A Perfect Storm
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A Perfect Storm Emily Palmer Texas Department of State Health Services Crisis Communications Conference May 3, 2007 There is no such thing as . . .
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There is no such thing as. A Perfect Storm. Emily Palmer Texas Department of State Health Services Crisis Communications Conference May 3, 2007. Emergency Management Texas Department of State Health Services. Lead agency by state law for Emergency Support Function 8 Health and Medical - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of A Perfect Storm
A Perfect StormEmily PalmerTexas Department of State Health Services
Crisis Communications Conference
May 3, 2007
There is no such thing as . . .
Emergency ManagementTexas Department of State Health Services
Lead agency by state law for Emergency Support Function 8 Health and MedicalLead agency for radiation controlLead agency for disaster mental healthMember of the Governor’s Emergency Management Council with a seat in the State Operations Center
For Texas:A series of major events
Full-Scale Strategic National Stockpile exercise: Early August 2005
Hurricane Katrina:Late August 2005
Hurricane Rita:September 2005
In the Eye of the Storm
Headline Expectations
Evacuation not perfect, but a ‘success’
Response to storm not perfect, but better
On-the-job training
Initiated the Incident Command SystemStaffed the DSHS Emergency Support Center
Katrina: Opening the Doors
Katrina: Mass Shelter
Texas received a total of 245,000 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina180 shelters in 42 Texas counties set up for 66,000 evacueesHouston hosted up to 11,500 evacuees in a complex that got its own ZIP code
Katrina Evacuees Went To More Than 200 Texas Counties
Information needed to be provided for evacuees and for those who provided help
Waiting for Rita
Just
One
Month
Later
Rita: Hunkering Down
At Home with Rita
Evacuation – 3.2 million people moved inlandShelter – 115,000 people in 468 shelters from El Paso to San AntonioFlood and wind destruction – 17 counties hitSpecial needs – physical and mental healthReunification – finding familiesRepatriation – getting people back home
Finding Family
Finding Comfort
Finding Help
Communications That Worked
Maintaining constant presence in the Emergency Support Center – 24/7 Establishing hurricane-specific Web siteParticipating in conference callsStaying for shift change reportsReading the Web EOC reportsMaintaining the DSHS PIO e-mail site
Communications That Need Work
Maintaining media contact reportsMonitoring media reportsMethods of news disseminationStaying in touch with local PIOsJuggling ESC, SOC, JIC, JFO needsGoing paperlessRelieving stress
Aftermath of the Storm
Looking to the Future
After-Action Report and Stakeholder ConferenceICS TrainingNew Job Action SheetsUpdated PlansMulti-Agency Coordination CenterStatewide Hurricane ExerciseCommunications Meeting with Governor’s Office
Leadership Lessons
Preparedness worksCommunication requires both front channel and back channel optionsAsking the right question is criticalImprovisation is essentialLeadership must be decisive – not averse to taking risks
You know you live on the coast when
You have FEMA’s number on your speed dialer.You can rattle off the names of three or more meteorologists with the Weather Channel.Ice is a valid topic of conversation.Having a tree in your living room does not necessarily mean it is Christmas.You can wish that other people get hit by a hurricane and not feel the least bit guilty about it.
Contact Information
Emily Palmer, Assistant Press OfficerTexas Department of State Health Services1100 W. 49th St., M-631Austin, TX [email protected]
