Your Library’s role in Community Emergency Management Maine Libraries Conference 2017
Every Community • All emergencies are local regardless of size or type • When local resources are insufficient, county, state, and federal help may be needed • Non ‐ governmental organizations also play a role
Phases of Disaster • Mitigation – pre ‐ emptive to reduce the effects of a disaster • Preparedness – in advance to improve/reduce personal and community disaster • Incident • Response – actions taken as disaster occurs • Recovery – activities aimed at returning community to pre ‐ disaster condition
State Law • Each community must have an emergency management agency (EMA) • Each must have a director of the EMA • Each must have an emergency management plan to include: – Identification of risks the town may be vulnerable to – Procedures and operations to minimize injury and damage – Necessary personnel, equipment, supplies – Recommendations to public and private agencies to mitigate risk
Your town’s plan includes: • Where people might be sheltered • What traffic routes might be compromised • How many people might need transportation • Communication systems • Assigns duties to specific people and groups • Includes public information (PIO)
NIMS and ICS • All emergency planning is based on the National Incident Management System. • All managers use the Incident Command System – and a common organization chart • All communities have written plans • The plan includes sections called annexes which define resources such as personnel
Libraries have a place 2011 FEMA recognized libraries as essential community organizations This makes them eligible for temporary relocation funding during major disasters through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.
How the Library might help • Mitigation – Is library building in safe location? • Preparedness – Library has continuity plan (CERC d ‐ plan) – Provide preparedness information to community – Keep resource list of community groups – Survey staff expertise – Get NIMS training IS ‐ 700, IS ‐ 100 – Know the EMA Director and the contents of the plan
Personal Preparedness
Employee Training
Real Life ‐ Libraries Respond • California brush fire – library served as command post for fire fighters – provided real restrooms – library survived fire storm • Florida County librarians are assigned to bunker to provide information to public • Conducting story times for children in shelters • Provide power for charging electronic devices • Provide complimentary borrowing card for refugees
Spontaneous Shelter
Flood, tornado, hurricane… • Offer Internet access • Serve as FEMA Disaster Recovery Center to assist with relief applications, connecting with family, filing insurance claims • Act as point of distribution (POD) or collection for supplies including sand for sandbags • Provide website updates with local information
Scarborough Examples none are original • Coordinate volunteers for town wide storm clean ‐ up • Coordinate volunteers for mass school and public H1N1 vaccination clinics • Promote emergency preparedness through displays and brochure racks • Attend community events to promote making “Go Kits” for home preparation
Public Health Response VIII. Pandemic Period- WHO PHASE 6 A sample ICS Organizational Chart follows:
Outreach to Seniors
Outreach to Seniors
More activities • Workshops for the business community on business continuity • Grant participants in FEMA Grant to educate community on Resiliency skills • Dedicated section of website to project • Participate in briefings for severe weather • Provide extended hours during heating and cooling emergencies – notify EMA & 211, provide water, picnic area
Sharing Experience: Continuity Planning
Resiliency Project
More… • Offer free printing and fax service during Sandy to refugees – election help • Provide website links to flu clinic calendar • Provide recreation kits to shelter – books, toys puzzles for children and adults • Assist as volunteer in regional shelter • Provide meeting space for EMA meetings • Assist businesses’ recovery following fire
COAD • Active in Southern Maine COAD Community Organizations Active in Disaster – Operate VRC (Volunteer Reception Center) – Public Education – Assist in long term recovery – Great opportunity to learn from other members
Public Education
PIO – Public Information Scarborough Residents: Stay safe – Stay informed Shelter • The American Red Cross will open an emergency shelter at Scarborough High School on Saturday at 3:00 pm. 211 Maine, American Red Cross and Maine Emergency Management Agency will provide regular updates on their websites. Check http://www.211maine.org/ for helpful links. If you need to go to the shelter, bring personal hygiene items, medications, your pillow, a favorite • blanket, (ear plugs), a good book, and quiet entertainment for the kids. • Gather and bring important papers such as a picture ID, insurance policies, medical IDs, prescription information, photographs of your home. • Scarborough’s shelter is pet friendly. Bring your pet in a carrier with their food. Evacuation • If you are asked to evacuate, do so quickly. • The Town will have evacuation signs on routes leading from the coast line to higher ground. • Please watch for downed power lines and do not attempt to cross them. • Do not go around road barriers. • Scarborough does have roads that can be expected to be under water. Never cross a flooded road. Beaches • There will be an astronomical high tide during this storm. Please stay away from the shore line. • Higgins Beach parking lot will be closed from Sunday morning through Monday noon. Surfers and spectators are asked to avoid the area and dangerous surf during this period.
September is National Preparedness Month
Media
Suggestions • Get training – FEMA, NEDCC, CERC, Library conferences • Be prepared – as an institution, an individual and a family • Attend “Partners in Emergency Preparedness” Conference, April 24 ‐ 25, 2018, Augusta (FREE) • Talk to your EMA Director • Get involved
Your Library’s role in Nancy Crowell Community Library Director Emergency ncrowell@scarboroughlibrary.org Management www.scarboroughlibrary.org Maine Libraries Conference 2017
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