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Paul Fennewald is Missouri’s homeland security coordinator.
| 1 Are we better prepared – nationwide and here in Missouri – than we were 10 years ago to deal with both natural disasters and terrorism? |
Citizens of this state and the country understand the necessity of being prepared in advance and being ready to rapidly and effectively respond in a time of crisis. Missourians will continue to work together and stand united during a time of need. |
| 2 How has Missouri’s approach to preparedness evolved since Sept. 11, 2001? |
State and local agencies across Missouri are more aware of one another’s capabilities and resources that can be utilized following any type of disaster. Local jurisdictions and the state take a truly regional approach to homeland security and funding – identifying which equipment and training would best serve an entire region of the state and not just a particular locality. This regional approach avoids duplication and makes for a more effective response. |
| 3 Missouri has had a rough year with a blizzard, flooding, wind and hail, and tornadoes. What’s your assessment of the response from the local, state and federal governments? |
The response has been tremendous at all levels. All levels of government understand the necessity of working together, of advance planning and communicating effectively with the public. Following the May 22 tornado, more than 400 law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies responded to Joplin! The role of the public can’t be overemphasized. One of the main reasons there were so few traffic crashes and injuries during the record blizzard was because the public stayed home and kept off the roads. The role of the public is critical. |
| 4 What are the most effective steps individuals and businesses can take to improve their resiliency during emergencies? |
The best way to increase resiliency is to calmly think about preparedness long before a potential disaster is on the horizon. There are great resources out there from the state like http://www.sema.dps.mo.gov/ and Missouri’s Ready In 3 program, http://health.mo.gov/emergencies/readyin3 to the federal www.Ready.gov. The bottom line is that in a widespread, major disaster you may not have power and may be on your own for a few days. You want to make sure that you have enough basic supplies for your family for three days – water, dry and canned food, flashlights, portable radio, batteries, can opener, first aid kit, medications, etc. |
| 5 Of all the issues to contend with – severe weather, earthquakes, bioterrorism, pandemic flu, food supply-chain questions, others – what’s the one safety and preparedness question that the public might not be tuned into that needs closer attention? |
Do you have a family communication plan and a family reunification plan? Understand that when a disaster hits, the family may not be together and you might not even be able to get to your home. Cell phone service might be out, Internet service may be interrupted. Have a relative a couple of hundred miles away that you all will contact and let them know where you are and how you can be reunited. The better prepared everyone is in advance, the less anxiety there will be, and that is very important during an emergency. |
