Between last summer's fires, winter's Wind Storm, and the Michigan water disaster, this past year showed us the importance of being prepared for emergencies. How can we truly prepare for the types of disasters -- natural or man-made -- on the horizon? SPR helped answer some questions at the free forum held March 16, 2016 at Spokane City Hall.
Click here for our list of resources
Presented by Spokane Public Radio and City Cable 5, admission was free thanks to event donors Journal of Business, Numerica Credit Union, Providence Health Care, and the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.
Broadcasts of the forum are planned as follows:
KPBX 91.1: Tuesday, Mar. 22 at 12 p.m.; Thursday, Mar. 24 at 6 p.m.
KSFC 91.9: Sunday, Mar. 20 at noon; Tuesday, Mar. 22 at 10 p.m.;
Thursday, Mar. 24 at 11 a.m.
City Cable 5: Saturday, Mar. 26 at 9 p.m.; Sunday, Mar. 27 at noon;
Wednesday, March 30 at 7 p.m.
Audio of the two-hour discussion is posted below, separated into Hour 1 and Hour 2.
A panel of state and local experts sat on the dais in the Spokane City Council Chambers to answer questions. Steve Jackson, SPR host of Morning Edition, guided the discussion towards how prepared we are on a state, regional, local and personal level for natural and man-made disasters. Thanks to Jaye Nordling, John Delay, Spokane City Cable 5, and SPR Volunteers for making the forum possible.
Panelists
Brian Schaeffer, Assistant Chief for the Spokane Fire Department
His professional life has spanned nearly 25 years serving in fire departments in the Midwest, acting also as a flight paramedic. He serves on many local and state public safety and health-related committees. He is in the final stages of a doctoral degree from Creighton University, and has lectured on issues including the psychology of Safety and Survival.
Gerry Bozarth, Disaster Recovery & Public Information Officer for Greater Spokane Emergency Management
He is currently working closely with FEMA to recover disaster expenses from Windstorm 2015. He did the same after "Snowmageden" in 2008-09. Bozarth served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force and another 10 in the Washington Air National Guard as a communication infrasructure technician.
Ozzie Knezovich, Sheriff Spokane County
After being appointed as sheriff in April 2006, he was elected to the office that fall. He is currently serving his third term. 2016 marks his 26th year in the law enforcement profession. Knezovich's responsibilities include managing the County's Department of Emergency Management.
Megan Snow, Executive Director, American Red Cross serving the Greater Inland Northwest
She helped lead response and recovery efforts during historical disasters including the 2014 Carlton Complex wildfire and the 2015 Inland Northwest Windstorm. Before leading the area's chapter, she served as Communications Manager, responsible for crisis communications responding to disaster situations and developing civic partnerships.
Susan Sjoberg, Regional Emergency Response Coordinator & Program Manager, Spokane Regional Health District
She oversees the region's plans of action for large-scale emergencies, coordinating with heath organizations in ten counties and three tribal nations. Her 18 years of public health experience includes 8 years of public health preparedness.
Marcus Riccelli, Washington State Representative
The City of Spokane's member of the House of Representatives is vice chair of the Health Care & Wellness Committee for the 2015 Legislative Session. A graduate of Mead High School, he received a BA from Gonzaga University and a Master of Public Administration in 2007 from the University of Washington.
Websites
- American Red Cross
- Boy Scouts of America
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Department of Homeland Security
- Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security
- Washington State Emergency Management Division
- U.S. Department of Labor Emergency Preparedness and Response
Books
- Anthonio Akkermans. The Complete Survival Shelters Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Life-saving Structures for Every Climate and Wilderness Situation. Ulysses Press, 2015. "The Ultimate guide to building protection from the elements for beginners and experienced outdoor enthusiasts alike.”
- Joseph Alton, MD & Amy Alton, ARNP. The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide: Emergency Preparedness for Any Disaster. Skyhorse Publishing, 2015. This unique medical book is meant to enable the average person to handle injuries and illness in situations in which modern medical facilities and professionals aren’t available due to a disaster.
- Andrew Baze. Personal Emergency Communications: Staying in Touch Post-Disaster: Technology, Gear and Planning. Max Publications, 2012. This book will walk you through modern communications technologies, pros and cons of each, and recommendations to implement a realistic backup communications system.
- Dave Canterbury. Bushcraft 101 : A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival. Max Publications, 2012. This book will walk you through modern communications technologies, pros and cons of each, and recommendations to implement a realistic backup communications system.
- Richard A. Clarke and Robert K. Knake. Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What To Do About it. Ecco, 2010. The author has worked for the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations on issues relating to American policy on cyber warfare, and lays out an agenda for defense against cyber attack. This is not a how-to manual for individuals, rather, an overview of the situation with recommendations for solutions.
- Jim Cobb. Prepper's Financial Guide: Strategies to Invest, Stockpile and Build Security for Today and the Post-Collapse Marketplace. Ulysses Press, 2015. Besides planning for hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes and other natural disasters, this book serves as a guide for financial planning when a disaster hits a region or nation.
- Gerald S. Doyle. When There is No Doctor : Preventive and Emergency Home Healthcare in Challenging Times. Process Media, 2010. This is a book about sustainable health, primarily having to do with your health and what you can do to protect it—in bad times certainly, but also in good.
- Scott Finazzo. The Neighborhood Emergency Response Handbook: Your Life-Saving Plan for Personal and Community Preparedness. Ulysses Press, 2015. A complete, step-by-step guide to preparing yourself and your community to aid first responders during a disaster situation.
- Scott Hunt. The Practical Preppers Complete Guide to Disaster Preparedness. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2014.
Learn how to secure a water source, grow and preserve food, set up an alternative energy supply, as well as prepare for medical issues, and dealing with security concerns. - David Kobler and Mark Goodwin. Retreat Security and Small Unit Tactics. Create Space Independent Publishing Platform, 2014. As high-priority 9-1-1 calls take longer response times, this book will teach you how to organize your neighborhood or team to take care of your own security.
- Ted Koppel. Lights out: A Cyberattack: A Nation Unprepared: Surviving the Aftermath. Crown, 2015.
In this New York Times bestselling investigation, Ted Koppel reveals that a major cyberattack on America’s power grid is not only possible but likely, that it would be devastating, and that the United States is shockingly unprepared. - Dennis Mersereau with the Editors of Outdoor Life. The Extreme Weather Survival Manual. Weldon Owen, 2015. Self proclaimed weather freak Dennis Mersereau teaches the reader how to read the sky, weather predicting tips, and recommendations for getting through events ranging from blizzards and hurricanes to firestorms.
- Angela Paskett. Food Storage for Self-Sufficiency and Survival: The Essential Guide for Family Preparedness. Living Ready, 2014. This in-depth, nuts-and-bolts guide to storing food teaches you a variety of food storage methods that you can customize to meet your family's unique circumstances including family size, tastes, ages, health concerns, income, and living conditions.
- Joseph Pred and the editors of Outdoor Life. The Emergency Survival Manual. Weldon Owen, 2015.
Assess. Respond. Protect. From break-ins to basement flooding to broken bones, in the Emergency Survival Manual you’ll find everything you need to be prepared for any emergency that comes your way. - Matthew Stein. When Disaster Strikes: A Comprehensive Guide to Emergency Planning and Crisis Survival. Chelsea Green Publishing, 2011. Instruction on natural disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, winter storms and how to survive them including food and water storage, back-up power, shelter and use of alternative medical sources.
- Creek Stewart. Build the Perfect Bug Out Vehicle. Betterway Home, 2014. Build the Perfect Bug Out Survival Skills: Your Guide to Emergency Wilderness Survival. Living Ready, 2015. Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit. Betterway Books, 2012. These books provide information on how to prepare a bag and a vehicle in case the unthinkable happens and you need to leave immediately, and then how to survive in the wilderness with the proper skills.
- John "Lofty" Wiseman. SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere. William Morrow Paperbacks, 2014. Topics include: Being prepared, Making camp, Food, First Aid, Disaster survival, Self defense, Security, Climate and terrain.
