New resources for public works first responders Diane Linderman, P.E., PWLF APWA President
ublic works professionals are very effective in restoring our communities’ lifelines in response to emergencies. We are the first to respond and usually the last to leave. Most of us have been involved in a response and recovery, whether for a major water line break in our communities or devastation created by a hurricane, tornado, flood or earthquake. Our challenge is that it is difficult to find the time to plan, be trained and secure the necessary resources to be prepared. APWA is fortunate to have a number of members who are experts and are committed to helping the rest of our members be prepared. Although our focus has been in the U.S. and Canada, disasters know no boundaries. Much of what we can learn from each other is applicable anywhere in the world. Hopefully this issue of the Reporter will give you a sense of the investment our members are making in advancing emergency management on behalf of our public works. In June, the APWA Emergency Management Think Tank submitted a final report to the APWA Board of Directors which offered a number of recommendations specific to emergency management services for public works professionals. I am pleased to announce the availability of a Peer Resource Directory, one of the recommended initiatives. Released last month, the Peer Resource Directory contains contact information for 71 public works professionals with direct experience in various aspects of emergency management. The Peer Resource Directory is a reference for APWA members who need advice 2 APWA Reporter
January 2012
or information on emergency management matters. The Directory provides information on each volunteer relative to area(s) of expertise, years of service/job experience, specialized training/ courses, certification(s), and experience with types and sizes of disasters. Very experienced public works professionals (25 is the average years of experience for those on the list) are available to help others in need of guidance or counsel. The Directory is a static document in pdf format and can be found at http://www.apwa.net/ technical_committees/EmergencyManagement/PRD on the Members Only section of the APWA website. Currently, volunteers are from 23 states and members can view each person’s area of expertise or disaster experience. As use of the Directory increases and more individuals are identified as resources, it will be enhanced. I encourage you to take a few moments to look at the information available from either the perspective of a potential resource or to locate a peer who can answer your questions. I am sure you will see a few familiar names. If you have experience in any emergency management-related areas—mitigation, planning, preparedness, and/or response and recovery—and would like to be included in the Peer Resource Directory, please contact Teresa Hon (thon@apwa.net). Experience in demand would include
Official Magazine of the American Public Works Association PUBLISHER American Public Works Association 2345 Grand Blvd., Suite #700 Kansas City, MO 64108-2625 (800) 848-APWA (Member Services Hotline) (816) 472-6100 (Kansas City metro area) FAX (816) 595-5330 e-mail: reporter@apwa.net Website: www.apwa.net EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Peter B. King EDITOR R. Kevin Clark GRAPHIC DESIGNER Abbey Russell ADVERTISING SALES Kristen Creel R. Kevin Clark Amanda Daniel Kansas City Liaison (800) 800-0341 (816) 595-5230 APWA WASHINGTON OFFICE 1275 K Street NW, Suite 750 Washington, D.C. 20005-4083 (202) 408-9541 FAX (202) 408-9542 Disclaimer: The American Public Works Association assumes no responsibility for statements and/or opinions advanced by either editorial or advertising contributors to this issue. APWA reserves the right to refuse to publish and to edit manuscripts to conform to the APWA Reporter standards. Publisher’s Notice: The APWA Reporter, January 2012, Vol. 79, No. 1 (ISSN 0092-4873; Publications Agreement No. 41450540). The APWA Reporter is published monthly by the American Public Works Association, 2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite 700, Kansas City, MO 64108-2625. Subscription rate is $174 for nonmembers and $25 for chaptersponsored students. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, MO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the APWA Reporter, 2345 Grand Boulevard, #700, Kansas City, MO 64108-2625. Canada returns to: P.O. Box 2600, Mississauga, ON L4T 0A8. Reprints and Permissions: Information is available at www.apwa.net/Publications/Reporter/guidelines.asp. © 2012 by American Public Works Association Address Change? To alert us of a change to your membership record, contact an APWA Membership Specialist at (800) 848-APWA or membership@apwa.net. The APWA Reporter is printed by Royle Printing, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
