By Mary Elizabeth Lonergan
In March, the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), a CSG affiliated organization, is hosting an Emergency Management Virtual Learning Lab series exploring topics selected by NEMA members to address timely issues in emergency management and to address lessons learned over the past year. To view the recordings of these sessions, visit the NEMA YouTube Channel.
Despite being one of the busiest agencies since last March, the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) still found a way to discuss best practices and celebrate their successes through their Emergency Management Virtual Learning Labs.
The first Learning Lab focused on Long-Term Resilience strategies and Lifeline lessons.
“No one would have imagined the extent and the impact that COVID has had on life, health, safety, the economy, on relationships…these impacts are not just personal, but they also greatly impact the public sector and the private sector,” said John Dorman, vice president and director of Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations and Management (AECOM).
In California, Abby Browning with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services spoke about the top three lifelines most impacted by COVID-19. Lifelines the most fundamental services in the community that, when stabilized, enable all other aspects of society to function, according to FEMA.gov.
“The top three lifelines that were effected were, obviously, is health care. The health care industry was significantly affected during COVID and still is.. then the education industry and trying to facilitate virtual learning,” she said.
Browning pointed to some creative work-arounds California educators found to provide wireless hot spots for students without.
“Not everybody in California has internet access,” she said. “We put Wi-Fi hotspots on school buses and drove them around in areas to try and get internet access for these students.”
In Maryland, similar lifelines were hit first and hardest. Kyle Overly with Maryland Emergency Management Agency, said healthcare and medical were the first lifelines impacted followed closely by food, water and shelter.
“Early on, from grocery stores there were supply chain issues and making sure stores were full,” he said.
Overly pointed to safety and security as the third most impacted as people’s “social and safety nets were removed,” he said.
In North Carolina, small businesses were able to fill in the gaps left by COVID-19 as materials and equipment ran out of stock.
“Our small businesses really rose to the challenge. People who would normally be doing something else, like the North Carolina Brewers Guild, started making hand sanitizers and things like that,” said Persia Payne-Hurley, Private Sector Manager with the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management said. “Small businesses having the ability to pivot, and stretch has increased everyone’s resiliency across the board.”
Payne-Hurley pointed to North Carolina’s Division of Emergency Management and ability to partner with private sector companies to create positive outcomes.
“We need to look at the private sector as a partner because they are a partner,” she said.
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The NEMA Virtual Learning Labs will continue every Tuesday and Thursday until March 25.
To register for upcoming sessions, visit: nemaweb.org/index.php/forums-meetings/nema-webinar-series-march-2021
To view recordings of past events, visit the NEMA YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/NEMAforyou.