3 votes
I disagreeStart up the nuclear war shelters designations again. I have not seen many of the old CD shelter signs and they can used as shelters and sources of information available. Make the signs noteworthy and include links to other sources of information and assistance.
4 votes
I disagreeRequire all agencies that would respond to a disaster to include training and assistance for the families of the responders. We saw NOPD officers leave the city at the time they were needed most to take care of family and so on. Well, if the agency included training and other support to ensure the responders' families were taken care of or have the ability to handle the crisis, then the responders can focus on their job. ...more »
Require all agencies that would respond to a disaster to include training and assistance for the families of the responders. We saw NOPD officers leave the city at the time they were needed most to take care of family and so on. Well, if the agency included training and other support to ensure the responders' families were taken care of or have the ability to handle the crisis, then the responders can focus on their job. That includes having the necessary supplies to support operations for at least 7 days out in the field. The same would be required of the capabilities of the families of the responders.
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5 votes
I disagreePlease appreciate the fact that homeland security is still a new discipline and that it takes time understand and incorporate National preparedness doctrine into State and local planning and preparedness efforts. To that end, focus on updating the existing doctrine as opposed to recreating it. For example, there are some good National preparedness elements (e.g. Prevent/Protect/Respond/Recover mission areas), some things ...more »
Please appreciate the fact that homeland security is still a new discipline and that it takes time understand and incorporate National preparedness doctrine into State and local planning and preparedness efforts. To that end, focus on updating the existing doctrine as opposed to recreating it. For example, there are some good National preparedness elements (e.g. Prevent/Protect/Respond/Recover mission areas), some things that need to be tweaked but not discarded (e.g. TCL, National Priorities) and some things that need to be rethought entirely (e.g. national planning scenarios). Avoid the urge to create new doctrine and instead focus on keeping/enhancing the things that work. Also, please keep the end-users in mind. The State and local stakeholders at the end of the “funnel” often wear many hats and have several competing priorities – keep it simple, do the outreach, explain things and always try to maintain an understanding of State and local needs. Forums like this are helpful in that regard.
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14 votes
I disagreeCustomize disaster planning and response to address the needs of children.
Federal, state, and local disaster plans should include specific protocols for management of pediatric casualties. Disaster plans should include pediatrician input in planning at every organizational level. Federal and local disaster teams should include pediatricians and other personnel skilled at evaluating and treating children.
12 votes
I disagree
Key Principles of Effective National Preparedness Planning "The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise -- with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disentrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country." - Abraham Lincoln (1) Assessment of the entire range of threats – both acute and easily ...more »
Key Principles of Effective National Preparedness Planning
"The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise -- with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disentrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country." - Abraham Lincoln
(1) Assessment of the entire range of threats – both acute and easily perceived, as well as chronic and insidious – is an essential first step in our national preparedness planning process.
(2) All subsequent steps in national preparedness planning depend on an accurate recognition, comprehension, and anticipation of all hazards that threaten our nation.
(3) Recent population-based scientific evidence has confirmed the presence of a chronic and insidious threat to our national security*.
"Kay Erikson has defined both the threat and challenge posed by a chronic disaster: 'it gathers force slowly and insidiously, creeping around one's defenses rather than smashing through them. People are unable to mobilize their normal defenses against the threat, sometimes because thy have elected consciously or unconsciously to ignore it, sometimes because they have been misinformed about it, and sometimes they believe they cannot do anything to avoid it.'"
"For an epidemic of influenza, a hurricane, earthquake, or tornado the worst is quickly over; treatment and recovery efforts can begin. In contrast, the chronic disaster that results from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is insidious, constantly rolling out from generation to generation."
"Until very recently, this public health disaster has been hidden from view. Our society has treated the abuse, maltreatment, violence, and chaotic experiences of our children as an oddity that is adequately dealt with by emergency response systems - child protective services, criminal justice, foster care, and alternative schools - to name a few. These services are needed and are worthy of support - but they are a dressing on a greater wound."
*Anda RF, Brown DW. Adverse Childhood Experiences & Population Health in Washington: The Face of a Chronic Public Health Disaster. Results from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Washington State Family Policy Council. July 2, 2010.
http://videos.med.wisc.edu/videoInfo.php?videoid=8259
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/ace/pyramid.htm
http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/prevention/children.html
http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/prevention/essential.html
(4) The survival of our nation will depend on how effectively we address this critical vulnerability.
(5) State-of-the-art enterprise social networking software will become an essential national preparedness tool because it not only leverages an organized, efficient, team approach to the acquisition, synthesis, and dissemination of effective evidence-based primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies, but also serves as a secure environment for common access to documents, stakeholder feedback, discussion, ongoing dialogue, and continuous quality improvement.
Hagel J, Brown J, Davison L. The Power of Pull: How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion. Deloitte Development. Basic Books, New York, 2010.
http://www.edgeperspectives.com/pop.html
(6) Skillful use of enterprise social networking software will make a huge difference in transforming our nation’s greatest weakness into our greatest strength by facilitating the integration of lessons learned into subsequent practice, and capturing institutional memory so that valuable lessons learned will not be forgotten.
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25 votes
I disagreeDevelop and implement a professional career track for emergency planners. Ten years ago in North Carolina, we had one all-hazards plan and one hazard-specific one (hurricanes). Today we still have the one base plan and 15 hazard-specific ones. During this period, EM planning postions dropped from 14 to 9. Other state agencies have increased their preparedness planning, but we do not have a standard planning process. ...more »
Develop and implement a professional career track for emergency planners. Ten years ago in North Carolina, we had one all-hazards plan and one hazard-specific one (hurricanes). Today we still have the one base plan and 15 hazard-specific ones. During this period, EM planning postions dropped from 14 to 9. Other state agencies have increased their preparedness planning, but we do not have a standard planning process. This situation results in uncoordinated plans and at times activites working against each other. Typically, agencies use a Conceptual Planning (CONPLAN) process when for hazard-specific plans, agencies should use an Operational Planning (OPLAN) process. To reiterate, the emergency response community needs to improve its core competencies to meet increased public expectations.
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