By Lauryn Franzoni

Dear SafetyXChange Members:

Today's story is a bit of a departure from what you're used to seeing in these pages. But it's a topic weighing heavily on my mind and I'm sure on yours as well. So I hope you'll indulge me just this once. . .

Since the first days of the Katrina disaster many of us have opened up our hearts and our wallets to the people in the Gulf Coast. As safety professionals, you probably spend a lot of time discussing what happened and what you can do to make a real difference in this and future disasters.

To help you answer that question, I'd like to share with you some thoughts from one of our ExecuNet members who has been working on the front line. Louis W. is an engineer who fully understands the situation on the ground and what's most needed to help the people address it. So if you're looking to make a difference, perhaps Louis's account will help you decide what kind of help to provide.

The words that follow are actual, unedited excerpts from a letter Louis sent me on September 12, right after returning from his second trip to Mississippi.

First-Hand Observations

I became involved quite by accident. My wife and I volunteered to take a four-hour shift collecting donated items at our church. We began to separate, organize and box the donated items. One thing led to another and soon we were on our way to Mississippi to deliver donated items, including a donated Winnebago to be used as a home for a minister and her husband who had lost everything. To say the least, it has been a very rewarding time for me on many levels.

Observations from my trip to Long Beach, Mississippi of Sept. 9-11, 2005:

1. I spoke to relief workers in the area as well as other leaders of the disaster relief. The need for the immediate term is for money donations. The need for food and water is now being addressed locally. Stores are beginning to reopen as power is restored.
2. There is a need for building material and equipment as well as chain saws and debris removing equipment. Roofing shingles, felt paper (for roofing), and plywood for repairing roofs are especially needed in the short term.
3. Teams of workers will be needed beginning soon. This would be for specialty trades (electricians, plumbers, roofers, etc.). General labor workers will also be needed for general cleanup and debris removal. Habitat for Humanity-type work is the type of work that you can expect.
4. There is a definite need for medical supplies and in some cases medical personnel. The need for the supplies will be ongoing especially as the rebuilding process gets into full gear and injuries occur. There is a big shortage of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased for less than a dollar for large bottles. First aid kits are also needed.

General observations:

1. I found the people who are enduring this disaster to be resilient. However, I spoke to others who are having difficulty coping with this overwhelming loss. Many people lost everything including their jobs. While this is not my area of expertise, I have spoken with experts who state that mental health professionals will be required for both adults and children. If you are able to provide any of these services, I would suggest that you contact your local American Red Cross office or the regional office of the Red Cross in Atlanta. The Regional office of the American Red Cross in Atlanta is in charge of the disaster relief in the area.
2. If you meet someone who is directly affected by this disaster, allow him or her to talk. It is a way for them to cope and begin the healing process.
3. The caregivers and disaster response personnel are also feeling overwhelmed by the scope of this disaster. They too may need your encouragement.
4. The survivors are looking for hope and a positive future.

Recommendations for Getting Involved

Ways to get involved:

1. Everyone that I have spoken to has wanted to help in some way but did not have any idea of how to contribute. Good management practices should be used to identify areas of expertise and talents and then directing people in a way that they can make significant and rewarding contributions. People just do not know how to contribute. It is our job to help them find ways to contribute.
2. Teams of workers are forming from various church bodies throughout the South. ELCA Disaster Response, Lutheran World Relief, Catholic Charities and other church organizations are sending groups of volunteers to the area to work for one week at a time. It is easy to join one of these groups. You could also form your own work group. If you do this make sure that you coordinate with a response team that is in the area or join a group who is already tied into a group on site. You can expect to work hard and have varying degrees of comfortable sleeping arrangements (e.g. You better bring a sleeping bag). Hotel rooms are very difficult to get. The nearest room that we found was over 100 miles away from the disaster zone. Make sure that you load up with gasoline before entering the area. The availability of gas is improving but it is good to be prepared.
3. Organize a collection of some of the equipment and building materials for shipment to the area. Be sure that you coordinate with a group that has a presence in the area. Find out from them what their needs will be. Note that their needs will change from week to week as the rebuilding process enters new phases.
4. Organizational and managerial skills are desperately needed. There are many talented people who are willing to work but need direction on how to best utilize their skills.
5. Begin organizing a disaster relief team that will be able to more quickly respond to future disasters. I observed that response to this disaster was slowed because there was no plan and minimal organization. I am currently establishing a network of people who will be able to quickly mobilize relief efforts. Following Katrina it took at least a week for supplies to reach the affected area. When help did arrive it consisted of a lot of material but not necessarily material that met immediate needs. The goods were also not well marked and this delayed distribution once the goods arrived on site. We are establishing a team that will be able to respond with needed items in a timely basis and then continue to supply other items as the needs change.

Conclusion

These excerpts from Louis in no way represent a complete list of needs of the victims of Katrina. But I hope they'll help those of you who want to do something to help the relief and rebuilding effort assess how your training, skills and talents as safety professionals can best be utilized to make the most impact.

As the country moves into a rebuilding period, there are many lessons to be learned and opportunities to help abound. Think about how you and your organization might assist and contact one of the rebuilding/recovery agencies with your ideas!

Best wishes,

Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet
www.execunet.com

HURRICANE RELIEF JOBS AVAILABLE

As you can imagine, there's currently a great need for safety professionals and engineers in Louisiana and Mississippi. If you're looking for an entry level job in Louisiana involving the relief effort, see http://engineering.careerbuilder.com/en.ic/Louisiana_EntryLevel.htm.

SOURCES ACCEPTING CONTRIBUTIONS

To help facilitate Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses has created a Web page as a resource for those who would like to contribute money, volunteer time, or provide resources.

Cash Contributions for Hurricane Katrina Relief:

• American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org
  1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
  1-800-257-7575 Spanish;
  
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Donation Resource Page http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473

Contacts for Health and Safety Professionals Who Want to Volunteer:

• American Red Cross contact page for volunteers - http://www2.redcross.org/contactus/
• Find your local American Red Cross - http://www2.redcross.org/where/where.html
• The Department of Health and Human Services has established a Web site at https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/ and toll-free number (1-866-KAT MEDI) to identify healthcare professionals to assist in relief efforts.
• Emergency Management Assistance Compact - http://www.emacweb.org/. Volunteer information for public health workers employed by state and local public health agencies.
• National Council of State Boards of Nurses - http://www.ncsbn.org/news/ncsbninthenews_hurricanekatrina.asp. This page provides information on Boards of Nursing in the states most impacted by this disaster and offers links for those wishing to volunteer their services.
• National Emergency Resource Registry - https://www.swern.gov/. Offers information for those interested in donating housing, transportation, medical equipment, supplies, and medications.
  
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters - http://www.nvoad.org/membersdb.php?members=National.
• Those interested in joining a federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team should visit the national DMAT Web site at http://www.oep-ndms.dhhs.gov/dmat.html or e-mail the main office at ndms@usa.net.
• USA Freedom Corps - http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/.

FEMA Resources for Hurricane Victims:

• How to Apply for Assistance - http://www.fema.gov/about/process/
• Returning Home After the Disaster - http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=17978
• General Recovery Information - http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/hurricane_season.shtm

School-Related Resources for Hurricane Victims:

• U.S. Dept. of Education - http://www.ed.gov/news/hurricane/factsheet.html. Nationwide clearinghouse addressing the needs of the affected children and schools and districts serving displaced students.
• USDA/Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) - http://www.frac.org/news/katrina9_01-05.html. Information on USDA's recent policy memorandum reducing barriers to feeding school children in affected areas. For information on FRAC's Advocate's Guide to the Disaster Food Stamp Program, visit http://www.frac.org/pdf/dfsp05.pdf.

Resources for Health and Safety Professionals:

• NIOSH Flood and Hurricane Response Info - http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/natural.html#flood
• OSHA - Keeping Workers Safe During Clean Up and Recovery Operations Following Hurricanes - http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html
• National Library of Medicine Hurricane Katrina Web page - http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/hurricane.html
  Has info on toxic chemical and environmental health information resources for health workers and the interested public. Links are provided to information on chemicals that may be released as a result of the Katrina disaster and on environmental health concerns following the wind and flood damage.

Resources to Share with Your Employees:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Hurricane Response and Preparedness - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp
• Department of Health and Human Services - http://www.hhs.gov/katrina/index.html. Hurricane Katrina response updates.
• FEMA Says Cash Donations Best Way to Help Hurricane Victims - http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473
• Florida Department of Health Hurricane Information Index - http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Hurricane/hurricane2005.html
• Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Offers Safety tips to prevent injury and the spread of disease following Hurricane Katrina. - http://www.dhh.state.la.us./news.asp?Detail=570
• Mississippi Department of Health Severe Weather Health and Safety Advisory - http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_static/44,2022,122,218.html

State Health Departments in Affected Areas:

• Alabama Department of Public Health - http://www.adph.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1
  
• Florida Department of Health - http://www.doh.state.fl.us/
• Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - http://www.dhh.state.la.us/
• Mississippi Department of Public Health - http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/
• CDC Resource Links, including list of all state public health departments - http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec80226c7a

Disaster Lessons for Safety Professionals

We invite you to join SafetyXChange LIVE Thursday, October 13 at 12:00 pm ET for a special FREE 30-minute audio seminar, The States of Emergency: The lessons of Katrina and Other Recent Disasters presented by Gary A. Higbee.

Sign-up NOW for this Exclusive Audio Seminar!

Join us for this FREE seminar and learn about, among other things:

• The impact of personal accountability on risk of injury
• The role of complacency and its impact on the government and citizens of New Orleans, Houston and other areas impacted by Katrina and Rita, and
• And other lessons you can apply to prevent injuries and save lives - both inside and outside the workplace

Go to http://www.safetyxchange.org/audio_registration/add_registrant_form.php?audio_id=1 NOW to register for this valuable and exclusive FREE SafetyXChange event.

Seating is limited so register now.

This valuable seminar is FREE to SafetyXChange members thanks to our sponsors, Bongarde Media http://www.safetysmart.com.

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