Dialogue During Disaster

Perth-Andover EMO Experience 4 Key Phases - Event Preplanning - Committee Members Training, Tabletops, etc. - Actual Event/Disaster - Internal, External, use of Media, etc. - Recovery - Physical and Emotional - Lessons learned and EMO plan updating - Ongoing improvement

EMO in our Community Flooding m m m m + 3 Voluntary Evacuations Forest Fire

Organizations 14 Fire Departments RCMP Hospital DNR DOT Manor Council Media Administration Red Cross Cooks Ambulance Municipal Staff Brunway Commercial Vehicle Unit Samaritan’s Purse EMO Environment Public Health Service Clubs Victims Committee 100’s of Volunteers

Cost to Community Loss of Businesses and Jobs Property Owners loss of Equity Property Damage Losses Loss of Tax Base Loss of Utility Revenue – Light, Water, and Sewer People have moved out of community Stress & Health Related Issues

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION A) INTERNAL B) PARTNER AGENCIES C) PUBLIC D) MEDIA E) FINAL EVENT REVIEW AND EMO PLAN UPDATING

Dialogue During Disaster INTERNAL o EMO Committee – Must be clear & open discussion, pause for regular updates. o Importance of Documentation o Methods of Communication – phone, cell phones, radio, s

Dialogue During Disaster PARTNER AGENCIES o Not just relying on our EMO plan but also various Government Agencies Hospital, Schools, Manor, Ambulance, etc. Events are opportunities to improve plans

Dialogue During Disaster PUBLIC Various methods – News Media, door to door visits, siren, s, Social Media Must be flexible – Time of Day, Importance of Notice, Staff/Volunteer levels, online ability

Dialogue During Disaster MEDIA Great for Getting Message Out Restrictions with existing media cycles, availability during evenings and weekends, etc.. Important Relationship – Messaging & Support

Dialogue During Disaster FINAL EVENT REVIEW AND EMO PLAN UPDATING What we did great in 2012 o Security of Evacuated area o Property Visits During Events o Media o Coordinating Volunteers – Samaritan's Purse Areas to improve o Timeline for Voluntary and Mandatory Evacuations o Pre Event Communication o Difficulty addressing Emotional Issues o Security During Evacuation – too many Tourist!