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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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December
2007
Volume 13
- Number 3 |
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Southern California in Another ‘Wild’ One – What should the Governor Do? By Stuart Belle 2007 has been an unforgettable year for California.
“Fire officials said more than 265,000 people have been evacuated and nearly
4,900 firefighters are battling the fast-moving blazes,… …the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention had reported 13 active wildfires
have consumed more than 98,000 acres and destroyed or damaged at least 50
homes and businesses across six counties.” “Hardest hit was San Diego County,
where 250,000 people have fled from five fires. One person was killed and
18 were reported injured in the county, including five firefighters.”
(Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/22/wildfire.ca/)
So what steps should the Governor of California take in this emergency situation? What critical messages and which timely actions will have a significant impact on the way this disaster is perceived and managed? What initiative should Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger take to ‘cool’ the situation? Here are five key things he did do, and how his actions demonstrated the way leadership needs to function during crisis. First, the Governor recognized the urgency of the situation and prioritized the response over other important concerns. "’It's a tragic time for California,’ California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said… . He declared a state of emergency in seven counties and asked the National Guard to pull 800 soldiers from patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border to help battle the wildfires.” (Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/22/wildfire.ca/). Second, Gov. Schwarzenegger recognized the need for outside assistance. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was contacted by the Governor to order delivery of all available Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) to help fight the fires. Cognizant of the growing crisis, Gov. Schwarzenegger wrote, "Your immediate assistance is necessary to deploy Department of Defense aircraft located in Wyoming, North Carolina and Colorado to assist California in our firefighting effort." (Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/22/wildfire.ca/) Thirdly, the Governor puts his money where his priorities lay – a comprehensive approach to hazard management that includes recovery, mitigation, and further preparedness. In a statement on congressional action where $500 million was approved to aid in the suppression, recovery, and wildfire risk reduction. (Source: http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/press-release/8022/). Fourth, in very visible fashion, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appealed to and encouraged the resilience of Southern California. “Reminding tourists that Southern California remains a beautiful, exciting and safe place to visit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today toured popular tourist destinations still open for business after the recent wildfires.” (Source: http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/8029/). A fifth and especially critical action taken was the Governor’s initiative to assure organizational learning. “With the devastating southern California fires under control, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today called on the Blue Ribbon Task Force to assess the next steps to take at federal, state and local levels of government to prevent and fight future fires. Additionally, the Governor asked the task force to review the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Fire Commission’s recommendations, generated after the 2003 fires, to evaluate if the recommendations are still the best and most effective ways in preventing and fighting fires.” (Source: http://www.calfires.com/). What guidance can administrators, decision-makers, communicators, and public representatives take from Gov. Schwarzenegger’s actions? Be responsive, promote accountability, and remain personally committed. |