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Hello Lucien,
Welcome to the April edition of Emergency Management Solutions.
For ever major city there is a disaster that remains engrained in its psyche. For my own city of San Francisco, it is and always will be the 1906 earthquake and fires. Recovery and reconstruction shaped our modern city and the disaster is still the driving influence behind our emergency management program. For us, truly "the past is prologue."
Don't miss this month's featured articles. Tim Riecker offers a very thoughtful and balanced article about why many first responders have trouble transitioning to an emergency management career. Erik Bernstein manages to condense the importance of preparing for media interviews to seven key points that you should consider committing to memory. My own article asks that you expand your thinking about what constitutes a risk worthy of your involvement.
Please don't skim over this month's From The Bookshelf offering, Fighting FEMA, as I think it will become a very important reference. The book deals with the FEMA Public Assistance Program and the author, Mike Martinet, is a friend and colleague of many years. He has forgotten more about the program than I'll ever know and if you ever have a disaster, I think you'll be glad to have his book on your shelf.
Be well!
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Canton on Emergency Management
By Lucien G. Canton, CEM
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But That Plan Is Just for Disasters!
Shortly before the recent eclipse, I saw a brief article about several small jurisdictions in Texas who were activating their emergency operations centers during the event. No, this was not in response to the numerous doomsday conspiracy theories that were making the rounds prior to the eclipse. Rather, it was in response to a well-reasoned risk assessment. The jurisdictions were in the path of the eclipse and realized they would be inundated by sightseers who generate a potential for traffic congestion, shortages of food, fuel, and lodging, increased medical emergencies and so forth. In short, while it would not necessarily rise to the level of a disaster, it would provide a risk to the community that could be best handled through a coordinated interagency response.
We sometimes think that emergency management is limited to disasters and that our plans are intended specifically for that purpose. Even if we don’t, this is often the perception that others have. During the after-action review of a major residential hotel fire that displaced just over a hundred residents, I asked why we had not used the shelter plan laid out in the city’s Emergency Operations Plan. The reply I received was that the plan was only for disasters. It took several years and a lot of work to reverse that attitude. Following that painful process, we ended up with a much-improved shelter plan that could be used in both emergencies and disasters.
Closely associated with this attitude is a narrowness of vision. We tend to think that the hazards we deal with are the big-ticket items, things like earthquakes, fires, floods, terrorist attacks, and chemical spills. Yet experience teaches us that disasters, while common in the aggregate, are relatively rare in any given jurisdiction. However, that same jurisdiction daily faces a high risk of an emergency that requires a coordinated inter-agency response. We need to broaden our vision to include any hazard that places those we serve at risk.
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© 2024 - Lucien G. Canton
Lucien Canton is a management consultant specializing in helping managers lead better in a crisis. He is the former Director of Emergency Services for San Francisco and the author of the best-selling Emergency Management: Concepts and Strategies for Effective Programs used as a textbook in many higher education courses.
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The Contrarian Emergency Manager
By Timothy "Tim" Riecker
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First Responders as Emergency Managers
I continue to see concern with first responders entering the field of emergency management, and with good reason. Of course, this does not apply to everyone who has made this transition. I’ve seen some incredible emergency managers who have first responder roots, and obviously we are all part of the public safety family with some tangible connections, but they really are two very different fields with very different skillsets. Throughout my career and as I continue to work with emergency managers across the country, I obviously continue to come across emergency managers who were or in some cases still are first responders. Those roots are very apparent in many of them and while some traits can be beneficial, others can very much be detrimental.
Several weeks ago, someone posted a question on LinkedIn questioning why there was still such a gap between public health and emergency management. While any relationship requires work by both parties, I think the strain in this relationship in most places strongly lies with emergency managers, with much of it due to emergency managers poorly suited for the position.
The knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes between first responders and emergency managers don’t organically have as much overlap as many people seem to assume. One of the most common words in job descriptions for emergency management positions is ‘coordination’. Coordination is a soft skill. A people skill. It takes knowledge and awareness of who the other parties are, what they do, and what their priorities are. It requires abilities associated with communication, negotiation, and the ability to connect. Perhaps most importantly, though, it requires a proper attitude; one that is open and not standoffish, indifferent, or otherwise off-putting to others.
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© 2024 - Timothy Riecker, CEDP
Used with Permission
Tim Riecker is a founding member, partner and principal consultant with Emergency Preparedness Solutions, LLC, a private consulting firm serving government, businesses, and not for profit organizations in various aspects of emergency and disaster preparedness.
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Bernstein Crisis Management
by Erik Bernstein
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For Media Interview Success, Preparation is Key
Preparedness is the not-so-secret weapon in productive interactions with the press
Preparing for a media interview is a pivotal moment for any professional or organization, serving as an opportunity to shape narratives, influence public perception, and communicate key messages. Whether you’re a seasoned spokesperson or facing the media for the first time, the importance of thorough preparation cannot be overstated. While going on record, particularly in front of a camera, is a stressful situation any way you slice it, preparing properly can help remove much of the automatic fear reaction that tends to take hold (thanks brain!). Let’s take a look at the most the essential aspects of gearing up for a media interview with a set of quick tips from our team of expert consultants.
- Understand the Media Outlet and Journalist: Before stepping into the interview, take the time to research the media outlet and the journalist conducting the interview. Understanding their audience, typical content style, and the journalist’s approach to stories will help you tailor your messages and anticipate the direction of the interview. This knowledge enables you to align your objectives with the interview’s context, making your participation more effective and targeted.
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© 2024 - Erik Bernstein
Used with permission
Erik Bernstein is President of Bernstein Crisis Management, a specialized firm dedicated to providing holistic strategies for managing crisis situations.
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Release for Final Publication: NIMS Guideline for Mutual Aid
FEMA’s National Integration Center has published the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Guideline for Mutual Aid.
NIMS is a key component of the national incident management capabilities and enables organizations from across the nation to work together during incidents of all kinds and sizes. Implementing NIMS nationwide is a fundamental part of building our national preparedness.
The NIMS Guideline for Mutual Aid supplements the Resource Management component of NIMS by providing guidance on different types of mutual aid agreements, the key elements of a mutual aid agreement and the key elements of mutual aid operational plans used for implementation.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Call for Weather Ready Research Proposals – WILDFIRE READY DUE JUNE 3, 2024
The Natural Hazards Center—with support from the National Science Foundation and the NOAA Weather Program Office, and in partnership with the National Severe Storms Laboratory and the National Weather Service —is issuing a series of funding calls for social, behavioral, and economic sciences to advance the understanding of how to most effectively prepare for and communicate about extreme weather, water, and climate events. This new initiative is designed to promote knowledge while also building a diverse cadre of weather ready researchers. Funds will support awards in the amount of $1,000 to $7,500 each. All proposals must be led by a researcher in the social, behavioral, or economic sciences. Collaborators from other disciplines are welcome. Early career scholars, students, advanced researchers, and practitioners interested in conducting Weather Ready research are encouraged to apply. Proposals are being accepted on a rolling basis through June 3, 2024. More information can be found at https://hazards.colorado.edu/research/weather-ready-research/index
Call for Quick Response Research – SUBMIT NOW
With the support of the National Science Foundation, the Natural Hazards Center Quick Response Research Award Program provides funds and training for eligible researchers to collect data in the aftermath of extreme events to document disaster before memories fade and physical evidence is erased. The Natural Hazards Center is currently accepting proposals for a Special Call for Health Outcomes and Climate-Related Disaster Research. Funds will support awards in the amount of $10,000 to $50,00 each. Proposals for this special call will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Apply now! More information can be found at https://hazards.colorado.edu/research/quick-response
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Professional Development Opportunities
26th Annual Emergency Management Higher Education Symposium
June 3-5, 2024
National Emergency Training Center Campus, Emmitsburg, Maryland
The theme of this year's symposium, "Pioneering Ideas and Practices in Emergency Management Higher Education: Building More Resilient Communities," is a focal point for an event that celebrates the 30th anniversary of FEMA's Higher Education Program.
49th Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop
July 14-17, 2024
Since 1975, the Natural Hazards Center has hosted the Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop in Colorado. Today the Workshop brings together federal, state, and local mitigation and emergency management officials and planning professionals; representatives of nonprofit, private sector, and humanitarian organizations; hazards and disaster researchers; and others dedicated to alleviating the impacts of disasters.
IAEM Annual Conference and EMEX
November 15-21, 2024
Colorado Springs, CO
The goal of the IAEM Annual Conference is to improve your knowledge, competency level and collaborative skills. IAEM accomplishes this by attracting relevant high-profile speakers to address current topics and practical solutions. Convening in tandem to this annual event, EMEX, IAEM’s Emergency Management & Homeland Security Expo, draws a myriad of exhibitors who are the top suppliers to the fields of disaster preparedness and homeland security.
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Fighting With FEMA: A Practical Regulations Handbook
by Michael Martinet
In this book, disaster finance and cost recovery expert Michael Martinet provides unparalleled coverage of the practical, real-world key principles necessary to successfully navigate the nuances of federal regulations surrounding FEMA’s Public Assistance program. Accessibly written, Martinet demystifies the many policies, procedures, and administrative processes a local government agency should adopt before a disaster to prepare themselves for a greater financial recovery after a disaster. The intent is to awaken local authorities to the realities of the process and assist them in preparing for a day which all hope they will never see.
Designed for financial officers, purchasing officials, Public Works officials, Building & Safety officials, public construction project managers, and emergency management professionals at all levels of government, Fighting With FEMA will also earn a place in the libraries of consulting disaster recovery specialists and students interested in the financial aspects of disasters.
About the Author
Michael Martinet is Principal with The Martinet Group, LLC, specializing in teaching Disaster Finance and Cost Recovery programs. For over 25 years, Martinet has trained local government officials on how to maximize their disaster cost recovery under FEMA’s Public Assistance program. Attendees have come from cities, counties, states, special districts and private non-profit agencies across the nation. He has a Master’s Degree from California State University at Long Beach and is a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Martinet is the founder and chair of the IAEM Disaster Cost Recovery Caucus and a former Principal on the National Fire Protection Association’s Standard 1600, the Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs. Martinet has also worked as a local government emergency manager since 1989 and retired in 2013 from the City of San Francisco where he worked as the Emergency Planning Manager in the Controller’s Office. Since 2013 he has focused exclusively on disaster cost recovery training for local government agencies and eligible private non-profit agencies.
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Emergency Management: Concepts and Strategies for Effective Programs
Second Edition
by Lucien G. Canton
This book looks at the larger context within which emergency management response occurs, and stresses the development of a program to address a wide range of issues. Not limited to traditional emergency response to natural disasters, it addresses a conceptual model capable of integrating multiple disciplines and dealing with unexpected emergencies.
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Looking for a speaker for your conference? I offer keynotes, seminars, workshops, and webinars, either in person or virtually. You can find more details and sample videos on my website. | | | |
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©Lucien G. Canton 2024. All rights reserved.
You may reprint and excerpt this newsletter provided that you include my copyright, the source,
the author, and "reprinted with permission."
ISSN: 2334-590X
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