Disaster unit founder emphasizes teamwork value

By Jordan Cohen

The team’s leader wants to put the public’s mind at ease.

HOWLAND — The founder of the Disaster Alert Team says the various agencies need to talk more to one another and persuade the public to take steps to protect itself.

“We don’t really know each other and we need to know we are on the same page,” said Kathryn Hawks-Haney, of Youngstown. Hawks-Haney, the president of Give the Children a Chance Inc. and a former school board member, formed the team last April.

Nearly 20 people representing Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross, churches, the Youngstown Board of Education, and the Trumbull Career and Technical Center met Monday at Hillside Rehabilitation Center to discuss Hawks-Haney’s efforts. The group included a representative of the Ohio Search Dog Association from Warrensville Heights who was accompanied by her “partner” Dharma, a 4-year-old German shepherd trained to sniff out survivors in rubble.

Clark Jones, director of Mahoning EMA, said the county’s 1,200-page Emergency Operations Plan, which state law requires every Ohio county to have, clearly defines the acts that must be taken during a disaster.

“Nothing is perfect, but we’ve taken everything we can think of and put it in the plan,” Jones said.

“That book is doing nothing for me,” said Hawks-Haney. “I think it’s our responsibility to put the public mind at ease. It has to be a together thing.”

Jones said he supported Hawks-Haney’s efforts and emphasized a message the team should convey to the general public: Always keep emergency supplies in the home, such as water.

“Individuals need to take the initiative,” Jones said.

Guido Jannetti, Jr., operations director of the Mahoning County Red Cross, said those who have not prepared themselves will not be able to rely on safety forces or volunteers to immediately help them should disaster strike.

“Don’t count on the magic of [a call to] 911,” Jannetti said. “You need to sustain yourself for a indefinite period of time.” Jones and Jannetti said that could be as much as 72 hours.

“That’s one of the reasons for panic,” Jannetti said. “Not being prepared.”

However, several members of the team called for special attention to the needs of the poor and cited the suffering that occurred in the poverty-stricken areas of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.

“Supplies are not always within their reach,” said Gretchen Brown, who works with low-income residents through Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).

Another issue facing the team is organizing groups to undergo training to help when disaster strikes. Jannetti said training is mandatory despite the best efforts of a well-intentioned public.

“We always have trouble with good-hearted people who just want to rush in and help without realizing what they’re getting into,” Jannetti said. “That doesn’t help the situation at all.”

Hawks-Haney said she expects the team to meet again, most likely early next year. The agency representatives agreed that the team’s efforts can help them, especially in the areas of communication and the need for training.

“What you’re doing is what we need you to do,” Jannetti said.