Multi-disciplinary disaster responses: the time is now Kenneth A. Miller Director of Public Works (retired) Village of Mundelein, Illinois
n times of disaster or other emergency, it is natural for family and friends to come to the assistance of one another. Often an increase in the magnitude of an event can find complete strangers doing likewise. At your workplace, no matter the internal culture that exists, disasters and other emergencies also provide a common cause and require the common needs necessary to effectively and successfully address the event at hand. Over the years the public perception has become that these events and the responses to them are the primary responsibility of those other than public works. Fire, EMS and law enforcement professionals and volunteers have been generally considered to be the nation’s first responders to a disaster. Volunteers are mentioned in order to provide credit to those who serve the public’s needs beyond the scope of their true profession. As an example, the majority of the firefighters across America today continue to be volunteers. Although to a lesser extent, volunteers continue to serve the public in EMS and law enforcement agencies. Over this same period in time many public works professionals, in addition to the general public and the other disaster response disciplines, have been reluctant to recognize that public works also plays an important role in their community and in emergency management-related events. Often public works has failed to realize the significant role that they serve every day, and also in times of crisis. This reluctance has been attributed to many reasons ranging from a lack of resources, or simply due to a lack of formalized emergency management training.
48 APWA Reporter
January 2012
Having lived this from two aspects— that of a public works professional and that as a fire/EMS volunteer—I clearly have felt and seen the discrepancies in the view of others towards each of these disciplines. It would seem that the uniform, and not the person and their qualities and qualifications, make the difference to many. Regardless of the past perception, and with the emphasis towards moving forward, there has never been a better time in the history of public works to increase our role and visibility in multidisciplinary disaster responses. The continual increase in the number and size, along with the increase in the media coverage of disaster events, brings a renewed emphasis on being prepared. Couple this with the funding and other resource reductions being experienced by many, it brings about a new environment whereas all first responders can benefit from a better relationship between the first responder disciplines. Doing so will also benefit the general public by providing for more efficient and quicker responses to their needs. Disaster deployments also benefit by having additional resources being available in contrast to those of the past, which should be the overall goal and objective of everyone that is involved in emergency management. Towards these goals and objectives, and in the effort to initiate or to expand upon the current inter-relationships amongst first responder disciplines, please consider the following. 1. Begin with the understanding that the vast majority of declared disasters truly fall under the responsibility of public works.
Understand that declared disasters begin and end at the local level, meaning there is nowhere to hide. People are counting on you, and it is up to you and to public works to be prepared. 2. If you haven’t done so already, meet with other first responder disciplines, and with others who would normally be involved in a disaster response within your community or area of jurisdiction (utilities, refuse and other private contractors). Establishing or strengthening the necessary relationships and planning required can only enhance each other’s abilities and the resources that would be available when “the bad day” impacts your community. Prepare a list of functions that public works can assist with that lessens the impact on the other first responder disciplines as an ice breaker to begin the process. (Response path clearing, debris management, traffic control, temporary signage, staging locations, extra security patrols, specialized equipment, mechanics, materials and supplies, etc.) 3. Prepare a list of “critical community components” under your public works responsibility, which can be the starting point for the public works planning, training and other response needs prior to when an actual event takes place. The list also provides the starting point for an actual public works response when required. Share and expand upon this list in concert with other first responder groups. This is a means to enhance the communications, coordination and the cooperation
