Virtual Forum Presentation
July 19, 2000 -- 12:00 Noon Eastern Time

Impacts of Drought
What Does the Public Need to Know?

Frances E. Winslow, Ph.D., CEM
Director of Emergency Preparedness
City of San José, California

SUMMARY

EIIP Virtual Forum Presentation
Wednesday - July 19, 2000 - 12:00 Noon EDT

Impacts of Drought: What does the Public Need to Know?

Frances E. Winslow, Ph.D., CEM
San Jose Office of Emergency Services

Avagene Moore, Moderator
EIIP Coordinator

The EIIP Virtual Forum presented a special Community and Family Preparedness program on "Impacts of Drought: What Does the Public Need to Know?" with Frances E. Winslow, Ph.D., CEM, Director of Emergency Preparedness for the City of San José, California. Dr. Winslow is a frequent speaker at conferences on emergency preparedness, including addressing the NOAA/ FEMA/America Red Cross "Long Term Drought Conference."

Dr. Winslow stated drought follows a cyclical pattern in most of the United States. Because most of our population lives in cities with public water sources, the impact of drought on daily life has been significantly mitigated, lessening public awareness of drought as a public policy and emergency planning dilemma. However, immediate impacts of drought are very clear to anyone who lives in a suburban or rural setting. The clearest, and historically most dramatic linkage, is with agriculture. Wildland fires are often exacerbated by drought and human populations are moving closer to the urban/wildland interface in ever increasing numbers. Thus, when wildland fires start, they more quickly burn into residential areas. Drought's affects ultimately touch every resident of the United States.

Dr. Winslow also referenced several drought-related Web sites with vital information for drought planning and mitigation.

FRANCES E. WINSLOW, Ph.D., CEM

Director of Emergency Preparedness
City of San José, California

Frances E. Winslow, Ph.D., CEM is the Director of Emergency Preparedness for the City of San José. She is responsible for San Jose's Office of Emergency Services, whose services include public education programs regarding natural disasters that may occur in the community, such as earthquakes, hazardous materials events, and floods.

Among the programs of the Office of Emergency Services is San Jose Prepared!, a neighborhood emergency response team program with over 650 graduates. OES staff members also work with community organizations, schools and businesses to encourage home and personal preparedness among all members of the community. OES distributes written materials to reinforce their training message, including materials for special needs populations such as children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and the English As A Second Language community. OES, in partnership with San Jose State University College of Engineering, offers information on retrofitting single family homes against earthquake damage. They also distribute a new publication on retrofitting multi-family housing, and are working with the Housing Department on the development of generic retrofit plans for multi-family buildings.

Dr. Winslow also leads programs for City staff in emergency preparedness, and is responsible for the development of citywide emergency plans, and oversees the City's Emergency Operations Center. Dr. Winslow is a frequent speaker at conferences on emergency preparedness, including addressing the NOAA/ FEMA/America Red Cross "Long Term Drought Conference."

Dr. Winslow has a Ph.D. in public administration, and a master of urban planning degree from New York University; a masters degree in political science/international relations from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey; and a Certificate in Hazardous Materials Management from University of California, Irvine. She recently completed terms on the California Seismic Safety Commission and the Hospital Building Safety Board. She has been named a "Woman of Distinction: Environment" by Soroptimist International, is a winner of the California Emergency Services Association Gold and Platinum Awards, and was a nominee for the 27th Annual Women of Achievement Awards in Santa Clara County. She has been a consultant to Santa Clara University, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Association of Bay Area Governments, the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, the Jason Project, the City of Tokyo, and the City of Shizuoka, Japan.

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