From 1970 to 2000 the number of magnitude 3.0 or greater temblors in the U.S. mid-continent averaged twenty-one annually; by 2011 the number of such quakes had increased to 134; a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey links the increase of seismic activity to the increase in the use of hydraulic [...]]]> From 1970 to 2000 the number of magnitude 3.0 or greater temblors in the U.S. mid-continent averaged twenty-one annually; by 2011 the number of such quakes had increased to 134; a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey links the increase of seismic activity to the increase in the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking

A U.S. Geological Survey abstract says there has been a substantial increase in seismic activity in the U.S. mid-continent. 2011 saw a 6-fold increase in the number of magnitude 3.0 or greater temblors, when compared to the twentieth century average of such earthquakes.

From 1970 to 2000 the number of such quakes averaged twenty-one annually, plus or minus 7.6 per year. By 2011 the number of such events had increased to 134.

The abstract links the increase of seismic activity to the increase in the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, as a means of extracting petroleum and natural gas, concluding that the earthquake rate changes are “almost certainly manmade, it remains to be determined how they are related to either changes in extraction methodologies or the rate of oil and gas production.”

Hydraulic fracturing introduces water with a mixture of chemicals deep below ground. This pressurized liquid forces open the normally occurring fissures in the rock in which the petroleum or natural gas is deposited.

By expanding the size of these fissures, the gas or oil flow more freely into reservoirs from which it can be easily extracted. The technique has opened up vast shale-gas and oil deposits which, according to Businessweek, has forced natural gas prices to their lowest level in a decade.

It is unclear whether the fracking itself is responsible for the increased number of earthquakes. Some experts contend that the wastewater produced by the process, which is injected into wells located far below the acquifers, is actually the culprit.

An increase in seismic activity has been tied to deep wells since a 1990 report by the USGS and the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA found that the injection of fluids into deep wells caused an increase in seismic activity in a number of states, including New York, New Mexico, Nebraska, Ohio, and several others.

The EPA is expected to issue guidance to help state regulators assess earthquake risks, though, ultimately, it is up to the states to regulate the wells in order to maintain clean drinking water.

Last year Arkansas regulators permanently shut four disposal wells in the Fayetteville Shale after an outbreak of earthquakes near the town of Guy, including on measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale.

This year the state’s Oil and Gas Commission adopted a set of regulations requiring drillers to provide reports on the structural geology of the drilling sites, and to position wells away from known faults.

Other states are also either issuing or considering issuing regulations concerning both fracking and deep well drilling as evidence continues to accumulate indicating a connection between the two and increased seismic activity.

http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20120424-increased-u-s-earthquakes-may-be-caused-by-fracking?goback=.gde_106846_member_110097601

NOTE: This article is a good opportunity for COPE Preparedness to thank our “partners” who make the implementation of our programs possible. Our primary sponsors in order of support are: STATE FARM, PHILLIPS 66, PROVIDENCE LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY MEDICAL CENTERS, ILWU. Thank you for your support and commitment to the preparedness of our communities! [...]]]> NOTE: This article is a good opportunity for COPE Preparedness to thank our “partners” who make the implementation of our programs possible. Our primary sponsors in order of support are: STATE FARM, PHILLIPS 66, PROVIDENCE LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY MEDICAL CENTERS, ILWU. Thank you for your support and commitment to the preparedness of our communities! On behalf of the Board of Directors for COPE Preparedness

By: Mark Cooper on April 30, 2012

While the nation has made strides in preparing for a wide range of potential disasters, state and local officials said they feel least prepared for an emerging threat: a cyber attack.

Cybersecurity “was the single core capability where states had made the least amount of overall progress,” according to the annual National [...]]]> While the nation has made strides in preparing for a wide range of potential disasters, state and local officials said they feel least prepared for an emerging threat: a cyber attack.

Cybersecurity “was the single core capability where states had made the least amount of overall progress,” according to the annual National Preparedness Report released Thursday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. Less than half of state and local officials thought their cybersecurity was sufficient, according to the survey. In particular, about two-thirds said they had not updated their cybersecurity plans in the last two years.

The report, commissioned by President Barack Obama’s administration, assessed how prepared the nation would be in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. It surveyed government agencies, companies, nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations, communities and individuals.

“Demonstrable progress” has been made in some key areas, according to the report. The survey’s respondents said they were most confident in their ability to deploy public health and medical services in a disaster. They were least confident in their ability to secure the nation’s computer networks from attack, the survey found.

Many security experts worry about a potential cyber attack against the nation’s critical infrastructure. If hackers could shut down the power grid or the transportation sector, it would not only be devastating to the economy, but it could cost lives, they said.

Yet the report found that only half of operators at “priority facilities” said they publicly report cyber threats against their computer networks.

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. companies said they have been victims of cybersecurity incidents or data breach. The number of cyber incidents reported by federal agencies over a five-year period spiked, increasing from 5,503 cyber incidents in 2006 to 41,776 in 2010, the report said. Trends point to “cyber criminals’ continued focus on stealing customer records, including personally identifiable information, payment card data, email addresses, and other customer data.”

The growing number of threats has sparked several cybersecurity initiatives in the government and private sectors, yet “stakeholders have an incomplete understanding of cyber risk, and inconsistent public and private participation in cybersecurity partnerships,” the report said.

The survey’s findings come as Congress debates legislation to strengthen the nation’s computer security. Last week, the House passed legislation aimed at preventing hackers from stealing companies’ intellectual property by improving information sharing between the government and private sector. The bill passed despite concerns that companies may share sensitive customer data, such as private emails, with the government, and infringe on privacy and civil liberties.

The Senate is expected to debate two cybersecurity bills in coming weeks. One bill, sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and supported by Democrats and the White House, requires critical infrastructure to meet baseline security standards. Another bill, sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and supported by Republicans and the business lobby, does not focus on regulations, but instead on increased information sharing between the government and private sector.

By: Sarah Rich on April 10, 2012

After much anticipation, the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) went live last weekend, a first-of-its-kind national alert system in the U.S. that allows the public to receive major emergency alert notifications on their mobile phones without having to sign up or pay for them.

By: Sarah Rich on April 10, 2012

Just as every home should have a smoke alarm, every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready. Being prepared doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

Although Federal, Commonwealth and local governments are ready to assist the public during times of emergencies and disasters, you should be prepared [...]]]> Just as every home should have a smoke alarm, every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready. Being prepared doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

Although Federal, Commonwealth and local governments are ready to assist the public during times of emergencies and disasters, you should be prepared to take care of yourself and members of your family for the first 72 hours – that’s three days. A big part of disaster preparation is knowledge and FEMA has developed a comprehensive guide to help folks prepare.”

FEMA’s disaster preparedness website, www.ready.gov, is a destination site for information about getting your family prepared for a disaster.

“Emergency preparedness is a matter of priorities,” said Libby Turner, FEMA federal coordinating officer for the Kentucky recovery effort.  “A family preparedness kit is one of the most important tools at your disposal to keep your family safe in a disaster.”

Commercially available disaster kits can range from $75 to $300 and up, but most of the pieces of a disaster kit are already in the home and just need to be gathered together and stored in one place.

An emergency preparedness kit needs to include food and water for each member of the family for three days, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, spare batteries, first aid kit, non-electric can opener, local maps and personal sanitation items such as hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, toilet paper, garbage bags and plastic ties.

It is important your kit includes important family papers such as wills or property deeds and personal identification and any prescription medicines a family member may be taking.

Other items to consider include sleeping bags or blankets, paper towels, books, puzzles and games for children, pet food and medications for family pets.

It’s helpful to have cash in case banks are closed and there is no power for ATMs

Remember, many shelters will not accept pets, so make sure you have a plan that protects all your family members.

The emergency supplies can be stored in an easy-to-carry plastic storage container or duffel bag, making them easy to grab and go when an emergency forces people to leave their home.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA               800-621-FEMA      For TTY call 800-462-7585 800-462-7585

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Reported by: FEMA

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press – Apr 15, 2012

Tornado, hurricane or flood, nursing homes are woefully unprepared to protect frail residents in a natural disaster, government investigators say.

Emergency plans required by the government often lack specific steps such as coordinating with local authorities, notifying relatives or even pinning name tags [...]]]> By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press – Apr 15, 2012

Tornado, hurricane or flood, nursing homes are woefully unprepared to protect frail residents in a natural disaster, government investigators say.

Emergency plans required by the government often lack specific steps such as coordinating with local authorities, notifying relatives or even pinning name tags and medication lists to residents in an evacuation, according to the findings.

That means the plans may not be worth the paper they’re written on.

Nearly seven years after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of New Orleans exposed the vulnerability of nursing homes, serious shortcomings persist.

“We identified many of the same gaps in nursing home preparedness and response,” investigators from the inspector general’s office of the Health and Human Services Department wrote in the report being released Monday. “Emergency plans lacked relevant information. … Nursing homes faced challenges with unreliable transportation contracts, lack of collaboration with local emergency management, and residents who developed health problems.”

The report recommends that Medicare and Medicaid add specific emergency planning and training steps to the existing federal requirement that nursing homes have a disaster plan. Many such steps are now in nonbinding federal guidelines that investigators found were disregarded.

In a written response, Medicare chief Marilyn Tavenner agreed with the recommendation, but gave no timetable for carrying it out.

Nationally, more than 3 million people spent at least some time in a nursing home during 2009, according to the latest available data. Nearly 40 percent of them, 1.2 million, were in the top 10 disaster-prone states. The typical nursing home resident is a woman in her 80s or older, dealing with physical and mental limitations that leave her dependent on others for help with basic daily activities.

Investigators pursued a two-track approach. First they looked at the number of nursing homes that met federal regulations for emergency planning and training. Then they went into the field to test how solid those plans were, in a sample of homes drawn from 210 facilities substantially affected by floods, hurricanes and wildfires across seven states during 2007-2010.

On the surface, things appeared to be in good shape. Ninety-two percent of the nation’s 16,000 nursing homes met federal regulations for emergency planning, while 72 percent met the standards for emergency training.

A different story emerged when inspectors showed up at 24 selected nursing homes and started pulling files and interviewing staff.

The specific facilities in California, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas were not identified in the report. All had been affected by disasters; 14 had evacuated and the remainder sheltered in place.

A detailed, well-rehearsed emergency plan is a basic requirement for disaster preparedness. But at one home, the emergency plan was in several boxes. At another one, it was on a legal pad.

Of the 24 emergency plans, 23 did not describe how to handle a resident’s illness or death during an evacuation. Also, 15 had no information about specific medical needs of patients, such as feeding tubes and breathing equipment. Seven plans were silent on how to identify residents in an evacuation, such as by attaching wristbands or name tags. Inspectors said 15 made no provision for including medication lists.

None of the nursing homes met a government recommendation for a seven-day supply of drinking water if residents had to shelter in place and their regular source of water was unsafe or unavailable.

Twenty-two had no backup plans to replace staff members unable to report for work during a disaster.

Transportation was an Achilles’ heel. None of the nursing homes had planned to ensure transportation of adequate food and water for evacuated residents, while 19 had no specific plan for transporting wheelchairs and similar equipment. Twenty-two of the plans did not describe how the nursing home would transport medications.

Seventeen had no specific plan for working with local emergency coordinators to decide whether to evacuate or shelter in place.

Not surprisingly, administrators and staff from 17 of the nursing homes told investigators they faced substantial challenges in responding to the disasters that hit their areas. A common problem was that transportation contracts were not honored after an evacuation was called. Four nursing homes that did evacuate said they had problems trying to keep track of residents and supplies, in some cases temporarily losing patients.

The vulnerability of nursing home patients became a national issue when 35 residents of St. Rita’s Nursing Home just outside New Orleans perished during Katrina. Some drowned in their beds.

Prosecutors charged the owners of the facility with negligent homicide, saying they should have evacuated the home. But a jury acquitted them of all charges. Some jurors said afterward that Louisiana authorities should have taken responsibility for the safety of nursing home residents ahead of the monster storm.

A Houston Chronicle investigation found that, all told, at least 139 nursing home residents died during the hurricane or its aftermath.

The top 10 disaster-prone states, as ranked by historical statistics on major disaster declarations, are Texas, California, Oklahoma, New York, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iIFfmLcxLynQN9Ud9-Hc8ms-6QJA?docId=939ae867639342728bf67ca2521c544c

By Lonna Calhoun, CEM

I’m still grieving the loss of Paseo Del Mar due to the landslide. Our unique vistas, walking path and scenic drive are just gone.  Because I’m a San Pedro resident and a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), I became alarmed when I learned that the Clearwater Sanitation projects’ preferred [...]]]> By Lonna Calhoun, CEM

I’m still grieving the loss of Paseo Del Mar due to the landslide. Our unique vistas, walking path and scenic drive are just gone.  Because I’m a San Pedro resident and a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), I became alarmed when I learned that the Clearwater Sanitation projects’ preferred route would bore through San Pedro and exit in Royal Palms 2000 feet from the recent slide.  My concern is based on my experience in hazard analysis and risk mitigation specifically through 2010-2011 as a consultant for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes where I became interested in landslide activity on the Peninsula.

When I delved into the Draft Clearwater EIR, what I found did not encourage me. I learned that four route choices were in consideration with Alternative # 1 and Alternative # 4 ranking highest and Alternative # 4 being preferred. Alternative # 1 runs under Wilmington and Terminal Island to a site 10 miles south offshore. Alternative # 4 would bore a tunnel 6.9 miles long and 22 feet in diameter through San Pedro and exit at Royal Palms. The Clearwater Draft EIR states:

Alternative # 4 “could expose people, structures, or property to major geologic hazards such as landslides, mudslides, or ground failure.”

Alternative # 1   “would not cross ancient landslides and would not result in renewed landslide movement during construction. Deep-seated ground failure is considered a low geologic hazard during construction. Impacts would be less than significant.”

Knowing that landslides can be caused by manmade activities the question for me became landslide risk vs. no landslide risk. I considered previous landslide history: 1929 – Sunken City, 1956 -Portuguese Bend, 1974 – Abalone Cove, 1981 -  Klondike Canyon, 1983 – Flying Triangle, 1999 – Ocean Trails Golf Course, 2001 – The Peninsula Center, 2009 – 1800 block of West Paseo del Mar, 2010 – Sunken City Cliff Area, 2011 – Paseo Del Mar.  Most notable is the Portuguese Bend Landslide that was triggered by manmade activities.  It cost $14.6 Mil in the first year, millions since and the land continues to move at about 3 feet per year.

It’s not reassuring that the full scope/cause of the Paseo Del Mar Landslide is still undetermined and the majority of the EIR was completed prior to that event. The EIR states that the Royal Palms site “consists of Altimira Shale”. Our landslide vulnerability is due in part because the majority of the Peninsula is underlain by shale and siltstone units of the Monterey Formation. San Pedro News Pilot reported that Mark Pestrella, Assistant Director of Public Works told visiting officials evaluating the Paseo Del Mar slide, “The whole area is unstable”; “This is what we call coastal bluff landslide”; “The material here, because it does not have high cohesion, wants to slip into the ocean.”

Our community has suffered a devastating loss with the Paseo Del Mar Landslide. Are we willing to take the increased risk of further landslides when a viable alternative exists? Maybe the substantial cost difference between Alternative # 1 ($1,360M) compared to Alternative # 4 ($550M) is a valid enough reason to take the risk, or maybe the environmental concerns of more truck emissions, and increased construction difficulties with Alternative # 1 also outweigh the risk.  These are important considerations and difficult questions. I do support the Clearwater Project and understand the vital importance of improving aging infrastructure but our landslide risks should be fully considered.

San Pedro residents – our voices need to be heard.  Only one poorly attended public comment presentation was made in San Pedro on March 8^th and no questions were allowed at that forum. Many residents are still unaware of the potential impact of this project. We need more time for public education and public comment that is due to end on April 10^th.

We may decide that Alternative # 4 is the best, even considering the landslide risk, but personally and professionally I’m not convinced.  We may ask that Los Angeles County Sanitation Department mitigate the risk to our community by requesting some compensation to San Pedro. While we all benefit from infrastructure improvements this project will not be used by San Pedro residents but will used by LA County residents who will also bear some of the cost.  Our potential cost is to our coastline and to our neighborhoods that will be subjected to increased noise, vibration, truck volume and pollution. All these issues are important and need more public vetting!

My mind is not closed, I understand that risk is part of progress yet this particular risk feels very personal and too close to home.  I miss Paseo, I love our coastline! If we have to take this risk I hope we do so with all eyes open and with all citizens aware.

http://www.randomlengthsnews.com/

Saturday, 28 April 2012 10:11 Cynthia De Castro | AJPress Los Angeles

ALTHOUGH California residents are aware of the recent major natural disasters in Southern California such as earthquakes, windstorms, and wild fires, many people have not taken the necessary steps to safeguard their homes and protect their personal finances. To address [...]]]> Saturday, 28 April 2012 10:11 Cynthia De Castro | AJPress Los Angeles

ALTHOUGH California residents are aware of the recent major natural disasters in Southern California such as earthquakes, windstorms, and wild fires, many people have not taken the necessary steps to safeguard their homes and protect their personal finances. To address this issue, six organizations are encouraging consumers to become advocates for natural disaster preparedness and safety.

In a press conference held last week at the Los Angeles County Fire Department Headquarters, in 1320 North Eastern Avenue, Los Angeles, Fire Chief Mark Savage, from the Public Information Office of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, joined corporate leaders from Farmers Insurance, Southern California Gas Company, Southern California Edison, Verizon Wireless, Walmart and Wells Fargo to help educate consumers about the importance of natural disaster preparedness and highlight ways in which consumers can take a more active role in protecting themselves and their loved ones.

“The citizens we serve can be confident that the Los Angeles County Fire Department remains committed to providing the highest level fire and life safety service,” said Chief Mark Savage. “During times of crisis and disaster, first responders are likely going to be overwhelmed. It is critical that citizens take some basic steps to prepare so that in the aftermath of a disaster, essential needs can be met until help arrives.”

“During disasters, the first responders will be going to large-scale fires, building collapses etc. The public needs to be ready on their own. California residents have not taken the concerns seriously. You must have fire drills in your home. Have a first aid kit and be trained in first aid. Have batteries ready for your radio so you will be able to listen for updates, in case there is no power available,” stressed Chief Savage.

Partners

Jerry Davies, Assistant Vice-president of Media and PR for Farmers Insurance, discussed natural disaster preparedness for homeowners, talked about the importance of having the right insurance coverage and knowing the procedures to avail of them. “It is important to sit with your agent to review your coverages. Do you have insurance for fire, floods, and earthquakes? You have to be prepared now, before a natural disaster comes,” said Davies.

Safety concerns were also discussed by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)/ Sempra. At the briefing, Gina Orozco-Mejia, director of field services at SoCalGas, offered the following tips on what to do before and after a natural disaster:

-Securely strap water heaters to prevent them from moving or toppling over in the event of an earthquake.

-Know where the natural gas meter is located.

-Have a 12-inch or larger adjustable wrench handy to manually turn off the gas meter if a gas leak is suspected after an emergency. Make a quarter turn of the valve with the wrench, moving it from a vertical position to a horizontal position. This will shut off the flow of gas.

-Do not turn off the gas meter after an earthquake unless you smell gas, hear the sound of gas escaping or see other signs of a gas leak and only if it is safe to do so.

-If there is a gas leak, remain calm. If it is safe to do so, turn the gas off at the meter. Do not light a match, candle or cigarette and do not turn electrical devices- not even a light switch- on or off or use any other device or equipment that may cause a spark. From a safe location, call SoCalGas or call 911.

-If the gas is shut off at the meter, do not turn it back on without the help of SoCalGas.

Southern California Edison emphasized safety is paramount around power lines in the event of a disaster. Karli Massey, manager of Public Safety as Southern California edision said, “If you see a downed power line, call 911 and inform the operator it is an electrical emergency. Do not approach or touch the line or any person or object in contact with it. Always assume all wires are energized. Only a qualified electrical workers knows when it is safe to be around electrical wires.’

Tim Youn, Multi-Cultural Marketing Manager of Verizon Wireless, discussed the necessity of staying in touch during emergencies. “Make sure your cell phones are always fully charged, in case of emergencies. Purchase added batteries and car chargers. Plan with your family on how to connect with each other. During emergencies, send brief text messages rather than voice calls. Often, text messages get through when wireless networks are overtaxed during a crisis. Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers – police, fire and rescue agencies, power companies, insurance providers, family, friends and coworkers- and program them into your phone. Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you will be away from your home or have to evacuate. Develop a systematic evacuation and communications plan with your family and friends that includes what to do, who calls who, where to go, and what supplies and items you will take with you,” advised Youn.

As one of the leading retailers, Walmart is continually helping disaster victims all over the world. “It is vital that every family prepare a basic emergency kit that will include the following: bottled water, food, battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries, whistle, duct tape, moist towelettes, plastic bags, prescription medicines, matches, plastic utensils, and books/toys for children,” said Juliette Nam, Market Human Resources Manager at Walmart.

Wells Fargo highlighted the importance of having emergency funds and warned about risks during emergencies. Shaffi Poswal, Vice President of Cash Services in California at Wells Fargo, said, “You should save up for emergencies. And you should be aware that criminals target people who are in distress. Never provide sensitive information over the internet or phone, including Social Security numbers, passwords, PINs or account numbers.”

(www.asianjournal.com)

(LA Weekend April 28-May 1, 2012 Sec A pg.1)

Community Emergency Response Team
Training class starting Saturday, May 12, 19 & 26
ENROLL NOW!
The County of Los Angeles Fire Department is proud to present this training to the public. Following a major disaster, police, fire and medical professionals may not be able to fully meet the demand. [...]]]> Community Emergency Response Team
Training class starting Saturday, May 12, 19 & 26
ENROLL NOW!
The County of Los Angeles Fire Department is proud to present this training to the public. Following a major disaster, police, fire and medical professionals may not be able to fully meet the demand. People will have to rely on each other to meet the immediate life saving and life sustaining needs, particularly in isolated neighborhoods that may be cut off from the main roads for a period of time. The County of Los Angeles Fire Department Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program was developed to provide basic training in safety and life saving skills for the general public. The course curriculum covers the following modules:
Saturday May 12, 2012 Saturday May 19, 2012 Saturday May 26, 2012
1. Disaster Preparedness 4. Disaster Medical Ops 2 7. CERT Organization
2. Disaster Fire 5. Light Search & Rescue 8. Terrorism
Suppression 6. Disaster Psychology 9. Course review & Disaster
3. Disaster Medical Ops 1 Simulation Exercise
The training course will be presented as a series of *three (3) Saturday classes from
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Scheduled class dates are:
Saturday May 12, 19 & 26 8:30 am – 4:30pm
Ridgecrest Intermediate School Library
28915 Northbay Road,
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
C.E.R.T. training is free of charge
To enroll, contact Laurie Slawson email:
rhenw90274@gmail.com Phone: 310 375-8747
Class size is limited, so enroll today to reserve your seat.

By: Gerald Baron on March 05, 2012

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Dec. 11, 2011, as one of the most severe windstorms in memory took its toll on Los Angeles. Wind speeds approaching 80 mph had hit many populated areas and at nearby Mount Washington clocked speeds [...]]]> By: Gerald Baron on March 05, 2012

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Dec. 11, 2011, as one of the most severe windstorms in memory took its toll on Los Angeles. Wind speeds approaching 80 mph had hit many populated areas and at nearby Mount Washington clocked speeds of 101 mph.

No fatalities or injuries were reported despite the loss of 150-year-old trees, and numerous vehicles and buildings were damaged or destroyed. The $40 million in property damage reported early on was expected to grow substantially as more communities reported losses. More than $20 million in damage was reported in Pasadena alone.

The activation brought together many different elements of the city’s response to the devastating winds, validating the facilities, equipment and services, and providing invaluable experience for the Los Angeles Emergency Management Department (EMD) team to manage a sudden influx of responders.

Emergency communication began for the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) public affairs staff while the wind was still roaring through the region. By the time the storm communication wrapped up, the small team of communicators had distributed nearly 90,000 emails to the media, city officials and residents, plus published 230 tweets representing nearly 900,000 messages delivered to their rapidly growing Twitter followers. Visitors to the ladwpnews.com website dramatically increased to 35 times normal traffic allowing tens of thousands of residents to directly access the most immediate and up-to-date information about outages and power restoration.

Lauded Effort

A power outage on Los Angeles’ Westside in the earliest moments of the storm shut off power to Los Angeles International Airport, one of the nation’s busiest airports. The outage, plus debris on a runway from the storm, required the diversion of about 20 flights with some flights delayed by 10 or 15 minutes. However, LADWP crews were able to restore power to the region, including 56,000 customer locations, within 55 minutes. It was the beginning of a remarkable and lauded effort by LADWP crews to restore power to the 210,000 public utility customers that suffered outages. The other major utility, Southern California Edison, suffered nearly 400,000 customer outages and due to delays in power restoration and inadequate customer communication is facing investigation by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Three members of the LADWP public affairs staff relocated to the city EOC about an hour after the activation was announced at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 1. By that time, they had issued two more power outage updates, which were distributed to about 5,000 reporters, residents, city officials and members of the approximately 100 neighborhood groups in the Los Angeles area.

In addition, the communicators had issued an urgent water conservation message in Northeast Los Angeles because the power outage had affected water pumping infrastructure. Residents in several neighborhoods were advised to use water only for drinking and sanitation. This “urgent water conservation” message was one of many message maps that the public affairs department had prepared in advance for use in emergencies. The conservation messages were translated into Spanish, distributed to Spanish speaking media outlets and published on the news website along with the English version.

Because LADWP uses a Web-based communication management system for its daily media, neighborhood and public affairs communications as well as crisis communications, the approximately three-mile move to the EOC did not disrupt the agency’s communication.

This was also how members of the public affairs team collaborated during the night from their homes to draft, edit, approve, publish to their news site and distribute the thousands of emails. The EMD communication team uses the same communication platform, aiding coordination and mutual support.

The public information officer on duty for the EMD, Veronica Hendrix, responded to media inquiries and published EMD releases about the activation and valuable guidance for residents, including food safety advice for those residents with longer term outages that faced loss of food in refrigerators and freezers. In addition, Hendrix updated the city’s 311 public information line, a heavily promoted means for the public to get information about emergencies. Callers were advised to call the LADWP to report outages and directed to LADWP for safety information about downed lines. Hendrix also used Twitter and Facebook to expand the audiences for the documents published. These documents were also referenced or republished by many other departments and agencies in the region including  LADWP.

After arriving, the DWP communications team continued to develop, publish and distribute a continual stream of power outage updates, now including the number of customers where power had been restored.

Social Media Use

Twitter has become a key element of LADWP communication as it has with some other city departments. All tweets submitted by the authorized LADWP users appear instantaneously on the ladwpnews.com website, multiplying their distribution. Altogether, staff sent 230 tweets during this event and saw the account’s followers increase from about 1,300 to almost 4,200 by the conclusion of the storm event. Monitoring made it clear that most of the messages sent by LADWP on Twitter were retweeted; the impact of those messages went far beyond the nearly 900,000 delivered directly by the staff to the more than 4,000 followers.

Twitter was also used extensively for direct engagement with individuals — both those who sent LADWP direct messages and when comments or rumors required some intervention. This direct engagement with individuals goes far beyond Twitter for LADWP. The news website that is powered by the Web-based communication management system includes numerous interactive features, including inquiry management that allows the communicators to receive inquiries on their smartphones, collaborate in responding, select from pre-staged answers, send responses directly back to inquirers, and closely monitor all activities of the team. More than 50 people directly communicated with LADWP using the website inquiry form.

The direct interactions from Twitter and the news website enabled LADWP staff to quickly identify the emerging questions on people’s minds. These questions included queries about submitting damage claims to LADWP for loss of food because of the power outages; about how restoration activities were prioritized; and how to know whether the thawed food was safe or not. Fact sheets and frequently asked questions documents were prepared with the answers, and approved answers were added to the inquiry system allowing the dispersed team access to those approved answers when responding to inquiries. The Q&A documents were also used to answer questions posed on Twitter and were published and distributed to more than 5,000 individuals. By publishing and sending answers to questions even as they begin to emerge, staff estimated that the team can reduce the number of incoming calls by two-thirds, enabling a stretched team to be highly efficient.

By 6 p.m. the participants in the EOC began to thin out even as the hum of activity continued. But the coordination work was not completed. EMD Director James Featherstone presided over a conference call late in the afternoon that included all city departments from the EOC’s manager’s room — as he had throughout the day in regular intervals. LADWP staff continued to operate in the Joint Information Center until midnight. The next morning, with the threatened high winds failing to appear, the activation level was changed and the EOC was deactivated.

Gerald Baron blogs for www.emergencymgmt.com at Crisis Comm. He is a nationally recognized expert in crisis and emergency communication as the Founder of PIER System and author of Now Is Too Late2: Survival in an Era of Instant News. He was in Los Angeles during this event and witnessed the LADWP’s communications and the city EOC activation. He is CEO of Agincourt Strategies and senior adviser to O’Brien’s Response Management.

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/disaster/Los-Angeles-Windstorm-Crisis-Communication.html?page=2&