Over the years, many generations of Public Works professionals have lived through and overcome many emergency situations such as: tornados, fires, flooding, straight-line winds, snow and ice storms and more. Many of you working today thought nothing of what you did to deal with such emergencies, whether a full disaster declaration was in place or not. It was just another case of performing your duties flawlessly for the benefit of your communities and those around you. Looking at the emergency response to tornado and winds in the Dexter area, we saw affected communities come together to clear debris and repair the severe damage to their local infrastructure. Many of you, in Public Works agencies across the state, came forward to help with equipment, manpower, etc. in the time of need. We saw a similar spirit of unity after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy along the East Coast (notably in New Jersey, New York) and following the rash of tornados that tore across the South leaving destruction in five states all along the way. Across this State and Nation, Public Works professionals such as you face situations every year that require confident, strong leadership. Can you think of issues in your community that required you and your team to work day and night to keep services up and running and affecting the least amount of your citizens? Did you have any idea what to do or who to call when it happened? We have all seen responses gone bad, such as those in New Orleans. How about emergency response that seemed to be so nearly flawless that most folks didn’t really feel the effects of the event? It is obvious from case reviews that agencies that prepared their employees AND their communities for a potential disaster were able to respond to emergencies efficiently and return to normal in the least amount of time. Knowledge is Power For Our Communities The state’s economic climate and legislative actions have compelled ever-increasing collaborative efforts from each and every one of us. The need for strategies to respond to a disaster is even greater. The American Public Works Association provides web-based training to members at no additional cost; look for listings at their website, apwa.net. There is much to be learned from the training offered there, with much of it being led by your peers who have been through emergency situations themselves. Case studies of how to prepare your department and community for disaster serve as excellent guidance for you to be the best you can be. Look, too, for training on Incident Management, Community Preparedness, Fleet Planning, Disaster Preparedness and more; APWA’s Annual Congress provides a full schedule of sessions focused on preparedness, sharing of experiences, planning, funding and collaborative efforts. APWA’s 2013 Congress will be held in Chicago, IL. Will you be there to add to your knowledge base or, better yet, share your knowledge with the rest of North America? Make it a point to look into the benefits you can receive from being part of this event and share that with your administrators, councils, boards, etc. and be sure to get yourself to Chicago! APWA Michigan Chapter Conference, May 21 – 23 Can’t make it for the national program? Be sure to be part of the Michigan Chapter Annual Conference at Shanty Creek this May. The planning committee is working hard to bring another program filled with essential information for all of us. Among the slated presentations is a session on disasters, such as the tornado that caused so much damage in the Dexter area, and how planning can be your best friend in such events. Learn from the Public Works first responders about what went right and why, as well as what could Over the years, many generations of Public Works professionals have lived through and overcome many emergency situations such as: tornados, fires, flooding, straight-line winds, snow and ice storms and more. Many of you working today thought nothing of what you did to deal with such emergencies, whether a full disaster declaration was in place or not. It was just another case of performing your duties flawlessly for the benefit of your communities and those around you. Looking at the emergency response to tornado and winds in the Dexter area, we saw affected communities come together to clear debris and repair the severe damage to their local infrastructure. Many of you, in Public Works agencies across the state, came forward to help with equipment, manpower, etc. in the time of need. We saw a similar spirit of unity after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy along the East Coast & [ ... ]
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