Glen Gerberg Weather and Climate Summit
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Transcript of Glen Gerberg Weather and Climate Summit
Keeping America Prepared and Safe
Barry W. ScanlonSenior 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 EvolutionEmergency Management Pendulum
Hurricane Andrew
1992
9/11 Terrorist Attacks2001
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 CountyEmergency Manager
Kate Hale
All-Hazards Evolution
Emergency Management Pendulum
Hurricane Ike/Gustav2008
Deep Horizon Oil Spill2010
Connecticut –Utility Outage2011
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
1999- 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 crisisNational Hazard Mitigation Association www.nhma.orgFormer Project Impact Communities still in existence continue to educate mitigation options
Conclusion Q&A Barry [email protected]