Category Archives: Community Resilience: Disaster Preparedness, Response, Recovery

In this category you will find commentary and information related to how geographically local communities prepare for, react to and recover from the stresses of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, fires and climate change as well as man-made situations including slowly deteriorating social structures that lead to increased poverty, wars or terrorist attacks. My approach here is primarily philosophical and educational. Practical, tactical and technical information will be pointed to via hyperlinks.

by | September 5, 2021 · 12:47 pm

Unprecedented?

IN LESS THAN two centuries as a US state, California has maintained its reputation as a sunny paradise while also enduring the nation’s most erratic climate: the occasional massive winter storm roaring in from the Pacific; years-long droughts. But recent investigations into the fossil record show that these past years have been relatively stable.

(from ‘The Biblical Flood That Will Drown California’ Wired Magazine Online)

 

“unprecedented” is one of the most frequent adjectives popular media attaches to current events. To me, most uses of this term are an egregious example of fake news ranking along with white supremacy, climate change denial, and anti-vaccination propaganda.

To be ‘unprecedented’ an event must never have happened before – ever. That’s not just within your grandmother’s memory, that’s never, never on this Earth, never in the universe. To label something that you haven’t happened to hear about as ‘unprecedented’ is the height of ignorant, self-centered egotism and very dangerous.

Why is this dangerous? Because it lulls the listener into thinking the event won’t happen again and that there is no point in preparing for it. It encourages confirmation bias, the idea that what I already know about is important and that broadening my information about the world has no value to me. It promotes a sense of helplessness, the feeling that, as a human being, I am in the grip of forces I have no tools to manipulate and am facing problems no one has ever confronted or solved before.

Whether a headlined event seems positive or negative to us, let’s push back when reporters try to exaggerate our emotional response with that word, “unprecedented”.  Humanity has survived and thrived for much longer than our historical record. As the article quoted at the beginning of this blog demonstrates, “hasn’t happened in over 100 years”,  “is unknown in my country”, or “is unacceptable within my culture” doesn’t mean it has never been seen before.

The news media needs to do its homework. Unusual or unfamiliar events, both bad and good, are an opportunity to uncover historical, geological, behavioral or cultural context, to see events within the broader scope of human and planetary experience. There isn’t much new under the sun.

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by | September 19, 2020 · 11:01 pm

Are positive political discussions possible on Facebook?

Sometimes I wonder whether it’s possible to do anything good on social media, especially Facebook. So many discussions rapidly deteriorate into either name calling or reinforcing one’s own bias. Today I had a Facebook interchange I feel pretty good about. I’ll share it with you and I’d like to hear what you think.

The interaction started when I came across this post on my Newsfeed. It originated in the Science, Technology, and Society Discussion Group (Public) which I follow.

Here’s the post

 

The Other 98%

3h

Happening NOW:

Today is early voting in Virginia and Trump supporters are physically blocking the entrance to the polling site in Fairfax. Earlier this week, Trump’s HHS official told Trump supporters to arm themselves, stockpile ammo, and be ready to take the streets to terrorize Democrats. Apparently they heard the call. What’s your impression?

Photo Anthony Tilghman

Visit the Voting Information Center for election resources and official updates.

Get Voting Information

Note that the picture with the post is a still, not a video. It shows the crowd but not the entrance to the polling place. It was posted 3 hours before I saw it at about 6 pm Pacific Time. So back up 3 hours to when the post was made, that would be 3 pm Pacific and forward another 3 hours to be Virginia time. That means “Happening NOW:” would have been going on in Virginia at about 6 pm Virginia time. Did I get that right? I wasn’t worried about the actual time of the event until later in the story. Let’s go on with the Facebook posts.

As is my usual process, I checked the comments:

Heather Hulett
That’s illegal. Arrest them.

Yup, I would agree. My impression is: I wonder if I have the whole story. Next comment:

· Reply ·

1h

Lisa Maas Martin
Blocking someone from.voting is against the law. The police need to get involved.

Hmmm. Sounds bad. Next Comment:

 · Reply ·

58m

James Morales
This is increasingly looking like its going to be a bloody next few months

This certainly could get a liberal all riled up. I’m basically a pacifist and not looking forward to armed clashes over voting.  So I posted the next comment:

 · Reply ·

52m

Liza Loop
Has anyone fact-checked this post? Crowds obstructing voting is a real problem if it is true.

This seemed a reasonable question to me. There’s a lot of fake news on Facebook all across the political spectrum. Here’s the response on my newsfeed:

· Reply ·

25m

Cathy Fuller B Cat
Author
Liza Loop I understand you don’t know me. If you did you would know not to question anything I post. All of it has been verified! Look it up yourself!

Oh, snippy! Don’t mind if I do look it up. Next reply:

· Reply

· 22m

Cathy Fuller B Cat
Author
Liza Loop https://www.fox5dc.com/…/trump-supporters-protest…

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Good. I can use this. I’m going to look it up in a minute but first I want to answer Cathy:

 Reply ·

21m

Liza Loop
Cathy Fuller B Cat Great Cathy. Please don’t be insulted that I advocate fact checking. I do this for all posts, not just you. Thank you for the reference. What do you suggest those of us who are outraged by this do beyond voting?

Be calm, Liza. Be reasonable. But I do wonder why she would take the position that her public posts shouldn’t have been verified, especially a report from Fox News, that most reliable of sources (not). And I’m always searching for people who will be part of the solution, not simply those who stop after whipping us up about the problem. She did honor me with a reply (not everyone does):

Reply ·

20m

Cathy Fuller B Cat
Author
Liza Loop I wish I knew. They are following the lead of their leader. He gets away with things he shouldn’t so I guess they will follow suit. It’s really infuriating. Vote and speak out to all the wrong. Beyond that, I am at a loss.

And now we get to the part that worries me the most – An infuriated liberal who is speaking out inflammatory words (as is her constitutional right) without any idea how to improve the situation. Well, Cathy, I’m not at a loss. I do have ideas. Some of them are pretty Pollyanna but at least they are better than inciting a riot between right-wing, possibly armed, protesters and armed police, many of whom are likely to sympathize more with the protesters than the laws they are bound to enforce. So I post my Pollyanna advice:

· Reply ·

14m

I recommend listening, especially to those you seriously disagree with. Get them to tell you why they believe what they do. Ask them to elaborate, define, explain. Don’t argue or attempt to persuade. Try to find points of commonality. We all love our children and want a better world for them. We want comfort and security for ourselves. We just choose very different ways to get there. By listening you build trust and empathy. Without those two, all you have is confrontation which isn’t a very effective way to win hearts and minds or to change opinions. Listening is a tough assignment that requires patience and a tight rein on the fury many of us experience on hearing misguided arguments. If you listen to another you increase the likelihood the s/he will listen to her/himself. Sometimes that will begin the process of self-doubt and questioning entrenched beliefs. Keep in mind that underneath all that posturing and bluster is very deep fear. Your empathy is the first step to building the courage to face that fear and overcome it.

Having said my peace (or is that ‘piece’), I go back to the process of fact checking by actually reading the online Fox News article. It showed video of the protesters taken around 10 am, presumably Virginia time.  It showed them at the required distance from the entrance to the polls, a detail that was not in Cathy’s still picture. The commentary said:

Tilghman tells FOX 5 that the protesters first blocked the entrance to the polling site before officials forced them to move 40 feet away as required by law…Tilghman reported that election officials eventually moved voters waiting in line inside because of the protests.

So a law was broken when the protesters got too close to the polling place but was resolved peacefully when they moved back. Biden supporters may find it unpleasant to have a noisy, pro-Trump rally going on but that’s free speech, not a crime. I’m glad I checked. And I’m glad I didn’t join the Facebook chorus of ‘arrest them, call the police, there’s gonna’ be bloodshed.’ Yes, Cathy, you posted the truth but not the whole truth. And we can see how your approach is a similar kind of rabble rousing that we so deplore in the current President. As I replied to Cathy, “underneath all that posturing and bluster is very deep fear. Your empathy is the first step to building the courage to face that fear and overcome it.” Have I taken my own advice and been empathetic with Cathy’s fear. Apparently not, here’s what she posted back:

Reply

1h

Cathy Fuller B Cat

Author

Liza Loop

I have tried that for months. Years. It does not work here in my area. They will not cite their feelings on any issues other than guns and abortions. The most common response I get on social media is trump 2020 with flags galore or trump train 2020 with a matching gifs or memes. I am surrounded here by solid red with the exception of a few like minded friends. They won’t read even short articles. And even if they see a video or audio recording of him as proof, I am told that it’s fake news. Hopefully y’all that are in different areas have better luck than I’ve had around here. I have lived here most all my life but I never knew there were so many racists around me until trump. I am now surrounded by his racist cult. I fear it will only get worse after Nov. 4.

No response from Cathy, yet, but it’s getting late on the east coast, time for dinner here in California. Apple pie for me, I don’t like rhubarb. The Walbridge fire is still smoldering less than 2 miles from my house. It’s mostly out but we still have our hoses at ready. The forest near me is actually managed by the State of California so Trump’s accusations about who should have cleared the brush are not completely wrong. However, the smoke I’m smelling tonight is coming from a national forest northeast of me. The buck stops with Trump on that one. I don’t think any of us is all right or all wrong. And I do think Trump is dangerous, scary, crazy.

The real enemy is the fear and being “at a loss”. Fear makes us cling to ideologies, paralyzes our ability to generate creative new solutions, keeps us from trying new processes, leaves us “at a loss”. We start with fearing what may happen in the future and progress to fearing each other and opinions that diverge from our own. Cathy and I probably share many political positions in common, have similar aspirations for our children and grandchildren, would furnish ‘a better world’ with the same kind of tables and chairs. I feel good about our recent exchange on Facebook. She has voiced her fear and had some of her ideas validated. I’ve had an opportunity suggest some alternative approaches to political conflict. I’m hopeful our conversation will generate some thoughtful reflection among its readers…

Oops! I spoke too soon. This just in:

Cathy Fuller B Cat
Author
Liza Loop

I take offense to both of your comments. Who are you to question what I do? Maybe you’re not convinced of anything I say because I don’t care if you’re convinced. You are none of my concern.

Clearly I need more practice to get the ‘preaching’ out of my Facebook responses. I’m sorry I’ve offended you, Cathy. If I’m really none of your concern then you won’t mind what I say next. Facebook is a funny mixture of public and private utterances. When we share our posts we are issuing an invitation for agreement, contradiction, rational/logical arguments and rebuttals. We are exposing ourselves to judgment by random web surfers whose opinions may or may not be useful to us. In spite of Cathy’s response, I appreciate the opportunity her posts have given me to air my point of view. I hope some readers will find listening with compassion, as compared to lashing out in fear, to be a useful strategy as they pursue their political agendas. As I wind up this article the conversation is still going on with others chiming in. There is some chance it will generate a “positive political discussion”.  I won’t question what Cathy does any further. And I don’t think I’ll shut down my Facebook account just yet.

 

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by | March 24, 2020 · 10:43 am

Begin now to grow food just in case there’s a food shortage

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic many organizations are asking volunteers to help deliver food to people who cannot get to grocery stores. Helping to deliver food now is a worthy volunteer activity. However, if the pandemic continues long term we may find that food supplies may dwindle dangerously. We need to look ahead two possible problems: not enough food to distribute and not enough money to buy it.

 

 

Each one of us can grow food in pots and home gardens to supplement our commercial food sources. Tomatoes, beans, lettuce, radishes and herbs grow well in pots on your porch, balcony, patio, fire escape or garden plot. Potatoes may need a little more space. Growing food at home is a wonderful activity for both children and adults.

In addition to home food production, many schools already have substantial gardens and towns often have community gardens. Volunteers can keep these gardens productive while remaining the required 6 foot distancing between people. If your local school has a meal distribution program that brings parents and students to the campus, check with your school staff to see if you might also spend an hour in the garden.

(https://www.moneycrashers.com/how-to-save-money-with-a-hom…/)

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by | March 12, 2020 · 2:04 pm

UV-C Lamps Inspire Hope and Caution

While the world panics over the spread of the Covid-19 viral disease little attention is being paid in the news media to a known way to kill the virus on surfaces. Exposure to UV-C light damages the DNA of almost all living things, including the novel corona virus. Here’s what a quick but thoughtful internet search reveals.

Be Safe

Exposure of human skin to UV-C light will burn you and eventually promote skin cancer. It can’t be used directly on people and lamps that generate UV-C should only be used by careful and cautious members of the public. Here’s what a supplier to the heating and air conditioning industry says in their blog, UV-C Lamps: Playing it Safe

“Light in the Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) spectrum has proven effective in killing virtually all known microorganisms, making it the ideal solution for cleaning HVAC cooling coils and decontaminating the upper air in public spaces such as schools and hospitals.

The potency of UV lamps, however, means that care must be taken when servicing these systems. Unlike some hazards, exposure to ultraviolet light does not offer a natural avoidance response (e.g. squinting eyes in bright sunlight) or a physical cue that protection is necessary (e.g., heat radiating from a hot pan). Furthermore, the physiological effects of UV-C exposure are delayed and can appear up to six hours later.

While damage from UV-C is temporary, the HVAC/R industry takes steps to safeguard service personnel from avoidable ultraviolet exposure and the consequences of its short-term or chronic effects.”

With precautions noted, perhaps this disinfectant method could be used more widely, both in homes and in public spaces. Before we go further, let’s look at what UV-C light actually is.

UV-C Explained

Back in February of 2017 the blog, Noticias de Salud, carried and article entitled “Scientific Opinion assessing health risks associated with UV-C radiation from lamps concludes that further research is needed”.

“UV-C is ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of 280 to 100 nanometres. Most people have heard of the dangers of UV-A and UV-B exposure from the sun or from sunbeds. UV-C is also produced by the sun, but it is the shortest of the ultraviolet wavelengths and is almost entirely filtered out by the atmosphere before reaching the earth’s surface. The shorter the wavelength, the more impact ultraviolet radiation could have on human health.

Artificially-produced UV-C has been used successfully as a germicide and bactericide for decades. It can kill or disable micro-organisms like bacteria, viruses, mold and mildew, and doesn’t require the use of chemicals like chlorine. It is cheaper and more energy efficient than other methods of disinfection, using very little energy. Due to these advantages, UV-C is being used for an increasing range of applications, including for disinfecting air systems, wastewater treatment plants and air-conditioning systems. It is also used in food and beverage industrial processes and in hospitals to sterilise instruments, work surfaces and the air.

Although most appliances are sealed systems there is now increasing use of devices where consumers may be directly exposed to UV-C radiation.”

So, we now know what UV-C light is, that it does kill viruses and that direct exposure to it should be avoided by humans and animals. How can it be used to quell the raising panic over Covid-19?

UV-C in Hospitals and Commercial Spaces

A March 4, 2020 post from CHINADAILY.COM.CN suggests how the technique can be used in hospitals. This particular article doesn’t indicate whether such equipment is in broad use in that country or not.



 

 

For airplanes, an American company, Dimer UVC Innovations, has developed a robot to use for disinfecting passenger cabins.



 

 

 

 

According to IEEE SPECTRUM, a technical engineering publication, the GermFalcon has not actually been tested on the virus that causes COVID-19 but the company is willing to try it out for free on selected airlines.

Whether this device is actually in production and what it might cost an airline didn’t show up in my search.

Using UV-C in the Home

Clearly, products for home disinfection are on the market.

Google search for UV-C

Buyers should beware of several potential issues. First, only some UV lamps produce UV-C wavelength light. UV-A and UV-B and plain UV won’t do the trick. Second, while the lamp bases are relatively inexpensive they don’t always come with a bulb. It’s the bulbs that are costly. Thirdly, consumers need to understand the risks of exposure to UV-C. While the supplier may include instructions for safe use the pictures I saw show devices with minimal or no shielding. I suspect nothing you want to stay alive should stay in a room with such a device on – that means no pets, no children. I have no idea what UV-C does to plants.

People are beginning to purchase UV-C lamps as cases of COVID-19 are announced. Hopefully they will be effective in preventing its spread. In addition, we need to be sure we don’t create a secondary crisis of UV-C exposure.

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by | December 8, 2017 · 7:38 pm

The Fire is out, now how do I help you?

On October 8, 2017 a small fire broke out in rural Sonoma County, California. By the time is was put out 110 thousand acres of wild land and heavily populated areas had burned, 8 thousand structures were gone. We had several thousand newly traumatized and unhoused residents in our community. Full recovery is not expected for three to seven years if at all.  I’ve been doing whatever I can to help people whom we originally called “fire victims” and now refer to as “fire survivors”.

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This satellite image using shortwave infrared (SWIR) shows damage from the wildfire in Santa Rosa. (Digital Globe via AP)

Three days ago a similar horror began in the southern California county of Ventura which is, as of this writing, still only 10% contained. 143 thousand acres have already been consumed.

I’d like to help her but have no idea what I can do that would be helpful and meaningful.

A few days ago a friend from New York emailed me:

“I know you have been heavily involved in the recovery effort after the awful fires in northern CA. I just learned that a good friend of ours lost her house to fire in Ventura. It was very fast and she was able to escape with only her cat. She has nothing. I’d like to help her but have no idea what I can do that would be helpful and meaningful. Your insights and suggestions would be appreciated.”

Here’s what I wrote to my friend and am now sharing with you:

Ask yourself and your friend…

920x9201

Evacuee Martha Lynn rests with her dogs Broonzy (not pictured) and Golly (right) at a Red Cross shelter after evacuating her home following the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle)

1. Does she have a comfortable place to stay with adequate food, clothing and any medications she needs? For the next few days? For the next few weeks?

2. Does she have a computer connection so she can contact support agencies? They won’t get into full swing until about a week after the fires are actually out.

3. Does she have enough money for the next few days? Next 6 months?
4. Is she emotionally stable enough to cope with all the stupid paperwork that will be necessary in the coming months?
920x920

Terrie Burns stands in the middle of her destroyed at the scene of the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa, Ca., on Monday October 9, 2017. Massive wildfires ripped through Napa and Sonoma counties early Monday, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses on Monday October 9, 2017 (Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle)

5. Has she applied for FEMA and SBA funds? Although these services are mostly targeted to low income folks there are usually some benefits for all fire survivors. The SBA has very low interest loans for individuals to replace personal property lost in the fires. SBA is not only for businesses. She must register with FEMA and then apply to the SBA to establish eligibility within 2 months of the fire. Then she will have years to apply for actual grants and loans should she decide to go forward with any of them.

I like to think of a fire survivor’s psychological state as somewhat similar to what happens when you unexpectedly find yourself living in a foreign country. The environment is strange, the people and their customs are strange. You have none of your familiar surroundings and life props – like your favorite music. It’s important to resupply yourself with some of those props so that you can take an emotional vacation back to your old life on occasion. Life will never be the same but a little respite from the newness can help. In intercultural communications we talk about the “W curve” of culture shock. I suspect the emotional waves of disaster shock are comparable and much like other grief trajectories. It’s reassuring to know that recurring waves of emotion, from total numbness to euphoria and back, are “normal”, i.e. experienced by most people. You’re not going crazy when they happen.
Family-reunions-at-border-35-1024x576
For you, as a helper/supporter, patience is the most valuable gift you can offer. It’s too soon to go beyond question 1 right now — unless she is asking. Even then, don’t expect her to remember what was said and be prepared to go over everything several times. The recovery path is different for each person or family. Losing “everything” is different for an insured homeowner with a strong family or friends network than for a socially isolated renter who was financially insecure before the fire. They will all have shock, grief and frustration in common but the assistance they need from you will be very different. Listen carefully but wait until your friend is ready to talk. Don’t try to send her “stuff” until she has a closet again.
Recovery from these fires will take 3 to 7 years for many people. Right now, your friend’s mind is likely to be bouncing between surviving the next two days and envisioning life after rebuilding. Make sure tomorrow is covered and hold on to your desire to help so it’s still there in 6 months when the real, long-term needs begin to kick in.

Many of you who read this will have more experience helping people navigate the trauma of fire and other disasters than I do. Please add your comments and suggestions in the comment section below. If you think this piece contains good advice go ahead and make it your own. Use it and share it. This is a time for open community giving. What’s here is a gift, not a piece of intellectual property. A great society is one that pulls together in time of need and celebrates the richness of its sharing.

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