Emergency managers learn at crisis management conference in Fort Pierce

By Susan Burgess

Originally published 01:00 a.m., January 26, 2010
Updated 09:28 p.m., January 26, 2010

FORT PIERCE — Emergency managers on the Treasure Coast spent Monday and Tuesday learning how to reduce the impact of disasters and make recovery efforts more efficient.

The two-day crisis management course focusing on advance planning and impact reduction was sponsored by the National League of Cities at Indian River State College’s new Safety Training Complex in Fort Pierce.

“We did a survey of our members after Hurricane Katrina and found they wanted help planning for all types of disasters,” said Jim Weed, program manager for the National League of Cities.

With $1.8 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for workshops, the league set out on a 40-stop tour of the nation.

Doug Anderson, now a consultant but formerly the St. Lucie County administrator, is one of the instructors.

The 1999 wildfires in the Gatlin Boulevard area of Port St. Lucie were Anderson’s first taste of hands-on crisis management.

“It really showed us what we could do as a team, and what we learned that day has carried through the years,” he said as he recalled a horrific scene where walls of flame were jumping streets, homes were exploding and electrical transformers were blowing up like grenades.

Aid came from all corners of the state as fire trucks and heavy equipment rolled into the area as fast as they could. The fire was contained by nightfall he said.

Cooperation and knowing who to call for help was key in both that experience and the 2004-2005 hurricanes, he said.

“For example, after the Port St. Lucie fire, hydrants were installed in that area in case of future fires. Cell phones don’t work during disasters, so St. Lucie County bought radios and in a disaster everyone can communicate.”

Fort Pierce Mayor Bob Benton said the workshop gave participants a chance to “look at what succeeded and what failed, and find ways to make it work better. I think the biggest thing we can take from this workshop is how to streamline relief efforts with all agencies,” he said.

Chris Mora, director of public works for Indian River County, said learning what the Federal Emergency Management Agency requires for reimbursement is important.

For instance, public works must have an agreement with gated communities before going in to remove debris.

“You can go out now and get those agreements in hand so that you aren’t standing there having to think up what to do when a disaster hits,” he said.

Stuart Fire Chief Lori Sunderman said she learned how all the agencies fit together.

“People call the fire department for just about anything,” she said. “We specialize in immediate response, so we don’t necessarily know where to send people for long term recovery. Now I have a better understanding of what a disaster assistance program consists of so I can refer people to it.”

The U.S. Small Business Administration provides low-interest loans to both homeowners and businesses after a disaster, said Kathy Cook, who presented information about the agency’s disaster assistance. “About 80 percent of declared disasters are too small for FEMA, so we come in to help.”

Although no hurricanes have hit the area recently, this is no time to get complacent, said Port St. Lucie public information officer Ed Cunningham.

“We learned to be more thorough in our preparations and planning, covering every angle on the emergency situation so we can recover more quickly with fewer bureaucratic delays.”