ... Avagene Moore: Director, National Drought Mitigation Center, International Drought Information Center will be with us. That's it, Amy. Amy Sebring: Tomorrow is a paper on Emergency Planning for the public health sector in Georgia. Amy Sebring: Thank you Kellye, Avagene and audience. We hope you will all give us some help in this area, and some assistance to Kellye with ideas, contacts, Web pages, or other resources. Avagene Moore: Thanks, Amy. Amy Sebring: She now has an email address set up at kjunchaya@emforum.org. Amy Sebring: We will adjourn for now, but you are invited to remain a few minutes longer for some open discussion.