While the Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project will create several natural hazards disaster scenarios over the years, the first-year goal is to create a plausible earthquake scenario for which emergency managers and responder can plan and rehearse. When we met with focus groups composed of emergency manager this is what they told us they needed most. Our earthquake scenario is in full-swing and taking a lot of the energy. It will be the centerpiece of the largest-ever disaster rehearsal in southern California scheduled for November 2008. Therefore, to be ready for the rehearsal the earthquake scenario must be completed in eleven months.
Presently, we are organizing our coordinating team of experts. They are defining the scope of their assigned sections and determining what needs to be addressed, who will help them, and how that help will be compensated. The sections (see: Scenario Outline) include descriptions of the event; the secondary effects; the earthquake’s impact on engineering, buildings, and infrastructure; emergency response; health and safety; economics; society, cultures, and institutions; and two focus studies. The first focus study will detail impacts to lifelines and the other will focus on the scenario earthquake’s impacts to two communities, Burbank and Palm Springs. Each section dovetail with the others.
Ken Hudnut, Dan Ponti, Rich Bernknopf, Anne Wein, Keith Porter, Kim Shoaf, Michael Shulters, Steve Schwarzbach, Jim Goltz, Michael Reichle, and Dennis Mileti are coordinating the sections of the scenario. The coordinators are assessing the goals, learning the rules, reaching out to partners and communities, defining the scope, and assessing the proper course of action.
It was only two weeks ago, that we had our official Kick-Off event followed by a meeting of over 130 lifeline stakeholders and operators to discuss our plans. Lucy has met and briefed several congressional offices. She also gave the commencement address at CSU, Fullerton. Tomorrow she is meeting with the California Office of Emergency Services and County Emergency Managers to inform them of our plans.
