Emergency response preparedness is key

County officials emphasize communication, cooperation

By Brian Lewis-Jones

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Emergency management coordinators from five regional counties met Wednesday at the Dole Institute of Politics.

They discussed the importance of communication and preparedness on a variety of levels in case of an emergency — from individuals and their communities to local and federal governments.

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Photo by Amanda Sellers

KANSAN

Scott Morris (left) motions to Mike Selfs, Johnson County emergency manager and Terri Smith, Douglas county emergency manager, while discussing preventative measures that should be taken during a natural emergency. A panel of five representatives from neighboring counties from Douglas to Wyandotte spoke about emergency situations they have assisted in and procedures if such problems arise in Kansas.

Teri Smith, acting director of Douglas County Emergency Management, said that most Douglas County residents had a plan for what to do in an emergency, including whom to contact and where to go.

However, Smith said that last month during county-sponsored severe weather classes only about 30 percent of those surveyed had an emergency kit with food, water, a flashlight and other items for emergency situations.

“It’s not just Douglas County,” she said. “We’re all looking back and looking for improvements and training we can provide.”

Smith said emergency management coordinators of neighboring counties often depend on each other for help in a disaster.

“We are family in a lot of ways in emergency management,” she said.

The coordinators, who were from Johnson, Douglas, Shawnee, Franklin and Wyandotte counties, also talked about their experiences in emergency situations, which included blizzards, floods and tornadoes.

The discussion was the final meeting of a seven-session study group called “The Politics of Disaster.” The sessions were led by Scott Morris, 1992 University of Kansas graduate and Dole Institute of Politics Republican fellow this semester. He is currently director of Florida long-term recovery for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA.

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It’s not just Douglas County. We’re all looking back and looking for improvements and training we can provide.

- Teri Smith, acting director of Douglas County Emergency Management

Morris, who flew from Florida every Wednesday for the study group, said he wanted to show the “big picture” of emergency management to the public.

“All of us will be faced with a crisis in our lives, it’s bound to happen,” he said. “Understanding emergency response can only help you.”

Kansan staff writer Brian Lewis-Jones can be contacted at bljones@kansan.com.

— Edited by Will McCullough

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