Subject: Disaster Response: The role of neighborhood-level organizations Status: **Outline DRAFT** Author: Douglas B. Moran $Revision: 1.6 $ $Date: 1998/03/02 20:24:40 $ 0. Overview *********** 1. Help coordinate resource allocation 2. Collect/distribute information 3. Help recover, secure and distribute general resources - food - water - gasoline 4. Facilitate cooperative action by providing advice/guidelines 5. Bring Government and Quasi Govt Org services to neighborhood 1. Help coordinate resource allocation ************************************** Problem: In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, many people who could help others wind up standing around idle because they do not get information about where help is needed. And people who needed help often face substantial delays in getting it. Cause: worst damage is often concentrated in pockets (not uniformly spread) Resources: general labor, expertise, equipment, shelter Action: set up clearing houses that people could register with (help needed, help offered). Requests for help from both neighborhood residents and city as a whole (coord with CITY and other neighborhood assocs). Have couriers (children on bikes) to carry messages to people whose help is now needed. Preparation: identify categories for registration Preparation: identify and announce site(s) Immediately after disaster: re-announce sites (eg post on telephone poles) Question: does Fire Department have inventory of swimming pools (in case the water mains are out). 2. Collect/distribute information ********************************* Problem: Much time and more effort goes into trying to find out what has happened. In the 1989 quake, the mid-peninsula was poorly served by the broadcast media. Action: City and officials propagates info to neighborhood assocs which post in various locations. Problem: Families that are separated spend a great deal of effort to re-unite, often taking serious risks and clogging roads needed for emergency vehicles. This movement can be reduced and delayed if people can reliably get "I'm all right" messages to each other. Action: explore schemes for handling "I'm all right" messages. The suggestion of having an out-of-state phone number to call is not likely to be useful for this aspect because the phones will likely be unusable for many hours. Action: clearinghouse of info about people who are staying elsewhere (eg forwarding info) Communication channels: Candidates: - HAM Radio - Computer networks (very high survival rate in Loma Prieta quake) - Cellular phone network Identify who has access How to best use Collect information from neighborhood for government - emergency needs (eg to Fire Dept) - help address problem of communication channel overload - rough damage estimates - utility infrastructure survey (down lines, breaks in mains, obstructed streets, ...) - building inspection needs - relief priorities (food, water, shelter, fuel) - what is OK and is needed (short-term and longer term) - excesses (if any) Establish the equivalent of a phone-tree for info distribution and collection - useful service - activity for those who might otherwise be standing around 3. Help recover, secure and distribute general resources ******************************************************** 3a. General =========== 1. Pursue arrangements with owners of stores a. to provide for access to commodities after disaster. - owner or trusted employer is neighborhood resident - surrogate b. to distribute commodities and reimburse owner c. distribution priorities - assign decision-making to someone who is likely to be accessible 2. Key escrow arrangement for surrogate Example: key in tamper-proof sealed container. - Rationale: - Provides security for store owner (can detect if key has been used) - Protects surrogate against accusations of unauthorized usage - Requires periodic checks that seals are intact - Redundant escrow arrangement would be advantageous - Surrogate should be chosen for availability and accessibility - city hall is bad choice -- likely to be inaccessible - fire station bad choice because personnel are likely to be involved in higher priority tasks 3b. Food ======== Food in grocery stores and (to a lesser extent) in restaurants Focus on recovering perishables - Delay opening freezer and refrigerator units -- can keep food at safe temperatures for many hours. Unopened freezers may keep food for several days (as it goes from frozen to refrigerated). - Grocery store display cases are first priority Arrange for refrigerated storage - generator on store/restaurant refrigerators (capacity vs power) - refrigerated trucks (CITY Task) contract with trucking firms instruct grocery stores to try to retain any that are present (eg unloading) when the disaster strikes Develop recovery plan (in conjunction with Fire Department) - develop access plan - identify likely safe and unsafe routes and areas - identify what level of inspection should be performed before attempting recovery of foodstuffs - prioritize what should be removed from building and identify location within store Problem: the main part of the store may be unsafe - large expanse of unsupported ceiling - products on floor - potential for more product to fall from shelves in an aftershock Many stores have a stockroom in the rear - smaller ceiling span - close to loading dock door (easy escape during aftershock) - product in large boxes - easier to carry out quickly - less clutter on floor (safety issue) - access to rear of refrigerated display (in many stores) - storage scheme (where to put the stuff removed) - protection from elements - protection from theft/misappropriation - distribution scheme (generic problem) Problem: shipment of food from warehouses outside the disaster area are often delayed by lack of request to ship (warehouse doesn't know what is needed and if there is anyone to receive it) - Coordination of City, Red Cross, Neighborhood and Grocery Store - Grocery store arrangement with warehouse: standing order - Neighborhood/Red Cross provides - protected location to unload - volunteers to help manage "open-air" market - City/Red Cross provide guarantee of acceptance and reimbursement - truck will not be sent back to warehouse with its load - if site is unusable, truck will be redirected to nearby site that will handle selling of goods - Problem (big): establishing price list 3c. Water ========= City well equipment needs a. unlock b. pump and generator to lift water c. Mediating/buffering/storage equipment - it is not practical to fill typical containers (1-5 gallon) from a large high-pressure pipe d. fuel source and priority Operating instructions. Volunteers who have practiced the procedures. 3d. Gasoline ============ Gasoline and diesel needed for - generators - public (eg water wells) - private (priority to ones being used in community activity) - vehicles - public (police, fire, ...) - private (priority to ones used in relief activities) - tools (eg chain saws) - stoves and lanterns - camping stoves and lanterns that run on unleaded gasoline (usually as an alterative to white gas) are not uncommon Needs: a. unlock b. how to pump hand pump generator supplying power to existing pumps (requires that provision be made to switch pumps from main power to a generator) vehicle-mounted pump c. Storage vessels, dispensing scheme d. How to measure (for billing user and reimbursing owner) Operating instructions. Volunteers who have practiced the procedures. 4. Facilitate cooperative action by providing advice/guidelines *************************************************************** Problem: In the near-term aftermath of disaster, many opportunities for cooperation and joint activity between neighbors are missed. - people are rattled, and the obvious isn't - people are reluctant to make suggestions to neighbors who are nodding acquaintance for fear of being perceived as bossy or domineering Action: prepare a list of ways for neighbors to help each other. A resident can then use this list to approach other and say "They suggest do X. Do you think it is a good idea?" See Appendix B for the start of a list of such suggestions. 5. Bring government and Quasi-Govt Orgs services to neighborhood **************************************************************** One of the frustrating experiences of a disaster is standing in line for a day or more to get an appointment time to stand in line to deal with relief services. This is unnecessary and avoidable with some planning. Action: The city should be prepared to pressure the relief services to use the neighborhood groups to hand out blocks of appointment times. Action: The city explore having relief services move from neighborhood to neighborhood, rather than having a central location. Appendix A: Newsletter Problems ******************************* Problem: much of current printing technology assumes photocopying and photocopying requires substantial electric power. Alternate reproduction capabilities needed. One solution: hand-cranked mimeograph machines Scheme: articles written on portable computer which are then used to cut a mimeo master Requirements: - impact printer to cut master - word processor software that has been configured to interface to that printer - mimeo machine (church or other community groups?) - supply of paper and other printing supplies - access to electrical power for computer and printer (generator, or power converter from car battery) Might want to have certain masters ready to go, so they could be run off and distributed quickly. Pre-organized distribution network - no phones to call someone and ask if they can do it Appendix B: Start of Advice List ******************************** Don't open refrigerators and freezers -- preserve cold storage How to mark house as "OK"/"Help Needed"/"unknown" Check and mark houses near you Do something -- less stressful than standing around. - doing something gives you a sense of control (power over your destiny), standing around breds a sense of helplessness - find suitable tasks for children (even if they are make work) Child care: Parents are freaked. Rubs off on children. Less stress if children are focused on something else (eg play) Children out from underfoot during cleanup - safety for child - safety for parents -- one less thing to keep track of Organize as co-op of a cluster of neighbors - senior citizens may be good resource - means of participation - "trade" child care for help in cleaning up their house Cleanup teams: Team with neighbors. Larger crew -> goes faster Extra people to give a hand when something unexpected happens Easier to "keep a stiff upper lip" when others present - very easy to get depressed over damage and loss - keep moving forward Cleanup teams should keep others informed of their location - Reasons - need to locate equipment they are using for higher priority task - need to locate member - personal reasons - expertise - Schemes - use children as couriers to update your location with central clearinghouse - have "banner" on street and easily visible from corners so someone searching for you can more easily spot you. - Example banner: bright sweatshirt on pole in scarecrow config with additional info to distinguish you from other groups with similar color banner. "Tykes on Bikes" - send in groups of 2 or more - help each other if trouble - peers to talk to/play with during idle time - all messages are written (don't trust their memory) - maps - give them a way of participating without exposing them to undue danger Multi-family Kitchens - use perishable food first - combine food with neighbors to achieve balance - phased opening of refrigerators Rescue teams - be prepared in case you are trapped by an aftershock - carry whistle (help rescuers find you) and small flashlight - always leave someone outside with a list of the team - list by name _and_ description - don't want subsequent rescuers to leave one of you behind (they might count one of the original victims as one of your team) - useful function for those who are not best choice for going inside (eg elderly, small adults, "the clumsy", ...) Going back into buildings shortly after a quake - use commonsense about whether or not it is likely to be safe (err on the side of caution) - be prepared for delayed collapsing or an aftershock doing additional damage - carry a whistle and flashlight - have a safe path for getting out if trouble develops - each time you move into a new area in the building, rethink your escape path, and get it planted firmly in your mind - check that it won't be blocked by things falling - consider whether rubble and fallen objects will impede you getting out - in case your primary escape path becomes blocked, also have alternative paths in mind - minimize your time inside by thinking first about what you are likely to need to do and what supplies you will need - tape, string, rope - trash bags, carry bags, buckets, broom - tools (hammer, pry bar, screwdriver, knife, - prioritize your activities for maximal impact - retrieve things you have immediate need for - prevent/reduce future damage - secure items that might fall in aftershock - put on floor - tie or tape cabinets shut (so nothing else will fall out). Do not spend time trying to get breakables out of cabinets -- this is typically a slow process and should be done later in the cleanup process - cleanup spills and broken items that could cause additional damage - postponing cleaning up things that are unlikely to get worse and unlikely to cause safety problems for you Check electrical lines (main and hookups) and mark downed lines (both the main lines and the feeders to houses)