Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! Avagene Moore: We will start with a presentation, a few comments from those who were in attendance, and then follow with a Q&A session for your questions and comments. Right before we begin the Q&A portion we will review the procedure. Avagene Moore: Background information for today's session may be found at http://www.emforum.org/vforum/000830.htm ... Avagene Moore: Our discussion today is an Overview of the Community & Family Preparedness (CFP) Conference that was held last week at EMI, Emmitsburg, Maryland. Avagene Moore: We are pleased to have Dr. Ralph Swisher with us today to talk about the CFP Program and the events of last week's conference. We are also happy to see folks in the audience who work with community and family preparedness programs around the country. Avagene Moore: Ralph Swisher joined FEMA in 1981; he is a policy specialist in the agency. Ralph has served as Community and Family Preparedness program manager since 1994, prior to which he managed the Emergency Public Information program from 1989. Avagene Moore: Please see Ralph's entire bio after the session today. It represents an impressive career -- the bio is at http://www.emforum.org/vforum/000830.htm#SWISHER . Avagene Moore: And now, help me welcome our speaker, Ralph B. Swisher. After Ralph completes his formal remarks, I will remind you of the protocol for the Q&A segment of today's session. Ralph, I turn the floor to you now. Ralph Swisher: Hello everyone! Ralph Swisher: This year's Community & Family Preparedness Conference was a great success. Quite a number of participants told me it was the best conference yet... Ralph Swisher: It was certainly an exciting and enthusiastic conference. Presenters and other participants alike were exciting. We had a good mix, different because of the agenda, but the agenda brought their diverse perspectives together and the chemistry was right... Ralph Swisher: Our agenda concentrated on 3 main topics: 1. School safety, all-hazard in concept, but the specter of school violence was on everyone's mind... Ralph Swisher: 2. Reaching children, educating them to disaster preparedness and living in a disaster resistant culture was one theme with several parts:... Ralph Swisher: Working with school systems to get disaster preparedness information into the classroom via curriculum materials... Ralph Swisher: Working with youth organizations in disaster preparedness, response and recovery activities... Ralph Swisher: Reaching women and children, especially in single- parent families, to reduce the disparity in vulnerability and the effects of disasters on them... Ralph Swisher: 3. Working with minority groups and their leaders to help them protect themselves better and reduce the impact of disasters on their communities... Ralph Swisher: Marilyn Maguire, a former school system superintendent in Washington State, was the keynoter. She set the tone. The conference was charged up by her keynote address on Sagety First at School, focusing on both school violence and all- hazard preparedness in "A Comprehensive Approach to Prevention and Intervention... Ralph Swisher: She was the first of many to emphasize involvement of young people in planning how to prevent school violence, and preparing to deal with it if it does occur... Ralph Swisher: Kay Landry, Guidance Specialist with the Maryland State Department of Education, brought 5 Maryland students from a forum of 500 students convened by the State's school system to get young people's input to Maryland's program... Ralph Swisher: The impressive student panel reflected the constructive result as they described the development of plans in their state meeting and then its application, with their involvement, in their home schools across the state... Ralph Swisher: Linda Mason, Director of Education & Training, Arizona Division of Emergency Management, described their School System Preparedness program, and later described FEMA's Multi-Hazard Program for Schools, a... Ralph Swisher: training course designed for key actors from school systems, first responders, emergency managers and community partners to prepare for major emergencies and disasters... Ralph Swisher: The all-hazard course, which uses scenario-based exercise for various disasters, has experienced a tremendous surge in demand and high praise from those using it. Interest has been sparked by the concern over school violence... Ralph Swisher: Mary-K. Appy, Vice Pres. for Public Education for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), with Dennis Compton, Mesa, AZ, Fire Chief, described how NFPA works with schools, school systems and community partners in collaboration in implementing the "Risk Watch" injury prevention curriculum... Ralph Swisher: Dr. Russell Wright, Curriculum Specialist with Montgomery County, MD, School System and developer of the Event Based Science Curriculum for middle schools, explained how the curriculum uses such events as natural disasters to draw students enthusiastically into exploring areas of science... Ralph Swisher: and how people in different roles deal with problems caused by natural phenomena like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather... Ralph Swisher: Ron Gird, Customer Service Program Manager, NOAA/National Weather Service, described the range of warning systems and forecasts, public education materials and websites, available as resources for local preparedness and public education, which the National Weather Service has developed... Ralph Swisher: Tom Hegele started the Hurricane Floyd-North Carolina Case Study with a video panorama, after which Dr. H. Nolo Martinez, Director of Hispanic/Latino Affairs in the No. Carolina Governor's Office described the situation with the rapidly growing Hispanic population there and the outreach effort to them... Ralph Swisher: Katie Pomerans of Family and Consumer Services, North Carolina State University, described the problems of different groups and the outreach to them from that program... Ralph Swisher: James Montgomery of FEMA's Office of Equal Rights discussed FEMA's role in assuring equal access to disaster assistance... Ralph Swisher: Scott Poland, Director of Psychological Services, Cypress-Fairbanks School System and member of the School Psychologists Assn., is one of a team of experts consulted on a variety of school violence cases. ... Ralph Swisher: His presentation was another high point of the conference, bringing a strong sense of the reality of those incidents to an excellent review of principles for handling them. He stressed the importance of involving the students in the solution, as did others. ... Ralph Swisher: We'll report in more detail, but see his book, "Coping with Crisis-Lessons Learned: A Resource for Schools, Parents, and Communities," co-authored with Jamie S. McCormack, if you want to get excellent information quickly. ... Ralph Swisher: We were treated to another panel of impressive kids in a panel titled "Disaster-Ready Kids--Self-Reliance in Times of Disaster." ... Ralph Swisher: Rose Burlingham of No. Carolina described 4-H kids' involvement, including help with animals, in Hurricane Floyd floods, and Evelyn Adams from Alaska talked about 4-H disaster preparedness activities in her area. ... Ralph Swisher: Scott Stuart and Ryan Lynch, members of an Exploring Post (Boy Scouts) and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) in the Quincy, MA, Emergency Management Agency, accompanied Deputy Director Tony Siciliano, long-time CFP activist who was ... Ralph Swisher: declared New England emergency manager of the year this year, as I recall. LaVerne Feaster, State 4-H Leader Emeritus, Arkansas State University Extension, added a strong note of support for using the talents and commitment of 4-H youth in emergency management. ... Ralph Swisher: Prof. Betty Hearn Morrow, Florida International University, made a strong case for addressing the disparate effects of disasters on women and children... Ralph Swisher: In a panel on "Making Things Happen," Betty Bumpers, wife of Sen. Dale Bumpers (AR) and founder of Peace Links, Jan Paschal, Regional Representative of the U.S. Secretary of Education, Elton Gatewood, Nat'l Pres. of Neighborhoods, USA, ... Ralph Swisher: and Sylvia Williams, National Disaster Coordinator, NAACP, all described inspiring examples of making things happen in different settings. ... Ralph Swisher: Richard Krajeski, Kristina Peterson and Richard Johnson from spoke on working with faith-based organizations, of which they are representatives. ... Ralph Swisher: Carolyn Gravely-Moss, Wash., DC EMA Training Officer and spoke on working with ethnic minority communities. ... Ralph Swisher: The conference also heard a strong statement of support from Kay Goss, FEMA Associate Director for Preparedness, Training, and Exercises, in her "Charge to Participants." ... Ralph Swisher: She reviewed her range of preparedness initiatives from Higher Education to International Affairs, Indian Tribal Policy, Capability Assessment (CAR), CHER-CAP in Hazmat Readiness and others. ... Ralph Swisher: We'll cover the several workshops in a report on the conference coming soon. No time today. ... Ralph Swisher: It was a packed conference and we'll give a full report soon. ... Ralph Swisher: It also left us with a number of challenges. ... Ralph Swisher: I am ready for any questions. Rick Tobin: ? Avagene Moore: Thank you for the overview, Ralph. The CFP Conference sounds like an excellent opportunity for those who were fortunate to attend. ... Avagene Moore: Before we get into the Q&A part of today's program, we would like those who attended the CFP Conference to input their thoughts, perspectives, reactions to the conference. ... Isabel McCurdy: ? Avagene Moore: If you attended and will please start typing in your comments now. ... Avagene Moore: Give us your impressions or if you have a follow up question for Ralph, I am sure he will be glad to respond. .... Avagene Moore: We will give these good folks a moment to input their comments. Ralph we heard one or two before we officially started today. Avagene Moore: Jeff, you may want to restate what you told us earlier online. ray pena: An excellent conference, well managed and presented. Dr. Swisher and all the FEMA folks at EMI deserve great credit. Avagene Moore: Thanks, Ray. Others please? jeff phillips: There was sooo much information and things to think about that I spent a few hours on Monday organizing and finding ways to integrate what I had heard and learned into my daily affairs. I look forward to the conference report in order to continue this effort. Avagene Moore: I will go ahead and give protocol for Q&A (thanks Jeff) and you can pop in your comments at will.... Avagene Moore: Audience please enter a question mark (?) to indicate you wish to be recognized, go ahead and compose your comment or question, but wait for recognition before hitting the enter key or clicking on Send. Avagene Moore: We now invite your questions/comments. Rick Tobin, you have a question, sir. Ralph Swisher: In part, I'm in the same boat as Jeff. I took a lot of notes, but couldn't cover everything. Rick Tobin: Did anyone discuss implementation of the "Masters of Disasters" program? Amy Sebring: ? Ed Pearce: ? Ken Patterson Sr: ? Ralph Swisher: Yes. Bob Roberts of the Red Cross, Kathy Henning of Montgomery County, MD, and two others I recall but can't recall names. It came up several times. Avagene Moore: Isabel, you are next. Isabel McCurdy: Can you elaborate on some of the challenges? Ralph Swisher: I think the biggest challenge remains making a bigger dent in the problem of getting people who have so many other challenges just getting through each day or week to think ahead and actually make significant efforts to prepare for disasters. Then they get devastated. That includes... Ralph Swisher: includes minority communities, the problems Betty Morrow talked about in the heavily disproportionate impact of disasters on women and children, especially single-parent families headed by women. Ralph Swisher: Another perspective on that is shifting toward developing a broader array of partnerships with national organizations. Nobody reaches everybody effectively... Avagene Moore: Amy, please. Amy Sebring: Did you do Disaster Saves Awards again this year Ralph? Ralph Swisher: I'll go back to challenges as we go along, but no, we didn't solicit or give Disaster Saves Awards this year. We solicited them last year but received none that met the criteria in the documentation provided. Ralph Swisher: We need to find a better way of tracking some very impressive things going on and see that they are shared. Another challenge is that one. Avagene Moore: Ed, your question, please. Ed Pearce: I am in the private sector. Was there any discussion about the role of corporations supporting these initiatives? Ralph Swisher: The only area this year in which the private sector was covered was in support of the school safety activities, and that was primarily reference to software systems helping with that preparedness effort. Avagene Moore: Ken, you are next. Ken Patterson Sr: How does one become involved in the Masters of Disasters program leslie little HELPU: ? Ralph Swisher: Masters of Disaster was developed by the Red Cross and they manage its implementation. Get in touch with their Disaster Services people locally, or Rocky Lopes at Red Cross HQ (he may refer you to someone else.) Amy Sebring: (See also http://www.redcross.org/disaster/masters/ ) Avagene Moore: Leslie, your question, please. leslie little HELPU: Was there any discussion regarding the special needs high-risk disabled populations and disaster planning strategies? Avagene Moore: ? Ralph Swisher: Yes, there was attention to high risk and disabled people. That was in a workshop that I didn't catch. Let me add that it is a major concern of the African American communities growing interest because of the number of elderly people that need help, whether in evacuating or... Ralph Swisher: staying in their homes. I didn't get to that in my overview, but they are an important group to stay with in our initiatives. Avagene Moore: Ralph, when the Virtual Forum addresses needs of women and children, for example, and the fact that disasters impacts them differently or more severely, we get arguments from a few of our audience .... David Crews: ? Avagene Moore: how do you handle such opinions about gender and minority populations? Avagene Moore: Many think they are all treated the same in their communities. Ralph Swisher: I think we need to look at the specific facts on the matter of how heavily disasters affect women and children. It isn't an ideological issue with me, which is the basis for most of the arguments I have heard.... leslie little HELPU: ? Ralph Swisher: It is a matter of vulnerability, why they are vulnerable, and what specifically can be done to help those who need better protection and assistance. ... Ralph Swisher: The answers aren't always easy, and the situations are different in different areas, different countries. But Hurricane Andrew research by Betty Morrow is what got her into the question, and the differences were big. Avagene Moore: David Crews, you are next, sir. Amy Sebring: ? David Crews: Is there an initiative to integrate the Family and Children programs with Project Impact or is it already part of the program? Ralph Swisher: Integration isn't the term I would use. CFP has invited and cooperated with Project Impact communities since the first 6 Impact sites were chosen. We have local people associated with the public education part of it in every conference. I can't see changing that. ... Ralph Swisher: I see our role as trying to make sure the connection is made between those active in disaster public education and those putting new Impact projects together, to make sure that experience and existing activity is made available. ... Ralph Swisher: But I wouldn't "integrate" a particular project with an ongoing functional part of disaster preparedness that typically has a longer life. We must cooperate and support each other, but they are not identical. Avagene Moore: Leslie, please. leslie little HELPU: Will the report(s) have suggestions and/or working solutions for special needs and low-income, i.e. working poor groups that could be used by disaster planners? Ralph Swisher: Yes, but at this point I can't say how many specific, concrete ideas will be in this year's report.... Ralph Swisher: We also need to go back occasionally and pick up on such basic problems from past conferences, reports, and documented activity in good programs out there. That's where the things that work come from and are proven. Avagene Moore: Amy, your question, please. Amy Sebring: Ralph, were there any specific outcomes from the conference? Calls for action? Further plans for your conference Website? ( http://www.humtech.com/cfp/ ) Amy Sebring: Please note that there is a place there to contribute success stories and resource exchange ... Amy Sebring: and I assume that is one of the ways you hope to continue? Avagene Moore: ? jeff phillips: ? Ralph Swisher: We had a session at the end in which all participants were asked to propose changes from basic program activities to the color of napkins in the cafeteria. We'll compile those.... Ralph Swisher: Second, there were some good proposals in specific presentations and workshops, and we'll compile those, as we have in the last three conferences. And sooner! I'll retire if we don't get them out sooner this year. Avagene Moore: I will let Jeff go before me with his question. Jeff, please. jeff phillips: Will participants receive notification when the conference report is put on the Website? Ralph Swisher: Yes. We got participants' email addresses, and will mail to those without one. We'll also put notice in our next ActNow Update. Avagene Moore: Ralph, I know you love the CFP program - one reason you are so good at it ... Avagene Moore: What is your vision for the CFP program, say 5 - 10 years from now? Ralph Swisher: I think the answer to that is in what will happen at the community and neighborhood levels. ... jeff phillips: ? Ralph Swisher: We are beginning to restore in some sense, but in a different way that fits changes in our communities and in communications in a high tech society, the way we live in reasonable comfort and confidence with disaster.... Ralph Swisher: Communities are still the major part of disaster preparedness, of disaster response, of recovery, and of making the kind of investment we talk about in mitigation--in Project Impact... Ralph Swisher: We went through a period when disasters didn't dominate the news. The last 10 or 15 years has seen steady escalation, and the communities most affected by mobility, social change, family weakening, etc., had the hardest time handling them... Ralph Swisher: I think the next 5 years will see the neighborhoods, community organizations, churches in particular but by no means dominantly, get back to their traditional roles but appropriately for modern society. The national role will be... Ralph Swisher: a continuation of the research role, keeping up with lessons learned, successful ways of dealing with the whole area of preparedness and response and recovery, and ... Ralph Swisher: keeping and building the network going so information is shared, the matter of staying on top of disaster preparedness stays alive and becomes part of a "disaster-resistant culture" or resilient culture, as the current phrases have it. That's one major part of the vision. Carol Parks: ? Bernadette Frerker: ? Avagene Moore: Carol, please submit your question, we are running short on time. Carol Parks: When is the next conference? Ralph Swisher: Tentatively set for mid-to-late June 2001, again at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute, Emmitsburg, MD. Avagene Moore: Bernadette, your question. Last question for today, folks. Bernadette Frerker: I would like to thank all those involved in putting the conference together. I was extremely motivated to get involved with the youth in my community and Bernadette Frerker: network with others who share similar visions. It would be nice to have more time at the conference for tabletop exercises. Also, a little more time for the speakers. Avagene Moore: Thanks for the comment, Bernadette. Our time is about gone for today. ... Avagene Moore: Thank you very much for being with us today, Ralph. We appreciate your time and effort on behalf of the Virtual Forum and the good disaster public education accomplished by your program. Please stand by a moment while we take care of some business. Avagene Moore: Today's session will be accessible via the Transcripts link on our home page by Monday. The text version will be up later today. Avagene Moore: Amy, will you tell us about next week please? Amy Sebring: Thanks Avagene and thank you Ralph and thanks to all our participants today. I counted 42! We are pleased to see a few new faces, and hope you will join us for future programs. Amy Sebring: Please note that the 1998 and 1999 conference reports are in the User Docs section of our Library, which you can access under Quick Picks on our home page. Amy Sebring: Next week we are pleased to present a new Partner, Consequence Management Interoperability Services (CMIS) in a session entitled "Islands in the (Emergency Data) Stream -- Planning for Interoperability." Amy Sebring: "CMI-Services is about facilitating information sharing among the numerous sources of municipal, state, and federal data relevant to WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) consequence management," and is envisioned as a stakeholder driven process. Amy Sebring: Please join us then for what should be an interesting discussion. Back to you Avagene. Avagene Moore: Thank you, Amy. Thanks to all our participants today. Your participation is very important to us. Ralph Swisher: One parting comment from me: the combination of people from different groups and professional positions made it a remarkably good conference. They responded well to the speakers and the things discussed. Avagene Moore: We will adjourn the session for now, but you are welcome to remain for open discussion. You no longer need to use question marks. Please help us express our appreciation to Ralph for today's presentation.