1) The document summarizes a preparedness and response forum hosted by the American Red Cross and United Way of the National Capital Area. It included welcome remarks, sponsor presentations, a keynote on emergency preparedness, and panels/discussions on how organizations can prepare for and respond to disasters. 2) The forum featured an interactive disaster scenario exercise where participants discussed preparedness and response challenges posed by a hypothetical category 5 hurricane approaching the DC area. 3) In the scenario aftermath, participants discussed information and resource needs, opportunities for collaboration, and lessons learned from previous storms. The goal was to help organizations in the region improve disaster plans and strengthen partnerships.

1. Preparedness and Response Forum
April 22, 2015

2. Welcome
Linda Mathes, CEO
American Red Cross in the National Capital Region
Rosie Allen-Herring, President & CEO
United Way of the National Capital Area

3. Our Champion Sponsors
Donna Cooper, Regional President
Pepco
Marie Schuler, Director, Gov't & Community
Affairs
Comcast

4. Keynote Address
W. Craig Fugate
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency

5. Personal Preparedness
Geoff DeLizzio
Chief Operating Officer
American Red Cross in the
National Capital Region

6. ARE YOU
PREPARED?

7. ARE YOU
PREPARED?

8. "Always
be prepared for something
AMAZING
to happen!"
- Melanie Perkins, Canva

9. Expect the best.
Prepare for the worst.

13. Picture of me with twinkies or spam

14. Why We Don't Prepare
Won't happen
to me
Too
expensive
Don't know
how
Don't have
the time

16. How To Prepare
Fire
Natural
Disasters
Man-Made
Disasters

17. How To Prepare
Natural
Disasters
Fire
Man-Made
Disasters

20. Plan how
to
evacuate
Plan what to
do if you get
separated
during a
emergency

23. You and your family are the top
priority.
Take care of them so you can
take care of others.
We need you!!!

26. www.REDCROSS.org
www.READY.gov

27. Social Media Engagement
▪ Twitter: @RedCrossNCR; @UWNCA
▪ Facebook: American Red Cross, National Capital Region;
United Way of the National Capital Area
▪ LinkedIn: American Red Cross National Capital Region;
Featured Group: Preparedness - American Red Cross; United
Way of the National Capital Area
▪ Instagram: @RedCrossNCR
▪ We will be using the hashtag #PrepareDMV

28. Panel Discussion
Can Your Organization Weather the
Storm?
▪ Jack Brown, Director, Arlington County OEM
▪ Sandra Hawthorn, Director, Emergency Actions US OPM
▪ Paul Carden, Regional Disaster Officer, American Red Cross
in the National Capital Region
▪ Robert Stewart, Emergency Preparedness & Advanced
Technology Evaluation, Pepco
#PrepareDMV

29. Interactive Disaster Scenario
Scott Wollek
Senior Disaster Program Manager
American Red Cross in the
National Capital Region

30. So, how does this work?
▪ Two Modules
– Preparedness, H-24 Hours
– Response and Recovery, H+24 Hours
▪ Interactive
– Engage with participants around you and on social media
▪ Informative
– Explore resources, relationships and best practices

31. Ground Rules
▪ The scenario is plausible, and events occur as they are presented.
▪ There is no “hidden agenda”, nor any trick questions.
▪ All players receive information at the same time.
▪ This is an open, low-stress, no-fault environment. Varying viewpoints,
even disagreements, are expected.
▪ The scenario is designed as a tool to facilitate discussion. Please, do
not fight the scenario.
▪ Decisions are not precedent setting and may not reflect your final
position on a given issue. This is an opportunity to discuss and
present multiple options and possible solutions.
▪ Any and all questions have merit

32. THE STORM IS COMING
Module One

33. 24 Hours Before Landfall…
A category 5 Hurricane crossed the Atlantic and passed 300
miles north of San Juan PR. Moving West/North West the
forecast had the storm making landfall in the US somewhere
between tidewater, VA and the Outer Banks of NC. Now, 24
hours out, he storm has picked up speed and is about 12 hours
away from making landfall, projected to be near Jacksonville,
NC. MSW is just over 100 MPH.

34. Questions for Discussion
▪ What steps are you taking/have you taken to help prepare your
employees/volunteers and their families for disasters like this
storm?
▪ What services does your organization provide in the
community that cannot be interrupted or should be interrupted
as little as possible do to this storm? What steps are you
taking at this point to enable you to continue service delivery
before, during and after the storm?
▪ What agencies/organizations in the community are you
collaborating with to prepare for the storm?

35. WEATHERING THE
AFTERMATH
Module Two

36. 24 Hours Post Landfall
The storm, with an MSW of just over 90 miles per hour, has
slowed as it approached the metro DC area. The eye of the
storm passed over Fort Belvoir, Springfield, Annandale and Falls
Church, VA and Potomac, MD before making a slight turn
northeast toward Rockville, MD. Hurricane force winds extended
nearly 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds
extended 70 miles from center. It took the storm just over 2.5
hours to cross the NCR and nearly 12 inches of rain fell during
that time.

37. 24 Hours Post Landfall (cont.)
▪ Post incident power outages in the NCR ~750,000. Substantial
number of trees down and trees onto cars and buildings.
▪ Flooding
▪ Sewage Treatment Systems affected by lack of pumping
▪ Natural Gas Service Disruptions
▪ Federal Government Closed
▪ Many companies on unscheduled leave for up to 5 days

38. Questions for Discussion
▪ In the immediate aftermath of this storm, what information and
resources does your organization need to resume/continue
service delivery? What are some sources for those information
and resources?
▪ In discussion with others at your table are there opportunities
for your organizations to share resources or otherwise
collaborate in the aftermath of the storm?
▪ Does your organization have any disaster response/recovery
best practices to share from previous disasters such as this
one?

39. Next Steps…
▪ Highlights of resources and best practices from our discussion
distributed via email and on our LinkedIn group page.
▪ LinkedIn: American Red Cross National Capital Region;
Featured Group: Preparedness - American Red Cross; United
Way of the National Capital Area

40. Thank You for Coming!
Connect with us:
www.redcross.org/dc/washington
www.unitedwaynca.org
#PrepareDMV