Kellye Junchaya: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum Round Table! Kellye Junchaya: The Round Table today is our monthly CFP discussion, and I am pleased to serve as your host. Kellye Junchaya: A couple of quick reminders for any first timers with us today... Kellye Junchaya: The session will consist of about 15-30 minutes of introduction and overview, and then we will open it up to audience participation... Kellye Junchaya: If a URL is displayed in the chat window, it will appear blue. If you click on it, it will open the linked Web page in your browser window... Kellye Junchaya: After the first one, the window may not come to the top automatically, and be hidden behind your chat screen. Use the buttons on your status bar to bring the browser window forward... Kellye Junchaya: Our topic today is: Learning About and Using the "Talking About Disasters Guide" Kellye Junchaya: We are pleased to have Dr. Rocky Lopes with us. As most of you know, he is in charge of Community Education for the American Red Cross and works at the national headquarters. Kellye Junchaya: He is the convener of the National Disaster Education Coalition and has played a key role in creating the Talking About Disasters guide. Kellye Junchaya: Thank you for taking the time to be here today and talking with us Rocky. Rocky Lopes: Thanks, Kellye. I'm delighted to be with you today. Major national organizations with a role in studying and communicating about disaster safety have collaborated to produce a new resources called Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages... Rocky Lopes: This Guide provides standardized safety messages about 13 hazards and general disaster preparedness topics. The messages have been reviewed and approved by national organizations comprising the National Disaster Education Coalition, which work to deliver disaster preparedness information to the public... Rocky Lopes: The Coalition is grateful to the Lowes Home Safety Council for grant funds used to support the work of Beth Navin, who worked for a month to meet with partner agencies and develop the first draft of the Guide... Rocky Lopes: The Coalition recognizes that it is important for all agencies to deliver consistent disaster safety messages. Research has proven that when the public receives consistent information, they will prepare and respond appropriately when disaster threatens... Rocky Lopes: The Coalition is composed of the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Institute for Business & Home Safety; International Association of Emergency Managers; National Fire Protection Association; National Weather Service; U. S. Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Education Service; and the U. S. Geological Survey... Rocky Lopes: The Guide is organized by first explaining information about the hazard, and providing awareness information which defines why the hazard is a problem to people... Rocky Lopes: It then gives information on how to prepare for the hazard, including mitigation information as may be appropriate. It also gives information on what to do when the event is happening and immediately after it is over... Rocky Lopes: The messages are in order of importance. Not all messages have to be used. Decisions on what to use and how much to use are made by the user based on the amount of space or time available for the content... Rocky Lopes: Following each message are explanations, statistics, or reasons that reinforce the credibility of the message and that correct myths and misinformation. This information will help users of the messages understand what information may have changed and why the message is written the way it is... Rocky Lopes: Users of this resource may include emergency managers, meteorologists, teachers, disaster and fire educators, public affairs/public relations personnel, mitigation specialists, managers and officers, media personnel, and/or any other person in the severe- weather, earthquake, disaster, or communications communities... Rocky Lopes: The National Disaster Education coalition hopes that anyone who writes disaster safety brochures, pamphlets, posters, articles, web sites, and the like will lift information from this Guide to include in their materials... Rocky Lopes: We are truly hoping that anyone who has a role to communicate disaster safety information will review materials they already have printed or posted to the web and update their information to be consistent with the new Guide's information as best they can... Rocky Lopes: The safety information is intended for dissemination to the general public. All content is in the public domain... This is a big plus and is really important so everyone will feel free to use it! Rocky Lopes: How can you get it? Any local American Red Cross chapter can order hard copies of this Guide from the Red Cross central warehouse as stock number A4461M. The current cost is $3.00 per copy, plus shipping... Rocky Lopes: It is also available in both HTML format and downloadable PDF files on the web at: http://www.redcross.org/disaster/safety/guide.html You don't have to download all of it; just use the parts of interest to you? Rocky Lopes: All we ask when you use this Guide is to give an acknowledgment to the National Disaster Education Coalition as the source of information? Rocky Lopes: Take a look at it, and I'll turn it over to our hosts to moderate questions. http://www.redcross.org/disaster/safety/guide.html Kellye Junchaya: I'll give you a minute to look at the guide now if you want. Christopher_Effgen: ? Kellye Junchaya: Thank you for taking the time to be here today and talking with us Rocky. Excellent overview. Kellye Junchaya: We now invite your questions or comments, however please first enter just a question mark to indicate you wish to contribute, prepare your comment, but wait until you are recognized by name. Kellye Junchaya: then either hit the Enter key or click on the Send button. We will take comments in the order the question marks are submitted. We are ready to start now. Kellye Junchaya: Christopher, go ahead with your question, please. Christopher_Effgen: I have been working on some materials for sale. Am I allowed to reproduce this material for profit ? ryc lyden: ? Rocky Lopes: The intent of this Guide is that the material is in the public domain so that ANYONE can use it to ensure messages are consistent. The Coalition, composed of nonprofit or government agencies, does not wish that people make a profit off of our work, but can not control that... we just hope that people will get their messages consistent and give an acknowledgment to our work. Amy Sebring: ? Kellye Junchaya: Ryc, please. ryc lyden: More of a comment really. We in MN recognized this need long ago. Now that I am in the private sector we will adopt your standards in our training and link to your site. Kellye Junchaya: Amy, your next please. Amy Sebring: This is a very nice consolidated resource Rocky. Do you include any information about the purchase of hazards insurance in your messages? Rocky Lopes: Thanks... I understand that Minnesota has been a big supporter of this and has ordered hundreds of copies through one of our local Red Cross chapters. Avagene Moore: ? Rocky Lopes: Yes, we do suggest the purchase of hazards insurance, including an explanation about what is and is not covered by Flood and Earthquake insurance, for example. The IBHS and FEMA, in particular, have been very helpful with this. Kellye Junchaya: Avagene, please Avagene Moore: Rocky, getting to consensus is a tremendous feat. How long did this project take? How hard was it to get folks to agree to a standard message? Rocky Lopes: 12 years in conception... getting everyone together, to agree to a "larger agenda/big picture"... that took a long time... Diane Merten: Diane Merten? Rocky Lopes: But once we all were in agreement that we can work together and share ideas, actually getting the document created was a breeze... all of us "worker bees" believe in the higher calling of what we're here to do. Avagene Moore: ? Kellye Junchaya: Diane, please ramosv: ? Diane Merten: Rocky: I have been a volunteer in Emergency Management and community and family preparedness for nearly 10 years. that is long before there was such a thing as a unified voice on disaster information. A million thanks for the work you have done. Rocky Lopes: Thanks, Mom. (We go back a ways) Kellye Junchaya: Avagene, your question? Avagene Moore: Have you considered the acronym issue? That is one that is hovering over us and will have to be addressed at some point. Will be very difficult, I suspect. Avagene Moore: (pardon typo) Rocky Lopes: We avoided using any acronyms, at all. That was difficult for our friends at the National Organization for the Advancement of Acronyms, otherwise known as NOAA : -) No acronyms are used in the book at all. AK Miller: ? Kellye Junchaya: ramosv, please ramosv: How are other organizations in the coalition getting the info out? I have found that in my area, other agencies don't know it exists? Diane Merten: ? Amy Sebring: ? Rocky Lopes: Each agency has its own ways. The NWS has sent one copy to each Warning Coordination Meteorologist in each of their local offices. Ralph at FEMA ordered plenty to give out to attendees at EMI sessions and in other locations. NFPA ordered copies to distribute to their Champions. Others are following suit. It will take a while for everyone to find out about it. Kellye Junchaya: Andy, you are next! Rocky Lopes: sorry for the typos, folks... AK Miller: Will coalition members modify their web sites so the same message is broadcast on the web? Kellye Junchaya: Don't worry Rocky. We all have them! ryc lyden: ? Rocky Lopes: The Red Cross has already done so. All other coalition agencies have promised to do the same, but it will take some time as not all web-based info is produced by the same people, and therefore some "internal selling" is inevitable. Kellye Junchaya: Diane, please. Diane Merten: I am interested in the piece about landslide and debris flow. This isn't something I have seen much of in the print arena, but am grateful you have focused on it. Where is the source for that info? Rocky Lopes: Clarification: that means that Coalition representatives at different agencies need to talk to their counterparts in other divisions/departments to convince them to make some changes if necessary. Kellye Junchaya: Amy, please. Rocky Lopes: The primary source info about landslide and debris flow was from the U.S. Geological Survey, with review by NOAA. Amy Sebring: Rocky, had you done any kind of message testing? That is, run the messages by a test group to see if they were understood as intended? If so, did you discover anything unexpected in that process? Rocky Lopes: Yes, actually, lots of "message testing" has been done over the years... Rocky Lopes: We thought we knew the right things to say and how to say it a long time ago... Rocky Lopes: So when we asked sociologists to ask the public about what they thought about some messages... Diane Merten: ? Rocky Lopes: We got some very interesting responses. For example, "rotate water" became, to the public, "turn it around", not "change it out." So we use the words 'change and replace" not "rotate" as a result. Some of these messages are very subtle. Kellye Junchaya: interesting! ryc, your question please. ryc lyden: I haven't had time to look through the information thoroughly. Has the addition of local information/data been planned into the format? Rocky Lopes: I'd say about 7 years of message testing has been done... we're not all perfect, but we do know more now about what we are saying than ever before. ramosv: ? Rocky Lopes: Anyone can add local information... the idea of this Guide is to "lift" info from it and adapt it for local use as desired. Kellye Junchaya: Diane, you're next. Diane Merten: Have you given some consideration to Public Service Announcements to coordinate with this info? I am thinking of something we could put out in the media here when time appropriate and could perhaps have read on the air by our local emergency folks. Rocky Lopes: That's a great suggestion, from the best person I know with "big picture" thoughts and ideas. We would like to do PSA shells (fill-ins) in the future, as we have time. Kellye Junchaya: ramosv, please. Amy Sebring: ? ryc lyden: ? ramosv: A comment actually: The Media section is great for ideas on how do CDE on a larger scale. Rocky Lopes: Didn't mention in my overview, but there is a section for "Media and Community Education Ideas" in each chapter (hazard section.) Rocky Lopes: Thanks, Veronica. Kellye Junchaya: Amy, you're up. Amy Sebring: Now that this is out, I know you are working on school curriculum, but do you have any plans for future publications? I am thinking of a mitigation focused type publication, although I see some of this info included. Rocky Lopes: Mitigation information is included in this Guide... as mitigation information has always been included in disaster education.... Rocky Lopes: We know the public does not respond to "mitigation" as we use the word in the emergency management community... Rocky Lopes: so instead of confusing the issue... we included a section in each chapter on "how to make your home safer" and that's where much of the mitigation info can be found. Diane Merten: ? Kellye Junchaya: (I always hated the word mitigation!)ryc, you're next. ryc lyden: The format looks great for the public sector which will pass on most of the information. Have you discussed how it would be used in a private sector setting.. where the people get their information from their management including their corporate SOP's ? Rocky Lopes: That's a good suggestion, Ryc. We're open to suggestions about how to reach the private sector managers who might include it in their standard procedures for employees. Kellye Junchaya: Diane, please. Diane Merten: James Lee Witt, Director of FEMA was here in Corvallis, Oregon in May and always uses the phrase "pre-disaster planning" in place of "mitigation." I appreciate your accommodating people where they are with their vocabulary. Kellye Junchaya: Rocky, which hazard was the hardest topic to get everyone to agree on? ryc lyden: ?! Rocky Lopes: Again, we notice a change of vocabulary usage based on testing with "real people" instead of ourselves in the E.M. community. Rocky Lopes: The hardest topic to get agreement on, believe it or not, was Wildfire. We thought we had it when the NFPA reviewer said what we wrote wasn't right, but didn't offer suggested changes. We had to pull that from the first review and "renegotiate" until we could get agreement. Kellye Junchaya: ryc, please. ryc lyden: One other area to consider is how to 'react' proactively according to the severity of the threat. Such as going into a heads up, versus alert/partial activation, etc.. I know the NOAA portions talk about the 'watch' vs. 'warning. Rocky Lopes: We try to avoid using response terminology that the public does not understand. Christopher_Effgen: ? Amy Sebring: ? Kellye Junchaya: Chris, please. Rocky Lopes: Instead, simple words like "get ready," "get set", "go" are used liberally throughout. Christopher_Effgen: Are there plans to take additional comments on the guide Rocky Lopes: We are open to receiving additional comments at any time. On behalf of the Coalition, I will receive them and pass them on to all the others. Kellye Junchaya: Amy, please. ryc lyden: ? Amy Sebring: Do you include tips for using messages for the communicator? Other factors to get the most out of it? I understand that just having consistency will be a big plus. Christopher_Effgen: ? Rocky Lopes: We provide background info to help communicators understand just what they are communicating. There is also info in the introduction that is helpful for communicators, too. Kellye Junchaya: ryc, your turn. ryc lyden: How do we contact you? Your email isn't listed on your profile... Rocky Lopes: My email address is LopesR@usa.redcross.org, phone 703- 206-8805. I'll update my profile, thanks for letting me know. Diane Merten: ? Christopher_Effgen: does the coalition have a web site, newsletter or other publication? Amy Sebring: ? Rocky Lopes: The National Disaster Education Coalition does not, as yet, have a web site, newsletter, or other publication. The coalition has no operating funds... we each participate through the good graces of our respective organizations. ryc lyden: ? Amy Sebring: It looks like we have lost Kellye... Amy Sebring: Diane are you next? Diane Merten: I notice, Rocky, that some organizations are listed as members of the coalition, but their logos don't appear on the cover of the copy I have. Why is that so? Rocky Lopes: The five coalition member agencies that contributed content have logos shown on the front of the printed copy. The other coalition members either joined later in the process or did not contribute content so they are recognized in the acknowledgments section, but not by logo on the front of the document. Amy Sebring: Have you had any international interest in this strategy Rocky? e.g. International Red Cross, World Meteorological Organization, etc. Rocky Lopes: As the International Red Cross focuses much more on the implementation and upholding of the Geneva Conventions, and not disaster safety, we have not heard from them. We have not approached the WMO, but perhaps our friends at the National Weather Service may. I'll ask them. Amy Sebring: I think we have time for just one more ... Amy Sebring: anybody? ryc lyden: Will the coalition continue to work with other educational issues between/for agencies and organizations? If so, will it include the private sector where there are other disaster related disciplines? I'd be willing to assist in that area as needed. Rocky Lopes: We should keep in mind, however, that the vast majority of the info in the Guide is based on U.S. codes and standards, and may not be appropriate for use in other countries. Isabel McCurdy: ? Christopher_Effgen: ? Rocky Lopes: The National Disaster Education Coalition will continue to work on more educational issues as we can. If you have suggested items for our work plan, please let me know. I appreciate your offer of assistance. Amy Sebring: Isabel quickly please. Amy Sebring: Ok we lost her... Amy Sebring: Christopher please. Christopher_Effgen: Are there plans to set up The National Disaster Education Coalition as an independent non profit? Rocky Lopes: No, there are no such plans. We operate best as a coalition of interested parties representing concerned, caring, agencies and organizations. Amy Sebring: Thank you very much Rocky for your as usual outstanding information and presentation ... Amy Sebring: any final words? Rocky Lopes: Appreciate your support and to all: consistency is the key! Diane Merten: Just a big thank you for all your work and your consideration for our needs. Amy Sebring: Thank you very much also to our audience members. It is your good questions that can really make this interesting. Amy Sebring: We are about to close ... Amy Sebring: but first Ava for upcoming events. Avagene Moore: Thanks, Amy. Great job today, Rocky! Lively Q&A also, audience! ... Avagene Moore: Tomorrow, we have a special treat. Jim McGinty will be in the Virtual Classroom addressing "Managing Bomb Threat Critical Incidents." Jim is quite an authority with extensive law enforcement background. Mark your calendar for tomorrow, Weds, July 7, 12: 00 Noon EDT. ... Avagene Moore: Next week, SALEMDUG's President, Preston Cook, will be in charge of the Tuesday July 13 Round Table. ... Avagene Moore: On Wednesday, July 14, 12 Noon, EDT, our own Amy Sebring will be attending the Hazards Research Applications Workshop in Boulder, Colorado. Amy will be "Live From" in a session with some of the featured speakers discussing a variety of topics. Amy will be speaking as a panelist on the Workshop program also. Should be a very interesting session. ... Avagene Moore: That's it for now. ryc lyden: Thank you Rocky, a tremendous undertaking and great job. Amy Sebring: Thanks Ava. Thanks also to Kellye who just made it back! Amy Sebring: This concludes our program today, but you are welcome to stay for informal open discussion.