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 crisis

National Hazard Mitigation Association www.nhma.org

Former Project Impact Communities still in existence continue to educate mitigation options

Conclusion

Q&A

Barry Scanlon

bscanlon@wittobriens.com

202-585-0780