Reposted from Readywhen.org
READYWHEN
A New Model for Disaster Readiness
Harnessing the Skills of Mass Gatherings Experts to Build Community Preparedness
Disasters are testing the strength of America. But we can be #ReadyWhen it matters most.
Weather disasters now strike every four days on average, causing $182 billion in damages and displacing 11 million Americans every year. Over 95% of Americans live in counties that have experienced major disasters in the last 15 years. Traditional emergency systems are overwhelmed and understaffed.
But there’s a solution hiding in plain sight…
Disaster response starts with neighbors, not strangers. When professional help can take 72 hours or longer to arrive, communities with robust social networks make better evacuation decisions, conduct faster search and rescue, and provide more effective immediate relief. The people who know your neighborhood, run your local venues, and organize community events already have the trust, communication channels, and many of the skills to support coordinated action when disaster strikes, especially when those networks are already prepared and connected with local emergency management.
Time is running out to build these connections before the next crisis
In 2024, the U.S. experienced one Major Disaster declaration every four days, with 267 out of 366 days having at least one active disaster somewhere in the country. Over one-third of Americans lived under a disaster declaration at some point last year.
The question isn’t whether your community will face an emergency—it’s whether you’ll be #ReadyWhen it happens.
Read more at: https://readywhen.org/
IFCPP is proud to share a bit about this important new initiative in advance of the role that ReadyWhen will play at the IFCPP 27th Annual Conference in New Orleans on April 18 & 19, during pre-conference educational activities and workshops…
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