Although Lawrence is far away from New York and Washington, local officials still try to be ready for a 9/11-type disaster. “Regardless of whether we are a low risk for international terrorism, you can’t forget about domestic terrorism,” said Paula Phillips, director of the Douglas County Emergency Management Agency. “That’s usually an attack on government for social types of causes, and in some ways, we would be prime for that.” She takes your questions at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

sandysslick

Where were you all when Dorthy and Toto needed you?

sandysslick

In the event of a nuclear attack, do we remove sharp objects from pockets or quickly just kiss our assess goodbye?

Moderator

Hi. Paula Phillips has arrived at the News Center, the chat will begin in a few minutes.

bangaranggerg

Let me start off by saying “heck of a job Phillipsy.” How does the agency prepare for situations like the microburst? What was the response to the previous storm? Is your agency funded wholely by local and state or has Homeland security allowed for any of your funding?

Paula Phillips

Thank you for the compliment – I actually really love what I do and am fortunate to have really execellent staff.

I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “what was the response to the previous storm?” We activate the Emergency Operations Center and our weather spotters any time the National Weather Service issues a severe weather watch or warning in the Topeka National Weather Service area. Staff make the call to send the spotters out. Once they are are, they report back to us over handheld radios what severe weather elements they see or experience. We then use that information to make the decision about activating the outdoor warning siren. The broadcast media receives Emergency Alert System messages about such warnings automatically – they do not depend on us.

As far as our funding goes, we are a County government agency and so we are tax funded. We do receive about $30,000 each year in federal grant funds for some programs, and we apply for other federal grants as they become available.

Moderator

Here’s a question regarding the tornado that struck southwest Lawrence on May 8, 2003.

fishcat

On the day the tornado struck Lawrence, I was playing a 6:15 softball game at Clinton Lake Softball Complex. When the sirens went off for the tornado that was spotted near Lyndon, the umpires called the games, so everyone lined up at the entrance at the SLT and Wakarusa Dr, ajacent to where the tornado struck. We all got out of there safely, but there was also a high school soccer match scheduled that day. One of the coaches was a meteorologist, and sent the teams home early, about 4:30, because he knew what was up. Ithink he told everyone to go home and get in their basements. If this hadn’t happened, some may have still in line at the stoplight, with people trying to leave both from CLSC and YSI. Are there any plans for a blowout gate or some additional exit there?

Paula Phillips

I know that the City of Lawrence Parks & Recreation Department discussed alternatives to the current egress issues after that storm. However, I do not know what they have implemented in terms of gates, or alternatives, since that time.

It is really important to remember that the National Weather Service recommends taking shelter where you are, whether a field, or ditch, or sturdy structure, instead of trying to leave the area. The path and direction of the storm are not always easy to predict.

oscarfactor

I’ve heard time and time again from first responders that the bottom line is, don’t expect government – be it local, state or federal – to help individuals in the first 72 hours if there is a major catastrophe. We are on our own. So what will Douglas County authorities be doing in those first 72 hours to help the public at large in the first three days post-disaster?

Paula Phillips

The 72 hour or 3 day planning encouragement is based on a worst case scenario of an event. An event that would impact our entire utility infrastructure and which would leave debris everywhere would make it difficult for the professional first responders to get to everyone who needs assistance in a timely manner. The 72 hour time period suggestion is a recommendation from the California earthquakes – the Northridge earthquake left many people in a situation exactly like this.

If an incident of that scope were to occur here, local officials would be in the same situation as everyone else – without power, without fuel, without services. The local leaders and first responder officials would be gathering to prioritize needs and response capbabilities, to plan for how to quickly bring in needed resources, how to implement recovery plans and operations. While all of these things have been planned for, and have been practiced, if the event is larger than just Douglas County, we will be seeking resources from the same places that our neigborhing counties are seeking them from

Moderator

Summer is nearing its end, fall is right around the corner — which means flu season is almost upon us. What are you hearing about this year’s flu season? What’s the word on the availability of flu shots this year?

Paula Phillips

In a discussion with the Douglas County Health Department, my understanding is that so far, there does not appear to be any indication of a shortage. It is my understanding that they have not been notified that they should anticipate planning for a shortage.

Shelby

In the event of a nuclear attack, what steps are to be taken by the DCEMA? What is the most important action the DCEMA would take?

Paula Phillips

We have fielded a lot of questions about this since the promotion about “Jericho” began. The federal government nuclear attack preparedness programs of the late 1950’s and 1960’s is no longer in place. What this means is that there is no longer a program to identify “fallout shelters” and local governments no longer stockpile supplies to use in congregate shelters. However, what we also know is that the same actions that emergency management officials would take in the response to a hurricane, tornado, terrorism incident, or disease outbreak are the same actions as those we would take in a nuclear attack. That means that local officials would be providing the public with protective actions recommendations, providing information about food and water supplies, about how to seek medical treatment, etc. The response would be same – irregardless of the cause of the disaster.

Moderator

You’ve been on the job since 1989. How much has the focus of your job changed since 9/11?

Paula Phillips

The job has changed significantly since Sept. 11. The field of emergency management was changing before 9/11 from a hazard scenario planning focus to an all hazard planning focus. However, the activities since 9/11 have escalated significantly. For example, prior to 9/11, local emergency management officials were required to conduct 1 or 2 annual exercises using a variety of scenarios to test the capabilities of the local responders. Now, we are required to conduct an anuual public health exercise, a foreign animal disease exercise, a chemical/hazmat exercise and a terrorism exercise. Prior to 9/11, the local emergency management plan was based on different hazard scenarios. Now the local plans consist of 16 different support functions required for the management of an incident of any cause, plus, separate mitigiation and recovery plans, separate operational plans for animal disease, disease, and terrorism. Additionally, local emergency managers now coordinate all compliance activities for the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) and for the State Homeland Security Grant Program. The federal government also initiated a citizen participation program called Citizen Corps which we also are responsible for. The nature of the activities has not changed, but the quantity and scope have significantly increased.

Moderator

We have time for one more question today.

KsTwister

Does your disaster plan only include Fire,Police and Hospitals emergency personnel or do you include other citizens as part of a backup plan if the disaster were overwhelming and quarantined?

Paula Phillips

There is a great deal of citizen participation expected and anticipated for any major disaster event. One of the support functions to our local emergency management plan describes how volunteers will be managed and utilitzed. All of the first responders are very aware that in a large event, there is a limited number of trained professionals, and that we will need the assistance and participation of volunteers and citizens. Right now, for example, the Health Department is seeking volunteers for their Medical Reserve Corps. This group would assist during significant disease outbreaks or other disasters requiring personnel to assist with the public health responsibilities. Bert Nash has recruited and trained community members who are willing to serve as behaviorial/mental health service providers during a disaster. Douglas County Emergency Management will be conducting Community Emergency Response Team training in late October. This training enables participants to serve their neighbors or the community with specific disaster response activities. And, the Roger Hill Volunteer Center has developed a volunteer plan to manage and coordinate all volunteer resources that might occur in the community.

Moderator

That concludes our chat today, thanks to Paula Phillips for visiting with us.

Paula Phillips

My pleasure – thanks for the excellent questions!