Preparations beyond disasters

The Underoneroof 2022 conference at the DECC has come to an end. It is where emergency preparedness professionals are learning innovative and effective techniques.

Disasters of any kind affect businesses and families every year. Once a disaster happens, the next step is the recovery process, which does not come with an exact end time. Take, for example, the historic 2012 flood in Duluth. "The recovery piece takes a long time. That is where the partnerships come in with continuous meetings. We are making plans, trying to communicate with the public, get people back in their houses, and get things fixed. That is the part that takes the longest,” says St. Louis County Emergency Manager Dewey Johnson.

Working together as a unit can be more effective than working as individuals to provide services. “The importance of organizations working together is really to imply all of their impacts, said Williams. Rather than having parallel efforts going on. You can collaborate, support each other and take advantage of each other’s strengths." Dan Williams is the Executive Director at American Red Cross Serving Northern Minnesota.

Williams shares that some groups of workers can sometimes underappreciate for their part in emergency response. "The work of public health, our hospitals, and medical systems and being able to help us be ready to respond when disasters happen."

This conference offers information in areas that include community sheltering & mass care, volunteer engagement, and much more. Underoneroof celebrated its 10th anniversary with next year’s date scheduled for May sixteenth and seventeenth.