Prepare to Prosper! Seattle, Washington October 2006 Âna-Marie Jones, Executive Director CARD - Collaborating Agencies

1. Prepare to Prosper!Seattle, WashingtonOctober 2006 Âna-Marie Jones, Executive DirectorCARD - Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters

2. Preparedness – The Real Deal It’s NOT about the disasters… It’s about: You Your Family Your Community Your Commitments And… It’s about YOU, not the DISASTERS

3. CARD History • 24/7 Media Attention – 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake pre-empted the World Series. • Government, Red Cross and traditional response organizations could not address immediate, short-term or long-term needs for vulnerable populations. • United Way of the Bay Area brought together hundreds of nonprofits and community organizations whose clients had special needs. These agencies created a “vision” of a prepared, inclusive, humane society. • CARD was created by local community agencies, for local community agencies, to fulfill on that vision.

4. The CARD Approach • CARD’s preparedness messages and services: • use non-disaster contexts for action – client service, team-building, leadership development, economic development, marketing, etc. The CARD philosophy: Prepare to Prosper! • are designed for agencies serving clients with special needs –created in partnership with nonprofits and faith organizations. • brand EVERYONE as responders – building nonprofit capacity to be full partners, educators and responders. • provide a bureaucracy-free zone for our partners. • support a think-tank, solution-generator environment for nonprofits and our partners.

5. CARD Core Trainings • Basic Agency Emergency Plan • Incident Command System (ICS) for Community Responders • Self & Home Preparedness • Disaster Exercise Scenario / hands-on practice • Safety and Survival Skills • Shelter-in-Place • CARD Basics CARD classes are created as part of a “no fear, no threat messages” empowerment-based curriculum designed to address the cultural, social and financial needs and learning styles of our diverse society. The CARD philosophy: Prepare to Prosper

6. People with Special Needs 1: • Seniors and/or frail elderly • Poor and extremely low income • Blind, visually impaired or low vision • Single parents with no support systems • Deaf, hearing impaired or hard-of-hearing • Limited English Proficiency (LEP), monolingual • Emergent special needs (new needs due to disaster) • Children, infants, unattended minors, runaways, latchkey kids • Homeless or shelter dependent - including domestic violence shelters • Chemically dependent – includes legal and illegal drug dependence issues • Medically compromised, low immune system, medically fragile, contagious

7. People with Special Needs 2: • Ex-convicts, registered offenders and other clients of the criminal justice system • People fearful of (or refusing services from) government, Red Cross or any unfamiliar bureaucracy • Physically disabled/limited - from minor issues to complete dependence on life support • Mentally/cognitively disabled/limited - from minor issues to complete dependence on support systems • Transient needs (tourists, people needing replacement hearing aids or glasses, etc.) • Owners of pets/animals, people who make life and death decisions based on animal concerns • Culturally isolated – little interaction outside of their chosen community (religion, sobriety, LGBT, geography caused isolation, etc.)

8. Nonprofits as Preparedness Partners #1 Same Threats: • Death & injury to staff, customers, clients, volunteers, public • Loss of critical services for the most vulnerable • Financial losses • Physical facility/inventory losses • Lawsuits Same Needs: • Protect staff, consumers, clients, volunteers, public • Business continuity • Asset protection • Timely, accurate information • Skills, knowledge • Community relations

9. Nonprofits as Preparedness Partners #2 What Nonprofits Bring to the Table: • Human Capital: knowledge, ability, special training, certifications, etc. • Unique Assets: cultural competence, trust, intimate access, flexibility, speed, independence • Tangible Assets: financial, buildings, land, parking lots, vehicles, etc. • Power: captive audience, authority/influence, enforcement, incentives, etc. • Greatest Asset: the will and commitment to make sure YOUR AGENCY is Prepared to Prosper!

10. Impediments to Preparedness Particularly for diverse & low income communities: • Trust issues with the messengers • Bureaucracy (multiple facets) • No ability to implement recommendations • Generic resources, one-size-fits-all approach • Effective “branding” campaigns • Chronic disempowerment of audiences • We have not sold the nation on preparedness

11. The Great Fight Against Human Nature ...because earthquakes, fires, floods are coming and terrorists want to kill us. Get Prepared: have a plan, build a kit, get trained, etc…. ...because otherwise you’ll be accused of child abuse and neglect, people with say you are a bad parent, your kids will hate you. Feed your children healthy nutritious food: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, limit sweets, eliminate junk food, etc…. ...because a divorce is really expensive, you’ll lose your house, you’ll be financially ruined and things will get ugly. Be loving and caring toward your spouse: do the dishes, send flowers, give massages, apologize first, say thank you, etc…. Be a friendly and helpful coworker: help out, bond, go to lunch, etc…. ...because otherwise they will stab you in the back and take your job. If you fight human nature you will lose – every time.

12. Messages to the Public

13. Every Message Appeals to a: What You Already Know… • Want • Need “ • Desire • Fear Examples: Car, Tax Service, Toothpaste What is the result of using fear and disaster threat messages to “motivate” and encourage preparedness?

16. Actionsto Take What to do Why to do it How to do it Examples: Now say it to: • Evacuate • Get treated or consult with your doctor • Drop, Cover and Hold • Shelter In Place • Go to our website • Poor/low income people • Limited English Proficiency (LEP) residents • Disabled veterans • Frail seniors • Blind/visually impaired

17. CARD’s “Prepare to Prosper” Possibilities • Heal wounds, build and rebuild trust • Make preparedness an expression of love and commitment • Create a shared, sustainable model for how all people can be served and supported • Build effective partnerships with government, nonprofits, businesses, foundations, residents, etc. • Have preparedness become your “curb-cut” to economic strength and resilience • Don’t prepare for disasters… • Prepare your community for Peace and Prosperity!

18. For More Information: Âna-Marie Jones Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters (CARD) 1736 Franklin Street, Suite 450 Oakland, CA 94612-3456 www.FirstVictims.org Phone: 510-451-3140 Fax: 510-451-3144 AMJ@FirstVictims.org