Emergency Preparedness Demonstration (EPD) Project Community Leadership & Emergency Management Agencies

What is the EPD Project?

A community planning process to increase disaster awareness and preparedness in at risk communities.

Purpose of the EPD Project

• Determine promising practices

• Make recommendations for other communities

Partners of the EPD Project

FEMA worked with:

• MDC, Inc.

• University of North Carolina

Who EPD Considered to Be At Risk?

People who:• Are elderly• Have small children• Have disabilities• Have limited incomes• Do not speak English• Lack transportation• Live in disadvantaged

neighborhoods

EPD Steps

1.Site Selection

2.Community Connections

3.Community Orientation

4.Community Assessment

5.Plan Development

6.Plan Implementation

Step One: Site Selection

The EPD Project chose sites that had:

• Recently experienced a disaster

• Large numbers of at risk people

• Key people willing to help

• Supportive community-based organizations

• Supportive local Office of Emergency Management

Step Two: Community Connections

Community Coach meets with local leadership to:

1.Clarify purposes, roles, and responsibilities 2.Discuss availability of resources3.Set community meeting schedule4.Identify neutral meeting locations5.Decide who should be invited to participate

• Introduce the community to the project

• Recruit volunteers to:• Conduct the Community Assessment• Map vulnerable areas of the community• Develop the plan• Implement the plan

Step Three: Community Orientation

Step Four: Community Assessment

• Assess existing plans• Survey community needs• Conduct Focus Groups• Complete a Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability AssessmentStep Four: Community Assessment

Map of important community features:• Hazards• Areas of greatest risk• People and property at risk• People with special needs• Major employers & critical facilities• Environmental threats

Step Four: Community AssessmentVulnerability Assessment

Flood Zones

Step Four: Community AssessmentVulnerability Assessment

Step Four: Community AssessmentVulnerability Assessment

Community Feedback

Step Four: Community AssessmentVulnerability Assessment

Step Five: Plan Development

• Vision statement• Goals and objectives• Community review• Final plan• Accountability• Sustainability

• Fund Raising

• Technical Assistance

Step Six: Plan Implementation

The Community Coach

• Leads the community through the steps• Helps identify resources• Connects communities to technical assistance• Helps resolve conflict• Acts as a sounding board for the community

Questions?