Conference examines ways to handle crises

It takes more than duct tape to survive a state of emergency. Tornados, floods, earthquakes and Mother Nature's other furies can combine with fire, reactive and explosive chemicals and other man-made disasters to create a job and a nightmare for those involved in emergency preparedness. Add the intent to harm, and the level of risk rises.\nPreparation is key. That's why more than 150 Indiana emergency management officials met on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss their experiences and strategies for preparedness incase of a crisis.\nThe 15th-annual meeting of the Indiana Forum for Environmental Safety at the Valle Vista Conference Center in Greenwood, Ind., drew representatives from industry, law enforcement, regulatory agencies, local emergency planning committees, emergency management agencies, health, safety and environmental professionals.\n"The conference is really showing that the Indiana emergency response professional is safeguarding the public by planning and preparing for incidents from hazardous materials to natural disasters," said Susan Gross, the marketing director for the event. She said continual learning updates are important to the industry.\nEven before the opening remarks, the room was filled with the talk of the attendees as they networked to share their experiences with industry peers.\n"The purpose of the forum is to bring the regulators and the regulated together in a non-confrontational discussion," said Stephen Nash, conference chairperson, after he welcomed the attendees. \nNash said some of the Indiana hazardous material spill rules were an outgrowth of previous forums' discussions. \nThe forum offered 14 different sessions plus the Occupational Safety & Health Organization certification refresher courses. Transportation of dangerous goods, environmental crimes, liability, mock disaster exercises and media communications headlined the courses. Many were led by nationally known industry and agency officials trying to be proactive about compliance issues.\n"Improper hazardous material handling is a potential criminal issue, especially any intentional act," said Penny Prochazka, an EPA criminal investigator, as she prepared her presentation. The EPA assists local and state officials with education and enforcement.\nSeveral local officials attended the conference and one presented preparedness exercises. \nFor mock disasters, exercises "add to the realism, and paint a picture for the participants," Ed Vande Sande said to his discussion group. \nVande Sande is the director of disaster and emergency services for the Bloomington Red Cross and serves on the local emergency planning committee. The Red Cross provides shelter and mass care during crisis and is the only non-government response agency, he said.\nFinding problems before they happen is paramount to emergency services. For instance, when 2,500 cell phones are in use at one time in Bloomington, the system crashes, Vande Sande said. He suggested backup communications.\nIt takes cooperation between the public and private sector, said John Hooker III, director of emergency management for Monroe County, after the exercise session.\nHooker said he is proud of the top Level A Hazmat rating of the Bloomington Fire Department and its community involvement. \nCommunication with the public was also discussed during one of the sessions. Nationally-known communications specialist Charles Webster, called for truth and honesty about the events surrounding the crisis and the alignment of one's goals with the media to avoid confrontation. \nWebster made the entire audience repeat what he called the hardest words to say to the media: "I don't know."\nWebster told the audience following this statement with a promise to find out and delivering an accurate report makes the most logical sense.\nAbout a dozen exhibitors had booths to tell conference attendees about their services and products.\nFunds raised by the event will be used for college scholarships.