Keeping America Prepared and Safe Barry W. Scanlon Senior Vice President, Witt O’Brien’s Glen Gerberg Weather and Climate Summit

Communicating Emergency Management Issues  Weather-Ready Nation and Emergency Management Communication  Keeping America Prepared  How to communicate complex emergency management info to save lives and reduce property

Disaster Trends

All-Hazards Evolution Emergency Management Pendulum Hurricane Andrew /11 Terrorist Attacks 2001 Hurricane Katrina 2005

Hurricane Andrew -We Need Your Help “….I am not the disaster czar here, I am a local emergency manager who is trying to get resources into a devastated community…Where the hell is the calvary on this one?” Former Dade County Emergency Manager Kate Hale

All-Hazards Evolution Emergency Management Pendulum Hurricane Ike/Gustav 2008 Deep Horizon Oil Spill 2010 Connecticut –Utility Outage 2011

Preparedness Assessment  Message not reaching the public  Public is woefully unprepared for an incident  We need to change the way we talk about communicate about disasters, preparedness, mitigation  Only Ad Council Survey 17% say they are very prepared for an emergency situation  National Academy of Science survey said public desires meaningful conversation about science

Disaster Information in a Crisis  As the times change, so does how information is communicated during a crisis.  Hype is the norm, but surveys show that the public wants meaningful information about disaster information  We need to turn down the volume and provide accurate, direct, informative information to the public

Recent Headlines Use of Frankenstorm News Organizations Refrain from term

Most Trusted Source of Information Meteorologists  According to the National Academy of Science survey, Meteorologists are the most trust source of information, even as cable news and other media sources has steadily declined Public  Familiarity of face keeps viewers coming back  Local trusts local  Wants clear and unambiguous language in the face of danger so that good choices can be made to take action

Change the way we communicate The Fear Message  The “fear” message is making the public feel overwhelmed and then they take no action Meaningful Message  How can we provide tangible, easy, meaningful information so that people can act and make real impact in their preparedness and make sure they are more resilient after a disaster.

Collaboration  Attending this Summit are meteorologists, government officials and private sector  Each provides weather, disaster, emergency management information to the public  All working towards protecting lives and property  We could come together and make it our priority to provide real, meaningful emergency management information to the public so that we can reduce the long term effects of disaster

Education Efforts  1997 – FEMA Project Impact – Building Disaster Resistant Communities  NWS – Storm Ready  2000 DHS – Ready.gov  2009 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Disaster Assistance and Recovery Program  2011 – NOAA Weather Ready Nation

Unique Time  We have a unique opportunity to educate – together  In the last 5 years we have had some of the most devastating disasters, and none of them has encouraged the public to act to become prepared  How can we come together, government, meteorologists and private sector to help move the pendulum of preparedness?

Some Ideas  Meteorologists – increase the amount of preparedness information, including mitigation which is more hardening of structures, during non disaster time to really provide resilience  Go Beyond bottled water and batteries suggestions  Work with local emergency managers through ongoing dialogue on how to increase educational opportunities of mitigation efforts in the community

Resources Local Emergency Managers--- increase dialogue with them before a crisis National Hazard Mitigation Association Former Project Impact Communities still in existence continue to educate mitigation options

Conclusion  Q&A  Barry Scanlon