1. “How Proactive Elected Leadership
can help build stronger
Emergency Management Programs.”
Mayor Richard Hildreth
Pacific, Washington
NCCP 2009
2009 National Conference on Community Preparedness
"The Power of Citizen Corps"
Aug. 9‐12, 2009
Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, Virginia

2. I Do Not Claim to be an Expert
in Emergency Management
I only claim to be an
Elected Official who is passionate
about building stronger emergency
management programs.

3. Elected to the Pacific City Council in 2001,
Elected (Strong ) Mayor in 2003.
CERT – 2002, CERT Trainer – 2006
Founding Member White River Valley Citizen Corps
Council
Chair ‐ Valley Regional Fire Authority
Appointed by Washington State Governor Christine
Gregoire to the State Emergency Management Council
Master Exercise Practioner (FEMA)

4. Elected Officials have an extremely important role to play in
community preparedness. It is up to us to engage them
Community Preparedness is like a 3 legged table
The 3 Legs are:
A. Public Sector including Government
and Elected Officials
B. Private Sector including citizens
and business
C. The Non Profit Sector including
NGO’s and Citizen Corps
Councils

5. Too Often Elected Officials are either:
Too Involved ‐ Micro Managers
Over Confident in their own understanding
and abilities. Disruptive to the Process
Can’t Be Bothered – “That is why I hire
Staff so I do need to think about this or
get involved in any way.”

6. Some Elected Leaders
Just Do Not Seem to Get it!

7. What is an Emergency?
An Event that Stresses our Resources
outside of Normal Functions.
What is a Disaster?
An Event that Overwhelms our Ability to
Apply Resources to or to Respond to an Emergency Event.
What is a Catastrophe?
An event that is so overwhelming it threatens or
eliminates your ability to respond or recover.

8. What makes a Strong Emergency
Management Program?
Complies with ALL legal mandates (HPSD 5, HPSD 8, State Laws)
Meets the moral responsibilities that governments and communities assume
The means for elected officials to effectively communicate and carry
out their legal responsibilities during a disaster
Allows the jurisdiction to more effectively prepare for, respond to
and recover from the effects of a major emergency or disaster
Makes it easier to obtain federal funds to make further improvements
in readiness and response capabilities.

9. So What is an Elected Officials Role?
Leader of Policy Group in Response , Recovery and Mitigation Phase
Champions Attitude of Preparedness to fellow elected officials, staff and citizens
Realistically looks at overall level of preparedness and promotes improvements
Facilitates quality partnerships with citizen groups, private business and
governmental programs.
Understands his /her jurisdictions CEMP, What hazards that jurisdiction faces.
Effective communication, both internally and externally.
The Elected Leaders Set the Compass Point
for Others to Follow

10. So How Do We Engage Our Electeds?
Understand the Political Realities of the Jurisdiction
Present Issues in terms they will listen to
(Economic, Visionary, True Leadership)
Don’t Push it as Technical Information or as a Written
Plan Push it as Strategic Thinking, a Mindset, a Passion for
doing what is best for the community

11. The Three Legged Table
The Impact that an Engaged Elected Official can have on Emergency Preparedness
Leadership by Example
Better understanding of needs
Ability to raise credibility with citizens and staff

12. Why the Three Legged Table is important
There are overlapping interest and interdependence between the three sectors.
Working together the three sectors build a shared commitment working towards
common goals . With this collective participation you create a social network and
common understanding of needs and gaps. With this common understanding the
thought process becomes institutionalized and you build programs that are
sustainable, adaptable and capable of evolving.
Steven Krill – Booz Allen Hamilton
Public Sector
(including Elected Leaders)
Private Sector
(Citizens and Business)
Civil sector
(NGO’s, Citizen Corps)

13. How to Build this Table
Identify and Empower Stakeholders.
Be the Initiator.
Embrace Interdependence.
Allow for Ambiguity.
Reward Collaboration, Innovation, sharing of Best Practices
Networking.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

14. How you sustain this table
All Entities must share risk, rewards and responsibilities.
Build Trust and Relationships
Sharing of Information
Visible and Committed Leadership
Recognize and reward collaboration instead of competition.
Hang Your Ego At The Door

15. How it all fits together
0800 hrs January 09, 2009 ‐ Pacific Washington

17. Pacific Flooding
101 homes flooded
90 homes were outside 100 year flood area
65 homes were outside 500 year flood area
15 businesses flooded
$30 Million in Damage

18. Volunteer Coordination
Organized under Incident Command
Over 3000 volunteer hours donated to recovery for homes flooded
Over 1200 volunteer hours donated to clean up of public works / public areas
Over 500 volunteer hours donated for support services
Volunteers organized and dispatched through a single point – All volunteers
Signed in and out, assigned to teams and projects.
Organized under “ Span of Control” and documented with standard ICS forms
CERT members placed in key roles for documentation and coordination.
Pacific’s Match for FEMA / STATE / LOCAL Share met by Volunteer hour alone.

19. Resource Coordination
89 ‐ 25 yard Dumpsters located, filled and hauled off.
Over $25,000 in Material for clean up donated to homeowners
American Red Cross Comfort Kits / Clean Up Kits
Church of Latter Day Saints Clean Up Kits
Gordon Trucking donated 40’ trailer to distribute items in neighborhood.
Williams Scotsman donated office trailer for long term distribution
National Construction Rental donated Portable Toilets for volunteer
and home owner use.
3 Construction Companies donated use of loaders and trucks for clean up.
All Donated Resources Distributed
and Documented under Single Point System

20. Business / Civic Coordination
Because of Previous Relationships and Networking, more than 25 businesses
stepped up to assist flood victims and the City of Pacific in recovery.
Home Depot
Disaster Recovery Team
Brought up to 16 employees,
equipment and supplies for
cleaning out and drying out
flooded homes and crawlspaces.
Employees stayed until every
home was dried out

21. Wrap Up
Remember to Manage Expectations
Watch Out for Pitfalls
Build and Active Program
Remember to Play Together

22. Questions
Mayor Richard Hildreth
City of Pacific
100 3rd Ave SE
Pacific, Washington 98047
253‐929‐1108 (office)
253‐261‐9853 (cell)
Rhildreth@ci.pacific.wa.us
Pacificmayor@aol.com