Pan American Convention of Engineers: DRN Panel Discussion on Disaster Response, September 21, 2006

Panelists offer perspectives on the role of engineering...

Disaster management was one of many topics covered at the Pan American Convention of Engineers held in Atlanta, Georgia this year.  Duane Kissick (PADCO), Steve Curtis (Parsons Brinckerhoff), Barry Grear (REDR), Craig Helms (Carolins, LLC) and Father Oseguera (UNIRED) joined the Disaster Resource Network in a panel discussion on the engineering sector's role in disaster response.  The session highlighted a broad range of issues that engineers confront when called upon to assist in the aftermath of a disaster.  Case studies and personal experience illustrated how legal considerations, decision-making authority, chain of command, cultural awareness and local involvement determine success or failure on the ground.  

Barry Grear emphasized the importance of including "clean up" in disaster response planning.  "This is a matter which needs careful consideration as dump sites are not always readily available and the road system may not have been designed for the weight and volume of traffic demands.  The separation of different types of waste is critical."  

Panelist Craig Helms elaborated on specific actions that must be taken during each phase of operations, from planning and pre-mobilization  to deployment and evaluation.

As President of Mexico's University Network for the Prevention and Attention of Disasters, Father Oseguera explained the valuable role that higher education institutes can play in disaster management.  As apolitical and neutral bodies, universities represent as a unique source of expertise, manpower, space and influence to surrounding communities. Today, the University Network is operative in nearly every state in Mexico, where its affiliates are building local response capacity through training, recruitment and warehousing programs based on risk factors, population and available resources.  

Damage photos of ports, bridges and levees taken by panelist Steve Curtis in the first days following Hurricane Katrina Steve clearly demonstrated the relationship between infrastructure design and resiliency.  

For a transcript of the session, please email connolly@drnglobal.org.