DMA News

February 26, 2010

Upcoming Events

• February 26: Haiti – Presentation called Return Results of the Scientific Mission, regarding the preliminary findings of the January 12 earthquake rupture in Port Au Prince, by Dr. Eric Calais, Professor, Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences; Purdue University                                               
• March 10: Washington DC – PADF will attend the Expert Round Table on Community Early Flood Alert Warning Systems: the Central American experience to be held at the OAS
• March 11: Washington DC – PADF will share the DMA public-private partnerships model for  natural disaster preparedness and response during the seminar at the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies at NDU (Ft McNair)
• March 22-25: Costa Rica – Training Workshop on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems with focus on Institutional Partnership and Coordination to be held in San Jose. It has support and participation by the World Meteorological Organization, NOAA, World Bank, UN ISDR, CEPREDENAC and CDEMA. PADF will give a presentation to share the DMA model for private sector integration in support of early warning systems. The DMA will also facilitate a working session to assist the National Emergency Commission of Costa Rica with alliance development in support of ongoing flood early alert warning systems.
• April 14-16: Colombia – The Second Hemispheric Encounter on National Mechanisms and Networks for Disaster Risk Reduction: “Encounter of Santa Marta: From Theory to Practice,” will be held on 14-16 April, 2010, in Santa Marta, Colombia.
• Week of April 19: Honduras – the week of April 19th (TBC) the DMA will lead a multi sector round table session to assist the AmCham Honduras Disaster Management and Business Continuity Committee in strengthening alliances in support of the Honduran emergency management authorities, COPECO.

Director’s Note

Doug Copp’s Triangle of Life Debunked

The devastating earthquakes, and constant aftershocks, in Haiti beginning January 12, 2010 have many people talking about the best precautions to take during an earthquake for personal protection. We received many questions about the Triangle of Life by Doug Copp.  We asked Mr. Kit Miyamoto, CEO of Miyamoto International, what his opinion is regarding the Triangle of Life.  Since Kit was busy helping out in Haiti his partner, Dr. Tom Chan, CEO of Global Risk Miyamoto, was very kind to respond. Dr. Chan looked into this issue 5-6 years ago for the City of Lafayette, California – where he is also a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainer and Public Safety Commissioner.  His comments and recommended references are as follows:

Doug Copp makes many exaggerated claims.  Here are a couple of links to articles about him:

• http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/12/terror/main628757.html 
• http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002085685_quakeadvice09.html   

Here are rebuttals from the American Red Cross, Los Angeles CERT and Structural Engineers Association of California:

• http://www2.bpaonline.org/Emergencyprep/arc-on-doug-copp.html 
• http://www.cert-la.com/RejoinderToDougCopp.pdf 
• http://www.seaonc.org/public/media/press_06.html

Search and rescue in the US is officially done by 28 USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams located throughout the country, not Copp's American Rescue Team International, a company he set up.  His "Triangle of Life" theory has been around for a while (he didn't invent it).

Announcements

Tools and Resources are posted on our website every day. Visit our website often to see newly posted resources:

• New tools and resources on http://www.planfordisasters.org/: 
• Regional Integration Conference video interviews and Presentations (including audio) are now available online. More>>
• Earthquakes page – technical information, reports, maps, and images. More>>
• New Blog Post – Sharing tools and information with the DMA (members). More>>
• Coming Soon: Kit Miyamoto will be launching a blog on his website to share information regarding the assessments he performed in Haiti and upcoming activities. The blog will be linked to the DMA website as it becomes available.
• ONLINE WEBINAR: Disaster Recovery Journal: Management Systems 101 for Business Continuity Professionals. More>>

Rebuilding the Right Way: AGERCA’s new two-year plan hopes to increase resiliency of businesses in Haiti

In the aftermath of Haiti’s devastating earthquake and with the 2010 hurricane season approaching quickly, the members of the AGERCA Committee are acutely aware of the possible dangers coming their way. The race to save lives and livelihoods is on and as a result, AGERCA is seeking funds to implement a two-year plan to 1) build awareness and educate businesses and communities in disaster preparedness and risk reduction topics, 2) integrate the private sector into the coordination of response and recovery efforts, and 3) increase membership in the committee. As stated in their plan, AGERCA’s mission is to “empower enterprises and communities to implement coping strategies for business continuity risks and to respond to the impact of disasters.”

The activities of the plan include the implementation of a number of interrelated activities:

- Innovative communications campaign involving traditional and non-traditional mass media outlets i.e. text messaging cell phone features for disaster alert systems;

- Offer workshops to teach companies about business continuity and help them create contingency plans;

- Offer awareness building events such as conferences, on the risk of seismic activity;

- Engage companies and communities to have  100 volunteers trained by the Red Cross in first aid;

- Increase the number of businesses represented in the AGERCA committee; and

- Use AGERCA’s seat on the Permanent Secretary’s Office of Disaster and Risk Management (SPGRD) to influence the inclusion of “least one risk reduction” element in the national agenda.

Through these activities, AGERCA would be able to benefit tens of thousands of individuals including, business owners, communities, and employees.  AGERCA would also work alongside a variety of different partners to implement the projects. These would include business associations, civil organizations, public entities, and others. AGERCA’s end result continues to be to ensure the maximum level of safety from natural disasters for businesses and the general population.

For more information please contact:
Marie Louise Augustin-Russo
Executive Director
Disaster Management and Business Continuity Alliance (AGERCA)
(509) 2514-0184
agerca@yahoo.com
http://www.agerca.org.ht/

Risk Reduction Programs for Schools Get National Attention in Trinidad & Tobago

Given the current level of vulnerability of primary and secondary schools, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) is proposing the implementation of an Emergency Preparedness Policy in schools across the nation. The HSE committee of AmCham T&T wishes to make available the collective expertise of its members to assist with the development and implementation of the policy.

Several of the companies represented on the AmCham T&T HSE Committee, particularly the energy based companies located on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, are currently partnered with schools in their surrounding communities to ensure emergency and disaster preparedness. To name a few, these companies include the Point Lisas Industrial Development Corporation, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited and Methanex Trinidad Limited.  In 2010, AmCham T&T hopes to build on this momentum and encourage additional companies outside the Point Lisas area to follow this example and partner with their neighboring schools.

To help move forward the implementation of disaster response plans in schools, the committee is currently reviewing appropriate emergency preparedness checklists and templates the schools can use. The committee is still determining a method for securing long term commitments and contributions from member companies to ensure implementation. With the DMA’s assistance, AmCham T&T and the HSE committee members are working to engage corporate partners to support these efforts. In addition, the committee has worked to engage other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, Health, National Security, Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM).  This group came together for the first time at the DMA Regional Integration Conference, which took place in Guatemala City back in January 2010. Click (here) to see video interviews from the participants.

The AmCham T&T HSE Committee continues to keep Disaster Management and Preparedness at the fore of its initiatives and events. On September 28th and 29th of 2009, the committee hosted its 13th Annual Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Conference and Exhibition, “HSSE Excellence-An Imperative for Sustainable Business Success.” This event is the only one of its kind locally and regionally and is the flagship event of the chamber. The conference attracted close to 200 professionals from the fields of Occupational Health and Safety, Security, the Environment and Disaster Preparedness. Presentations from local and international experts touched on a variety of relevant topics including Occupational Health, Climate Change, Security, Disaster Management and Business Continuity. The conference was complimented by a number of Workshop Sessions and Panel Discussions.  Over 80 secondary school students from a range of local schools attended a Youth Forum. This forum featured a number of presentations; including a contribution from the seismic unit of the University of the West Indies on Volcano and Earthquake Preparedness highlighting case studies from around the region. The Exhibition featured 24 companies showcasing goods and products available to HSSE sector and adds a practical touch to the event.

A new feature in 2009 was the launch of the “AmCham T&T Excellence in HSSE Awards”, an awards scheme which will recognize member companies who have successfully implemented and integrated HSE best practice into their business operations.  The Conference and Exhibition were successful in creating awareness with a view to implementation of best practice amongst the private sector and wider national community.

Disaster Preparedness and Business Continuity will continue to be a key area of focus at the Annual HSSE Conference and Exhibition starting with the 14th edition on September 27th and 28th, 2010.

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