Got Stuff? Critical Resources & Logistics in Disaster Response

A successful response to any disaster requires timely access to the resources, including personnel, supplies, and equipment, needed to respond to and recover from the effects of the disaster. How do you know what you need? Who needs what? What is available? How do you get it and how does it get where it is needed? These are just a few of the initial questions every emergency manager asks themselves when preparing for and responding to an event. Many of these questions can be addressed in advance through thoughtful planning, targeted training, and purpose-driven exercises with local and state partners. However, when faced with a disaster of unprecedented scope, scale, and impact, preparedness measures can fall short and emergency managers have to pivot and develop new processes and partnerships to ensure resources and logistics continue to support effective disaster response. This presentation will include guidance on how local emergency managers can interface with the state to ensure smooth and effective flow of state, federal, private sector, and non-profit resources into your communities during a disaster response. Participants will also gain insight into best practices in resource management and logistics identified during the recent COVID-19 and Derecho responses. Finally, attendees of this session will leave with an understanding of what they can do now to prepare for the next disaster, when and how they can ask for help, and how best to integrate outside resources into their local disaster response. Presenter: Jacob Nicholson