Boots-On-The-Ground
Community Lessons after Disasters June 15-20, 2018
About SURGE
Dr. DeeDee Bennett
Dr. Hans Louis-Charles
Dr. Terri Norton
Dr. Lori Peek
The Minority SURGE Capacity in Disasters (SURGE) pilot aims to increase the number of minority STEM graduates in hazards and disasters scholarship and practice to better integrate research findings into education, training, practice, and policy. One unique goal of the SURGE pilot is to foster transdisciplinary opportunities to explore the social, environmental, and infrastructure-related impacts following disasters. In its inaugural year, 10 students were divided into multi-disciplinary teams to imagine infrastructure and environmental designs and use science to address risk and resilience concerns for a boots-on-the-ground reconnaissance mission in the Caribbean. Using a service learning model, teams were encouraged to include disaster practitioners and local community members, while applying the body of literature from hazards and disasters research.
www.surgedisasters.com
Dr. Nnenia Campbell
Mrs. Norma Doneghy Anderson
Dr. Jenniffer SantosHernĂĄndez
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant no 1744479. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Week At-A-Glance June 15 - Arrive in St. Thomas
June 16 - Community Service Activity
June 17 - Excursion in St. John
June 18 - Community Engagement
SURGE scholars will be organized into 2-groups focused on different interactions with the human environment, as outlined from the systems theory. The first team will concentrate observations on the interaction between the natural and human environments. The second team will focus on the interaction between the built and human environments. Based on our compass models from the kickoff, scholars will identify problems, issues, solutions, benefits, and future research questions. Their findings will be presented as a poster during the 2018 Natural Hazards Workshop and in a field report.
Team Natural- Human Environment
Farah Nibbs
Covel McDermot
Sahar Derakhshan
Isaiah Higgs
Rashon I. Lane
Team Built - Human Environment June 19 - School Systems in Virgin Islands Lilian Bui
June 20 - Depart from St. Thomas
Muritala Adegoke
Shanasia Sylman
GĂŠnesis Ă lvarez Rosario
Miriam CommodoreMensah
SURGE Reconnaissance Mission
• Adaptations by community leaders
• Community capacity building efforts
The SURGE Reconnaissance mission serves as a way to provide real-world, tangible experience of the impacts of a disaster. In 2018, we plan to visit St. Thomas and St. John of the U.S. Virgin Islands to explore the effects of the 2017 Hurricane Season to the natural, built and human environments. Scholars will learn from community leaders and on-site partners about the ongoing recovery efforts, participate in a community service activity, and survey the visible impacts while in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learning Objectives:
SURGE Scholars will be able to collect information from observations and discussion to provide a scope of what occurred for a student-led reconnaissance mission report. Broadly, they should be able to translate their observations into the Compass Message Box exercise conducted at the kick-off meeting by articulating a specific issue and reflecting on the problems, benefits, potential solutions, and broader “so what” questions.Scholars will learn about :
• Infrastructure impacted
• Preparedness plans before the storms
• Future projects on the islands
Dissemination:
Scholars will have the opportunity to present their findings in July at the Natural Hazards Workshop in Colorado. The 2018 Natural Hazards Workshop will be organized around the theme of Twenty Questions: Looking for Answers to Reduce Disaster Risk. This interdisciplinary workshop includes federal, state, and local emergency officials, non-profit representatives, disaster researchers, and consultants.
Collectively, scholars and team leaders will also have the opportunity to develop a field trip report on the scope of the recovery efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Evaluation:
In addition to our learning objectives for the scholars and future dissemination plans for the disaster research and practice fields, we also plan to evaluate the experience for the students. Our evaluation will assist us and others in determining:
• To what extent do SURGE service learning and fieldwork
activities support students’ research and/or professional development goals?
• How do these fieldwork and service learning activities
contribute to the efforts of stakeholders working with minority communities?
The SURGE reconnaissance mission is built on a holistic servicelearning model. Though not connected to one classroom experience, the mission is structured to provide minority graduate students with meaningful, real-world engagement, which is community-centric. Team leaders have partnered with University of Virgin Islands researchers to
identify community partners and disaster management practitioners to select a meaningful community service project for students while they are on-site. Team leaders have reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local emergency management officials to provide space for an open discussion and informal review of ongoing recovery efforts.
Service Learning Inspired Approach to the SURGE Reconnaissance Mission
Additionally, team leaders have consulted and partnered with several hazards & disaster researchers to help mentor and guide the students through the scholarship of disasters. This will augment the excellent coursework, and instruction scholars already receive at their home institutions. However, in most cases, they can connect directly to the authors from the books and journal articles assigned to them in class. The field study will provide scholars the opportunity to expand their network for meaningful connections with disaster practitioners and scholars. The field study also offers an opportunity for scholars to present at subsequent conferences and publish an open source report for a broader audience. Team leaders anticipate this model will stimulate a heighten engagement in STEM and disaster fields while building capacity and contributing to real community impact.
JUNE 15 7 AM
JUNE 16
JUNE 17
Breakfast
Breakfast
8 AM
JUNE 18
12 PM 1 PM 2 PM
Grad students on their own
Grad students on their own Community service activity
8:30 am - 400 pm Reconstruction
2) 8:30 am - noon Scholars arrive at STT Marine Debris clean up and Coral restoration Scholars arrive at STT
Cruz Bay
St. Thomas Reconnaissance
Return rental cars
1)
Rent Vehicles
Lunch
Coral Bay
Lunch
Trunks Bay
Review of the Hazards Mitigation and Resilience workshop
Attend VI Long term recovery Board Meeting
Arrive at STT
Lunch
Scholars Depart from STT
Overview of NSF INCLUDES 1649300
3 PM 4 PM
Breakfast
Ferry to St. John
10 AM 11 AM
JUNE 20 Breakfast
Breakfast
9 AM
JUNE 19
Hazard Mitigation and Resilience workshop
5 PM
NHW Poster debrief
6 PM
Check in to hotel Dinner
7 PM
Discuss the week’s activities
Dinner
Ferry back to St. Thomas
Introduction to UNO EMGT Program
Dinner
Discussion about SURGE 2019 collaboration Dinner
School System Seminar
Dinner
Important Resources Earthquake Engineering Research Institute Post earthquake investigation field guide: https:// www.eeri.org/projects/learning-from-earthquakes-lfe/postearthquake-investigation-field-guide/
Reconnaissance training workshop: https://www.eeri.org/ projects/learning-from-earthquakes-lfe/reconnaissancetraining-workshops/
Learning from Earthquakes reconnaissance archive: https:// www.eeri.org/projects/learning-from-earthquakes-lfe/lfereconnaissance-archive/
Sample field reports http://www.eqclearinghouse.org/2011-03-11-sendai/ 2011/06/28/eeriisss-team-government-and-communityresponse/
Natural Hazards Center The Natural Hazards Center Quick Response Grant Program provides funds for researchers to travel to disaster-affected areas to capture perishable data. Funded researchers submit brief reports that make preliminary analyses of recent events available to the Hazards Center's multidisciplinary network of researchers, practitioners, and educators. The program promotes innovation in disaster research by prioritizing students, new researchers, and novel areas of study. To receive news about the Program and special calls for proposals, please visit the Natural Hazards Center website: https://hazards.colorado.edu/research/quick-response University of Buffalo http://www.mceer.buffalo.edu/research/Reconnaissance/ Katrina8-28-05/
University of Southern California
http://www.eqclearinghouse.org/2014-04-01-chile/ preliminary-reports/
http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/fieldreport
Disaster Research Center
Other Government Documents
The Disaster Research Center (DRC) Field Studies of Organized Behavior in the Crisis Time Period of Disasters http://udspace.udel.edu/bitstream/handle/19716/198/
Dominica https://resilientcaribbean.caricom.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2017/11/DOMINICA-EXECUTIVE-SUMMARY.pdf
Inventory of the Disaster Field Studies in the Social and Behavioral Sciences 1919-1979 http://udspace.udel.edu/ handle/19716/21454
National Weather Service https://nws.weather.gov/nthmp/documents/ PostTsunamiProtocol.pdf
About the U.S. Virgin Islands The United States Virgin Islands is a group of islands in the Caribbean and is an unincorporated territory and insular area of the United States. It is located 40 miles east of Puerto Rico. The main islands are Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John. During the 2017 Hurricane Season, the islands were severely impacted and are still undergoing recovery efforts. However, as the tourism webpage states”recovery from last year’s storms has been very strong. Power has been restored, beaches and attractions have reopened, restaurants are serving up extraordinary dishes, and the USVI spirit is as warm and inviting as ever.” A little history… Little was heard of the islands until World War I, when the United States realized their strategic position and negotiated the purchase of the islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold. Although the islands were purchased in 1917, it wasn’t until 1927 that citizenship was granted to Virgin Islanders. The Organic Act of 1936 allowed for the creation of a senate, and from there the political process evolved. In 1970, the U.S. Virgin Islands elected its first governor, Melvin H. Evans. For more information.. https:// www.visitusvi.com/about-the-islands/culture-history Demographics and Government The population of USVI is approximately 110,000. English is the official language, however, other languages spoken on the islands include, English Creole, Spanish, French, and French Creole. The population is 76% Black, 15.7% White, 2.1% Multiracial, and 1.4% Asian. People from the Virgin Islands can be referred to as Virgin Islander. The median income for a household in the territory was $24,704, and the median income for a family was $28,553 according to the 2010 Census. The current government structure is as follows: • President - Donald Trump (R) • Governor - Kenneth Mapp (I) • Lt. Governor - Osbert Potter (I) • Delegate - Stacey Plaskett (D) The CIA World Factbook lists the value of federal programs and grants — $241.4 million in 2013, 19.7% of the territory’s total revenues — and that "the economy remains relatively diversified. Along
Aerial view of USVI - Photo from Greg Guannel’s slides.
with the tourist industry, it appears that rum exports, trade, and services will be major income sources in future years Economy Tourism, trade, and other service-oriented industries are the primary economic activities, accounting for nearly 60% of the GDP. Approximately 2.5 million tourists per year visit, most arriving on cruise ships. The manufacturing sector consists of mainly rum distilling. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. Most energy is also generated from imported oil, leading to electricity costs four to five times higher than the U.S. mainland.The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority also uses imported energy to operate its desalination facilities to provide fresh water. Time The USVI are located in the Atlantic Standard Time zone and do not participate in daylight saving time. When the mainland United States is on Standard Time, the U.S. Virgin Islands are one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. When the mainland United States is on daylight saving time, Eastern Daylight Time is the same as Atlantic Standard Time.
St. Thomas, USVI We will lodge on the island of Saint Thomas. Saint Thomas is an unincorporated territory of the United States. The population of St. Thomas is 51,634 and about 48.5% of the overall population of the US Virgin Islands. In the month of June the temperature reaches an average high of 89.1ºF and an average low of 77.7ºF. The average precipitation is approximately 2.62”. The island is divided into subdistricts Charlotte Amalie is the largest with a population of approximately 18,481. The others are as follows (listed in order of most to least populous): Northside, East End, Tutu, Southside, West End and Water Island. The main airport for the Island is Cyril E. King International Airport (STT). We will fly into this airport. The U.S. Virgin Islands is the only place in the United states where the rule of law is to dive on the left (and not on the right). However, the cars are mostly U.S. imports and therefore the steering is still on the left, and not on the right, as is common for most left diving locations such as the U.K. Since we will discuss the impacts of the 2017 hurricane season on the education system in USVI, you should note that the St.Thomas-St. John School district is one of two school districts in the Virgin Islands, with 19 schools under its purview including two high schools, three middle schools, and thirteen elementary schools. The island also has three private schools, three parochial schools and one university - The University of Virgin Islands.
Hotel Information Windward Passage Hotel Veterans Drive Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, 00804 U.S. Virgin Islands Tel: 1 (340) 774-5200, Fax: 1 (340) 7741231
Important Contact Numbers TEAM LEADERS Dr. DeeDee Bennett Dr. Hans Louis-Charles Dr. Terri Norton Dr. Nnenia Campbell ON-SITE CONNECTIONS Dr. Kristin Grimes
Dr. Greg Guannel
Dr. Kim Waddell
Communications Plan - We will use WhatsApp to communicate to all during the trip.
Travel Information Dress is casual, but proper attire (shirts and shoes) should be worn in public areas. Bathing suits are worn at the beach and pool only. Street Smarts Visitors should exercise the same safety precautions used when traveling anywhere else in the world. Lock your hotel door or car when you exit. Don't answer the door in a hotel without verifying who it is. Place all valuables in the hotel's safe deposit box. Be aware of your surroundings, particularly after dark, and stay in well-lighted areas. Problems While Visiting Emergency: 911 Department of Tourism Helpline: St. Croix (340) 772-0357 St. John (340) 776-6450 St. Thomas & Water Island (340) 774-8784 Sun Protection Although constant trade-winds help to keep you cool it’s very important to protect yourself from the intense Caribbean sun. Be sure to apply sunscreen frequently and wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your head, skin and eyes.
Travel and Packing tips You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel. Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheriatetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.Notification Type: Notification of Zika virus advisory U.S. Virgin Islands is an area affected by the Zika virus. Please read about important information provided by the CDC regarding the virus and ways to safeguard yourself during your travels.
First-aid kit
Pack items for your health and safety.
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You may not be able to purchase and pack all of these items, and some may not be relevant to you and your travel plans. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you. This list to the right is general and may not include all the items you need. Check our the CDC for more information if you are a traveler with specific health needs, such as travelers who are pregnant, immune compromised, or traveling for a specific purpose like humanitarian aid work. Remember to pack extras of important health supplies in case of travel delays.
Prescription medicines ‣ Your prescriptions ‣ Travelers' diarrhea antibiotic ‣ Suture/syringe kit Kit is for use by local health care provider & requires a letter from your doctor on letterhead stationery ‣ Altitude sickness medicine
Medical supplies ‣ Glasses Consider packing spare glasses in case yours are damaged ‣ Contact lenses Consider packing spare contacts in case yours are damaged ‣ Needles or syringes (for diabetes, for example) Requires a letter from your doctor on letterhead stationery ‣ Suture kit Kit is for use by local health care provider & requires a letter from your doctor on letterhead stationery ‣ Diabetes testing supplies ‣ Insulin ‣ Inhalers ‣ Epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens) ‣ Medical alert bracelet or necklace
Over-the-counter medicines ‣ Antacid ‣ Diarrhea medicine Examples: loperamide [Imodium] or bismuth subsalicylate [Pepto-Bismol] ‣ Antihistamine ‣ Motion sickness medicine ‣ Cough drops ‣ Cough suppression/expectorant Decongestant Medicine for pain and fever Examples: acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen ‣ Mild laxative ‣ Mild sedative or other sleep aid ‣ Saline nose spray
Supplies to prevent illness or injury ‣ Hand sanitizer or wipes Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol or antibacterial hand wipes ‣ Water purification tablets See CDC recommendations: Water Disinfection. ‣ Insect repellent Select an insect repellent based on CDC recommendations: Avoid Bug Bites ‣ Permethrin Permethrin is insect repellent for clothing. It may be needed if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Clothing can also be treated at home in advance. ‣ Sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater) with UVA and UVB protection. See Sun Exposure. ‣ Sunglasses and hat Wear for additional sun protection. A wide brim hat is preferred. ‣ Personal safety equipment Examples: child safety seats, bicycle helmets ‣ Earplugs
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1% hydrocortisone cream Antifungal ointments Antibacterial ointments Antiseptic wound cleanser Aloe gel For sunburns Insect bite treatment Anti-itch gel or cream Bandages Multiple sizes, gauze, and adhesive tape Moleskin or molefoam for blisters Elastic/compression bandage wrap For sprains and strains Disposable gloves Digital thermometer Scissors and safety pins Cotton swabs (Q-Tips) Tweezers Eye drops Oral rehydration salts
Documents ‣ Health insurance documents Health insurance card (your regular plan and/or supplemental travel health insurance plan) and copies of claim forms ‣ Copies of all prescriptions Make sure prescriptions include generic names. Bring prescriptions for medicines, eye glasses/ contacts, and other medical supplies. ‣ Contact card Carry a contact card containing the street addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of the following: ‣ Family member or close contact remaining in the United States ‣ Health care provider(s) at home ‣ Lodging at your destination ‣ Hospitals or clinics (including emergency services) in your destination ‣ US embassy or consulate in the destination country or countries
On-Site Partners
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant no 1744479. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.