416
Russell C. Coile
disaster preparedness and fi rst aid for the visually impaired and distribute
materials in cassette, large print, and Braille.
Introduction
The American Red Cross received 74 million dollars in designated
donations to help earthquake victims in northern California after the
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. As it turned out, these funds were more
than enough for the immediate disaster relief efforts. Therefore, it was
determined that any money left over should remain in northern California
and be used for earthquake preparedness activities.
Northern California Earthquake Preparedness Project
Initially, two million dollars were used to establish a two-year American
Red Cross unit called Northern California Earthquake Preparedness
Project to build greater American Red Cross earthquake response capacity
throughout the region. This was the fi rst fully funded risk area-specifi c Red
Cross unit created to evaluate current levels of preparedness and to invest
in planning, preparedness and education. This two year project prepared
risk analyses of natural disasters, developed a disaster response plan
for American Red Cross units in northern California, and assembled an
extensive resource directory of American Red Cross human and material
disaster response resources.
Northern California Disaster Preparedness Network
However, it became evident that the American Red Cross alone cannot
provide all the services a community would need after a large disaster. It
was then decided that the Red Cross should take the lead in organizing
the coordination and cooperation of other community-based organizations
and businesses to assist local governments in coping with preparedness
activities for a big disaster, perhaps of the magnitude of the 1906 San
Francisco earthquake. The United Way of the San Francisco Bay Area had
independently studied these large-scale disaster response problems.
United Way had held a series of town meetings with 600 participants and
engaged a consulting fi rm to develop a vision of community education
for disaster preparedness. From thousands of comments and multiple
needs identifi ed by the participants, six themes were distilled: prevention
and self suffi ciency; coordinated response; assessing needs; raising and
deploying resources; learning from experience; sustaining and improving
preparedness.
Summary :
Northern California Earthquake Preparedness Project Initially, two million dollars were used to establish a two-year American Red Cross unit called Northern California Earthquake Preparedness Project to build greater American Red Cross earthquake response capacity throughout the region. This two year project prepared risk analyses of natural disasters, developed a disaster response plan for American Red Cross units in northern California, and assembled an extensive resource directory of American Red Cross human and material disaster response resources.
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disaster,red,cross,earthquake,american,california,northern,response,project,used,education,risk,two