This challenge idea is a more comprehensive look at “The Missing Component” and narrowed to a specific FEMA region… Region 9.

 

There is a 97% chance that a 6.7 magnitude earthquake will occur in California within the next thirty years and even more unnerving, an almost 60% possibility of a 7.5 in the same time frame. Southern California has been given a much higher event probability than the northern part of the state.  Moreover, as illustrated in the “Great California Shakeout” earthquake scenarios of the last three years, there is no doubt that such an event will prove catastrophic to the economic engine that is found here.  Why a southern California MAP for disaster recovery? Because, armed with the avalanche of evidence presented, it must be of the highest priority.

As we are all well aware, The National Disaster Recovery Framework could soon be the focus of our emergency management recovery efforts.  It is being developed in response to Congressional calls for the creation of an improved strategy to deal with recovery from disasters at the direct request of President Obama. It is a complex document that defines a coordinated strategy that weaves together the work of government at the federal, state and local level.   In a perfect world; disasters occur, plans are drawn for rebuilding, including improved plans that meet the new building code and safety requirements.  Funds are then provided from public sources, insurance and or reinvestment.  Contractors in the community spring into action and contractors from outside the area soon follow suit, all in a timely and harmonic manner.

The reality, however, is that most of these forces for reconstruction are facing a bottleneck.  Not only are they confronted with infrastructure problems; with finance and design challenges and all of the hazards we know so well,  after they have overcome these, their work comes down to a local building department tasked with reviewing plans and issuing building permits.  Too often these local agencies are not equipped to respond and meet the urgent needs of the constituency.  They do not have the capacity or the resources.  Plan review approval is a slow process at the best of times and in the best of circumstances.  In a disaster scenario, local officials face a doubling and a redoubling of demand.  They are forced to meet this demand with a staff that is often too busy coping with their own personal   issues associated with the event.  They become overburdened, tired and the recovery effort breaks down at the most critical time. Our idea is for a non-governmental, private sector company to work with a volunteer city or county to formulate a Model Action Plan for the integration of building and safety departments into the emergency management team.

The model action plan for building and safety must be simple, straightforward and easily implemented because it will then be used to develop individual plans for county or local governments based on their particular needs. We believe this will ultimately lead to a more cohesive and thus successful recovery. For example,

 

• First – a baseline study.

The group first would look at the status of any existing recovery plan.  They would analyze and evaluate the existing state of preparedness in cooperation with the task force of relevant federal, state and local representatives and representatives of the private sector.  Based on this review, they would identify the issues that must be dealt with in the model action program.

 

• Second – Develop a MAP Outline

      The Outline would identify and evaluate alternative resources to conditions currently in place which might be utilized to expand capacity.  It would evaluate their suitability in light of the baseline study.  It would deal with the issues identified in step 1 above as well as addressing new ideas and procedures for evaluation.  For example:

       

1.  It would look at operational issues such as interoperability for inclusion in the emergency management team.  Does everyone use the same computers and software programs? Are there links with other department data bases for centralized records?  Are these software programs compatible with supplemental personnel or institutions?

 

2.  It would look at the feasibility of establishing a computerized, pre-disaster historical data base of property condition and code compliance of buildings and infrastructure within the jurisdiction, one that would include square footage, type of building materials and the status of retrofit or mitigation compliance. It could be utilized by response personnel to quickly evaluate the possible extent of damage as well as hidden obstacles for rescuers.

 

3.  It would review the enactment of building and safety pre disaster mutual aid compacts, including interoperability with these other communities and jurisdictions, laying the groundwork for the long term goal of all jurisdictions, federal, state and local, acting in unison with one common “language.”

 

4.  It will review the use of private institutions to supplement private resources for inspection and plan review.  It would identify available firms and their capacity. It would cover such issues as third party certifications, either in whole or in part and establish rules for their use. It would examine the potential for using qualified retired individuals to form an independent data base, a cadre, of those available for work in the aftermath of the disaster, thus lessening the need for mass influx of out of area individuals. CAL EMA already has established a SAP with over 5900 certified safety inspectors, but it is on a voluntary basis and participation has yet to be tested. Private entities could acquire this data base and administer it on a similar basis as that of PaRR and PB, thus guaranteeing a more active involvement of these individuals in time of emergency. Additionally, many of these inspectors are qualified for plan review and could well remain available, if paid, to assist building and safety in the recovery process.

 

5.  It would examine the issue of including these supplemental personnel in the pre disaster training exercises to keep them in a state of readiness and qualification.

 

This MAP could then be utilized again and again all over the state and eventually throughout the country. This is a new and innovative idea, whose time has come… and most importantly, since we call California home, we add the clear impetus of inevitability.  

 

The image used is a watercolor painting called "Here's Looking at You" A tribute to 9-11.

A Manhattan to Manhattan… by Rob Beilby, Artist "This watercolor was done for my wife, a United Airlines Flight Attendant, to respectfully commemorate September 11, 2001. It is meant as a loving toast to the fallen. The prospective is from an interior window table at the famous “Windows on The World” restaurant, a top the twin towers."

The genesis of DHS, the painting is registered with the Library of Congress