EXEMPLARY PRACTICES IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Pacific Grove -- A Model for Small City Disaster Preparedness
Program Description: In 1990 Pacific Grove (60 miles from the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake) decided to prepare a comprehensive earthquake and disaster plan, following a study that showed the likelihood of a complete loss of utilities, sewer systems, and telephone services, as well as an overload of cellular systems and damage to streets and highway overpasses during an earthquake. City employees were sent to earthquake preparedness training courses given at the Governor's Office of Emergency Services' California Specialized Training Institute in San Luis Obispo. A disaster coordinator was hired to update the city's disaster plan. A Volunteers in Preparedness program was formed to train neighborhood emergency response teams, which include amateur radio operators and Boy Scouts, in earthquake preparedness, disaster medicine, how and when to turn off the gas, how to rescue victims trapped under earthquake debris, and firefighting.
Lacking funding, the disaster coordinator enlisted retirement homes, volunteer organizations, public utilities, and emergency service agencies to join in the State's "Duck, Cover and Hold" earthquake drill.
Evaluation Information: In 1994 Pacific Grove was cited as the only city (of 12) in Monterey County having an emergency planner and the only city to hold earthquake drills regularly. Pacific Grove received the Institute of Local Self Government's California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence (honorable mention -- public safety) in 1995. The city's preparedness programs have received innumerable media mentions.
Annual Budget: $28,000 (FEMA: $11,000 toward the disaster coordinator's salary; $14,000 from the city's fire department budget; and $3,000 from the city budget).
Sources of Funding: FEMA and city budgets.
Program Type: Disaster preparedness.
Target Population: Residents of Pacific Grove (17,000).
Setting: Pacific Grove.
Project Startup Date: 1990.
Contact:
Russell C. Coile, Ph.D., CEM
Disaster Coordinator
Pacific Grove Fire Department
600 Pine Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950-3317
Tel: 408-648-3110
Fax: 408-648-3107
E-mail: russell@coile.com
Last Modified: Thursday, 30-Mar-2006 10:05:14 EST