Retrofitting buildings in high-risk areas for disaster mitigation
Abstract
Homeland security brings together community partners in an effort to prepare, mitigate, and if necessary, respond to disasters and other emergencies. RSVP volunteers serving in southeastern Vermont collaborated with their local chapter of the American Red Cross and other volunteer service partners to retrofit two childcare centers. Similar mitigation steps could be taken for private homes and businesses in need of retrofitting. This effective practice was highlighted in the National Service News, Issue No.169, October 14, 2002, published by the Corporation for National and Community Service.Issue
Homeland security and public safety requires community efforts -- to prepare for, mitigate, and respond to disasters and emergencies. Utilizing available resources in communities necessitates assessment of existing resources, collaboration, and action.Action
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteers serving in Windham County, Vermont, collaborated with the local chapter of the American Red Cross, the Windham Regional Commission (WRC) and the Salvation Army, along with the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) to retrofit two childcare centers. Effective practices included:- Windham Child Care, an organization that supports local childcare centers, provided contacts for childcare centers in the area.
- A disaster mitigation expert from IBHS purchased materials and provided supervision (materials included lumber, brackets, screws, and fasteners).
- Materials not provided by IBHS were donated by a local hardware store.
- A task force planned and retrofitted the childcare centers in Brattleboro and Vernon to make them stronger and more disaster resistant.
- This was a community effort, with volunteers from the Brattleboro Retreat, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, the Salvation Army, and the Vermont Center for Independent Living helping to retrofit the buildings.
- A staff member with the American Red Cross videotaped massage as a training tool and arranged for the volunteers to receive massages at the end of their service.
- The Salvation Army held a barbecue for all the workers to celebrate the completion of the project.
Context
Windham County was one of ten locations around the country selected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a pilot disaster mitigation site. The area has experienced serious high winds and floods; winter brings ice as well as snow, and the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant is located in the area.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Windham County, along with other Vermont RSVPs, received a Programs of National Significance grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. This grant supports 12 RSVP volunteers per project, working in teams, providing Red Cross disaster preparedness education in communities throughout their areas.
The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)is a non-profit association that engages in communication, education, engineering and research. The mission of IBHS is to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters by positioning and building businesses and homes to keep citizens and property safe.
The Windham Regional Commission (WRC) is a voluntary association of 27 towns in southeastern Vermont operating under the authority of the Vermont Municipal and Regional Planning and Development Act. The purpose of the WRC is to assist member towns to provide local government and to work cooperatively with them to address regional issues.
Outcome
The retrofitting project was so successful that:- The RSVP of Windham County is now discussing more retrofits planned for the Martin Luther King Day of Service.
- RSVP and the local housing authority are considering home visits to a senior-housing project located on a floodplain to help residents prepare disaster supply kits.
Posted On
November 7, 2002For More Information
Related Practices
Related sites
The Institute for Business and Home Safety