that an effective response to a disaster would he too much to expect." About 40 representatives of community service organizations, uncomfortable with the narrow scope and centralized approach of the City Club study, met to discuss an alternative approach to disaster planning. Terry Anderson wrote the report excerpted here. Tobase disaster planning on models of military mobilization or disease intervention (if it gets bad enough, we'll operate) encourages passivity in the populace by assurances that no one need fear or plan for emergencies because a system will be activated to service everyone efficiently and effectively. This attitude adds to complacency and unnecessarily undercuts self-reliance and community efforts to plan for emergencies. We need to focus more on community organizing. We need a plan that is workable, flexible, and that operates not only in catastrophic circumstances but that also fosters and strengthens the community at large in a continuing way. With most emergency preparedness efforts, people need to keep their skills honed either by annual drills and reminders, or by a real crisis. For this reason, self-reliance efforts related to emergencies need integral connections to more comprehensive neighborhood organizing efforts. Neighborhood crime prevention, community gardens, recycling and weatherization projects, food co-ops, and house sharing—all place a premium on the exchange of work and resources. A different perspective employs a different metaphor—a web of interlocking networks rather than a command post. A different perspective also poses a different set of questions: What do people need (as opposed to how do we manage people) ?How can we best use existing resources (as opposed to how can we co-ordinate resources) ? What else is needed to augment these resources in times of cataclysm or prolonged distress ? Our perspective leads to these first threads of planning: • people's capacity for self-reliance must be fostered; • connections between people ("natural networks") and mutual assistance are an irreplaceable resource and should be nourished; • the familiar should be retained Vanport Flood, 1948: Rescuers form a lifeline whenever possible; neighborhood and cultural identification should be the first bonds formed in a larger system; • certain populations (e.g., the elderly, the handicapped, single parents with children, the low income)—more vulnerable than others and whose chronic problems rapidly deteriorate to an acute condition—are critical or high-risk populations that need to be specifically addressed; and, • technological over-dependency means people in general are more vulnerable whenever these systems (e.g., power, telephone, transportation) break down. Therefore basic survival information that takes into account a range of technological contingencies should be in the hands of all the citizenry through school systems, senior centers, and a public information campaign. The thrust of planning therefore should be a "bottom-up" approach— moving from smaller units or areas of coordination to larger. Senior centers, schools, churches, and neighborhood associations are the logical first focal points in cooperation with volunteer emergency agencies, community service organizations and city and county field personnel. In each area of the county these are presently identifiable and familiar to many. We can then explore ideas that fuse these principles into a plan. Form a task force in each quarter of the county to assess resources and needs and to take responsibility in a crisis. Form networks within and between the task forces. Disseminate information on urban survival to the public. Perhaps we can also establish a monitoring system (mailpersons, a buddy system, block homes), depots for wood and other supplies, and warm centers (a hot meal and social interaction). Such an approach to crises allows for diversification of response according to the particular strengths and needs of an area. Each area forms its own network and retains a measure of autonomy in coordinating services. Coupling more localized planning with a broad informational campaign will foster a sense of personal and community responsibility. It is true that such an approach means more work for each of us. Perhaps it is a matter of the will making a way. —Terry Anderson 61 Oregon Historical Society
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