Author: Eric R. Conrad, P.G.

We are putting together a task force to develop a policy paper on “IECA’s Role in Disaster Preparedness Before, During and After Natural Disasters.” The document this task force develops will help guide IECA’s actions in this important area. If you would like to participate on the task force, please contact Becky Milot-Bradford, Association Development Director, at becky@ieca.org.

Not ready to commit to participating on the task force? We welcome your ideas! You can post your comments and suggestions for consideration by the task force.

We hope you enjoy this rough draft, and that you spend some time considering this important issue.

As professionals in the erosion control industry, IECA and its members have an obligation to help mitigate the impact of natural disasters, before, during and after the disasters occur. IECA’s main role in disaster preparedness and recovery is that of education to increase everyone’s awareness of how important erosion and sediment controls—including storm water management—can be to mitigating disasters and catastrophes.

Through education we can accomplish much to help reduce these impacts. We can set expectations, help those living in geohazard areas to minimize the potential for adverse impacts and ultimately through better awareness take actions which reduce the potential for harm to ourselves and others.The education and awareness building can take many forms. But ultimately, we need to be able to answer these questions.

For the Client—Some key questions may include: Am I purchasing land and proposing to build in a geo-hazard area. If yes, what are the potential consequences of this action, how will it affect my design costs, my permitting costs, what is the long term risk to future buyers or to others?

For the engineering or architectural consultant supporting the client— Are they aware of the potential for harm, the likelihood of permitting delays, increased design costs to harden and make the structure safe? Will there be construction issues that may delay the project or increase costs over those already anticipated. What is the potential for creating environmental harm now or in the future? What best management practices will be used to protect the site now and in the future? What will they cost?

For the owner of the property or the developer—Am I buying a property in a geo-hazard area, how do I determine this? Is it in a river or coastal flood plain, wetland or some other location where future events may place a family at risk? Is it worth the risk? Is the property designed and constructed to standards that will reduce the risk, will insurance costs cover rebuilding; do I need insurances and what types? What are my liabilities if something bad happens?

For the construction contractor—Does the engineer understand what they are talking about – I’m not sure I can build it this way? Is it phased properly to protect the site during major storms – minor storms? I have schedules to meet; the bulldozer operator doesn’t understand the drawings. The inspector has it in for us all of the time. The weather isn’t cooperating. I under bid the job and now I’m not sure I can complete it as designed. Or, the last storm washed away all of the temporary BMP’s, I’m in violation of my permits and I don’t know what to do. How do I ask for help?

For the regulator

Answers to these questions and others should be addressed through awareness and education programs which raise the awareness of all parties. The programs should facilitate our ability to craft commonsense solutions and ensure that new and reconstruction activities make the environment in which we live safer then when we first found it.

Good preplanning and communication and knowledgeable professionals help ensure that decisions now and in the future will result in better protection of the environment. This will also help reduce design and construction costs and eventually lead to a reduction in the loss of life and property in geo-hazard areas.

In summary, what should go into these programs?

What key principles should we focus on for raising general awareness about the dangers of living in geo-hazard areas? What types of training?

How do we as an organization address the questions I have raised in this paper or do we need too?

What should this educational program include for all involved or impacted by these natural events?

To help focus your thoughts and comments I have provided a listing of some of the initial groups of people who might benefit from enhanced or continuing education on the issues of building in geo-hazard areas of the world.

• Awareness of the dangers associated with living in geo-hazard areas,
• Technical solutions—both hard and soft approaches, and
• Mentoring and expanded education to help ensure that experience is not lost when people retire from professional service.

Please feel free to suggest others.

Key categories to target for the educational programs and the groups that should be targeted are suggested below:

Education/awareness on dangers and issues associated with living and building in Geo-Hazard areas

• Government—federal, state, county and local levels
• Clients
• Erosion Control Professionals
• Construction contractors and subcontractors
• Media

Communication of innovative or new technical solutions that will minimize or mitigate the danger and damages associated with building or living in these areas.

Training and mentoring of new professionals to ensure that the body of knowledge senior professionals have learned in the past 35 – 50 years is not lost as a new generation of environmental managers take over the reigns of environmental protection programs

• Government—federal, state, county and local levels
• Erosion Control Professionals
• Construction contractors and subcontractors

In the future, we might also consider the need for law and regulation changes to minimize or prevent future recurring damage. To do so we will need to work with universities and colleges to develop new applied principles that address changing climatic conditions, as well as elected officials at the federal, state, county and local levels.